A Sephora Must-Have

One thing that I think is important to consider using when your skin starts aging a bit is a good foundation primer. I know, I know, one more thing to add to your regime-does it ever end? Nope, not really!

Anyway, I received this sample of Sephora's Ultra-Smoothing Primer awhile ago but hadn't used it. I finally decided to give it a try, and I have to say I am hooked!

A foundation primer is a great way to smooth out those fine lines that foundation or powder can settle into. It gives your skin a beautiful, clean palette to work from when applying makeup. The first time I used it, it felt a little weird. It isn't creamy like a lotion or foundation. Instead, it is a gel-like substance that goes on and dries almost instantly on your skin. It seemed tight initially, but once I applied my foundation, I was amazed at how even and smooth my skin looked!

I recommend Sephora's brand, not just because I have a mail-order love affair going with them, but because this is an excellent product.

Speaking of amazing smooth skin, I finally tried my Dinair Airbrush Makeup Kit. I wasn't happy with the pictures though, so my review will have to wait another day or two....stay tuned!

Time machine!

I was feeling a little nostalgic today, so I thought I'd give myself (and everyone else at my expense, but thats okay!) a laugh and dig through some old pics to showcase my "fashion" sense of long ago....

Let's start with 1982 or so. I really love how the frosty pink lipstick plays against the color-coordinated outfit. And the white plastic belt, along with the "popped" collar! If you look behind me, you can see the Sears family photo....priceless!

1985ish here. Like my RayBans? Everyone had to have a pair!

Moving on into the early 90s. The mullet is finally growing out. Still color coordinated with my denim mini skirt and lighter denim top. And look at those button covers, omg!!!

This is at a friends wedding. See my awesome padded shoulders. No more mullet, thank God. And as you can see, "bumped" hair was incredibly popular during that time....

Every girl needed a fanny pack. And white keds.....

Oh sweet Jesus. In addition to the denim hat with the flower, note the padded shoulders and crocheted type vest. Vests, oh they were HOT!

My small town modeling stint. I still love that hat! Love hats, period! My hair is shorter here, and button covers were still in style!

I think its always fun to look at old pics and reminisce, I had a lot of fun back in the day, and while I always didn't make the best decisions (fashion and otherwise!) I do think life is all about learning. And I've taken away some great lessons from those days, growing and learning, always striving to become a better person. And a better dresser.........!!

L'Oreal Youth Code

I've been using this for about a month now....

It is supposed to help diminish age spots. You know, those brownish discolorations that start invading your skin as you get older?? I'm lucky because I am quite freckled (who knew that my freckles, which I hated as a child, would become my saving grace as an adult!) so the spots don't show quite as much. I did start noticing some on my cheeks, however, some from aging, some probably from sun damage in my wayward youth.

I apply this morning and night, under my regular moisturizer. I like it first of all because it absorbs quickly and feels really nice on my skin. And most importantly, it works! I noticed a fading of the brown spots on my cheekbones in just a couple weeks. After four weeks of use, they are hardly noticable.

So if you are starting to get those funny little patches, I recommend trying Youth Code. It will help fade those spots and give you a nice glow!

This month's Birchbox!

My Birchbox arrived yesterday and I wanted to show you all the goodies it contained!

This month's samples included:

Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream-Use twice a day to fight aging. It smells good (I hate weird smelly lotions!) and goes on smooth, absorbing quickly into the skin.

Dior Diorshow Extase mascara-Most of my readers know by now that I'm a mascara junkie, so this was an exciting little treat! It also has a fat brush for fuller coverage.

Dior Miss Dior Perfume sample-This one was a little flowery for me, but I tossed it in my "travel supplies" kit and will take it with me when I'm on a vacation somewhere. Sample perfumes are perfect for traveling, especially for me since I almost never check luggage.

Kerastase Shampoo and Kerastase Masque-Kerastase is one of my favorite shampoos, another great item to put in my travel kit. And the deep conditioning moisture masque is something my perpetually dry hair can definitely use...

Notecard-They included a cute little postcard style notecard, which I will use when I send out a hello to far and distant friends!

If you haven't signed up for Birchbox, you should check out their website. For $10 a month, you get a different box of goodies and samples each month. Its always fun to get stuff in the mail! And you can order the full sizes of the products you like on their site, as well as enjoying articles and video tutorials.

It is $10 well-spent, in my opinion!!

The Lush Life

I recently made a quick trip to Seattle, and got to stop in at one of my favorite bath stores, Lush. Lush carries an extensive array of anything and everything you could need for your bod, from amazing bath bombs to yummy lotions. Here's what I got:

Whoosh Shower Jelly is a fun shower gel. It smells great, of course, and is kind of like putting jell-o on your loofa! But it works wonders on your skin, leaving it smooth and fresh.

It bounces! The sales person also recommended putting it in the freezer before using, for an even more refreshing feeling. Haven't tried that yet...

I also got this-

Nope, not a soap. This is actually a body butter type product. You soften it in your hands and rub it on your legs, arms, etc to give a nice bronzing glow! Smells wonderful and gives a hint of color without any orange tones. I like this because I generally avoid tanning or sun, so anything that gives me some color is appreciated!!

Later this week I will hopefully be able to test out my new airbrush makeup kit that I won from Dinair. I'm excited to try it, it retails for well over $200 and is supposed to create a professional, "red carpet ready" look!! I'll be posting about it!!

Outfit of the Day

I am in the first week of my new job. Eventually, I'll be wearing a uniform every day, but until the uniforms arrive, its business casual attire. Here's what I wore yesterday....

The skirt is from Macy's, purchased a couple years ago as part of an ensemble. The shirt that goes with it has long been retired, but I still really like the skirt. It think its a flattering cut and it goes with a lot of different tops. The sweater is a recent purchase from a local store, Lulu E. Bebe. I like Lulu because they offer fashionable, fun and unique clothing items-and most importantly, their prices are usually very affordable (that sweater was around $30 I think.) The beige tank top underneath is from Old Navy, which as I always say, is a great place to shop for basic wardrobe items. I cannot for the life of me remember where I purchased the necklace, and the boots are eons old, picked up on the sale rack at JcPenneys I think.

Starting a new job is always a little daunting. I'm very excited to be embarking on a new career path, and don't plan on leaving this job any time soon (getting too old for this!) Change and new things are always a challenge for us it seems, we get so entrenched in our daily routine, it throws everything off when we have to do something new. But I think its important to embrace change as much as we can-because it is what keeps our minds fresh, keeps us learning, keeps us on our toes!

Give your brain a jump-start and change things up in your life a bit. If you've been afraid to make changes, things you know you should do but just can't seem to get over that fear of falling-just do it. Change is what life is all about, and thats not a bad thing!

Go Big or Go Home!

I picked up a new mascara the other day and was a little surprised when I opened it to find this:

New from NYC cosmetics, Big Bold Mascara packs a punch when it comes to lengthening, defining and volumizing-and a big fattie of a brush to boot!

I'm always on the lookout for a mascara that really makes my lashes pop, and NYC mascaras are both affordable and good quality. I've tried several of them, and I'm usually happy with the results. This mascara was no exception, coating my lashes perfectly in the first application. I admit, I was a little nonplussed at the brush, and don't know that the "plump" brush style is much more than a marketing tool to make you think you are getting bigger lashes, but it does seem to work just fine.

So if you are looking for an affordable ($5.00) mascara that works, I recommend the NYC brand, and if you want to go big, try their Big Bold mascara!

Our Weekend Away....

I've been a little MIA from my blog, but have a good excuse! I decided to escape daily life for the weekend with one of my very favorite people, my son! We took off for San Diego, enjoying some time on Mission Beach and a day at Seaworld...

I've always loved travel and I like to think I've instilled that same love of seeing new places in my kids-mainly because I almost always take them with me!

We enjoyed pooltime, and Shamu was awesome!

Traveling with kids can be fairly easy, if you are prepared (and patient!) My son was about 5 weeks old the first time he went on a plane, and he's always been a pretty good traveler. However, I always tried to plan in advance for any possible issues. Here's a few things I always, always did with my kids when they were small.

1. Make them a goodie bag. I used to make a goodie bag for each of my kids to take on the plane. I would give it to them after takeoff, and it contained things like crayons and little coloring books, small toys, snacks and gum.

2. Tire them out. We usually flew the evening flights when they were smaller, mainly because they would sleep. Of course, I never got much sleep so I had to deal with my own grogginess-but at least I wasn't dealing with them being tired and cranky on top of ME being tired and cranky!

3. Bring a binky and a bottle (if you do those) for babies/toddlers and gum for older kids. Ascent and descent of the plane can cause air pressure changes in the cabin that can REALLY hurt tender ears. Giving them something to suck on helps a lot. Be prepared to nurse during takeoff and landing if you don't use bottles or pacifiers.

4. Bring EXTRA-as in extra diapers, food/drinks, and an entire extra change of clothing! Because good lord if your baby has a "blowout" or gets a little air sick, you will REALLY wish you'd brought it. Also make sure to throw in an extra t-shirt and/or sweater for older kids. You never know when they might either get sick or spill something too. And if you check luggage (I seldom do) its good to have some extra clothes just in case your luggage gets misplaced. On the other hand, less can also be more. Don't skimp on bringing diapers and such, but you also do NOT necessarily need to bring the giant stroller, playpen, bouncy chair, etc. I always managed with an umbrella stroller, which you can fold up and fit in the overhead if necessary. And I never brought more accessories than I absolutely needed!!

5. Remember that if you are bringing an infant on board, you are not guaranteed an extra seat unless you buy it! Be prepared to have your baby on your lap, and plan accordingly- you may have to check your carseat (you can do this at the gate, along with your stroller) If you are concerned about it, it might be worth it to spend the money and buy them a seat.

6. Most importantly, have fun and try not to stress! Kids can be great little travelers, and I think that they can really get a lot out of seeing the world from an early age.

My son and I probably won't be taking any trips that are just the two of us again for awhile, I'm starting a new job and won't be able to travel for at least a few months. But we are always planning our next adventure, and I'd like to think that our travels throughout the years have given him an excellent perspective on the world and people around him.