BeautyInsiderBlog

Rediscovering Forever 21

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:38:00 +0000

Yesterday we managed to make a trip to the Mall at Millenia with the girls. These trips are never productive - I mean, what can you hope to accomplish with two little people running around. Mostly we let them play and explore, and treated them to some ice cream. While daddy and the girls were all having their ice cream, I snuck off to the nearest store: Forever 21. As a confirmed impulse shopper, I am a sucker for a store with superlow prices on trendy, disposable stuff. Some of their tops and accessories are so spot-on. (Did you know that Diane von Furstenberg sued them for knocking one of her dresses off too well... Of course you can't beat the real thing?) Anyway, I just wandered in, thinking that most of the stuff would be too young and too chintz-y for me, but I was so surprised to find myself in the Twelve by Twelve section (the store is huge!) and I couldn't grab stuff fast enough. It was sort of Anthropologie-meets-Manoush, two of my obsessions, at rock bottom prices. Of course it's not the same quality, but for trendy, temporary wardrobe updates, you can't beat it. And this stuff looks better in real life than it does in these pictures! Of course there are a few misses (studded denim yoke skirt in blue and white, vintage floral pants, plaid ruffle dress), and many others that are inappropriate for anyone who isn't, say, Forever 21. I would have done much more damage (as much as you can do in a place filled with $20 tops) if I had more time, but as it was, I managed to snag four items:

Ruffle Sleeve Belted Sweater, $24: I bought this in two colors (the navy/gray and the khaki/peach), but if I had seen the third one, I would have bought that too! So cute, and the fabric feels quite nice for such a steal.
link

Military Tipped Sweater, $32: Crisp and classic, and again, the fabric is surprisingly nice!link

Lace Garden Tunic, $29: SOooo cute.I think I will wear this with my navy BCBG skinny stretch pants to make it a bit more age appropriate. I also think ultrafeminine items like this look cool when worn with something slightly masculine or roughed up, like a broken in pair of jeans. Maybe I will wear this with my "Rachel" jeans from William Rast. link

I also like:
Nylon Shirred Jacket, $39: Lightweight, silky and stylish - great to brighten up a rainy day. link

Ruffle Front Sweater, $32: Preppy, with a girly twist. link

Blossom Sleeve Cardigan, $29: Very reminiscent (right down to the color) of a Catherine Malandrino version that I have that cost more than 10 times as much. link

Chiffon Trim Sweater, $26: I think Coco herself would approve of this steal. link

Mesh Trim Sweater, $32: I can see Helmut Lang or someone similarly edgy designing a similar piece. link

Ruffle Trim Tee, $19: So cute with black leggings. link

Contrast Ribbon Sweater Dress, $29: Love the color combo. link

Chiffon Peplum Sweater Dress, $32: Understated and perfect for work. link

Belted Sweater Dress, $34: Timeless yet very of-the-moment. link

Contrast Peplum Cardigan: So chic. link

My Beetlejuice "Haul" for Lola

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:40:00 +0000

A trip to the Neiman Marcus Last Call store at the Miromar outlets in Estero, Florida has become something of an annual pilgrimage for me. Last year, it was here that I first discovered Baby Sara clothes for Lola, Pedro Garcia gold glitter pumps for myself, and a beautiful love seat that now graces our master bedroom. So when I returned this year, expecting to once again stock up on Baby Sara clothes for Lola (don't worry - I'm shopping for next year), I was disappointed to find only a few items in baby sizes. Would I have nothing to buy? The horror! Fortunately, I quickly discovered rack after rack of delightful clothes from Beetlejuice London, a line that I have come across once or twice online, but never really got turned on to before. That has changed, my friends. I don't understand why this line isn't more popular, or easier to find, online, but I am glad I discovered it.
Here is what I bought, and what I paid:

Bohemian Rhapsody long Sleeve novelty dress with layers at hem, $39 (was $86)
Amazon Sun cropped fashion jacket with ruching in olive, $30 (was $66)
Bohemian Rhapsody fashion handkerchief skirt, $29 (was $64)
Bohemian Rhapsody purple velvet fashion pants wiht embroidery, $30 (was $66)
Amazon Sun sleeveless layered print dress with applique and embroidery, $39 (was $86)
Amazon Sun long sleeve beaded tee with print detail, $18 (was $40)
Bohemian Rhapsody green novelty knit top with applique/embroidery, $17 (was $37)
Bohemian Rhapsody long sleeved print fashion shirt with ruffles at placket, $18 ($40)
Amazon Sun fashion tee with ruching at hem, $17 (was $37)
Amazon Sun forest green (more like olive) embroidered fashion pant, $30 (was $66)
Bohemian Rhapsody teiered fashion dress in coral with velvet rose, $38 (was $84)
Amazon Sun coral long sleeve fashion knit dress with ruffles at neck, $38 (was $84)
Bohemian Rhapsody purple print yoke fashion knit long sleeve top, $16 (was $35)

Items from other brands that I picked up included:
Long sleeved knit layered look print dress from Tea, $30 (was $45)
Baby Lulu long sleeved knit dress with embroidered flower at velvet skirt, $34 (was $61)
Baby Lulu cropped cardigan in hot pink with red dots and red velvet bow, $42 (was $58)
Coco Bonbons long sleeved woven menswear style shirt with swirly buttons and pink/brown stripes, $18 (was $26)
Coco Bonbons long sleeved owl print knit tee with striped placket, $18 (was $24)
Coco Bonbons long sleeved woven button-front shirt in brow with white polka dots and various appliques, ribbon trim, etc, $18 (was $26)

That's it! In less than 15 minutes, I got a great head start on Lola's wardrobe for next year. Not that these are the first 4T items I've purchased, but they will make a nice addition to the growing stash buried at the foot of a hall closet.

Brazilian Keratin Treatment: My last word

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:17:00 +0000

Since the Brazilian Keratin Straightening Treatment has been the most controversial and commented-on topic on my blog, I thought it deserved a little more attention. The Brazilian Keratin Treatment, or BKT, is one of the hottest hair treatments being performed today, leaving the Japanese Thermal Reconditioning Treatment of a few years ago behind. And it does have its advantages. It's milder than most straighteners, using Keratin, a protein that naturally straightens the hair and is one of the components of human hair, to straighten. And it works best on colored or chemically treated hair, something most straighteners cannot claim to be true. Like the Japanese straightening treatment, it's time consuming and expensive. My hair is very thick, very curly and quite long (it was halfway down my back when I had the treatment), and it took nearly 5 hours and $500. Was it worth it? Not for me. But I do seem to be the exception. I have to say I noticed almost NO DIFFERENCE in my hair. It may have been a little softer, but I could have received the same results from a home conditioning treatment. And the minor improvement in texture only lasted a couple of days. It did not straighten my hair or even relax my curl. To be honest, I was not told that it would straighten my hair by my stylist - simply that it would make the curls a little looser, eliminate frizz and minimize the need for hair products. Unfortunately none of this happened for my hair. I have often toyed with the idea of the thermal reconditioning, as many of my friends have done it and had great success with it, but I am not ready to go poker straight yet, so I thought this would be a good compromise. For me, it was a waste of time and money. That said - maybe I just wasn't the ideal candidate for it, although the pictures on the various websites show women with curlier hair than I have. Maybe the pictures show their hair after a blowout, and I do not blow my hair out on a regular basis. Living in Central Florida, the humidity makes this futile.

Anyway, the final word, in my opinion: Get a good consultation beforehand, and ask lots of questions about the kinds of results you should expect before investing in the procedure. And if it works for you, I'd love to know!

My Recent Sephora Trip

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:05:00 +0000

Every year, we take a trip to Illinois in the summer, when it is sane to do so, so that the girls can hang out with their Illinois cousins, aunts and grandparents, and every year, we make a point of going into Chicago. This year we spent an entire weekend there, without the girls, who stayed with my husband's wonderful parents. And every year I go to Sephora and spend at least a solid hour there - more if I have it - updating my makeup bag with new finds and old favorites. Here's what I picked up this year:

Stila Illuminating Powder Foundation in 60 Watts, and compact
Stila blush in rose
Stila lipstick in Sonya
Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer in Dark
Laura Mercier Baby Lips
Laura Mercier Nude Lips
Bare Escentuals Buxom Beauty Mascara
Sephora Brand Manicure Kit
Tweezerman Pink Deluxe Nail Clipper

So fun! I'm still testing a couple of the new products, so look for reviews in upcoming blogs!

Current Obsessions

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:08:00 +0000

My sister and I are always on a shopping kick. The only thing that changes is what we are shopping for. These are my current obsessions:

Fable Lore: Chic, comfy, innovative clothing for kids with details that change color in the sun. Lola has a dress and leggings with lace trim that goes from white to pink when exposed to UV light.

Undrest Lingerie: Cotton, comfy and still sexy-cute, I have stocked up one their chemises, sleepshirts, and even a long hooded nightgown that is chic and not at all frumpy. Girly details turn casual cotton into something much more fun.

Kids shoes from Petit, Pomme d'Api and Moki: I'm a little obsessed with European shoes for my girls. Goegeous details, colorful designs and amazing quality.

The Best Bra Fitting Ever

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:41:00 +0000

On Saturday, while Kevin and I spent a romantic weekend away from the girls in Chicago (they stayed with Grandma and Grandpa in the suburbs), I went to a store called Intimacy on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Intimacy is a lingerie store specializing in bra fittings. They actually label themselves Bra Fit Stylists. The Chicago location is one of eight nationwide, and if there's one near you - get there as quickly as possible. I highly recommend it. But be prepared. They call their bra fitting technique holistic. No tape measures, no formulas. They use their hands. But in two seconds, Veronica Lopez sized me up and concluded that I was a 30-32 C. At first, I was skeptical. I used to be a 32 C, but I didn't believe I could still fill a C cup. After nursing two girls, my breasts are, to put it mildly, deflated. And I consider it a tragedy. I am really bummed about it. And then Veronica returned to the dressing room with more than a dozen gorgeous bras, from beautiful basics to sexy lace bras, from brands like Chantelle, Simone Perele, Marie Jo, and Aventure by Marie Jo. Here's what I learned:

1. When you put on your bra, you should bend over at the waist so that your breasts fall into the cups and then fasten the clasp. Reach into the bra to lift your breasts into position, but do not use the lace to handle the bra. Use the wire part.
2. Do not use harsh synthetic detergents on your bras. Use a baby detergent, an organic detergent, or a specialty lingerie detergent. Bras can be washed in the washing machine as long as they are in a mesh lingerie bag. Fasten clasps before washing. Always air dry - don't throw your bras in the washing machine.
3. Rotate your bras. Allow at least one day of rest before rewearing to get maximum life out of your bra.
4. When storing bras, lay them flat, with the cups up. Do not put one cup into the other. This can cause little bumps or ridges in the cup. If you do get some bumps in the cup of your molded bra, try steaming it to remove them.
5. Bras can be altered, just like any other piece of clothing. For example, on me, the Chantelle Bra in 32C had a band that was just a little too long and needed to be taken in to fit properly.

I walked out with 4 bras:
The Le Mystere Francesca all over lace bra in Nude $75 link

Marie Jo L'Aventure "Neal" bra in Peach Melba (with tiny white polka dots), $109

link

Chantelle Africa strapless bra in Nude link

Marie Jo L'Aventure Tom multiway bra in Cafe Latte (Nude) - can be worn as a halter bra as well, $100 link

AHA's vs Anti-Aging Products

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:15:00 +0000

This blog is for Anonymous, who asked me the difference between an AHA and an Anti-Aging Product. AHA's are essentially exfoliators. Depending on their strength (percentage of AHA in the product) they can exfoliate your skin either gradually or quickly. AHAs help the texture, tone and clarity of your skin by helping it to function more normally. When you shed dead skin cells, you reveal fresher, younger skin beneath, and that skin functions more optimally, like it did when you were younger.

Anti-Aging Products is a very broad, loosely defined category that can include, but is not limited to, AHAs, Vitamin C and other antioxidant creams, serums, retinol and retinoid products, moisturizers, etc. Basically, any product designed to make you look more youthful. This is not a category I created - it's a device of the beauty industry, and I chose the Anti-Aging Products that I reviewed based on the claims that the products made. In other words, they claimed to be anti-agers, so I reviewed them based on those claims.

Any product that can make your skin look fresher, better and more youthful qualifies as an antiager.

My OWN Flat Belly Plan

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:53:00 +0000

For the last few months, since I got my IUD, I have been carrying an additional 5 pounds - very unusual for a woman who has weighed the same since she was 16. And those five pounds seem to have found a permanent home in my belly. I've been so depressed about it that I'd been asking around about plastic surgeons... Until I saw my sister. I knew I couldn't justify going under the knife without at least giving diet and exercise a try. Although I don't need to lose weight, I do need to tone my abs. The combination of two babies, a few extra pounds, and my IBS acting up has made it worse than ever. And since, whenever I go on a self-improvement kick I wind up biting off more than I can possibly handle, I am starting small. This week, my goal is to start with the minimum amount of exercise: 20 minutes on the elliptical machine 3x a week. Every other week, I will add something else to my routine, from an additional day of exercise to dietary changes. And I'll post my results here.

You've already seen my post-baby body in a previous blog, so I will spare you the gory details. Instead, I will post my (gasp!) measurements, and update them as they change!

Weight: 99 pounds
Waist: 31" around the belly button, when I push it way out. It makes me want to cry.

I've already had my first workout this morning, so I'm on my way!

The Post-Baby Body Makeover: An inspirational story

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Just a few days ago, I found myself at a beach picnic with my always gorgeous, ever-stylish sister. As she pulled out matching pink bento boxes for her three daughters (can we say Supermom?), I couldn't help but noticing her black-bikini-clad body. Even though she has three daughters 6 and under, it had never, ever looked better. Her post-baby belly had always been flat, but now it was washboard-firm. She even had six pack! A six pack! And her legs were trim and toned and flawless. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I asked her to spill her secrets. Apparently, she'd been holding back. Here's what she had to say:

1. Cut out sweets: Nelly has always been a sweet tooth, but she has an amazing amount of willpower, and she cut out sweets entirely. The only sugar that she has these days is a little honey in her tea or coffee.
2. Eat tons of fruit and veggies: Instead of her usual chocolate fix, these days she satisfies her sweet tooth with lots and lots of fruit. Frozen grapes are a favorite. And she fills up on lots of veggies at dinner time.
3. Pack a snack: Everywhere she goes, Nelly carries a small bag of nuts to snack on whenever she gets hungry. It keeps her from reaching for something sinful when she needs a boost of energy.
4. Stick to lean protein: Nelly claims that she eats a lot of protein, mostly chicken and fish, at dinner, because it fills her up.
5. Cut back on carbs: While she still does eat some carbs, like a bowl of cereal or some brown rice, she gets the bulk of her calories from fruits, veggies and protein.
6. Allow yourself one indulgence: Always a chocoholic, Nelly's only vice these days is a handful of dark chocolate chips.
7. Exercise, exercise, exercise: Every day, she puts two of her daughters into a jogging stroller and sprints to the nearby preschool. And at home, she does push-ups and planks for resistance training.

What an inspiration! I am so motivated by my sister that I have finally decided to embark on my own body makeover. It's long overdue... I'll keep you posted!

Back to Blogging - What's Coming Up

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:27:00 +0000

I apologize for my extended hiatus. Due to technical difficulties, I was forced to stop blogging for a few weeks, but I'm back, and I have so many exciting blogs planned for the next few weeks, including:
1. Get Your Body Back: A Mother of Three's Inspirational Tale
2. Reviews of Novena, the first comprehensive organic facial skincare line for pregnancy
3. Sun solutions for kids
4. Baby Steps: The small measures I'm taking to get back in shape
5. Etsy: A mom's guide to finding one-of-a-kind clothing and decor
6. Chicago shopping guide

And so much more!

The Red Pen Trick

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:45:00 +0000

Today, I had a rare spa night/meeting with some girlfriends. Amazingly, I managed to get a pedicure and a manicure at the same time, for the first time since before Eva was born 16 months ago (with OPI Sweet Heart on my fingers and a fabulous new - to me - shade, Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It,a hot orange-y hue, on my toes). While talking fashion with a couple of the girls, Darlynn Nangano, who's a hip fashion blogger, threw out one of the funniest asides I've heard in a while. She commented that every girl needs a red pen in her purse. It comes in handy to mark down the tags on new purchases before debuting them in front of your spouse/fiance/other financially involved party. Love it!

Best Facial Sunscreens for Oily Skin (by Request)

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:09:00 +0000

In response to the Anonymous reader who wanted a facial susncreen that she could use under her makeup, that wouldn't clog pores or make her skin greasy. My favorites are Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen and June Jacobs Oil Free Sunscreen Mist. The Neutrogena is quite light and leaves a nice matte finish on the skin, but I think the absolute best sunscreen for oily skin is June Jacobs Oil Free Sunscreen Mist SPF15. It's weightless and virtually imperceptible on the skin - almost like water. It's amazing, and not at all greasy.
The other alternative is to use a foundation with sunscreen in it, like one of the mineral powder foundations, for example, and then just apply sunscreen on your neck, hands, chest, etc.
Sunscreen is SOOOO important, no matter what your skin type, but you might have to experiment with a few to find one that works for you. Let me know how you do!
As for primers, I don't recommend them for someone with oily skin. Primers generally fall into two categories: those that are mostly silicone based, like Smashbox Photo Finish, and those that are essentially highlighting creams. The silicone based primers feel really nice going on, and fill in all the little grooves in your skin, creating a smooth surface for foundation, but they are quite moisturizing and not suitable for oily skin. Highlighting creams are also moisturizing, and add unnecessary cheen to oily skin. If you want the effect of a primer without the slickness, try using a highlighting powder over your mineral powder foundation, or over your conventional foundation and powder combo.

Babies and Bikini Waxes

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:56:00 +0000

Since I became a mom, I've scaled way back on salon visits. I no longer have the time for manicures, pedicures, and massages. I've pared it down to the minimum: monthly bikini waxes and hair color appointments (to cover gray) every two months. For my last bikini wax, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to bring Lola along. Eva was napping and stayed behind, but Lola and I were planning a trip to the grocery store and a quick stop at the spa for the waxing. I explained to her that we were going to see Mommy's friend at the salon. Lola sat patiently in the chair, while my friend and esthetician, Kristen, did her thing, shielding my body from Lola's eyes. When she asked what Kristen was doing, I hesitated, but Kristen jumped right in: "I'm taking the hair off mommy's legs."
"Yes, so they can be soft like Lola's," I added.
But you can't pull anything over on a 2 year old. Later, she said: "Mommy, doctor take hair off your bottom? Like doctor fix my bottom?" (This was in reference to a recent visit to the pediatrician). How did she know that it wasn't my legs that were being waxed?
Fortunately, bikini waxes are old hat for me, and there was no real pain involved, so she didn't witness me being hurt. But still - I think I should have left her behind. I hope I haven't scarred her for life, and I hope she doesn't go around telling everyone that the doctor "take hair off Mommy's bottom."

Upgrading Your Mommy Style

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:31:00 +0000

In my quest to help myself, and other mommies, come back from the brink of frump-ness, I've developed a list of easy, instant wardrobe upgrades that can take your look from strictly sweats to seriously stylish.

1. Mix Up Your Warm Ups: Wearing a head to toe warm-up suit can look dated and predictable. Mix it up by pairing your hoodie with a tunic length tee and skinny jeans, or pair your pants with a chic printed tee in one of the new blousey styles. I love to wear cute, snug hoodies with tunic-length nursing camis and leggings. This hoodie is actually super-chic:
link

2. Replace your hoodies with cardigans: Layer a cute cardigan over a tee and a pair of cords for a chick, comfy winter look. I'm obssessed wtih cardigans from Blumarine, Anthropologie and J. Crew. This one is gorgeous and versatile: link

3. Dress to Impress: Look for easy, comfy dresses in jersey and cotton. They're as comfy as your PJs, but infinitely cuter. Shorter dresses and long tunics look fabulous with a pair of leggings. This one can be dressed up or down:
link

4. Replace sneakers and flip flops with cute flats: Ballet flats are just as comfortable as sneakers, and they're so much cuter and more versatile. Repettos are superstylish and comfy. link

5. Add a shot of color. Mix brights with brights for a mood-brightening look, and don't be afraid to mix it up. An orange cashmere sweater gets new life when paired with magenta cords and metallic flats. Pairing color with color is so much cooler than mixing brights with black. Take inspiration from this look: link

Like Mother, Like Daughter

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:39:00 +0000

In my latest issue of Cookie, I saw an article called "Separated at Birth," which featured mother-daughter dresses in matching hues and styles. I was thrilled to see this featured in a style-conscious magazine, because I've always thought that matching my babies, my own guilty pleasure, was a major fashion faux pas. Not that it's stopped me from doing it. I know, I know. Most of the time, cookie cutter outfits are beyond cheesy, and I've had quite a few unsuccessful expirements myself. But I do believe, as evidenced in the Cookie article, that it's possible to do it tastefully. Here's my take on the pros and pitfalls of dressing like your daughter:

1. Don't Sacrifice Your Style: Wearing something that you'd never otherwise consider just to match your child is a mistake, as I learned in several, ill-fated Hanna Andersson expirements. On more than one occasion, I've chosen outfits solely based on the fact that they came sized for me and my babies, and never wanted to wear them. They made me feel like cheesy matchy-mom, not cool Euro-mom, as I'd expected.

2. Don't be too matchy-matchy: One of my the few times I've pulled off a mother/daughter look successfully was last Christmas, when the whole family donned Burberry. Lola wore an adorable jumper, Eva a top and and bloomers, I wore a polo style dress with just a touch of the plaid on the button placket, and my husband wore a Burberry sweater that was striped and not plaid at all. We all looked good, and we all looked like ourselves, wearing clothes we actually liked. One year I found a strapless brown cotton gauze dress that was the same material as one of Lola's litle dresses, and it worked, because I loved my dress. Match colors, or patterns, or something, but not head to toe looks. Maybe you could both wear yellow tops, and your daughter could pair hers with a white skort while you wear white wide-leg pants.

3. Take a picture. If you do manage to pull off matching looks, document it. After all, she won't want to look just like mommy forever!

3.

Getting the Skinny...

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:32:00 +0000

Sunday night, I ran into an old family friend who is also a doctor. She is known for speaking her mind, and she got straight to the point. "You're too skinny, Nada," she said. "You need to eat." When I laughed it off, she persisted. "You don't look good in the face." That always gets me, because I know it's true. When my weight dips below a certain point, it shows in my face, and it's not pretty. Then today, I ran into two friends who haven't seen me in a while. The first commented on how I'd lost all my baby weight, and then some, and the second said that I am the skinniest she's ever seen me. Then, a sales associate at my favorite department store echoed the same sentiment: "I don't think I've ever seen you look so small." That did it. I marched home and consulted my husband. "You are too skinny," he said, indicating the prominent bones on my hsoulders and decollete. "I think you have lost some weight."
I didn't believe him, so I hopped on the scale. 9 pm, hair soaking wet, and I weighed 92 pounds. 92 POUNDS!!! Apparently, the pound and a half that I inadvertently lost was enough to take me from being normal skinny to scary skinny.
So now my focus has been temporarily been diverted to my weight, and putting some back on. I know that it seems like an enviable problem to have, and I'm not expecting much sympathy, but I do have to say that I really struggle to keep my weight up, and at times it's become a real issue. It's especially hard to have a healthy diet and still gain weight. But I will work on it, and I'll keep you posted. If anyone has any ideas for healthy weight gain, please let me know!

It's working! It's working!

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:39:00 +0000

It's been 5 days since I had Botox, and it's working! I can't believe it. Sunday I was in the car, and I looked in the rearview mirror and noticed a difference, but I thought I might be imagining it. I can smile. I look exactly the same. But when I smile, there are no lines!!! None! How fab is that?!?
Then today, I have been checking it out whenever I get a chance, and there is a definite difference. But now I am getting scared. It looks great now. What's it going to look like in another week, when it keeps progressing. Better? Worse?
I'll keep you posted!

Still waiting for my sister and mom to notice something. So far the only thing they've noticed is the bruise!

Wen Healthy Haircare Review

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:48:00 +0000

THis review just came in from one of my favorite reviewers, my sister Nelly. Since this product has been so heavily advertised, I thought you might loke to know what she thought: "I was so excited to try this line of hair products, mainly the cleansing conditioner. It's a one step product that cleanses and conditions (hence the name!). Wen claims that ordinary shampoos which lather strip the hair of natural oils and dry your hair out. So with this product, your hair should be bouncy and shiny and beautiful with no products in it at all! Although, he does have a styling creme and texture balm that you can use, too. It's supposed to be great for all hair types. Of course, the informercial had celebrities in it that raved about the stuff. Anyway, I tried it on myself and my three girls. And we never looked worse. Our hair was big, and slightly frizzy, except for Alex's which was just bigger and a little more flyaway because her hair is straight. It did not work at all for us. But it did smell good and our hair was super soft!"

In other words, don't skip the styling products. And if it sounds too good to be true... Fortunately, they have a money back guarantee!

Sheer Cover Mineral Foundation Review

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:56:00 +0000

I'd almost given up on mineral makeup, as my early experiences were dismal failures. I started, as everyone seems to, with Bare Escentuals, but found it to be too thick, maskline, and virtually impossible to apply naturally. Then I moved on to the new Mary Kay mineral powder foundation, which had the exact opposite problem. It's light and weightless, but with almost no coverage, it's best used as a powder and not as a foundation. I also tried Neutrogena's version, which comes in an applicator brush that you are supposed to dab on to dispense the product. I'd like to tell you what I thought of it, but since I was never able to actually get any of the product out, I have no idea if it's any good or not. Finally, my sister handed me a small jar of Sheer Cover in Medium/Tan Almond, because the color wasn't right for her. It rolled around in the bottom of my diaper bag for months (okay, so I didn't clean it out as often as I should have!) before I finally decided to give it a try. What a surprise! It's light enough to be goofproof, and never looks masky or heavy, but it delivers flawless even coverage. I use my Bare Escentuals kabuki brush to apply it, and in seconds my skin looks even, fresh, and natural. Recently, my cousin stopped by, took one look at my skin and asked me how I got it to glow like that. And I told her about the Sheer Cover. Just like in a cheesy infomercial. Also, the price can't be beat. $29.95 gets you the whole intro kit, with more than enough product to last a few months. So, don't give up on mineral makeup before you give this a try. You'll thank me!

Response to One Anti-Aging Product Under $100

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:05:00 +0000

To the reader who asked if I could recommend a single product, under $100, that will firm the skin and help with wrinkles, the answer is yes. I would definitely recommend a prescription retinoid, like Retin-A or Renova. These products change the way your skin functions, and can dramatically improve the look of wrinkles. My ideal anti-aging skincare regimen would involve an AHA product and a sunscreen with antioxidants or a sunscreen and a separate antioxidant product, like Prevage, in the morning, and a retinoid at night. Simple but effective! Sunscreen is most important when it comes to wrinkle prevention!

Mary Kay Beauty Party

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:54:00 +0000

Interesting how, when you decide to start working on yourself, opportunities arise. Tonight I attended a Mary Kay beauty party hosted by my sister. One of our mutual friends is a Mary Kay consultant. It was fun to sit around Nelly's dining table with a group of women, giving ourselves skin treatments and makeovers. I haven't spent that much time on my makeup in a long time. I even used lipliner! Here's what we tried:

Time Wise Microdermabrasion Set, $55: This works like similar sets on the market, with two steps: a scrub with tiny little crystals, and a moisturizer. You definitely notice a difference when you use one of these products, but it is not at all comparable to microdermabrasion. It's just like a really good scrub. It does rinse away easily and cleanly, though, with no residue. The serum-type moisturizer is nice, though, if your skin is oily. It's not heavy at all.

Satin Hands: Love this, although you could accomplish the same effect with a less expensive product. It's essentially a hand scrub and a very thick ointment-style hand cream that are massaged in together and then rinsed away. You then follow with a regular hand cream, which would be nicer if it had SPF. A regular body scrub and some vaseline would have the same effect, but still it's nice.

Satin Lips Set: Another exfoliant, this time for the lips, followed by an petroleum-based lip balm. This works well enough, but I prefer using a warm wet toothbrush and vaseline, since I don't particulary like the feeling of a scrub on my lips.

I did fall in love with a few products, though:
Mineral Powder Foundation in Beige 1, $16: The perfect color for me - it covered well while looking very natural, and not cakey at all, like many others can be, even when applied with a cotton ball.

Nourishing Lip Gloss in Beach Bronze, $13: I love the creamy texture and high shine (but not too much shine) of this metallic flecked gloss.

Berry Kiss Lipstick, $13: Again, I love the texture. It's very creamy and moisturizing. This is the color I wish my lips were naturally.

Golden Copper Blush, $10: A bronzey, coppery blush with some shimmer that gives skin a flattering glow.

Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:48:00 +0000

Today I washed my hair and went out to dinner with my husband - a small miracle. Other than that, I didn't do anything else on my list. It was one of those days... I did, however, let my husband (almost) convince me that it wouldn't kill my daughters if I left them for an hour twice a week to go to a yoga class. So my goal is to take a class before the week is up.

Tomorrow, I will pick apart my body for the world to see, so I can track the progress that hopefully I will be making soon!

Day One (Continued)

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:41:00 +0000

As promised, here are the pictures. They speak for themselves, although I will be listing all of my issues tomorrow..

And here are my responses to the Day One questions from Dr. Oz's Anti-Aging Plan:

1. Real Age: 38.6. (Boo hoo... My biological age is not yet 38 since my birthday is next week!)
2. Blood Pressure: Mine is always very low, like 90 over 60.
3. Heart Rate (resting): 84 (but I was feeling a little stressed)
4. Waist: 26.5 (3-4 inches bigger than usual, not that I'm counting. It's still pretty good considering the goal is for your waist to be less than half your height. At 5'2", my height is 62")
5. Number of steps I take this week: TO COME. I will start wearing my pedometer tomorrow.
6. Medical Tests: TO COME
7. Life Questions:
Are you living life from (A) fear or from (B) passion? A
Are you playing life (A) to avoid losing or (B) to win? B
Are your goals based on (A) preserving the status quo or (B) achieving growth? B
Are you happy most of the time? yes
Are you as happy now as you were 5 years ago? yes
Are you still expecting much from life? Yes, although my goals are changing after the birth of my daughters
Do your days seem to be passing quickly? yes - most days race by in a blur of activity!
Are you often sad less than 10 percent of the time? yes
8. Ask three strangers how old you are: Will do this tomorrow.
9. Ask your friends what your three biggest strengths are. Identify how you best use them. Again, I will do this tomorrow.
10. Ask yourself this simple question: How have you aged over the last five years? Use a picture to compare how you looked between then and now. Your initial thought:
A. My oh my, I look like I did in high school, dahling.
B. I'm steady Eddie—about the same.
C. I'm about what you'd expect—little fatter, little wrinklier, and little more worn down.
D. I look like tree bark.
My answer is B. Although I think I look better than I did in high school (big hair, round face) I definitely don'tn look younger.
11. Ask yourself this: What activities did you do five years ago that you can't do today? None
12. Ask yourself these big-picture stress questions, which can help you identify things to work on while using our program:Is your perceived level of stress more than you enjoy? Remember that actual stress is a more predictable driver of aging than our perception of stress, so push yourself to be honest with yourself. Do you control most of the stress in your life or are you a rat in someone else's experiment?
Answer: I think I am doing well with my life, stress-wise. Nothing I can’t manage. And I feel that I am largely in control of my own life, except for the constant but amazingly fulfilling demands of motherhood.

Day One of Dr. Oz Anti-Aging Plan

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:35:00 +0000

Okay, today I had my husband photograph me in my bright orange Rosa Cha bikini - the one I bought for a trip to Hawaii before I had my babies. As usual in these situations, there were some pleasant surprises and some not-so-pleasant ones. You'll see when the picture is posted tomoorrow... (Unfortunately, my husband/webmaster informed me that posting the picture is not as quick or easy as I thought it would be). I will pick myself apart, so you can see what I will be working on.

So to get you started, I decided to post the first day of the anti-aging plan here, for those of you who want to join in. (If you're as busy as I am, it might actually take you two days to get through this... it's a little long). I will post my own answers over the next couple of days...

1. Get out and go shopping! Buy these items, which should run you less than $125.
A tape measure
A heart-rate monitor (We use Polar products—they have chest straps and monitor watches)
A pedometer
A good pair of walking or running shoes
A hand-grip tester
A blood pressure cuff (Many have memory and download options…or you can use the one at the drugstore)
A notebook or access to computer website to record your results
2. Determine your real age at RealAge.com—that is, the actual age of your body (and mind) based on your health and habits, not your calendar age based on when mama thrust you into the world covered in goop.
3. Measure your blood pressure. Most drug stores have a device that can be placed on your arm if you haven't bought the home device yet.
4. Measure your heart rate in the evening, as well as the highest heart rate you achieve during your most intense exercise.
5. Measure your waist size. Circle the tape measure around your waist at the belly button, while you're taking a deep breath and sucking in. You would anyway, but it is the right way of measuring it as it gets the muscle we do not want to measure out of the way. Also measure your weight. The ideal is for your waist to be half your height.
6. Leave a space to record the average number of steps you take this week.
7. Make a doctor's appointment so you can get the medical tests you need.
8. Answer these questions.
Are you living life from (A) fear or from (B) passion?
Are you playing life (A) to avoid losing or (B) to win?
Are your goals based on (A) preserving the status quo or (B) achieving growth?
If you answered (A) to any of them, it's an indication that you're not moving forward in life. Remember, the only times that your vital signs are completely stable are when you're dead. Like sharks, we need to keep moving in order to live fully.
9. Ask yourself these questions to really determine whether you're really happy.
Are you happy most of the time?
Are you as happy now as you were 5 years ago?
Are you still expecting much from life?
Do your days seem to be passing quickly?
Are you often sad less than 10 percent of the time?
We obviously want you to have positive answers for these questions. If you're not there, our program, as well as professional help, can help you get there.
10. Ask three strangers how old you are. Asking friends and family doesn't count, since they either know or have a vested interest in not hurting your feelings. This will help give you some kind of baseline as to how others perceive you—based on appearance and demeanor—and can be a strong indicator of how healthy you actually are. In addition, you can ask a friend you trust to be honest with you about how you are aging compared to others.
11. Ask your friends what your three biggest strengths are. Identify how you best use them.
12. In your notebook, draw a little box with an amoeba that fills up 70 percent of the box, but also goes outside of the box. The box is your job, and the amoeba is you. The empty spots in the box are where we often focus all of our effort, but perhaps you should focus on the part of the amoeba that lies outside of the box, as this represents your strengths.
13. Ask yourself this simple question: How have you aged over the last five years? Use a picture to compare how you looked between then and now. Your initial thought:
A. My oh my, I look like I did in high school, dahling.
B. I'm steady Eddie—about the same.
C. I'm about what you'd expect—little fatter, little wrinklier, and little more worn down.
D. I look like tree bark.
14. Ask yourself this: What activities did you do five years ago that you can't do today?15. Ask yourself these big-picture stress questions, which can help you identify things to work on while using our program:
Is your perceived level of stress more than you enjoy? Remember that actual stress is a more predictable driver of aging than our perception of stress, so push yourself to be honest with yourself.
Do you control most of the stress in your life or are you a rat in someone else's experiment?

The Mommy Makeover Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (The Beauty Mommy) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:27:00 +0000

After a nearly month long hiatus, I am finally back for good. A colicky baby, technical problems and a major house renovation can't keep me away forever! I am looking at this as sort of a fresh beginning for both me and for the Beauty Mommy Blog. Here's why.

My little star, Eva, is going to be 3 months old on Wednesday, and it's time to get back on track. So, like many women, I'm turning to Oprah (or rather, to Dr. Oz, via Oprah) for inspiration. I am going to kick off my own personal mommy makeover right here on this blog, beginning with Dr. Oz's 14 day anti-aging plan. And since it's always more fun to do these things with a friend, I am enlisting the help of one of my dearest friends, whom I will call Amanda. Amanda and I will be posting pics of our bikini-clad bodies on this blog tomorrow, for the world to see. This, to a vain mommy like myself, is the ultimate in bravery, since there is little I like about my body right now. You may be surprised to know that weight is not my personal struggle. I am skinny (scrawny?) and I've managed to lose all of my baby weight. But I do have a long list of issues, from crepey skin on my tummy to scars to a linea negra that takes forever to go away. I also have a very lax tummy and absolutely no muscle tone in the rest of my body. Besides Dr. Oz's program, I want to squeeze a yoga class in at least once a week.

But my mommy makeover isn't going to stop at my neck. I also want to renew my skin by doing treatments that I was unable to do while pregnant, including peels and laser hair removal. I also want to investigate Botox, which I might make a birthday present to myself. I want to have my teeth bleached, and my sister, Nelly, who is a dentist, just took some impressions for some bleaching trays. I want to find the time to schedule a hair color appointment with my stylist, Suzy the Great. And I'd like to schedule a mani/pedi at least once a month. As I write this, I have no idea how I will find the time to squeeze any of these things in, but I plan on tackling them one at a time, and chronicling my comeback right here.

So, in my best Oprah mode, I am going to issue a challenge to Mommies Everywhere. Join me for a mommy makeover. Even if you don't think you have the time, energy or money to tackle it. ESPECIALLY if you don't think you have the time, energy or money to tackle it. Together, we can keep each other motivated, and find creative, time-saving ways to take care of ourselves and to set positive examples for our children (especially daughters). Remember - as one of Oprah's experts once said - children don't treat themselves the way that you treat them. They treat themselves the way that you treat yourself.

So, post a response to this blog to join in, and check back daily (I promise!) for ideas and inspiration to begin your own Mommy Makeover. I will offer time and money saving suggestions for revamping everything from your hair to your wardrobe, and I'm willing to name names: specific products, websites, sales, etc.

Let's start a Mommy Makeover Movement!