Pucker Up

MAC LustreGlass in Angel Wing

My sis-in-law gave this to me and I love its sheer, berry color.

MAC DazzleGlass in Money, Honey

How hot is this color? Super sparkly and a fave for going out!

MAC Frost Lipstick in Angel

Recommeded by Miss Farah, I absolutely adore this shade and wear it daily!

Thanks, girly!!

What are your fave lip colors?

Smooches!!

PS ... Don't forget to enter the giveaway! It ends on Wednesday!

Fashion Friday

You definitely won't be seeing a lot of high-fashion, top model looks here. Mostly jeans and random tops I have in my closet. I am all about comfort, especially running around with 2 rowdy boys. I rock what I got, and hope you enjoy! :o)

Jeans: Seven For All Mankind, Flynt
Oatmeal Cami: Old Navy
Brown 3/4 Sleeve Cardigan: Express (love this cardy and its jewel buttons)
Wedges: Tribeca
Necklace: Aerie

Fashion Fridays brought to you by the oh-so-fab, Summer! Check her out!!

Fo' Shizzle

I am lovin' me some Wendy Williams! Who watches her show each day? No drama 'bout baby daddies, just some fab celeb guests, dancin' in the audience (woot woot!) and gossip!
So this last week, Wendy had Snoop Dogg on the show. Snoop and I go way back ... since the days of Gin and Juice with tha Dogg Pound. He's my homie. He's got a new album out ... (his 10th!) Malice in Wonderland, so he was pluggin' the album. Near the end of this interview, Wendy did a shout-out for Snoop's new promotion with Tom Tom (you know, the portable gps units?). In true O.G. (original gangsta') style, here is Snoop doin' his thang!
(Skip to the 5:45 mark on the video)

Skin MD Natural Giveaway!

Last month I was contacted by a representative from the skin care company, Skin MD Natural and asked to review their shielding lotion. Now, as you already know, I heart Burts Bees Milk and Honey Nourishing body lotion. For years I used every brand of lotion from Vaseline to Jergens to Johnson & Johnson. I was never completely satisfied with the moisturizing levels and my skin was always left dry and itchy. I read about Burts Bees products in a magazine about 2 years ago, and haven't used any other lotion since.
I agreed to test out Skin MD Natural, simply because I am all about natural lotions. I was actually amazed with this product! I have never had a lotion absorb almost instantly into my skin. Every lotion I have used, including Burts Bees, leaves a layer of lotion that sits on top of my skin. Skin MD Natural penetrates quickly and leaves no residue behind.
To best give you an idea of what this company is all about, here is some information from Skin MD Natural's website:

Shielding Lotions are a new type of skin care product based on years of research into how skin heals. They form a protective shield with the outer layer of skin and help keep out irritants. They allow the natural oils and moisture to remain in the skin so it can heal better and they're light in texture so they go on without a greasy mess. Your skin needs help to keep out these moisture-robbing irritants.

Skin MD Natural™ utilizes the latest developments in skin care technology as well as the most effective natural ingredients to restore your outer layer of skin's natural ability to protect against dangerous toxins and irritants as well as to reduce the loss of natural oils and moisture. A shielding lotion replaces the barrier that's stripped away with the daily use of most soaps and cleansers.

Dermatology tested
No animal products or testing
Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic
Fragrance and colorant free
Paraben free

This line of products can also be used to help treat such skin disorders as eczema, psoriasis, and thyroid issues. Skin MD Natural is formulated for your hands, body, and your face and has absolutely no fragrance!
Bottom line, this is a great product! I even used it on just-shaved legs (which is when my skin tends to be the most sensitive). My hubby tested this as well and thought highly of it as well. It is also safe for children.

Skin MD Natural is feeling generous and would like to give away a full size bottle of their Shielding Lotion to one of my lucky readers! Here's how to enter:

First up, you gotta be a follower of my blog. Your fab self needs to be in that awesome lil' box in my sidebar. You don't need to have a blog to enter, just be sure to leave your email address if you don't have a blog link when commenting.

Next, please visit the Skin MD Natural website and take a peek at all the great information on this breakthrough technology in skincare. Leave me a comment here telling me how you could benefit from this shielding lotion.

Re-posting on Twitter, Facebook, and on your own blog earns you extra entries, so please spread the word!! Add another comment telling me you did so. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, January 20th at 8pm pst. Winner will be announced that evening, so be sure to check back in!

Another One Bites The Dust

Aww, celebrity marriages. So posh, so fairytale, so glamorous! Until the happy couple decides to do a reality show chronicling their oh-so-beautiful lives ... and divorce soon follows. So very sad. In memory of the most recent couple to call it quits, Tamra Barney and soon-to-be ex hubby Simon from The Real Housewives of Orange County, a look back at those who didn't survive life after the cameras stopped rolling. (Cue sentimental music.)

Tune in tomorrow for a great giveaway!! I was contacted by a skin care company and you won't wanna miss out!

Kardashian Approved

Okay, girls! On a whim, I went to GNC on Thursday last week and bought a bottle of Quick Trim's Fast Cleanse. If Kim and Khloe can look so fab, and link their name with the product that helped them get that way, then what do I have to lose? Well, $29.99, but in this case, I have found a detox that actually works and in 48 hours!! No joke, this stuff rocks! Here's the deal though. I lost all of my bloating, yes ALL, in my stomach and my love handles went way down, BUT I didn't really eat anything for 48 hours. Just water and this oh-so-yummy lemonade flavored drink. You are told on the bottle that you can eat fruits, vegetables, clear soups and gelatins. On day one, I ate 4 pieces of cooked sushi. On day 2, I had 2 sugar-free, 10 calorie Jello cups. That is all.
And guess what?!? I was not hungry! When I started to feel hungry, I would drink one of the 4 servings and be completely satisfied. My energy levels were awesome, and my appetite and cravings were curbed. I had no wierd side affects, no headaches, or loss of energy. This product does what it says and you see your results in just 2 days! Have a special event you wanna look fab for? Grab a bottle of this and be down in size asap!
I am still working on my goal for a new bikini for my birthday and this just helped motivate me even more! I am going to look into the Quick Trim 14 Day Diet and Cleanse program to see if it would be right for me and that may be my next step. The $59.99 price tag will ultimately be how my deciding factor results, but I am definitelty impressed with the Quick Trim Fast Cleanse and will absolutely use it again!!
Anyone else try this program? What did you think of it? Leaving a little motivation to keep up with our New Year fitness and health goals! Happy Monday!!

Holla Back

Thanks so much for all the awesome comments here on my bloggity blog!! They make my bloggy world go 'round! I have noticed some questions on posts, and I wanted to be sure you all got the answers you were looking for. I will now be commenting on each post to respond to questions, so if you have dropped a question on a specific post, please check in on the comments to see my response!! Lots of Love!! ♥

My First Fashion Friday

Two of my fave girls (Summer and Molly) blog fashion posts on Fridays. Because I adore them so much, I thought I'd join their cool club and post each week what I am rockin', too. So here's to my very first Fashion Friday ... and I promise I will work on my posing skills, as I will be taking notes from the pros.

Sweater Dress: Abercrombie & Fitch (Christmas gift from hubby)

Black tank top: Old Navy

Black Leggings: Target (and only $6!!)

Tall Classic Uggs: Nordstrom (another gift from hubby - he rocks!)

Hair band that doubles as a bracelet: Juicy Couture

Layered necklace: Aeropostale Outlet

Happy Weekend!!

Must-See Movie

I am not a fan of sci-fi movies. Sure, I am in love with a vampire, but aliens are just not my thang. My hubby raved about the latest movie he saw with the guys, and upon seeing a few fab reviews on Facebook, my interest was peaked.

Avatar

What a phenomenal movie! The graphics, the details, the heart-warming story (I almost cried at one point in the movie), and the 3-D effects were amazing! It is a longer movie, running at 2 hours 40 minutes, but definitely worth your time to go see!! We took our boys (ages 3 and almost 6) and they enjoyed it, too. Nothing too over-the-top scary, a couple battle scenes, but not too gory. Be sure to see the 3-D showing for the best effects and let me know how you liked it!!

Winter Glow

Here's what I use on my face when I want a polished look ... MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15. I say 'polished' because this fab moisturizer evens out my skin tone and blends very nicely with my natural skin color. I don't use foundation or powders on my face. I don't like the feeling of having anything but moisturizer on my face. So when I wear this, especially now in the winter time when my skin can get pale and uneven, I can get the complexion of a foundation with the natural feel of a moisturizer. There are 5 shades to choose from, I wear the medium and it blends flawlessly. The SPF is a nice added feature, and I am pleasantly surprised that this is as light-weight as it is. Usually I find products with SPF to have a thicker consistency. The price is a little on the spendier side at $29.50, but a little bit goes a long way!! You can sample this product before buying it, too. Just stop by your local MAC counter and find the shade that will match your skin tone the best. Samples are gladly given on all their products.

Now ... if I could only find a self-tanner for the rest of my body that won't turn me shades of orange, I could better fight the urges to buy a tanning package at the salon. Any suggestions??

The Secret Is Out ...

Why this has the title of Child Abuse Ad, I have no idea. This looks like a typical day in the life of a mom. Ha ha!!

Off to a new start!

Happy 2010!! I am still not quite sure where 2009 went, but yay for the new year!! I took the last few days off of blogging to enjoy family time, catch up on blog reading, and reflect on the goals I want to achieve this year. Oh yes. I am one who makes those lovely resolutions. They usually don't make it as far as February, but I still like to get excited about starting something new. So here are my official New Year Resolutions ...

This one is on most people's lists ... work out more/lose weight/get in shape. This is going to be a priority of mine until I get bored with it (which will hopefully be longer than 2 weeks). I have consumed so much food this last month that I could possibly pop, so dropping a few pounds is necessary. Plus, I want a new swimsuit this year and wanna look fabulous in it.

Along with the weight loss plan, comes a new diet plan. I am back on my 'No Pop' kick (for all you non-Oregonians, pop = soda). I went a year and a half without the stuff, fell off the wagon this last summer, and am jumping back on board. I am also blaming my extra lbs. on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol. So, I will be easing up on the vodka for a while. Until I can figure out how many calories are in the flavored varieties (why is there no nutritional info listed on the bottles?), I am on a break.

Lunesta and I are going to be best friends for a while. I need to get more sleep. Insomnia is so last year.

Cash only for this chica ... no more using my debit card for random purchases. Those small amounts add up quick, so I am hiding the convenient plastic card and thinking twice before I spend. I have already been on a no shopping binge (for almost 2 months now!), but holiday gift card shopping was so. much. fun! I need to keep myself in check.
I am a Christian girl. I don't preach. I don't judge. But I do love the Lord and I need to spend more time showing it. Daily devotions are going to be made a priority. My hubby helped me find a new Bible that is geared more for busy moms (that's me!), and I am excited to dive into it!

I also have a few blogging goals. I wanna do a product review once a week, a giveaway once a month, and even join a few of my fave girlies in Fashion Fridays (if you haven't check out Summer's blog yet, then you are missing out)!! I am not trying to get all structured here ... that's just not my bloggy style, but I wanna add some new elements. Anyone have any ideas as to what you wanna see more of here on dot...dot...dot...? I heart my friends and followers, I adore all the comments, and this blog o'mine has been so much fun!!

So there you have it, peeps ... my goals for 2010! Nothing too major or stressful. I wanna have another great year full of friends, family, and fun. I want to try to stay drama-free and try to always see the positive in every situation life throws at me. My hubby is awesome at keeping me grounded and in-check with my attitudes and outlooks. He helps me weed out the negativity, which this stubborn Italian girl tends to hang on to sometimes. So I am raising my glass of water (remember? no pop!) and toasting to an awesome new year!!

Ringin' In 2010!!

It is almost time to countdown the end of 2009 ... where did this year go?? Whether you will be out and about or hanging at home, be sure to try this oh-so-yummy martini that I recently created. It is actually a variation of a Pineapple-Upside-Down Cake Martini (my absolute fave), and I have been loving these this holiday season. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (cuz my bloated gut will be dieting on Monday)!!

2 ounces Vanilla Vodka ... brand of your choice
1 ounce pineapple juice
1 ounce Diet 7-Up

Please Drink Responsibly.

Hair Rescue

How many times have you needed to be somewhere, but didn't have time to wash your hair? Your hair is a bit on the greasy side, and is lookin' kinda stringy. Baby powder isn't doing the trick as it should, plus it is leaving behind a lovely dusty hue on your roots. Ugh! Quick, throw your hair up, and hope no one notices.
On almost a weekly basis I go through this! As a busy momma with a full daily schedule, I have to shower at night before bed. Some nights, I don't get the opportunity, so I deal with the aftermath in the morning as I am rushing about. I was skimming one day through People's Style Watch magazine and came across an article about this very issue. How to fix oily hair when you have no time to wash it ... their solution: Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser from Sephora. I immediately loved the $24 price tag and headed out to get it!
Here's the product deets:

Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser

What it is:
A dry cleanser that revives, refreshes, and recharges hair and scalp without water.

What it does:
Ojon® Rub-Out™ Dry Cleanser instantly "erases" impurities, toxins, excess oil, and product build-up. It increases hair volume at the root while treating the hair and scalp. Ideal between washings, as a hair pick-me-up, when you're in a rush, or when you overuse a styling product. The Dry Cleanser leaves hair cleansed, light, luminous, and healthy -looking.

What else you need to know:
Fortified with wildcrafted Ojon® oil, an ancient native secret to naturally beautiful hair from Central America's Tawira tribe, known as "the people of beautiful hair.™" Supported by clinical studies to instantly hydrate, strengthen, and restore dry or damaged hair, Rub-Out™ Dry Cleanser is appropriate for all hair types and is eco-friendly.

My review? This stuff will always have a place in my bathroom! This dry-shampoo fixes my oily roots to get me through the entire day - no need for re-applying! Now, as for leaving the hair 'cleansed', I wouldn't quite say that. When I use this product, it feels as if I sprayed hairspray in my hair and brushed it out. Not sticky, just the brushed-out hairspray feeling. Know what I am talking about? My hubby loves the smell of this stuff, so it does have a cleaner smell to it. Definitely worth giving a try!

What are some of your hair care tricks? Have any products you can't live without?

Holiday Hangover

The house has thrown-up Christmas! I don't know what has been more exhausting ... the holiday festivities, or trying to keep the house somewhat organized with all the new goodies! Not only that, our laundry room that was spic and span and all caught up on Wednesday, is now overflowing with piles of clothes to be cleaned. How did that happen???
In all seriousness though, we had a very wonderful Christmas! My kiddos got everything their little hearts desired, including a new Wii that the entire family is enjoying. My hubby took me on our annual day-after-Christmas shopping trip and we had a blast spending gift cards and getting each other gifts. I got some new Uggs - the tall grey ones - and a couple new outfits. A bracelet and a necklace (nothing fancy, just cute). Those adorable Juicy hair bands that were on my wish list, and a few other things. My family members were awesome in the giving department, too! A new martini glass and shaker set to add to my collection, pajamas, Breaking Dawn, MAC eyeshadow and lip gloss, and gift cards! I am definitely a spoiled girl and so blessed to be so loved!

I have pictures to download off my cameras, laundry to do and re-organizing the house this week. I am so darn bloated from all the delicious food I have consumed, and honestly feel a little bit like a cow (getting my period after not having it for 2 months (IUD) doesn't help this matter either). I haven't even thought about taking down Christmas decorations yet (sigh), but am very excited to be heading to the beach on Wednesday for the New Year holiday. We'll be out there for 4 days with all the Baker fam, ringing in 2010! Woot!!

While this time of year can be chaotic and exhausting, life is amazing! I hope you are all enjoying the holidays with the ones you love (and even the ones you don't like so much, but have to hang out with anyways - ha!).
Lots of Love!! xoxo

Joy To The World ... Our Lord Has Come!

Wishing you a very blessed Christmas with lots of love!

Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

I had to look it up!

** I am re-posting this from last year ... I am off to bake cupcakes with my kiddos, but wanted to make sure all of you weren't neglected! Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas!! Lots of Love!! xoxo **

I will admit that I had to look up the definition, because I had no idea what this word meant! Ha! Here is my meme ... this has been circulating the blog world and of course I had to snag it, too! I love these things!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper is way funner to open!
2. Real tree or Artificial? I absolutely love the smell of real, but prefer the cleanliness of artificials. This year we have a real tree ... the hubby got to pick and the house smells so good!
3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving weekend ... we love getting a jump start to the holiday!
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually the day or weekend after Christmas, but we have waited as long as New Year's Day
5. Do you like eggnog? Bleh ... unfortunately, no! I try it every year though just to make sure my taste buds haven't changed.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I absolutely loved my Barbie dolls!
7. Hardest person to buy for? My hubby! He gets himself everything he wants throughout the year. It is so hard to think out of the box for him!
8. Easiest person to buy for? Our boys, but it is so hard staying in budget!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Of course! We have 3 ... I have a stationary one, where all the pieces are permanently attached, we have the Little People set for the kids, and my mom-in-law got me a beautiful set that I absolutely cherish
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely mail ... don't be lazy, people!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? No comment - ha, ha!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I am a sucker for the abc Family movies
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? March. LOL! Just kidding. Usually after Thanksgiving (never on Black Friday again - did you read that post?)
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Candy, yes (unopened, of course), but not actual gifts - I'll keep them even if I don't like them! Seriously!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Oh my goodness, what's not to like? I love it all!
16. Lights on the tree? Duh! I love the multi-colored lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song? He Reigns
18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel, but only about 20 minutes from home.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, and Rudolph!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A gold star ... so cute!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning, but you get to open one present on Christmas Eve.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Rude people stressed out at the stores ... relax!! You are making others mad!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? This year I found this adorable little angel at a holiday bazaar ... she is my new fave! I don't actaually have a theme going though - just ornaments I like.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Mom's pot roast dinner ... yum!!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? All of our debt paid off! Ha! Gosh ... I don't know! I am never in want or need of anything! I posted my wish list last month, and I have already gotten things off of it for myself. Sigh. I am a happy girl, so whatever I receive, I will be thrilled!

Now go post this yourself ... it's fun and I want to see what your holiday traditions are! :o)