tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873826245312032762024-02-19T19:55:07.736-05:00Mommy Loves Beauty: Makeup, Hair, and Skincare Tips for Fabulous Moms and Babies!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-37834267611507846382010-12-09T07:00:00.020-05:002010-12-10T05:08:21.689-05:00The Glow Getter: Origins Never A Dull Moment Skin Brightening Cleanser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Never A Dull Moment™" src="http://www.origins.com/images/products/208x285/or_03CK01_208.jpg" /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div>Hi Mommies! Long time no talk. But now that I'm here, lets talk skincare!<br />
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Since the weather here in New England has officially turned sad and ugly, my combination skin was looking, well....sad and ugly. The cold air was making my dead skin cells cling to my face for dear life, and the result was dull, lackluster skin with mega clogged pores and breakouts...so freaking unacceptable.<br />
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As I was working out a game plan (I kid you not, its that serious), I recalled the bright, clean pored results I got from the Origins Never A Dull Moment Cleanser. I had picked up a sample over the summer and loved it, but I'd gotten sidetracked with other products, so I'd never purchased the full size. Well, girls, the first opportunity I got I beat it to my Origins store (<a href="http://mommylovesbeauty.blogspot.com/search/label/Origins">Ana</a> wasn't there. Sad face.) and picked up a tube.<br />
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Never A Dull Moment is packed with fruit acids and papaya extract that dissolve pore clogging debris and dead skin cells for a more radiant, healthier looking complexion. The cleanser itself is a clear gel that works into a creamy lather when added to damp skin, and it smells absolutely heavenly, like fresh cut fruit. What I appreciate the most about this cleanser, however, is the fact that it does not dry out my skin. When I rinse it away, my pores are noticeably clean and my skin is smoother, but there's no gross, tight feeling afterward. This is really huge because its important to not over dry oily skin or you risk major repercussions. Like, major.<br />
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So since my love affair with this stuff began, I've had considerably less clogged pores, my pores themselves have shrunken considerably, and I've had almost no breakouts to speak of. I've also noticed that my superficial hyperpigmentation marks have faded, and my skin is more even toned and healthy looking. Clearly, Origins and I are BFFs!<br />
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If your skin's feeling down in the dumps, you should definitely head to <a href="http://www.origins.com/product/3853/10998/Skincare/Daily-Essentials/Cleansers/Never-A-Dull-Moment/Skin-brightening-face-cleanser-with-fruit-extracts/index.tmpl">Origins</a> and give <a href="http://www.origins.com/product/3853/10998/Skincare/Daily-Essentials/Cleansers/Never-A-Dull-Moment/Skin-brightening-face-cleanser-with-fruit-extracts/index.tmpl">Never A Dull Moment</a> a go. You'll be glowing in no time.<br />
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<i>*This post brought to you in part by <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/YoungFabMama">Alexandra</a> at <a href="http://mommyglow.blogspot.com/">Mommy Glow</a>. Go pay her a visit, and tell her I said hi...and thanks. :-)*</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-45690352983291883422010-10-31T22:54:00.001-04:002010-10-31T22:54:07.942-04:00The Cutest Kitty I Ever Did See…<p> </p> <p>Happy Halloween, Mommies!</p> <p> So I’ll be the first to admit that Halloween is my least favorite holiday. The origin and true meaning of it has sent me into <strike>anxiety</strike> information overload more times than I’d be willing to admit in print. I’m used to it though, its just one of the many side effects of being a research whore who needs to know everything about everything. </p> <p>Well lucky for me I have this fabulous little kitty to keep me focused on the good, yummy things in life. Without her I’d go absolutely crazy, I’m sure.</p> <p>Ladies and Mommies, I’d like to present…</p> <p align="center"><font size="2">Robot Kitty…</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-boijk3C8rLg1XyW5hfmrVQP1Vp-B5UPo9Zv6vR1TffkvH1o19q6UT9OvjoDlqg9ZTiTaFefZE8pq71EsiKVeZp3pqEb8HuwwSovyPbCbrgeCY-RrbGNY0OGhp9AG-XGYPP-TOqGhCjY/s1600-h/SDC10829%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="SDC10829" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="SDC10829" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-Mt4Qob1ulZpMh4VzKDDkI1XQnfs1pmFrR4roEAXS4l8JH2mVc5L7LI1LcvbNO9meTTyh4ae4N6DRXljsI3v6_CjIIc8GzdMMZXDTn4ey1VRR46ABOGO83Mhf3yvHO3rfLFSOT0ll_uz/?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a><font size="2"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">…Shy Kitty…</font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtldMarj3E_3ZQ57oZjmJ5mmzNTPtBMgIFOkgot8ot_pOOaMYc8cR3nkzpQo05SELQSIGcc5PiQmSReoJ3fuG2BVjUntoFiK_dNbqi5Uir0v3FKfTHNHfc62hMqV2MhoN74-ZVwLxVx17/s1600-h/SDC10831%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="SDC10831" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="SDC10831" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilptGE_8jjhDmdFhoNatIsWRhvM1_xHlsuvEhicbE-OkyVEYXPEurOnlR8L3RP09K7H_Fewrlo-jaELFpPCMBAPpHyd7RgAJjFLL7954AkFtyCNi9JwdGBNHC-M2HTFDTngF6Cst5RwSlw/?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">…and Silly Kitty!</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gB8y5OAFd5LmFiaOC_5qSNaotvpcIAn2mJg6zdX7rY-oqeVORvZZzSrMqxXhN2uwWMir_CNjWTjJPfVxXh-jpjAX2qNqaykjN_gVF4WdhT2QWaLd_Llm6rMXl6WfXMwVFFXLu_JbpnS6/s1600-h/SDC10833%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="SDC10833" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="SDC10833" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXCMXzjlXNv4rh-SnCndDx3H-N8qbeDgaM6XwQCGVVf1mVu3LaRFUUey1uyy-c_TB1VDTCN9eijoFB9ldLpnlIV1o0T4y-AyEck7XSJc9e2eN-6gZuMYNDo6XWPI1WXFmnG1YiTh6hCYi/?imgmax=800" width="184" border="0" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>She loved the pink lip. I used NYX’s Pinky lip liner and Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Plaza Pink. She wears it so much better than me.</p> <p>Hope you all enjoyed your Halloween. I’m off to steal all of Kitty’s Almond Joys…don’t judge me!</p> <p>Good night :-)</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>P.S.</strong>~ I can’t wait to show you girls the skin treatment I made from the Jack-o-lantern scraps!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-39370388622117961612010-09-20T07:00:00.000-04:002010-09-20T07:00:07.455-04:00Taming the Beast: Tresseme Heat Tamer Spray<p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguciDNRv9mj2fCYGU1FiSCsEmbj17cf5V9ci_BXR6bllk_U5uNg6Jf4aO6wgWFLVwoRZtU3MPoA_EYVMdLtnLurdt4SPpFwT_NSGvCx1OrqK4AC13AYKqFpLIfN7ERXDWxQ10YNpKgzswo/s1600-h/SDC10738%5B17%5D.jpg"><img title="SDC10738" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="500" alt="SDC10738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFwz4Ws_o0hVTO64Ko-R1Nt46CalPv14btEmw8FUzLBkDLWTFPUwPaNU_-j_9gTTZlNbvjr0fPWfG6j4p1lbbZz7l3f0K0ZOUek3YrYlsWhv3DwmxHtpBSKsrNZctxF_4bF_n8MT6bLf3/?imgmax=800" width="477" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Good morning, Loves!</p> <p>Its Fall! Well…not officially but it sure feels like it here in New England. The air is nice and crisp, the temperature is comfy, the humidity is nonexistent, and I’m not constantly at the mercy of blotting papers and pressed powder. Aaah, freedom!</p> <p>Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I’m a November baby so this change starts the landslide into my birthday and the hubbub of the holidays. It always feels like a new beginning, and this year I welcome that more than I ever have. I’ve got a growing list of things to accomplish before I turn twenty seven! The clock is ticking!</p> <p>Anyway, as all we vain chicks know, with a change of season comes a change in beauty! That means going from bright, punchy lipcolors and nail polish to deep, vampy ones, and smokey eyes galore. Its also my time of year to switch from rocking my naturally curly hair to sleek, straightened locks. </p> <p>The only problem: my hair is a nightmare. A TOTAL FREAKING NIGHTMARE!</p> <p>I’m dead smack in the middle of transitioning from relaxed to natural, so I’ve got a ton of thick, wild curls going on, with their chemicaly altered counterparts straggling behind, and its becoming super obvious! I don’t have the strength to do the Big Chop, so I needed something that would protect my hair in its fragile state while helping my roots <em>actually</em> stay straight so my hair didn’t look like it was having a total identity crisis.</p> <p>Enter: <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=147153&catid=3562&aid=337953&aparam=tresemme_thermal_creatio&CAWELAID=61276485">Tresseme Heat Tamer Spray</a> (applause!).</p> <p>Product info:</p> <p><em>"There’s one rule when you expose your hair to heat- the hair must be protected. This product guards against heat and friction to keep your hair shiny and incredibly soft. Its a fantastic tool for instantly transforming all hair textures, enhancing strands’ flexibility to reform and hold shape.” <font size="1"><a href="http://www.tresemme.com/Products/Heat/Thermal-Creations-Heat-Tamer-Spray/">(source)</a></font></em></p> <p><font size="3">To use, simply spray each section of hair before blow drying or flat ironing, and heat style as usual. This spray definitely makes straightening my hair easier, and it does not revert back to curly as quickly as it normally would. I also noticed that my hair keeps the smooth, supple feeling that it has when I wear it curly, but I think that may be partially due to the henna gloss treatment I gave myself recently. More about that later!</font></p> <p><font size="3">Upon inspecting the ingredients (as all self respecting natural hair enthusiasts do!), I realized that the Heat Tamer Spray contains two different types of silicones as main ingredients: amodimethicone and dimethicone. The significance of this will vary depending on your hair type, because silicones are essentially plastics that coat the hair and can prevent moisture and nutrients from entering the hair shaft, and can even cause breakage when used incorrectly. </font></p> <p><font size="3">So what’s a curly girl to do? Be sure to wash your hair with a shampoo that contains sulfates or <a href="http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curly-q-a/whats-the-scoop-on-silicones">other cleansing agent</a> to remove the silicones, and deep treat the hair thoroughly with a silicone free conditioner <strong>EVERY TIME. </strong>If you don’t, you could be depriving your hair of much needed nutrients and moisture when using this stuff.</font></p> <p>As long as you know how to use it, Tresseme Heat Tamer Spray can definitely enhance your hair straightening experience! </p> <p>Bust out those flat irons, girls! Fall is coming!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-49340143469647756142010-09-15T14:07:00.004-04:002010-09-15T15:02:33.178-04:00Need food for thought? Have some Kandee. <a href="http://kandeethemakeupartist.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0bgszkLxbJXDSla3_bE_60ylbk4pnNFZg_XKz1q06wfKbHLrRaEt_DIup2dztXqDNLOSC0yAe_TjPlJ2OXxa2TZB9_KSoVcNfKS6aiIllT2DIOrZ9VvT1rjLdiXArz5aUX-9cXxwB_8O/s320/kandeeny.png" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Kandee Johnson</span></div><br />
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Hi loves!<br />
As I type, I’m in a state of blending in with my sectional, flanked with an extra large mug of tea and a pile of old magazines while Rachel Zoe is showing on the telly. She’s so fab.<br />
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Don’t envy me, girls! See, I woke up this morning with a bad stomach ache and a horribly weakened resolve. The thought of going to work and pretending that I was happy and well was making me even more weak and nauseous than I already was.<br />
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So what did I do? <br />
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Called in sick and decided to feel sorry for myself for the day. Quite the perfect opportunity to catch up on Youtube videos and blogs, so I got comfy and logged on.<br />
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My Youtube subscription box is filled with beauty gurus (naturally), and one of them is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson?blend=1&ob=4#p/u">Kandee Johnson</a>. She’s an extremely gorgeous, optimistic makeup artist who makes information filled videos with cute, cheeky titles (“A Whole Lot of Nudes!”, “Oh my MOD (twiggy)”). It was while browsing her channel that I came across the video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson#p/u/104/Uxb8zV6QIZw">“Go Get Your Dreams and My Story”</a>.<br />
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I have to admit, I don’t usually watch these kind of “inspirational” Youtube videos. I usually find them to be a little contrived and a lot egocentric, but something, most likely my weakened resolve, made me click that link. <br />
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It wasn’t contrived, corny, or egocentric. At all. It was the story about her life before tv, Youtube stardom, and <a href="http://kandeelandkandeeland.blogspot.com/2010/09/glam-what.html">Glaminars</a>. With watery eyes, Kandee recanted her story of abuse, near homelessness, malnutrition, and becoming a mother in the midst of all the chaos. <br />
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That’s right, she’s one of us :-).<br />
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After listening to Kandee’s story about her dreams and how she made them come true, I forced myself up from the couch, swigged some Pepto, and proceeded to clean my entire apartment. And by clean I <em>do</em> mean clean<em>.</em> I put away all of my Lovebug’s toys, washed all of the dishes, took out the trash, moved all of the furniture so that I could vacuum and sweep the entire floor, cleaned the baseboards, put everything back, scrubbed the toilet and bathtub, uninstalled and stored the air conditioner for the season, and all the while pondered : <strong><em>Why the HELL am I feeling sorry for myself? </em></strong><br />
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Don’t get me wrong, my life is hard, but life is hard for everyone. I know its an understatement to say that single motherhood is difficult, but that’s really what it is, and it was getting to me for a while. Its taxing and stressful, but its also what feeds me, gives me life, motivation, and purpose. Even though roadblocks and curveballs are part of my everyday life, I know there are plenty of successful people who have walked in these same proverbial shoes.<br />
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I want to be one of those people. <br />
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No, I <strong>need</strong> to be one of those people.<br />
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I was racking my brain trying to figure out who, what, and where when I remembered something…<br />
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It was a weekday night, and I was making dinner, so my Lovebug dragged her wooden step stool into the kitchen so she could watch me cook. Its one of her absolute favorite things to do, and she’s becoming quite the little sous chef. I could hear her grunting and panting as she lifted the weight of the stool that almost equaled her own, but I let her struggle her way across the room.<br />
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When she finally reached her destination, she plopped it down, planted her foot on the top step, and looked at me triumphantly and said “I did it Mama! I’m strong.”<br />
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“Good job!”, I said, as I clapped and kneeled down to plant a big kiss on her heart shaped lips. I was so proud of my girl. When I pulled back, she was staring at me with her eyebrows threaded together, looking very concerned.<br />
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“Are <em>you</em> strong, Mama?” she asked. <br />
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And I, without hesitation, replied “Yup, Mama’s strong just like you…you made me that way.”<br />
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And at that she beamed so hard that her eyes turned to slits, wrapped herself in a hug, and gave me an affirmative nod.<br />
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Like she knew all along.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uMGQ3xZGNuTu09brxPyMJOzhvEmUX01NYmjOIRYV4ZSC-RKC9-IKSyX5KuPRg4zTJxsWUrWCqKkuTrvqKA2-lb1wTlbPdK_FLMSdl1I1FhUlxIMr-hmIWg2a4tUj2ouNQL6BxYqbaVN9/s1600-h/SDC10515%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="SDC10515" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ql4byDeOPksG7-417HMD5wXmnz1SI9X9WPKAJbdfHr-BaBm7UI0i_G9okGiA_oNNG0YTXOwwd_ZXiycBR6Plb2ujkeF1VtwtjaNXkhPa_m7Td1E1KnoeYzeD3ALzATcv1XMi20XVDpP5/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="SDC10515" width="194" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-33827799312393403562010-06-18T07:00:00.009-04:002010-06-18T07:00:03.291-04:00Some Carol’s Daughter Love…<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfYFvS3O0nlgDWUv-sweMeiFq0xt0VHCL5ZfyJqr6nHFPHxwmt2sc_vOWS-6AaNs9icMTCrWqG3zzvIrtFkYNu-qrEXEcjuCasT6L7O6xCT1CJSiezJhIV4p22GR5pfhSN0GpJx4ULz_2/s1600/SDC10698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfYFvS3O0nlgDWUv-sweMeiFq0xt0VHCL5ZfyJqr6nHFPHxwmt2sc_vOWS-6AaNs9icMTCrWqG3zzvIrtFkYNu-qrEXEcjuCasT6L7O6xCT1CJSiezJhIV4p22GR5pfhSN0GpJx4ULz_2/s400/SDC10698.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P262502&categoryId=C13121">Carol’s Daughter’s Hair Milk</a> has been around for a few years now, and there’s a ton of hype about this product. They definitely don’t need my little blog post to promote it, that’s for sure. Its popular among natural, relaxed, and blow dried women of all ethnicities, and I can totally see why!<br />
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This product is really lightweight, yet moisturizes effectively because its actually sinks into the hair instead of coating it. I apply about a dime sized amount to my little love’s damp hair, and it transforms her mane from a dry puff to moisturized and defined goodness! Have a lil’ look see:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHRMgGWCF5DZ7s-aDJHXUMZaD2-a0ieAsH7lWeIjZdBl1WTEB05AaGcf1hyphenhyphenJep9CA5y6xqglb3hklwKjHJ7M_KArm1DsVT4_lBKJ4hxGDgnvN30DBq58QKS7v-AMZ87v1lln8TjJClz2J/s1600/SDC10640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHRMgGWCF5DZ7s-aDJHXUMZaD2-a0ieAsH7lWeIjZdBl1WTEB05AaGcf1hyphenhyphenJep9CA5y6xqglb3hklwKjHJ7M_KArm1DsVT4_lBKJ4hxGDgnvN30DBq58QKS7v-AMZ87v1lln8TjJClz2J/s320/SDC10640.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">She likes it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB38oIwpeXEYMVvcJBUitInVaNTC0krt3ioOrh7ZdnTUFm_3eZrvWZMsbt-CiLw2Bh1ctpXNIdlxVM9Or3lbk80CIXO3rNaIjJL3TdxIIAQk7I6O0qrtbJbfWjjDNIQjEcYYEKpThS1xQi/s1600/SDC10641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB38oIwpeXEYMVvcJBUitInVaNTC0krt3ioOrh7ZdnTUFm_3eZrvWZMsbt-CiLw2Bh1ctpXNIdlxVM9Or3lbk80CIXO3rNaIjJL3TdxIIAQk7I6O0qrtbJbfWjjDNIQjEcYYEKpThS1xQi/s320/SDC10641.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I tried it in my curly hair when wet and let it air dry, and it definitely gave me soft, defined curls, but this stuff provides no hold whatsoever. I was looking a hot tangled mess when I woke the next day, and Mommy needs her second day hair!<br />
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I think I’ll just stick to using it on the kiddo.<br />
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For me, Hair Milk’s biggest selling point is that its free if parabens, petroleum, and mineral oil, and it carries Sephora’s natural seal. That means a lot to me because I purchased it specifically for my Lovebug and I want to give her hair and body the best start possible. She’s worth it. <br />
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You can pick this up at <a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P262502&categoryId=C13121">Sephora</a>, <a href="http://carolsdaughter.com/">Carolsdaughter.com</a>, and Carol’s Daughter Stores.<br />
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Got Milk? Carol’s Daughter does!<br />
Muah!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-59225498097368350152010-06-15T10:24:00.009-04:002010-06-16T14:03:47.135-04:00Hair Treat: Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9WOeXLvuf-ZRiFmd9jAdcpxJVeuQoK3z47hHvsxp8s7ccBTE6djHoJZ5IaGVGvhPC5ZjNDwhGSqUHQmCRyQS2Q_yWANLEb7KUvWOfrRcdS-bK5lRKryBfOmLBend-CZhQHnMOPKNcYYE/s1600/SDC10676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9WOeXLvuf-ZRiFmd9jAdcpxJVeuQoK3z47hHvsxp8s7ccBTE6djHoJZ5IaGVGvhPC5ZjNDwhGSqUHQmCRyQS2Q_yWANLEb7KUvWOfrRcdS-bK5lRKryBfOmLBend-CZhQHnMOPKNcYYE/s400/SDC10676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"> Hi girls!</span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; color: black; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 6px; min-height: 1100px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Time for some more hair chat...</div><br />
So now that I've decided to go natural, I've been exposed to this whole new world of haircare products. Unlike the products I've used in the past, these are meant to encourage the natural hair texture, not oppress it, nourish it instead of beating it into submission, and I have to say I'm totally digging the philosophy!<br />
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I put in an order for some Miss Jessie's products a few months ago, and I'm really impressed. I've especially seen a huge difference in my Lovebug's hair since I've been using the Baby Buttercreme on her. It used to be really dry looking and kind of frizzy, but now its moist, soft, and her natural curl pattern is really pronounced. Love it.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Along with a few other styling cremes, I purchased the Super Sweetback Treatment, which is a deep conditioner that contains centella extract which encourages healthy growth while nourishing the hair and weighing down curls for manageability. The conditioner itself is pink and sweet smelling, like strawberry bubblegum. The consistency is thick, heavy and dense, and when I applied it to my hair, it kind of melted and absorbed into my strands instead of coating it like many conditioners I've tried. I got the same results when I used it in my daughter's hair too, which I was pleased about since we have two completely different textures.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I applied it to my whole length of hair, concentrating on my natural roots and my dry ends, and let it sit for 30 minutes ("What is that on your head, Mom? Its pink.") like it says on the directions ("You gonna leave it on there, Mom? Why?"). I made sure to cover my hair with a plastic cap for maximum absorption ("I want some in my head too, Mom. Cuz its pink."). </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I immediately noticed a difference in the feel of my hair when it was time to rinse it out. It felt silky, soft, and really healthy. And get this: my curls actually air dried in their natural form! It didn't get all frizzy and dry looking. Just healthy, formed curls. Ha! And when I used it in my Lovebug's hair, it was sticking straight up in healthy looking coils.</div><br />
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The biggest difference that I've seen with this conditioner vs. commercial brands is the use of actual plant oils instead of mineral oil and other greasy, no good additives. The drawback, however, is the price. At $48 plus shipping, this will not be a staple item for me. I'll just have to savor it until its all gone...its gonna be so hard to say goodbye... until I become independently wealthy, that is.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Gotta dream big!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Until next time, Mommies!<br />
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<b>NOTE: Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment is now available in a 2 oz. sample size for $9.00</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-34279796309599104852010-06-09T07:00:00.007-04:002010-06-10T15:08:38.997-04:00Hormones and Chocolate: Lush “Cupcake” Fresh Face Mask<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsxPJDDsZ25A8pYTbv4yLAadlFh0ExEz049ZnCQKvONGFTFj83kLWMINGwx-1IxoEpw0iMwYMKRNSDMaDgom3gdYEwIoDO-j4dmQE36WHRDZ9LUCr7qDP0ztAgl5xsNgQM5rZB0ouCrdN/s1600-h/SDC10561%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="SDC10561" border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79V8g-rItGeLSAJre9zjhqsRWq7mReGhYtxHvGE_w2JxwedLhggyiqQRJp8PXtP7TdvBf5ZucJBMrQ0mN1bLudFufkimHHpqV9duzUPihJa-HFyHhEv8evDY8RkIsnCJhobjVKWFnDCIq/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="SDC10561" width="305" /></a> <br />
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Hi Mommies! <br />
Long time no talk (sorry).<br />
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So lately I've been, like, extra hormonal...you know what I'm talking about. The mood swings have sent many an innocent bystander running for cover, and the zits were coming out and waving ‘goodbye’ to folks on their way out the door. Sad, sad story. <br />
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In addition to the hormones, the oppressing humidity we've been having in the Northeast has turned my face into an oil slick, which just makes matters worse since bacteria thrives in excess oil! All of this resulted in some deep, stubborn blemishes that completely shot down my <a href="http://www.mariobadescu.com/drying-cream">Mario Badescu Drying Cream</a>, <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P244807">Clarisonic brush</a>, and my go to skincare mask, <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/qxp20971_333181_sespider_1_1/freeman/facial_clay_mask_avocado_and_oatmeal_purifying.htm">Freeman’s Clay Mask with Avocado and Oatmeal</a>. I even stooped as low as Crest toothpaste!<br />
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Feel my pain?<br />
M'kay, thanks.<br />
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I was at the mall with my cousins waiting for our showing of Sex and the City 2 (Anybody seen it? I thought it was entertaining, but it didn’t reach out and touch me like the first one.), so I decided to stop by <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/shop">Lush</a> to find something to remedy the situation on my face, because I'd heard really great things about their Fresh Face Masks.<br />
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The customer service at my local Lush store is nothing short of amazing. The girls are all really passionate and educated about the store’s products and mission, and it shows. As soon as I stepped in the door, an associate named Kris offered me her assistance. I recognized her as the same woman who’d given my mother a lil’ education about <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/haircare/henna-hair-dyes/">henna</a> application.<br />
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Anyway, when I told Kris about my skin crisis (merely a formality. She could see that mess!) she immediately recommended the “Cupcake” mask. The damage was a mere $5.95 for 2.1 oz.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkmCISM50d-SxhOTTAo-V7Sf1qM2HdZ7FNmfs-NfXHrEPWsOOIdYR8ub19sZMPyWM6cS_b4StNd5eWIwygf7WiGSmNkLKDPnHt_Iyve5P9zZIdm_b_ZD2uuU74sETNFBKBthy65wyeJ0e/s1600-h/SDC10562%5B2%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SDC10562" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gonbOM6EJ-9oWBD2P7Q9qn4-y2zmMIoMFpLhzeWxSfxOYhhyyqIW3ffXNcG7EUiC_4IIz_uMYG0Oxt77UZSUYecsQbAsoJcde8aENVq4q_Cdd7oJhd4LOeQ9j72dXWeHzhzNzaEm3t_N/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="SDC10562" width="225" /></a></div><br />
This particular mask contains Rhassoul mud for cleansing, cocoa butter and linseed for softening, and peppermint, spearmint, and sandalwood oil for balancing. Its recommended for oily and teenage (i.e. hormonal) skin. I applied it after removing my makeup with <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P7109">Purity Made Simple</a>, and cleansing with <a href="http://www.origins.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY5790&PRODUCT_ID=PROD101">Origins Checks and Balances</a>, and it felt divine! In the sticky, thick humidity this stuff instantly woke my skin up and made it feel super fresh, and it summoned up cravings for an Andes Creme De Menthe Mint.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC8cR2o_qsluiOKsaq1FnNpuzdHhIVTS5sv_nbaoXz-UR3bjfF040dffkuwOtcTOcbIo7mA9j0qjlQCJkN-dWDETi1sY-egOzDPDGQpmxH15r8FonzUFsrW9PAKvzKTsVxqZTV8NdcUO2/s1600-h/SDC10577%5B4%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SDC10577" border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZa8RO9IC9piptfBeE0l0EvPc8Tf_M3Nx2tg7tMCr452I55dqVLcW3ZpL2h6VC41RyZXJeaO4lgs2R7tNSeKRQnq12Q4l8E7iDJQ-NXBB0Y0cwLZg0z296K_SEiDOHCkkJMRYlAswDAy4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="SDC10577" width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Please excuse my second day hair…</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div>So the following morning, I woke up to find that my zits had given up on the party. So I used it again the next day, and they stopped trying to engage in conversation. And after the third day I was pleased to find that they’d found a new purpose in life, in a land that was not my face.<br />
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Lovely.<br />
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Lush’s Fresh Face Masks are just what they say they are- <strong>fresh</strong>. Thus, they have to be refrigerated and they have an expiration date, just like a carton of milk or eggs, and you can only purchase them in-store, not online. Because of this, I'd only recommend purchasing one to address a specific skin issue as needed. Definitely not something you can stockpile, but that’s exactly what I love the most about these masks. They’re potent <strong>because</strong> they’re fresh, and there’s no worry about unnecessary chemicals. Great for my pregnant or breastfeeding Mommies, since everything we put onto our skin ends up in our bloodstream. <br />
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If you’re having some skin upsets lately, I’d definitely recommend ‘Cupcake’. I’m sure its gotten plenty of women through PMS and pregnancy, maybe it can help you too! I’ll definitely be picking it up on the regular, especially because you get a <strong>free mask</strong> for every five empty black pots you return to the Lush store. <br />
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Whoo hoo! Free stuff!<br />
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Have your ‘Cupcake’ and eat it too, Mommies!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-24060768414011974952010-05-26T13:05:00.002-04:002010-05-26T13:07:58.446-04:00Beauty With a Conscience: Ojon Ultra Hydrating Shampoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ultra Hydrating Shampoo" height="320" src="http://a248.g.akamai.net/7/248/8278/20090910030918/www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/product/P93509/P93509_hero.jpg" width="320" /></div><br />
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Happy Thursday, Mommies!<br />
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Time to talk hair!<br />
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So recently, I decided to stop relaxing my hair and embrace my inner curly girl. It was a huge step for me because I've always had a little bit of an aversion to haircare. Relaxing my hair ensured that I didn't have to think about it much, and it made my hair care routine extra simple. Strange disposition for a product junkie, but I just can't seem to bring my self to care about it that much, and I still don't, actually!<br />
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I do, however, care about my Lovebug. Her texture is kinky/curly (type 3 in the front, type 4 in the back) and really thick. It was while researching products for her natural hair (more on those later) that I decided to stop relaxing. I began to wonder what kind of message I would be sending her by stressing the beauty of her hair texture while suppressing my own. Needless to say, it was time for a change!<br />
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During my research I discovered that shampooing is a big faux pas in the natural hair world. Apparently they're very drying and have a tendency to strip the hair. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not giving up my shampoo! Never! Thankfully, I came across Ojon.<br />
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The common denominator to all Ojon products is the Ojon oil, which is harvested from the Ojon trees in Central America by the Miskito Indian tribe. In their native tongue, they're known as "<i>Tawira</i>", or <b><i>"the people of beautiful hair" <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ojon.com/tawira.php">(source)</a>. </span>The oil is the Miskito tribe's main form of both haircare and skincare, and it shows. Take a look at their photos and read their story <a href="http://www.ojon.com/tawira.php">here</a>.</span></span></i></b><br />
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Mommies, I was seriously budgeting for this haircare line. Not only because of the product claims, but because the Ojon Corporation reinvests to help preserve the rain forest, as well as provide nutrition and educational opportunities for the Tawira people <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ojon.com/promise.php">(source)</a>. </span>Beauty with a conscience, gotta love it. Thankfully, there was no budgeting required because my own Mommy really loves me and surprised me with this shampoo. Thanks, Mommy!<br />
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Anyhoo, this is a product review, not a PSA. Here's the skinny on Ojon Ultra Hydrating Shampoo:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Thumbs Up!</span></b></div><br />
<ul><li>Thick texture ( like honey), but very workable</li>
<li>Lovely cocoa butter-like scent</li>
<li>Does not lather, so its not as drying as lathering shampoo</li>
<li>Availability (<a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P93509&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5787">Sephora</a>, <a href="http://ojon.com/">Ojon.com</a>, and Easy Pay on <a href="http://www.qvc.com/qsearch/search.aspx">QVC</a>, baby!)</li>
<li>It didn't strip my hair. When I rinsed, my hair felt clean but still smooth, and my curls were well formed, not fuzzy.</li>
<li>Supports the Miskito Tribe, producers of the Ojon Oil.</li>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Thumbs Down!</span></b></div><br />
<ul><li>Still contains sulfates, which are known drying agents. If you have really dry hair, you might want to go with sulfate free shampoos.</li>
<li>Price ($18.00 for 8.44 oz)</li>
</ul><div>I'll also be reviewing the Ojon Restorative Treatment in the near future!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Stay Beautifully Conscious, Mommies!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P93509&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5787">photo source</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-76939765507663768402010-05-24T14:26:00.010-04:002010-06-16T14:07:21.367-04:00All Purpose Beauty: Josie Maran Argan Oil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkSLcVeLzz_pTjgeEmJchECtYhsQuVWOFntMyNKuMmFo78UxaGc9e7zhZm8i4UJTiScA-bnnEP3j0Ac4ssuzI05KvuMxhdgZP8d0OkckiHet4el942bzRAT7yj6M353UTqAkunZRQ3zSj/s1600/SDC10706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkSLcVeLzz_pTjgeEmJchECtYhsQuVWOFntMyNKuMmFo78UxaGc9e7zhZm8i4UJTiScA-bnnEP3j0Ac4ssuzI05KvuMxhdgZP8d0OkckiHet4el942bzRAT7yj6M353UTqAkunZRQ3zSj/s320/SDC10706.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Lately I’ve found myself much more intrigued by natural beauty products than I’ve been in the past. I mean, the thought of them have always been kind of nice, but in the back of my mind I’ve always doubted that I could actually get results. <br />
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Yea I know. Really stupid, right? Especially considering my newest beauty acquisition: a bottle of organic Argan Oil.<br />
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I was actually at Sephora to return the <a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P255102&categoryId=C12001">Tarte Natural Lipstain Pencil</a> I bought (Ugh, epic fail! I don’t even want to talk about it.), and I was just planning on grabbing a bottle of <a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P262502&categoryId=C13121">C.D.’s Hair Milk</a> for my Lovebug when I spotted the <a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P218700&categoryId=C19270">Josie Maran Argan Oil</a> while waiting to check out. The small 0.5 oz bottle retails for $14, but considering its good reputation and <a href="http://sephora.com/">Sephora’s</a> no hassle return policy (I returned my Tarte Lip Stain sans receipt!), I decided to give it a whirl.<br />
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For those of you who don’t know, Argan oil has a stellar reputation as a “fountain of youth” moisturizer. It comes from Argan trees grown in Morocco, and is said to be the beauty “secret” of Middle Eastern women for luminous skin and hair. Its rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, and can be used as a moisturizer for the face, body, and hair, as an acne treatment, a makeup remover, a treatment for uneven skin tone, a cuticle oil… ah, you get the point.<br />
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That night, I used it as my facial moisturizer, cuticle oil, and hair moisturizer. Normally, I do this with three different products (<a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P211304&categoryId=C10321">Perricone Face Finishing Moisturizer</a>, <a href="http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/body-hands-feet-hand-moisturizers/lemon-butter-cuticle-cream.html">Burt’s Bee’s Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream,</a> and <a href="http://www.carolsdaughter.com/product/haircare/hair_balm.do">C.D.’s Hair Balm</a>, respectively). It felt so liberating to only use one product. Dramatic word choice, but it was lovely, nonetheless.<br />
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Anyway, when I woke up the next morning, my skin was glowy and bright, my hangnails were healed, and my fried dead ends were totally crisp free! Love it!<br />
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I plan on using my little recyclable bottle all the way to the last drop, and I may even buy the big one. If it replaces the several products I have in rotation, I’d say its worth the cash-o-la.<br />
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Oh! I forgot to add that Josie Maran’s Argan Oil supports the Moroccan women who produce it, and operates “within a UNESCO biosphere reserve that ensures the protection and reforestation of Argan trees.” <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P218700&categoryId=C19270">source</a></span><br />
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Beautiful AND socially responsible? Go Josie!<br />
Go ahead and get glowing, Mommies!<br />
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<a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P218700&categoryId=C19270#">photo source</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-90649463330720479362010-05-19T16:19:00.002-04:002010-06-16T14:11:00.509-04:00Smooth Move: Origins Modern Friction for the Body<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv8LRxRBb_IczVgw4Ta9ak8ljexxzfQEvnyRv7_3lxzer0byF7NWnUs3wr2FGOVjSXiO3LT0jVVT1SBU7WTTHfc4jfS515g5Mq8Lfpt7jS9nB0S1rBf4buR1-bvX0XbJFQrhktyqZ3HQH/s1600/SDC10712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv8LRxRBb_IczVgw4Ta9ak8ljexxzfQEvnyRv7_3lxzer0byF7NWnUs3wr2FGOVjSXiO3LT0jVVT1SBU7WTTHfc4jfS515g5Mq8Lfpt7jS9nB0S1rBf4buR1-bvX0XbJFQrhktyqZ3HQH/s320/SDC10712.JPG" width="268" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Last weekend I had the pleasure of embarking on a child free trip to the mall (Thanks, Dad!), and I was like a kid in a candy store. Now I remember why childless people do so much shopping. My hands felt utterly empty in their child-free state so I decided to fill them with beauty goodies!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I popped into the Origins store with the intention of purchasing their <a href="http://www.origins.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY5812&PRODUCT_ID=PROD5689">Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask</a> (nice addition to the at-home facial arsenal!), and I realized that I had never set foot in the store before. I've always been somewhat intrigued by Origins products but I'd never taken the dive for one reason or another.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">When I got into the store the associates immediately offered their assistance, and upon starting a conversation with skincare-loving associate Ana, I was introduced to the <a href="http://www.origins.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY5816&PRODUCT_ID=PROD7480">Modern Friction buffing paste</a> for the face. Ana quickly turned on the water in one of the gleaming chrome sinks and spread the concoction onto the back of my hand and launched into an explanation about the ingredients and benefits of Modern Friction. The gist: rice starch for skin refining, and lemon oil for brightening, and all of the benefits of microdermabrasion treatments without the irritation.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Anybody who knows me can tell you I love a good exfoliator, and I've definitely been through my share. But when Ana rinsed my hand it was moisturized, brighter, and positively smooth, something I've never experienced with a scrub before. I was hooked!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">But alas, I'm still working on my bottle of <a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P184109&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=3866">Microdelivery Scrub</a>, so I decided to hold off and snatched up the <a href="http://www.origins.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY5710&PRODUCT_ID=PROD12961">Modern Friction for the Body</a>. Microdermabrasion for my body? I'll take it! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The $34.00 price tag may scare some of you budget-conscious Mommies out there, but you only need a tiny amount of this product at a time, so you'll get more mileage, and more dramatic results than your traditional body scrub. Pack your lunch for a week and hold off on those new shoes! Your skin is worth it, Mommies!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Summer's coming. Wanna look good in those short shorts and tank tops? Then go 'head and scrub, girl!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Stay Smooth!</span></span><br />
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</div>Happy Earth Day!<br />
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<div>Before I became a Mommy, Earth Day was soooo not relevant to me. I always pictured tree hugging, dirty haired, guitar playing, weed smoking, orgy having weirdos gathering in a field somewhere to sing songs to the air.</div><div><br />
</div><div>What can I say? I have an active imagination.</div><div><br />
</div><div>But now that I'm my new post-motherhood self, I've come to appreciate the significance of preserving the planet. I have a legacy now. My daughter will have children, and her children will have children, but what will their future look like if we continue to destroy their home? Can you imagine childhood withouth swimming, biking, and feeling the sun on your face? Its just so sad...and so preventable. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Any changes we make are part of a collective effort to save our planet, and preserve our planet and way of life. For this generation and those to come after, we need to address the state of the Earth.</div><div><br />
</div><div>But what's a girl to do when she wants to be green and look cute too? Its not as hard as you think! Here are some quick tips on how to be green without sacrificing the pretty:</div><div><br />
</div><div><ul><li>Try to buy products with sustainable packaging </li>
<li>Buy organic products whenever you can</li>
<li>Purchase products with less packaging (plastic casing, boxes, pumps, etc.)</li>
<li>Recycle your empties. Empty bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cleanser can all be recycled. Just be sure to discard the cap before submitting for recycling services.</li>
</ul><div>And here is a list of some green beauty and baby faves:</div><div><br />
</div><div><ul><li><a href="http://tartecosmetics.com/">Tarte Cosmetics</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml;jsessionid=ZZE0LVZ3X3PQUCV0KQLRPIQ?brandId=Josie+Maran">Josie Maran Cosmetics</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.avaandersonnontoxic.com/default.aspx">Ana Non-Toxic</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.juicebeauty.com/">Juice Beauty</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=Ole+Henriksen">Ole Henriksen</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/home/index.aspx">Kiehl's</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.lush.com/">Lush</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kissmyface.com/">Kiss My Face</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.burtsbees.com/">Burt's Bees</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.babyganics.com/">Babyganics</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.weleda.com/">Weleda</a></li>
</ul></div></div><div>Look Good. Be Green. Save the Planet.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Enjoy your Earth Day Mommies!</div><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-35286652326782362292010-04-21T15:43:00.000-04:002010-04-21T15:43:18.115-04:00Countdown to Sex and the City 2!<img height="316" src="http://www.sexandthecitymovie.org/images/images/thumbs/satc-2-soundtrack.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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Can you tell I'm excited?<br />
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OF COURSE YOU CAN!!!<br />
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Let me tell you, people have been throwing me some serious hater vibes about my "Sex and the City" fanaticism, but I will not be discouraged. Nope.<br />
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I mean really, what's to hate about successful, fabulous, empowered women who love and support each other? Well everything, apparently.<br />
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I say let the haters hate, because I'd rather watch these women stomp fabulously in their Manolos along a trail they've blazed for themselves than watch others shuffle around where they're told, ok?<br />
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I'm ready to "get Carried away"...<br />
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May 27th baby! Let the countdown begin! 35 days and 21 hours to go, Mommies!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-78996665594971888862010-04-21T06:50:00.005-04:002010-04-21T15:46:30.447-04:00Product Review: Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eye Liner Pencil<div style="background-color: white; color: black; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-top: 6px; min-height: 1100px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieczvH5BOFyx8UIzeWyq14uIP_yO4JHxdmDJssjAQmnmP7fpdAtnNeWxFSV5VYtj5_n9piu6WkgPajzbgc_HOqp5Fryx1gxV19yFY5e0IZwk4_UTERb3Bwn_F88Ag-bUtaRD2KMWIKe8U0/s1600/SDC10433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieczvH5BOFyx8UIzeWyq14uIP_yO4JHxdmDJssjAQmnmP7fpdAtnNeWxFSV5VYtj5_n9piu6WkgPajzbgc_HOqp5Fryx1gxV19yFY5e0IZwk4_UTERb3Bwn_F88Ag-bUtaRD2KMWIKe8U0/s400/SDC10433.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Good Mooooorning!!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wake Up! Its time to talk eyeliner!</div><br />
I found a cheap-o liner that I just had to share with you.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I must admit, when it comes to makeup, I can be a total snob. Don't get me wrong, I do have some epic loves that live at the drugstore, but they're few and far between. But ya know, we're in a recession, we're moms, and we're super busy. Anything that I can get at the same store as my dipes and wipes for a fraction of the cost is alright with me! Thankfully, drugstore beauty brands are stepping up their game, so we can look like beauty queens without the high maintenance budget.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Case in point: <a href="http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-74-liquif-eye-metallic-eye-liner-pencil.aspx">Milani Liqui'fye Metallic Eye Liner Pencil in 01 Black</a><br />
<a href="http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-74-liquif-eye-metallic-eye-liner-pencil.aspx"></a><br />
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When I heard that these babies were a good dupe for the Urban Decay 24/7 liners, I was thrilled! I've been dying to try the UD liners but I just cannot justify spending $17 for a freakin' pencil.<br />
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Puhleese, Mommy's got bills to pay.</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now I don't have to shell out the big bucks, because for a whopping $5.49, you get a soft, super black, long lasting product that makes lining your eyes a cinch. Here's a swatch:</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcppbHHlvQa-qKM1DGcdifHvhDxeZ_-2A18PRqWNl2Szrvj2r6jSMcx8mYrcL_gBqo5TW2E4dZ-6Wc6MS1_Go4rF0BIyxnTSnao61H-WSY9exlSBoLJhK5kLZutW1nJvsTYk_Fv235-Y4/s1600/SDC10440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcppbHHlvQa-qKM1DGcdifHvhDxeZ_-2A18PRqWNl2Szrvj2r6jSMcx8mYrcL_gBqo5TW2E4dZ-6Wc6MS1_Go4rF0BIyxnTSnao61H-WSY9exlSBoLJhK5kLZutW1nJvsTYk_Fv235-Y4/s320/SDC10440.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The swatch on the left is the color you get with light pressure, the one on the right is with a little more. It takes almost no effort to get a rich, dark pigmentation. Once it dries, it won't rub off. Great for a busy mom with little time in the morning, and no time for reapplication during the day.</div><br />
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Some great things:<br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Lasts all day</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">soft and easy to work with. No tugging on your delicate eye area.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Great color payoff! OMG!</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Cheap and accessible</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Easy to remove</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Available in 5 colors: Black, Silver, Gold, Aqua, and Brown (Black and Brown are not metallic)</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Some not so great things</div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Needs a base, especially if you have oily eyelids. The color doesn't exactly fade, but it does travel and flake a little when it mixes with oil. If you don't have an eyeshadow base, just use a little foundation or concealer on your eyelids and set it with powder before applying.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It does not last on the waterline, which Urban Decay's 24/7 pencils are famous for</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The tip doesn't stay sharp enough for me, so I have to resharpen with about every other use, which means I'm shaving away product every time and it won't last as long.</li>
</ul><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Milani has a huge selection of new products, and I've been hearing great things about them. If the rest of them are anything like this, I just might have to forgive their cheesy display situation and dive in head first!</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Line those eyes, and enjoy your day Mommies!</div><div><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-84317604860262793742010-04-20T13:48:00.002-04:002010-04-20T15:43:27.286-04:00Mommy Style: Iman<img alt="3928b197439285c89033" src="http://photos.essence.com/system/images/gallery/000/394/291/full/iman-nyc.jpg" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo Credit: SplashNews</span><br />
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I don't need to introduce this tall drink of fabulousness named Iman. She's an icon: model, entrepreneur, author, and most importantly, a Mommy!<br />
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Brittany over at <a href="http://www.clumpsofmascara.com/2010/04/iman-and-clumps.html">Clumps of Mascara</a> gushed about the Iman Cosmetics event she attended recently, and noted that Iman was fashionably late. Not because she preferred to make a grand entrance, but because she was coming from a parent teacher conference. Duh.<br />
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As modern women, we're all super busy and life can get hectic, but injecting just a tiny dose of fabulousness into your wardrobe can do wonders for your look and your self esteem. It doesn't take much!<br />
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Iman's outfit in this pic is totally fab and totally simple: Jacket, tee, yoga pants, tennis shoes, scarf, sunglasses, and bag.<br />
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So simple. So chic. Love it.<br />
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Be fabulous, Mommies!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-88184870618744967162010-04-20T12:14:00.001-04:002010-04-20T12:15:47.354-04:00Mommy Talk: Really Cute or Really Disturbing?<img alt="Shoes" height="320" src="http://talkfashions.com/shoes_ChildWearingPumps.JPG" width="282" /><br />
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Ok, so I'll be the first to admit that I think its super cute when a little girl imitates her mom. I've taken plenty of pics of my Lovebug painting her face, talking on her plastic cell phone, and swaddling her little brown baby dolls. Not to mention that every opportunity she gets, she dons jewelry, lip gloss, and nail polish, and I'm more than happy to oblige. There are plenty of people who would disagree with this kind of practice, but as long as its just for playtime, I'm totally cool.<br />
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But where exactly do we draw the line between really cute and really raunchy?<br />
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Take a look at Exhibit A...<br />
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My heart dropped into my stomach when I saw this video. I'm not a prude by any means, but I was taken aback by the overt sexuality in her dance moves. This wasn't just a child playing on a metal pole, but a child performing moves that she had been taught, and made to repeat over and over again until the cameraman got the best shot.<br />
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The source of this video, <a href="http://worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhMInuA167l022Wx9p">WorldStarHipHop.com</a>, named the child's own mother as the person operating the camera. I can't confirm whether this is actually true but if it is, Mama's got some 'splainin to do.<br />
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Teaching, recording, uploading...its all a conscious act. But why? Why not record your child saying something funny, or making a silly face? Why a stripper routine? I can think of a million things that my daughter does that I'd love to share with the world, but pedophile fodder is not one of them.<br />
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One of my Facebook friends sent me this via message, and at first I wondered why she didn't just post it as a link on her page for everyone to look at, like we always do. Then it dawned on me. If one person posts it, then another will, then another. And each time, the child will be exploited. Again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-74793663615399881322010-04-12T06:38:00.000-04:002010-04-14T15:06:58.765-04:00Mommy Loves Lacquer: Chanel Nouvelle Vague<div style="clear: both; text-align: LEFT;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEelynfGwfByh2ImTLqFnnogfM2H3qiogg_iDxHwqJIm_SwwnlxSGfRRZtTCoJSu6gdSiEjm7YCjoXWDiRkcl_9HzpSvNhkLrKfBNEYzDOj2OY0JoFpi-gLfCjObTBYf9YgmktXkh_UhWe/s1600/SDC10358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEelynfGwfByh2ImTLqFnnogfM2H3qiogg_iDxHwqJIm_SwwnlxSGfRRZtTCoJSu6gdSiEjm7YCjoXWDiRkcl_9HzpSvNhkLrKfBNEYzDOj2OY0JoFpi-gLfCjObTBYf9YgmktXkh_UhWe/s320/SDC10358.JPG" width="197" /></a></div><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a>Happy Monday, Mommies!<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I'm really excited because today I'm kicking off "Mommy Loves Lacquer", which is a series dedicated to nail product reviews and polish swatches. Funky nail colors and designs are all the rage right now, so enjoy!<br />
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This week's polish is Chanel Nouvelle Vague, and its a total beauty. Its part of the Les Pop-Up de Chanel Collection for summer 2010, and its supposed to be the buzz color of the season. I was surprised that I actually liked it because I'm not usually drawn to nail colors like this. It just seemed too pastel-ly or something, but I decided to give it a go anyway. So glad I stepped out of the box on this one because Nouvelle Vague is totally fab! Not to mention it instantly updates your look. Cheaper than buying a new wardrobe!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzmak_DrfJFhKqq2sWiUvn0CkOXmz9bTB6hyphenhyphen-y9vybKv8buTOj4fhGGd1M8n3wLwRU6rCqgh6GDhnaMan120JEZriak-UNhnUxSCdRSSm8XpaYdLx5aqpw5zoNhFPAHQqX3UXXx0noGkt/s1600/SDC10331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzmak_DrfJFhKqq2sWiUvn0CkOXmz9bTB6hyphenhyphen-y9vybKv8buTOj4fhGGd1M8n3wLwRU6rCqgh6GDhnaMan120JEZriak-UNhnUxSCdRSSm8XpaYdLx5aqpw5zoNhFPAHQqX3UXXx0noGkt/s320/SDC10331.JPG" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></div>Nouvelle Vague is a creme finish with a very slight shimmer. Honestly, the shimmer is almost undetectable once the polish dries, so if you're looking for a shimmery turquoise polish, this ain't it. I happen to be a creme kinda girl so I have no complaints. The application was smooth, but after three coats it looked kind of streaky. Thankfully, the streaks went away with a little topcoat.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
Mommies, I stared at my hands the whole time I wore this polish, its that beautiful. Looks like tropical ocean water I've seen in the movies.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
Yea. Too bad it freakin' chipped.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
I'd heard this sad little tidbit before but I just refused to believe that it would happen to me. Its Chanel! Sure enough, after about eight hours of wear, I was missing a big chunk off my index finger. Good thing its such a pretty color or I'd be fighting the urge to fling this back at the Chanel rep (she made me wait too long).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
Anyhoo, $23 for a nail polish that chips may be a bit of a stretch for a mommy on a budget. If that's you, don't fret! Judging by <a href="http://www.temptalia.com/chanel-nouvelle-vague-le-vernis-nail-lacquer-review-photos-swatches">Temptalia's swatches</a>, 'For Audrey' by China Glaze is an almost exact dupe, and it'll only set you back about $6.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
Viva la blue nails! Have a great day!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you have any requests for swatches or reviews, feel free to email me <a href="mailto:mommylovesbeauty@gmail.com">here</a>.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-48732226140731220852010-02-12T11:06:00.000-05:002010-02-12T11:20:01.823-05:00Thank God for President's Day....and Beauty Blogs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://www.australia.to/2010/images/stories/1News/barack_obama.jpg" /></div><br />
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It's FRIDAY! And the beginning of a long weekend!<br />
Thank God for President's Day... Obama, here's lookin' at you, kid. ;-)<br />
I'd also like to show some thanks for the loads of beauty blogs I read on a daily basis, and have inspired me to start this one of my very own. Thanks gals.<br />
Here goes....<br />
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Check out Karen's <a href="http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/cosmetics/a-lip-look-with-bobbi-brown-cabana-corals/">AMAZING lip combo</a> from Bobbi Brown's Cabana Corals Collection over at <a href="http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/">Makeup and Beauty Blog</a><br />
Find out why Daneen at Spoiled Pretty is <a href="http://spoiledpretty.com/">advocating major spendage</a> during the recession!! Aaaahhh!<br />
Skincare freaks rejoice! Beauty Logic Blog is making me want <a href="http://www.beautylogicblog.com/2010/02/oils-101-camelia-oil-for-hair.html">this</a> asap!<br />
Brittany at Clumps of Mascara reminds us about <a href="http://www.clumpsofmascara.com/2010/02/beauty-bee-haviors-why-we-dont-need.html">why we don't need makeup</a>. Speak!<br />
Scrangie is such an enabler. Like I need <a href="http://www.scrangie.com/2010/02/color-club-spring-2010-rebel-debutante.html">any more nail polishes</a>....sigh...<br />
Get the gist of <a href="http://www.temptalia.com/mac-spring-colour-forecast-review-round-up">MAC's Spring Colour Forecast Collection</a>, courtesy of Temptalia.<br />
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Happy Friday, Loves!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-1551728925161707002010-02-11T12:37:00.002-05:002010-06-18T14:03:24.391-04:00Product Review: Revlon Photoready Foundation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="200" src="http://www.ulta.com/images/products/detail/2212507.jpg" width="200" /></div><br />
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I got my hands on the elusive Revlon Photoready Foundation! Yay for me! <br />
Now that I've patted myself on the back for that menial accomplishment, here is the product description:<br />
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<i>Perfected airbrushed skin in any light</i><br />
<i> Complete Coverage</i><br />
<i> Oil Free, Fragrance Free</i><br />
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This foundation also includes SPF 20, which is a major bonus for me since I'm always ducking from the sun because of my hyperpigmentation issues. In the reviews that I've read it's been compared to the <a href="http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P217905&categoryId=C13402">Makeup Forever HD Foundation</a>, which is huge! The MUFE HD is a famous cult favorite, but it retails for about $40.00, while Revlon Photoready sells for about $14.00. I know!<br />
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The application of this foundation is smooth and very easy to blend, and you only need a small amount of product to even out your skintone. If you need additional coverage in certain areas, you can definitely build this up until you get the coverage you want. <br />
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As much as I love this foundation, I'm gonna to give it to you straight. First, there's the issue of....the shimmer (gasp!). After application, if you take a close look you can see very small shimmer particles on your face. I'm assuming this is the light adjusting aid in the makeup,which helps it to look like your natural skin in any light setting, but who the hell looks natural with shimmer on their face? Ugh. The nice thing is after you set the foundation with powder, the shimmer subsides, and nobody will notice it unless they're all up in your personal space.<br />
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Then there's the issue of color selection. It seems like there are plenty of colors to suit lighter skin tones, but they just got lazy when they got to the deeper colors. There are a whopping three colors to choose from if you're brown....and they're not likely to be YOUR brown because there's just not enough of them. So I did what any resourceful beauty addict would do-I mixed! If money is an issue, just wait for the BOGO drugstore sales so you can purchase two.<br />
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If you have red undertones in your skin, go for the odd numbered colors, and if you have yellow undertones go for the even numbered colors. For example, since I have a neutral undertone, I mixed 008 Golden Beige with 009 Rich Ginger to get my shade, and it worked out just fine. The extra work is worth it for the coverage and natural finish.<br />
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My mom told me I look like a porcelain doll. I'll take it!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2212501&productId=xlsImpprod1790139&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80022#sku2212507">photo source</a></span></span><br />
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Ah, I'm sure you've noticed that its winter. Unfortunately, so do my feet.<br />
Allow me to explain myself (i.e. make excuses). I've been wearing socks and boots, and I've been extra busy with the holidays, and catching up on sleep, and watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians...<br />
Anyway, the salon is not an option due to the fact that I fell out of love with strangers playing with my toes a long time ago. Not to mention that I'm on a budget...damn you, recession!<br />
So to rectify this situation, I concocted a method that I've deemed the <b>Lazy Woman's Pedicure</b>. Keep reading because you're only a few short steps away from being a lazy woman with fabulous feet!<br />
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<b>Step 1</b>: Start off with filling the bathtub with water as hot as you can stand. Add bubble bath for kicks and giggles.<br />
<b>Step 2</b>: While sitting at the edge of the tub, soak your tootsies for about 5-10 mins, depending on how serious your situation is. I've got a full 10 ahead of me...<br />
<b>Step 3</b>: Scrub feet with pumice and exfoliating body wash, or body wash mixed with salt (sugar dissolves too fast). Right now I'm into the <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/qxp156255_333181_sespider/caress/body_wash_tahitian_renewal.htm">Caress Tahitian Renewal</a>. Anything with pomegranate is kool with me.<br />
<b>Step 4</b>: Push back or cut cuticles. Whichever you prefer.<br />
<b>Step 5</b>: Dry feet and moisturize! <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2258466">True Blue Spa's Lay It On Thick Body Cream</a> is my fave!<br />
<b>Step 6</b>: Cut and file nails.<br />
<b>Step 7</b>: Polish! Complete laziness by repolishing nails with the same color you're already wearing. My current favorite pedi shade is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/OPI-Miami-Beet-NL-B78/dp/B001RD37ZO">OPI's Miami Beet</a>. I love the way the rich red of this color looks against my pale winter skin.<br />
<b>Step 8</b>: Sit back and wait for them to dry. Magazine and soothing music optional.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Peace, Love and Beauty!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nikia</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-56142914896984423292009-12-27T00:11:00.001-05:002010-02-08T13:39:46.892-05:002010 Beauty Resolutions! What will you do differently this year?<a href="http://www.photoxpress.com/Content/reflection-illustration-end/17716953"><img alt="2010" border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-mXQYxrNqa55vnqCruG51s9z-dpn2oOXavwVllU6DXtkjYT7I3gIkLw-BJveGnkYAQFhP1M20IdQyZFAqz5ozR3cPBZo3hsKb_iUlcC5r65MNg-6evmp8BSyBGl2oQgrv74xm8Z-TfPL/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2010" width="401" /></a> <br />
So now that 2009 is almost a officially a history book tale, its time to look ahead and make plans for 2010! Whoo hoo! <br />
I don’t know about you ladies, but I had a buttload of self neglect going on this year, and that just won’t do. Granted, I did start a new job, moved into a new home, and decided to take on the tremendous task of establishing my freelance writing career IN ADDITION TO being a single mother, but hey… a girl’s gotta look good if she’s going to take over the world, right?<br />
In order to help myself kick said self-neglect habit, I’ve created the following <span style="color: purple;">Beauty Resolutions</span> for 2010, in which I vow to be totally, utterly, amazingly fabulous…I strongly advise you to do the same.<br />
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1. <u><span style="color: magenta;">Establish Beauty Fitness: </span></u><br />
<span style="color: black;">Healthy body = healthy skin, hair, and nails. And less time in the mirror!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">2. </span><span style="color: magenta;"><u>Create a Beauty Schedule</u></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> Designating a specific beauty task to each day of the week (nails on Monday, brows on Tuesday, etc.) guarantees that each area is tended to regularly. No more overgrown brows or chipped polish for me!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">3. <u><span style="color: magenta;">Stay Hydrated</span></u> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I’m a coffee drinker, and by noon I’m usually parched and tired. Water is essential for healthy skin and organs, and I must be vigilant! </span><br />
4. <u><span style="color: magenta;">Have fun with</span> <span style="color: green;">C</span><span style="color: purple;">O</span><span style="color: yellow;">L</span><span style="color: blue;">O</span><span style="color: red;">R</span></u><span style="color: black;"><u>!</u> </span><br />
So when it comes to clothing, I’m all about bold colors, I think they’re GREAT. But when it comes to my face… not so much. I’m very faithful to my dewy skin, peachy glow, and natural colored lipgloss. Every now and again I line my eyes with an eggplant colored pencil, but that’s as wild as it gets, baby! For the new year I want to explore all kinds of different colors for my eyes, cheeks, and lips. First stop: orange lipstick, I swear!<br />
5. <u><span style="color: magenta;">De-Stress</span></u><br />
<span style="color: black;">We all know that too much stress will make you look old and dried up before your time, and that will not be happening to me! So I vow to take each day as it comes, and leave anything that didn’t get done today for tomorrow. Sounds good to me :-)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Happy New Year!</span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: black;">Peace, Love, and Beauty!</span></div><span style="color: black;">Nikia</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-587382624531203276.post-22511473785480463022009-12-26T17:54:00.000-05:002010-02-08T13:40:35.588-05:00Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4p2Cp4_D4Z4ja33Pui7PtdlRXJQactrokvjaCxEg5piqVm1vKNzo09nIKgEFh7yrh5KmTWXe72Sqaq84lsb_ezWk0Qf6Vwuu2q8QcLuh8tWDScWMH5ImEOI-GidiWKTbLLO46Kg4Hfbl/s1600-h/COLD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4p2Cp4_D4Z4ja33Pui7PtdlRXJQactrokvjaCxEg5piqVm1vKNzo09nIKgEFh7yrh5KmTWXe72Sqaq84lsb_ezWk0Qf6Vwuu2q8QcLuh8tWDScWMH5ImEOI-GidiWKTbLLO46Kg4Hfbl/s320/COLD.jpg" /></a> </div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Winter is definitely here! I woke up this morning to a whopping temperature of 15 degrees (brrrr!). We already know we need to dress the kiddos in layers and bundle them up nicely (don't forget the <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/qxp13346_333181_sespider/vaseline/petroleum_jelly.htm">Vaseline</a>!), but for those of us who aren't at the height of our cuteness, staying beautiful is a little more complex. Thus, I figured I would share with you some of my uber cold weather beauty necessities. Remember, when in doubt, MOISTURIZE! </span></span> <br />
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</span></span> </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;">1. <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P42204&cm_mmc=us_search-_-GoogleBase-_-P42204-_-683490&_requestid=42976&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=683490">Smith's Rosebud Salve</a> </span> </div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I know, I know, you've heard it a million times, but this stuff is Just. So. Necessary. It can't be said enough! This bad boy takes care of dry lips, hands, cuticles, and flyaways. Plus, its a great treatment for diaper rash, which is extra helpful when you have a two year old who's still in training pants with an extra sensitive tush (Awww!!). I keep this multi-tasker in my car and purse at all times.</span></span> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWOFMi5hKlYpMNGJW2ZgW1t9rcth8PeB3ZCTnlZOQlxD4odofpsKopTboynzxnVNQrbRgn-Hd7l5FXdRY621JdLXXDCDe0T4kYiLnqK2nn4ppPjftuuNXWx-BRcuEm3lu-d4X2wsysXrJ/s1600-h/NARS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWOFMi5hKlYpMNGJW2ZgW1t9rcth8PeB3ZCTnlZOQlxD4odofpsKopTboynzxnVNQrbRgn-Hd7l5FXdRY621JdLXXDCDe0T4kYiLnqK2nn4ppPjftuuNXWx-BRcuEm3lu-d4X2wsysXrJ/s200/NARS.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWOFMi5hKlYpMNGJW2ZgW1t9rcth8PeB3ZCTnlZOQlxD4odofpsKopTboynzxnVNQrbRgn-Hd7l5FXdRY621JdLXXDCDe0T4kYiLnqK2nn4ppPjftuuNXWx-BRcuEm3lu-d4X2wsysXrJ/s1600-h/NARS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://a248.g.akamai.net/7/248/8278/20050502180040/www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/product/P54600/P54600_hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">2. NARS Cream Blush</a></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://a248.g.akamai.net/7/248/8278/20050502180040/www.sephora.com/assets/dyn/product/P54600/P54600_hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> I discovered this stuff one day when I was having a Nars craving (look it up, ok?), and I'm totally hooked! My favorite shade is Guele de Nuit, and it's a cream to powder formula, which means that it has the perfect balance of powder and emollient qualities. The results are a long lasting, glowy skin with little to no touch ups throughout the day. And since its extra pigmented, you can justify that $25 price tag. I like to apply mine with my MAC 187 stippling brush, but all you need are your fingers to get your glow on!</span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s7d3.scene7.com/is/image/SallyBeauty/SBS-591560?wid=225&hei=225&fmt=jpeg,rgb&qlt=85,1&op_sharpen=1&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.9,1.0,4,0&iccEmbed=0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A product thumbnail of Luster Pink Oil Moisturizer Glosser" border="0" height="200" src="http://s7d3.scene7.com/is/image/SallyBeauty/SBS-591560?wid=225&hei=225&fmt=jpeg,rgb&qlt=85,1&op_sharpen=1&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.9,1.0,4,0&iccEmbed=0" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">3.<a href="http://www.sallybeauty.com/Pink-Oil-Glosser/SBS-591560,default,pd.html"> Luster's Pink Glosser</a></span></span> </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">For all the women of color reading this blog, this stuff will SAVE YOUR HAIR, I swear. It works on both relaxed and chemically treated hair by smoothing the hair cuticle. At first spray, it just seems like a non-aerosol version of oil sheen, but its so freakin not! This stuff has brought my strands back to life from everything you can think of; from good old fashioned over processing, to the whipping wind and rain. My hair transforms from crunchy black straw to smooth satin--true story.</span></span> </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Ultimately, it provides great protection from the elements. I like to spray it in my hair, especially the ends, every night. For even better results, wrap hair in a satin scarf, or invest in some satin pillowcases. Your hair will thank you.</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> <br />
</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;">Peace, Love, and Beauty!</span> </div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> <br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><i>Your favorite wannabe fabulous Mommy,</i></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><i>Nikia</i></span></span> <br />
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0