Red and Red Again!

As a redhead, keeping my color from fading is always a challenge. My hair was a natural strawberry blonde when I was younger, and when those grays started creeping in (ugh) I started highlighting, going blonder, and then eventually going a darker red.

Now I am at the point in my life of HAVING to color every three weeks without fail. I can't afford a 100-plus dollar salon visit every month, which means I do my own touch ups. Which means damage to my hair and I hate that! I am constantly fighting dryness, split ends and brassiness. And on top of everything else, my hair grows incredibly fast!

So I started looking around for some ways to keep my color strong and maybe not have to color quite so often. Long ago, I used a product by Redken that was a color-depositing shampoo. I loved it and started researching to see what might be available to us quick-fading redheads today. I found these:

Watercolors Color Maintenance Shampoo by Tressa and Riveting Reds Color Replacement Shampoo by Quantum (available at SallyBeauty )

These shampoos both provide color boost to red hair. The Tressa shampoo, which I got in Warm Spice, is a bit more subtle. I noticed a brightness to my hair after using it but not a big color change. The Quantum is a little darker and I think it deposits a bit more color. I leave them on for a good five minutes while shampooing in order to get a stronger deposit. These are not daily shampoos (I don't shampoo daily anyway) but can be used at least a couple times a week for intensifying and maintaining color.

If red isn't your thing, Tressa also comes in a variety of other shades! So take heart, all of us who color our hair out of necessity-Because I don't know about you, but I am not going down without a fight when it comes to looking good!

Fresh Faced!

The other day, I was wandering around Target and came across this:

From the UK, LookBeauty has introduced this face mask to Target stores. I'd read a bit about it in a couple magazines and thought it would be fun to try. As the box says, it claims to brighten skin, minimize dark spots and pigment irregularities, and leave skin more radiant. And I thought, 'hey we all need a little more radiance in our lives, why not?'

So after washing my face, I put the mask on. Then I had to hide in the bathroom for the 30 minute time frame because I looked like this:

Just call me Hannibal Lector!

The mask feels kind of weird, and I had to keep patting it to make it stay on my skin. In retrospect, I'd recommend laying down while its on-then it won't keep sliding off your face! I left it on for the maximum recommended time (directions say 20-30 mins) and when I removed it, I will say that my endless freckles did seem a little faded. Not necessarily a good thing for me, I like my frecs! But my skin did seem brighter and smoother.

Overall, I'd say this is a nice little addition to one's beauty regime. It doesn't do anything major to your skin, but it's hydrating and does bring some brightness out. And for the affordable price of $10 for three masks, its a bargain too!

 

Have a radiant day!

Drifting on the Winds of Change

I've been MIA because we have spent the last couple weeks going through the very tedious process of moving. My boyfriend and I decided to take the next step in our journey together and purchased a home. A little scary, a big commitment (not purchasing a home, we've both done that of course, but purchasing one together! That's big!)

I've always liked moving. Not the actual process of packing up my crap and hauling it to a new location-that sucks. But settling into a new house, making it my own and putting my own little artistic stamp on it, that is pure fun for me. I also really like the purging that comes with moving! I have my certain things I am sentimental about, and my boyfriend likes to jokingly refer to me as a hoarder, but in reality, I don't have a problem with throwing out, donating or selling things I no longer need.

Unlike many people I know, I don't get attached to houses. I have moved several times over my lifetime, and when I am moving out of a house, there is no real nostalgia attached to it. The one exception to that is the house I lived in when my children were small-I do have some fond memories of it and occasionally drive by the old neighborhood.

Maybe some of this stems from a childhood that was profoundly lacking in permanence. My parents divorced when I was four years old, and there was a lot of moving and disruption in the following years. I went to several different schools, watched my family change and grow (not necessarily in bad ways, but for kids, all change tends to be stressful) and generally felt kind of lost in shuffle of it all.

In retrospect, I guess I'm somewhat thankful for this early lesson-that change is the one thing in life we can count on. Nothing ever stays the same-nothing. We grow, we live, we die. People come and go in our lives, sometimes forever, sometimes for periods of time. Our children go from being completely dependent on us to being annoyed by us to (hopefully!) appreciating and needing us again someday. Our parents age and need care. We move, change jobs, travel, and if we are doing it right, learn from the mistakes we are bound to make and continue to grow as we navigate our time on this earth. Change is the crux of our human life, and our survival has depended on us being one of the most adaptable species on the planet.

So here we are. Unpacking, sorting, more trips to the dump or the donation bin. My son said "Is this it, are we done moving now?" Like most kids, he is tired of our wandering-we've moved three times in the last four years, as well as him having to deal with divorce and a new school. He is happy now, but change, oh how hard it can be.

I think I can safely tell him this is the last move for a long time. We love this house. Its not huge, but it is perfect for us. We have my father set up with his own room and space, he may be here awhile, or he may decide to find his own new house. My son's room is coming together and I can see my kitchen counters. We are in a neighborhood where people greet us, introduce themselves, actually say "welcome to the neighborhood". Its unique, and lovely, and I think we will be happy here for many years.

But I won't discount those winds of change. They are always there, shifting under the surface, waiting for complacency and disregard. And I'm okay with that, because its always about the next adventure.

For now, though, we are home.

Its Getting Hot in Here!

I don't often post things that are geared to one age group over another, but I know there are a lot of us ladies out there who are starting to deal with certain issues associated with *ahem* aging and our bodies changing. Yep, I'll just say it. Peri-menopause...and menopause.

Overall, I consider myself lucky in regards to this time of life. I don't think I look too terrible, haven't gained a bunch of weight (so much harder to take off at this age-seriously!) don't have the mood swings, sleep loss or headaches often associated with perimenopause. What I have dealt with, however, are HOT FLASHES. Oh.My.God.

Anyone who has suffered from hot flashes will tell you, they can be monstrous! There have been times I've shied away from certain outfits because I need to be able to peel off layers when one hits. It's like you've ingested a whole bottle of niacin while being shoved into a hi-powered microwave, cooking from the inside out. Those of you who've gone through this know I'm not exaggerating.

Then there are the night sweats. Waking up in my cute little tank top and comfy shorts to find them literally soaked in sweat. Yes I know, doesn't sound pretty. Try living it. Its not very pretty OR sexy. My boyfriend said that it must be my mutant power surfacing-the power of creating a flood via sweat. I had literally become too hot to handle! It was funny, although frustrating sometimes.

I tried a variety of remedies and supplements, from drinking cold water to sleeping with a huge fan, to exercising more and drinking less coffee. Nothing worked. I was afraid I might have to go the western medicine route, which I did NOT want to do. Pumping my body full of hormones just didn't seem right, and I know that the medications prescribed for menopause symptoms can be dangerous. It wasn't worth the risk for me.

Then I discovered this:

Recommended by a co-worker, Macafem is created from the Maca root. Maca comes from Peru and has been used there for thousands of years, a food staple of the indigenous people. It is rich in protein and minerals, including calcium, iodine, magnesium and potassium. Maca has been used as a libido enhancer and stress reliever, and has been found to relieve many symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances in women. It has even shown promise as a fertility supplement for women trying to conceive!

I decided to try it. I started with 2 tablets per day, but quickly upped it to 3-4 when there were no immediate results. After a few weeks, I was starting to feel disheartened and figured NOTHING was going to work for me. I even started thinking about going to my gynecologist and seeing about a prescription.

But right at the end of week three, I suddenly had a night where I slept through with no sweats. Then another...and another! Since then, my hot flashes have reduced DRAMATICALLY. I may still get one or two over the course of a day. But I rarely get overheated at night and the hot flashes I do get are very mild in comparison to  how they were before. I take three pills a day, which seems to be the perfect dosage for my body.

So if you are looking for some heat relief, or just looking to balance your hormones and feel good, I highly recommend Macafem. One bottle of 100 pills is about $30, plus $5 shipping. You also get a discount if you order three bottles at a time.

If you can't stand the heat...get some Macafem!

The greens have it!

Green eyeshadow is hot for 2013. It seems like everywhere I look, there is a new, fabulous green shade to wear. I love green shadow because it brings out the green in my own hazelish, brownish, greenish, yellowish weird colored eyes. This is the new palette from Pantone, with some beautiful emerald green:

Talk about the Emerald city! Dorothy would be proud!

I picked up this green shadow at SallyBeauty the other day, affordable and pretty:

I love the gold-green shade (you can see I've used it quite a bit already). I put it on the crease of my eye for shimmery depth.

This look is fun, but might be a bit much for daywear:

 

 

Don't ever be afraid to try a new look or style. You may love it or hate it, but at least you can say "hey I tried it!" Eye makeup is a great way to experiment a bit with a new look, and if its not for you, how easy is it to just wash it off!! And you don't have to spend a fortune either-you can find the latest hot green shadows at your local drugstore.

Go bold. Go Green!

 

 

 

 

       

Dr. Oz Three-Day (2.5 day?) Detox

While I don't consider my eating habits horribly unhealthy (I haven't gone near fast food in years, try to incorporate fruits and veggies into all my meals and don't oversalt food or bury it in heavy sauces) I do make some food choices that aren't always great. I drink a lot of coffee,  and consume wayyyy too much sugar and white flour. Oh, and the wine.

I decided that maybe I needed to break the cycle by "jump-starting" my body and cleaning out all the toxins and crap that are most likely floating around in there. I'm not normally a fan of any kind of cleansing fast, partly because I like food, and also because I think our bodies work just fine for the most part when it comes to cleaning things out. But I thought it might do me good to get off the sugar rush a bit, and tone down the coffee drinking. And the drinking in general...

Dr. Oz's Three Day Detox intrigued me because it was only three days, included real food products (not lemon and cayenne drinks-disgusting!) and seemed to be something I could manage. I figured I'd give it a shot! I'm going into this hoping I will come out on the other side with reduced sugar cravings and a plan to really eat clean. Here is my day-by-day review.

Day 1

First off, when I purchased all the ingredients for the detox, I knew I'd have to do a couple substitutions. One of the items on the shopping list is Almond milk, which makes me gag. So I bought coconut milk, which is palatable for me. Same with the almond butter, can't eat it (which is weird because I do like almonds by themselves!), so I got some freshly ground peanut butter from the natural food section at the store. Another ingredient that I am dreading is coconut water. Unlike the creamy goodness of coconut milk (which is like normal milk) coconut water is HORRIBLE. I always think I want to drink it, but when I take even a tiny sip, I remember that its HORRIBLE. I did get a couple small bottles of it, but I don't know how that's gonna go down.

So here's my day-

I got up and rather than my usual morning coffee, I had the green tea. I'm glad we are allowed some caffeine. I had a big cup of it, worried about a potential caffeine headache.

Breakfast smoothie. Everyone else who reviewed this said this was the best tasting of the three smoothies you get every day. Its pretty good. This was easy for me because I often have smoothies for breakfast.

I went to the gym after breakfast and did a moderate workout with one of my girlfriends. I didn't feel low energy, but afterwards I was hungry!

Lunch smoothie: I was initially excited by the Kelly green color and the addition of pineapple, which I love. The taste really wasn't bad at all, and it smelled very refreshing. But the texture-oh Sweet Mother of God-the texture. I couldn't finish it. I drank (ate?) most of it and the rest went down the sink. My boyfriend said I tasted like lawn clippings when he kissed me.

I didn't get to do the snack smoothie. I had a dentist appointment in the afternoon and by the time I got home it was close enough to dinner time that I decided to forego it and just have the dinner smoothie. By the time I got home I had a headache that was giving me blurry vision. I probably shouldn't be putting medication in my body, but I took an ibuprofen anyway.

Dinner smoothie: This smoothie has the dreaded coconut water. I only put in half of the amount called for because I  hate coconut water that much. I added some ice and a splash of coconut milk. The blueberries and the iciness of it with the added cubes made it okay. But just okay. Barely...barely okay.

So far I don't feel overly tempted to eat "real" food. I made dinner for my son and didn't even want a taste of his lovely and delicious looking chicken....seriously, I was fine.

I took my super-detox bath before bed, and had some herbal tea (I am not restricting myself with tea, even though it doesn't have it on the list other than breakfast.) I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed a relaxing bath, and while I couldn't find lavender oil, I found a pre-made Epsom and lavender soak! Perfect!

I felt  relaxed and slept great, which isn't always easy for me.

Day 2

I'm up and while I feel a little weak, overall I am good. No headache this morning and I actually looked forward to my green tea. Its not coffee but it will do!

The breakfast smoothie was still pretty good. I'm not as enthused about it as yesterday, but I drank it. I confess, I added a touch more coconut milk and a smidgen more of peanut butter....

Its almost noon and I am procrastinating about the lunch smoothie. I'm not sure if I can do it. Seriously. I think I may just make myself a big salad from all the ingredients. Does it really have to be blended? I think not.....

And that's what I ended up doing. Every time I thought about the lunch smoothie, I would literally start gagging. I have a high sensitivity to texture and I just can't get past it. So I created a salad. I used all the ingredients except the coconut milk. I diced everything up, and then I used the lime juice and coconut oil, along with a touch of balsamic and some dried herbs, to make a dressing. Quite delicious!

Its probably messing up the whole dynamic of the cleanse, but I figure its better to at least ingest all the required ingredients as opposed to my other option, which was to not eat anything. Or to eat a burger. I miss burgers....

By dinnertime I was dreading the dinner drink almost as much as the lunch. I tried to choke it down but the texture thing...ugh. It isn't as horrible as the lunch smoothie but almost.

I had a little bit of clear soup....so shoot me.

I took my relaxing bath and had some herbal tea. I didn't sleep as well tonight, because I kept having dreams of cheeseburgers....

Day 3

I feel fairly energetic today, had my tea and while I'm looking forward to coffee tomorrow, I do feel good about being able to skip it for a few days. I weighed myself this morning and I'm a little disappointed that I haven't lost much weight. But I'm going to the gym today to do my normal workout. I'm going to try to stick to the regime as close as possible today, all gagging aside.

My workout was fine, I felt a little lightheaded on the stairstepper but nothing major. I do feel like my body has adjusted to the detox. And I am not craving sugar anymore, which was one of the main reasons I did this. The breakfast smoothie was fine, I could have one of them every day.

Then came the EPIC FAIL.

I had to work at my other part time job, so I took off at 11am with no thoughts of my lunch smoothie. I didn't get out of work until 230pm. The chef always makes lunch for the staff, and when she asked if I wanted to eat I asked her to make mine to-go. I figured I'd have it for lunch the next day. I left work and went to pick up my son from school, with my to-go box sitting quietly and oh so innocently next to me on the seat.

By the time we got home, it was 4pm and I was ravenous. I'd consumed nothing but a breakfast smoothie all day, AND I'd worked out that morning. I stared at the to-go box for about a minute after I got home, before tearing it open and eating the contents.

It wasn't an unhealthy lunch by any means-small piece of grilled fish, some sliced red potatoes and sautéed greens. I didn't even feel that bad about eating it and ruining the detox. Because at that point, I just.didn't.care. I was over it.

The end result

I went into this detox to lose a few stubborn pounds and maybe give myself a kick-start for getting back to healthier eating. While I am a little disappointed in myself for not sticking to the plan for the three days, I do feel like I reaped some benefits from it, regardless of my cheating heart.

I lost 3 pounds.
I have still not had a glass of wine.
I have only had a few small bites of chocolate here and there.

But this guy....oh how happy I was to see this....

All in all, it was a good experience and something different to try. I probably wouldn't do it again, because I think that healthy eating should be a way of life-not something packed into a three day event.

I did, however, realize a few things about myself during the detox, namely that I can live without tons of sugar and I can survive without coffee. Oh and I hate green smoothies. With a passion.

The days of our lives

Like sands through the hourglass...does anyone remember that from the soap opera Days of our Lives? I haven't watched it in years so I don't know if they still use that phrase, but its been running through my mind lately.

This is my birthday month. And while I'll only share with my family and friends my REAL age, I will say that the big 5-0 is one year closer. I'm not sure why that freaks me out so much, but it does. Because it sounds soooo darn old! And all I can see in my head is that Molly Shannon skit from SNL:

Okay so please God that is NOT me...

I prefer to look at ladies like these for my inspiration:

 

Elle MacPhearson, Iman, Madonna. These girls have still GOT it! And I can only hope to look half as good as they do when I reach their ages. I know a 50 year old woman today is NOT a 50 year old woman even 20 years ago. Times have changed. We live longer, are healthier, and modern medicine grows by leaps and bounds almost daily-not to mention modern plastic surgery and many non-invasive procedures to fight aging.

 

I still have my mojo (most days), but its interesting to me how the years seem to slide by so quickly now. I remember when my kids were small, someone said to me "The days are long but the years are short". Which is very true, and the older I get, the more it seems to ring true with life in general.

There are still so many things I want to do, places I want to see. And while I know I still have (hopefully) many years left, I also know that life can be fleeting, and fragile. I find myself feeling a little rushed sometimes, looking at my bucket list and thinking about all the accomplishments I still want to achieve, and how time-precious, precious time-should not be wasted.

And sometimes, morbid as it may sound, I stop and ask myself, "If I died tomorrow, will everyone that I love know I loved them? Will they remember?" If  I can tell myself yes, if I can feel in my heart that those I love know just how much they mattered to me, then maybe thats all I really need to know I've done in my life.

Happy Birthday to me, and to you when yours comes around. Make a toast on your special day to love, and then make sure to share it with everyone who is important to you. Because at the end of the day, love is the greatest accomplishment of all.

Sally Beauty Deals and Steals!

Sally Beauty Supply is a new discovery for me, and has quickly become a favorite. Last week, in addition to their ongoing sales and specials, they were offering an additional 15 percent off to rewards members:

For those of you who have a beauty club membership at Sally (which is free-you pay $5 and get it back as a $5 gift card immediately) when you spend $25 you get a coupon for 15% off. My coupon was expiring at the end of February, and February 23 was their double rewards day. Knowing that I was going to get 30 percent off my entire purchase, I went in there with a list of needed beauty items and got all this:

I purchased two applications of AGEbeautiful hair color (I cannot afford to get a professional color every 3 weeks as my hair demands, so I do my own touch-ups here and there), along with AGEbeautiful strengthening treatment and daily conditioner. I am really liking this line, it is from Zotos and is supposed to treat the "five signs of aging hair". I can't remember right now what those five signs are, but I can guarantee my hair has them....

I also picked up some conditioning treatment packs, heat protective spray for before blow-drying and a couple travel size lotions for gifts (and I like keeping extras in my car or purse) and some "Sally Girl" eyeshadows and nail polish.

If you haven't tried the "Sally Girl" makeup line, you are missing out! Most of their makeup is 99 cents, and it is surprisingly good stuff. The pigment on the shadows rivals any high-end line, and the polishes are long lasting and such great colors! The little round pots of eyeshadow are very versatile, in that you can use them wet or dry.

Total cost to me for alllll those items was a mere $29.00 after my deep discount! Very affordable!

Check out your nearest Sally Beauty Supply for their latest deals. They always have plenty of items on sale, and most of those apply both in-house and online.

Here's to deals and steals, and staying beautiful on a budget!

Winter days...

I've lived in the North my whole life. Because of this, people often assume that I have a love affair going on with the cold and dark, saying "oh you're used to it" when mention is made of our long winter season. And that is somewhat true. I am used to it. By the time crisp September is over and the winter months loom, I admit I look forward to the long darkness and quieter moments in my life.

Winter for me is hunkering down, bundling up, catching up on my reading and movies, almost like a hibernation mode. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy getting outside and I do partake in many of the winter activities offered here. But I also enjoy the slightly slower pace of life winter brings. Heavy snow and the roads are bad? Ah, lets just stay home tonight....

There is a certain comfort in being at home, tucked in on the couch, maybe with a fire going and a nice glass of red wine. There is a stillness to the winter months, a reprieve from the frenetic activity that the endless daylight of summer brings. Up here, during nice summer weather, one almost feels obligated to be outside all day. Because you don't know how long the nice weather will last, and you know those dark nights are coming soon enough. A big part of me enjoys not having to worry about planning my day around the sun.

Yet this time of year, I find myself beginning to long for those summer days. Over the years, the winter and accompanying darkness seems longer and longer. I begin to wonder what the sun feels like on my face, what its like to go without a heavy coat. I remember my bare feet on the warmth of the back deck, and gaze at all my summer sandals, lined up and ready to be worn again.

I have a love-hate relationship with this place sometimes, but it is home to me. I've traveled the world and still see it as the most beautiful place on earth. We are lucky here, to have modern amenities and urban choices, with the backdrop of magnificant mountains, ocean and wildlife. There aren't too many places where you can drive 15 minutes and be on a wooded trail, where you are more likely to run into a moose or bear than a person. I appreciate all of this, and love many things about this place.

But the winters, the hibernation, grows longer as I get older. I find myself tired of the snow, of the cold, of the dark. I long for spring, for flowers and green grass. I miss it.

We talk of leaving here when my youngest finishes high school. When that time comes, I think I will be happy to  go. Yet when spring arrives, as it always does, and I break out my bike, take off for a run, and put my winter coat away, I remember that the changing seasons are one thing I love about this place. And maybe endless sunshine can be as tiresome as endless winters.

And I love how excited we get up here when the weather does finally change. People break out their shorts and flip-flops as soon as it hits 50 degrees. We start planning our summer hikes, camps and fishing trips. We shake off the dark grip of winter and look forward to those summers, so short, but so sweet.

It's snowing. But I hear spring breathing under that coat of white. We are waiting. We are ready.

Birchbox for January

Someone recently asked me, "What the heck is a Birchbox?" A Birchbox, my dear friends, goes something like this:

It's a little box (okay its not made of birch, its made of cardboard!) full of delicious samples of all kinds of new beauty products. You can sign up here. For a mere $10 a month, you get a bevy of beauty delivered to your door. Some months are, of course, better than others. But there is usually at least one full size sample in the pack, worth at least as much as the $10 you pay.

Here's what this month's "Best Year Ever" box contained:

LASHEM Lash Gel Serum:

This is meant to be applied along your lash line, to help grow thicker, fuller lashes. I haven't tried it yet, mainly because some of the reviews were less than flattering. If I do try it, I'll let you know how it works!

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo:

This is a travel size shampoo, but is actually a nice size. Better than some of the travel size stuff you get that lasts all of 48 hours of your vacation, then you're left looking for the nearest drugstore....

Anyway, I tried it. It took a little getting used to because it is very thick and creamy. But it works! My hair felt super-clean and shiny afterwards.

theBalm Cosmetics in Hot Mama:

This lovely shadow is what makes Birchbox worth that $10 a month. I absolutely LOVE this color, its a little brighter than the picture and its a great accent on my eyes. It is considered a two-in-one blush and highlighter, but I swept it right across my lids and it looked FAB!

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream:

The Birchbox gals put three samples of this in the box, which was a nice extra. One little sample isn't really enough, in my opinion, to see how well a product works. Especially something like face cream, where you need at least a week or so of regular use to see any results. I like the way this smells and the lightness of it. I think I would use it more as a day cream, I like a heavier (wrinkle filling!) night cream.

I also got a perfume sample of Harvey Prince Skinny Chic, which claims to not only make you smell good, it is supposed to fight cravings and keep energy levels high. I know that smells can definitely trigger our desire to eat, but I'm not sure if this really keeps me from dreaming of chocolate cupcakes. It does smell great though, a nice blend of apple,mint and lotus blossum.

So there it is. Birchbox. A box of goodies, not a box of birch.

Go check it out and see what kind of wonderland awaits! In addition to the monthly sample pack, their website offers regular discounts, specials and video tutorials!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Favorite thing-January

I decided to add something new to my blog. Every month I will write a post about something I consider a "favorite" in my beauty regime. It might be something I use all the time, or a new product I've discovered. This month, I'm choosing something I use regularly and really love. Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion Treatment:

I think this is one of the most effective over-the-counter microdermabrasion kits one can buy, and a great deal at under $30. Professional microdermabrasion can run up into the hundreds of dollars, and while this product might not produce the exact same result as a salon treatment, it is still a great treat for your skin.

To use Olay Regenerist, you start out with a clean dry face. So wash off the makeup!

Then, apply the microdermabrasion treatment. It smells really nice and goes on like a sugar scrub. I like to apply it to my neck too, an area we all tend to ignore.

Using small circular motions, rub it lightly over your face for about a minute, giving it a nice exfoliating scrub.

Next, apply the peel activator. This is what microdermabrasion is all about, removing the dead skin and smoothing out those fine lines. Olay's Peel Activator Serum contains lactic acid, a mild alpha hydroxy acid that resurfaces skin. This is what it looks like:

A gel-like substance that foams up when it connects with the microdermabrasion treatment. Apply liberally on your skin (avoid eyes) mixing it with the crystals and again using small circular motions. It will foam and become kind of a weird texture as the crystals dissolve. You will also FEEL it. It tingles, but shouldn't be uncomfortable. If that tingling segues into burning, wash it off!

It says to massage it on your skin for 45 seconds to 1 minute. I usually go the full minute, mainly because I've used it enough that I know how my skin reacts to it. If you aren't sure or its your first try with microdermabrasion, you can start with 30-45 seconds.

Rinse well with warm water (this takes awhile as you are still going to have some gritty crystals and tightness. I often end up with crystals in my hair!) and pat dry.

Voila!

Eek, Scary no makeup me! But my face is nice and bright and shiny! I use a mild facial lotion afterwards, avoiding anything with retinol as I've noticed it burns my recently microdermed skin.

I would recommend adding microdermabrasion to your regular skincare regime, especially if you are fighting the effects of sun, aging and just plain old living. I use this treatment about twice a month. My skin is dry so more often would be less beneficial in my opinion. If you have oily skin you could probably use it 3 times a month with no problem, but I think once or twice a month is plenty.

Olay Regnerist can be found at any drugstore. I got mine at Target, on sale for $26.00. Plan on spending between $25-30 depending on where you go. Using it twice a month, a supply will usually last me about 4 months. Not a bad deal at all!

Scrub it up! Enjoy!

 

 

Must-have Mascara!!

 

As many of you know, I am always on the lookout for the perfect mascara. I got a tube of Benefit's"They're Real" mascara as a freebie last month (Birchbox? Sephora? Honestly I can't
remember....pretty sure it was Sephora though...)

 

 

 

 

Anyway, I didn't try it right away, because I usually have between 4-6 tubes of mascara that I rotate and figured I would save it till I threw one of my "in-rotation" mascaras out. When I did finally try it...WOW! I love this stuff! The consistency is great, it goes on fairly thick but isn't goopy and messy. But the coolest thing about this mascara is this....

 

Look at the tip of the brush. It has bristles ALLLLL the way around it. Which means you can get those outer corner lashes as completely as your other lashes, not to mention those cute little lower lashes that we so often ignore. It doesn't smudge and comes off easily when you wash your face.

While I usually shy away from expensive mascara, I think this is one brand that is worth a little extra money. You can get They're Real at Benefit Cosmetics website or at Sephora, both sites offer a retail price of $23.00.

So if you want some new, lush lashes, check out They're Real. It's REAL-ee awesome....



Beautiful Sally Beauty!

Despite my love of all things beauty, I had never been in a Sally Beauty Supply store until recently. I'm not sure why-I've certainly been in my share of beauty stores! Somehow it had just never been convenient, or I never had time. But the other day I noticed a new store had opened up just a few blocks from my home. I decided to pop in there and check it out.

Located in a tiny strip mall, in an equally tiny space, I was not expecting much from the store. I also thought it would probably be expensive and not have the things I wanted. I could not have been more wrong!

While tiny and somewhat packed, I was thrilled to walk into a brightly lit, well laid out space. The store was clean and both girls working there greeted me (but didn't follow me around asking if I needed help-oy how I hate that!)

I found a monstrous supply of STUFF. Stuff like these super cute little eyeshadows for less than $1.00 each:

They had a huge array of colors and if I'd had more time, I probably would have bought several more.

I also picked up these two polishes:

 

 The one on the left is by Fingerpaints and the color is "Shades of Dark". It is actually a dark purplish brown, not truly black. I love it. I also got some of Orly's "Won't Chip". I was really excited to try this. I often skip manicures because they never fail to chip on me (and for some reason I hate salon manicures. Pedicures I love, but not manicures). I was a little disappointed however, because after a day or so it still chipped. Oh well. I'll ty it again and if nothing else, its a nice shiny topcoat!

If you haven't made it to a Sally Beauty near you, I highly recommend it. They also have a promo program where if you sign up for one of their club cards, you get special pricing on all their products. They charge $5 for the card, but its returned to you as a $5 gift certificate so its really FREE.

Get some Sally in your life. Get some beauty!

 

 

A New Year, A New You?

This will probably sound ridiculous, but I have to say that New Year's is pretty much my favorite holiday. No, not New Year's eve, with the drinking and horn blowing and random kissing-I almost always work on NYE and kind of see it as amatuer night. Maybe because I don't need an excuse to drink champagne, blow kazoos and kiss randomly (random kisses to my boyfriend of course!)

My favorite holiday is New Year's DAY. That first day of a crisp, shiny new year that stretches before me and provides an endless array of possibility. THIS will be MY year! The year I get a zillion dollar screenplay deal, the year I can suddenly eat whatever I want while sporting rock-hard abs and size two jeans, the year I travel to India and the year I spend tons of quality, educational time with my children!

So none of those things usually happen, but I love the magic of a brand new year. I do make resolutions, and I have managed to stick to at least some of them in years past. I think self-improvement is always a good thing (yes, yes we are all perfect just the way we are...) and I think personal growth and development can be obtained, at least on some level, with a few good (keepable) resolutions. I'd like to share my own resolution tactics, and maybe you will want to try it too!

I like to start with categories of my life that I want to work on. This year it is fitness (like every year), family, spirituality and creativity.

The trick to making resolutions you can keep is making them real, and making them specific. Rather than, "I will lose weight" or even "I will lose 20 pounds" try something that is more narrow. My fitness New Year's resolution is to complete three half marathons. I've run half-marathons before so I know its something I can do. And I figure when I am training to run a half-marathon, being more fit (ie; losing a few lbs) is sure to go along with it. Making a goal of three over the course of the year guarantees I  will not slack off too much from my workout regime.

My second resolution is to read 3-5 books a month. I've always been an avid reader, but over the last year or two I've noticed I don't read as much as I used to. I come home from work and want to veg in front of the tv, mess with my iphone, or go online. Now, I could've just said "No more social media" or "No more television". But I don't think that is a very realistic goal for me. Too much of my freelance work is tied up in social media, and I'm not afraid to admit that I like tv! But by vowing to read more books, less social media is bound to happen too. If I'm reading more, I'm facebooking, instagramming, tweeting less. If I'm reading more, I'm watching less tv. Reading also helps inspire me to write more-the more I read, the more I write, which means I may get more freelance work or finally write a screenplay that someone will buy! A lot of potentially excellent results, all from resolving to read more.

The resolution I made to enhance my spirituality is to do one random act of kindness per month. I don't even know what the act will be-it can be anything. It might be as big as volunteering one day at the women's shelter, or as small as offering a friendly voice and a smile to someone who seems down. The point of it isn't a big grandiose gesture or big plans that I am not likely to follow through on. The point is to actively seek out moments when I might be able to accomplish my goal, and in the course of doing so, become more aware that there is more to this world than just me and my own problems.

"Spend more time with family" is another common resolution that people make. Again, it's too vague to follow through on long term. This year, I decided to plan something each month with myself and my two children. What that might be, I don't know. Maybe just dinner out. Maybe something more exotic like a ski trip or a day at the museum. Maybe just a walk in the park or hanging out and playing parcheesi. It doesn't matter. What matters is I am making myself more conscious of the importance of bringing family together. Which may, over this year-long quest, create a situation in which more family members will be around and we can ALL spend time together.

My final resolution is one of creativity. I have found that being creative breeds more creativity, not only workwise but in expanding my mind overall. So for this one, I told myself I would create one piece of art each month. Will it be a painting? A craft project? Scultpure? Poetry? Short story? It doesn't matter. The joy I get from creativity sets my mind alight with a million other ideas, opens me up to new things and gives me a deep sense of satisfaction.

I may not be able to keep all of these resolutions, but I will definitely make an effort. Even if I only get through a few months with some of them, resolving to improve, grow and learn as a person is never a bad idea.

The year is fresh, new and clean. A big blanket of snow across the ground, untouched and just waiting for YOUR footprints. Make those footprints deep and true. Make them count.

Happy New Year.

Me and My Shadow...

When I was a very little girl, I fell in love with the story of Peter Pan. I read the book, saw the movie and even had the album of the soundtrack-which I played over and over on my little record player (and probably drove my parents nuts.) One of my favorite parts of the story was when Peter lost his shadow and Wendy had to sew it back on for him. Watching that shadow dancing away, finally free, was one of the funniest things my four-year-old self had ever seen!

I didn't think about how sad Peter might have been without his shadow, his constant companion. Until a few weeks ago, when I lost my own shadow as well...

Trace was my Australian Cattle Dog. I got him when he was barely nine weeks old, a chubby little guy with a cute face and a very unusual "ring" tail (we used to call it his raccoon tail)

Having lost my female rottweiler about a year before, I wanted a dog that could run with me, protect me and be a wonderful companion. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into with a Cattle Dog.

As a puppy, he was insanely active. He could go from morning till night, no holds barred. A huge ball of energy that I could barely contain, making me realize that THIS dog was almost more than I could handle. He also drove me crazy because he was always, always on top of me. Where ever I went, there he was. In my face, on my lap, at my feet, UNDER my feet!

I had a siamese cat at the time, and they became fast friends. I got endless hours of entertainment, watching the two of them play:

As he got older, I kept thinking he would calm down. Didn't really happen. He remained an intense dog, one that watched people with a wagging tail but would go crazy if a stranger knocked at the front door. A dog that loved to hike and climb mountains. My ex used to take him hiking all the time, and one of his favorite pastimes was chasing sheep off "his" mountains.

The force was strong in him, although I think he was more inclined towards the dark side. His herding instinct was always at the forefront. When visitors left our house I had to lock him up or they were likely to leave with bite marks on their ankles or the backs of their legs. He caught my brother unawares a few times, sneaking up behind him as he started out the front door, giving him a painful nip before racing gleefully off up the stairs, too fast for anyone to catch him.

The only thing that overrode his herding instinct was his need to have a "job". Dogs that are meant to work have to have something to focus on, a task that guides them daily and makes them feel useful. I was Trace's "job". I was his focus, his responsibility. And he took it seriously. Everywhere I went, there he was. In my face, in my lap, at my feet, UNDER my feet. There he was.

In time, I grew accustomed to it. I didn't notice that he stood directly behind me when I was in the kitchen, nose often gently pressed against the back of my calf. I didn't notice him laying next to me when I sat on the couch watching tv, or sleeping at the foot of my bed. He became part of me, an attachment that I couldn't shake. My shadow.

Despite the intensity and sometimes aggresive behavior, he did have a soft side. He could be very tolerant with small kids and babies (older kids, not so much. He'd herd 'em up and bite them as soon as look at them)

And then there was his relationship with Bella, my little Brussels Griffon that we lost back in August:

This is a picture from when Bella was a puppy and Trace was about two years old. It is one of my all-time favorite pictures. There is so much love in his expression, while Bella is full of her big-dog attitude. We called them "The Dynamic Duo" and it was true. They loved each other and depended on each other for daily support and entertainment.

Over the years, Trace did calm down. His hearing slowly went, causing him to no longer bark and snarl like a maniac when someone knocked at the front door. He began to sleep more, and at night when I came home from work, he often didn't wake from his deep slumber. I would have to go over and touch him to wake him, but he always started wagging his tail when he saw me, getting up slowly to follow me around the house. I got to where I would try to sit down on the couch and stay there for awhile, so he could just sit by me and not be stressed and in pain trying to follow me.

At the end, he still made me his job. We went on a trip in early December. Ever since we'd lost Bella, he had been fading more and more. I was very concerned about leaving him. My cousin stayed at our house and my dad was right next door, and both assured me they would watch over him and he'd be fine. We were gone five days. We came home early Monday morning. He greeted me with his usual joy, grateful to have me home. He didn't eat that day, nor did he take any water. That evening, he laid down in the hallway and refused to get back up. I spent most of the night sitting on the floor next to him, watching him slowly go comatose. He laid with his head on my lap, and I talked to him all night. I told him that he had done a wonderful job, had taken care of us all, and it was okay if he needed to go now. I knew he was so tired.

We took Trace in early Tuesday morning. My boyfriend had to carry him out to the car, as he could no longer walk, and while he carried him, he whispered to him that he promised to take care of me now, that it was okay to leave me because he would keep me safe.

I held Trace in my arms and whispered my last goodbyes to him as he went. I told him that I was so proud to have been his owner, that he had been the best dog I'd ever had and I knew there would never be another love in my life like his. He went quietly and peacefully.

In the weeks since his death, I've had to adjust to not stepping over a dog as I exit a room, not feeling the weight of him against my leg as I watch tv, missing his presence and the peace his devotion brought me. Like Peter Pan, I am without my shadow, and I have no way of getting it back.

Right after he passed, I had a vision in my head. I saw his old body rising up into a white tunnel of light. As he passed through the light, his body became young again, his eyes bright, fur shiny, muscles sleek and powerful. He came out into a big green grassy field. Bella was waiting for him, barking and jumping in joy. Together, they ran off across the field, ready to chase frisbees for eternity, happy and free of any pain or suffering. Maybe that seems silly to some, but it gave me a great amount of comfort and still does.

Trace made it to almost 16 years old, a long and happy life for any dog. He got to do things and see things that many dogs never do. He had the same family his whole life, from puppy-hood to old age, never having to experience the trauma that so many pets have to go through as people treat them like they are disposable and get rid of them without a second thought.

I hope he's up there, chasing frisbees and barking at sheep, Bella at his heels. I hope I see him again someday. I think I will.

Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses? No way!!

I've been wearing glasses off and on since I was in my early 20's. Off and on has slowly become more "on" than off. I was always near-sighted, but usually wore my glasses  just for seeing distance and night driving. Well nowwww, as I've gotten a wee bit older, I can no longer see up close either! Because I wasn't thrilled with the concept of bi-focals, I decided to keep my prescription glasses as they were for distance, and pick up some reading glasses.

"Some", as in more than one....

Reading glasses can be a fun way to update a look (and read the fine print in newspapers...). I found some really cute ones on a site called Peepers and even ordered a pair for my boyfriend, who has also been fighting his aging eyes (must be why he still sees me as young and beautiful!). He loves them and looks sooo handsome in them. He thinks glasses are incredibly hot and give the impression of a smart, savvy and sexy woman.


I think a lot of men find glasses sexy. Well maybe not these..

But look at these cuties!

Reading glasses can be found both online and in various drugstores and department stores for between $10 and $20. I think it is a great, inexpensive way to add to your own sense of style. I mean, everyone's doing it...

So if your favorite books and magazines are giving you blurry vision and a headache, maybe some low-level readers would be a way to not only see better, but look sophisticated and fashion-forward.

All eyes on you. Go for it!