Before and After ... The Haircut!!

 So here is the pic I took into the salon ... Miss Natalie Portman was my inspiration this time around. Medium length, layers, and nothing too drastic that would take a lifetime to grow out.

 Here is my hair before ... super long, ends fried from going with the ombre color process, and looking a bit brassy.

 And here is the after pic ... chopped off quite a few inches, getting rid of the dead, frizzy ends. I also had some more highlights put in to blend the definite color line of the ombre vs. my dyed black hair, and I also added a couple purple peek-a-boos near the front, but it is hard to see those on my phone pics.

 Fresh cut ends, no more severe damage needing to be treated every day, and highlights throughout... ♥

 I am loving the way this style frames my face, and how much healthier and lightweight it feels!

While I didn't go super extreme, I am pretty excited with the new 'do and happy that I finally took the plunge after so many years of hanging on to the super long length.

What do y'all think?

Today is the day ...

I am NOT chickening out this year! Tomorrow is my birthday, which (if y'all remember a new year's goal of mine) means it is time to cut my hair. I have dragged my feet, gone back and forth, and threw out lots of empty promises throughout the last few years. My appointment is set for 3:30pm today. I have a few celebrity hairstyle pics ready to go, and trusting my that fabulous hair girl, Mallela, pulls off a cut I will adore.
Wish me luck (this is a HUGE deal for me) ... and pop back in tomorrow to see my new 'do! xoxo

Post #875 ... Fur-ocious Vocals

Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips ... $8.99

In ♥ with this fun print!!
Super easy to apply, these nail polish stickers went on smoothly and quickly. Total manicure time took about 20 minutes, although I am a newbie at this. I was never interested in purchasing these strips because a) the price is a little steep in my opinion, and b) I never found a print that I adored enough, or couldn't re-create with polishes I already own.

I was at Walgreens last night and the box was whispering at me from a distance. Flashes of my current fave color and current animal print of choice sealed the deal on the purchase. This style is called Fur-ocious Vocals and is supposed to last up to 10 days. I applied a top coat to add a little extra protection, as I have had friends say this little trick helps the wearability last longer.

The kit comes with everything you need to accomplish your designer manicure, including easy-to-follow instructions. Coupons circulate every now and then and are definitely recommended to help with the $8 to $9 price tag.
Have you tried Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Polish Strips?

I tried it ... Olay Total Effects

I recently ran out of a spendy facial moisturizer I had been using for a few months ... it was a generous gift from my mom-in-law, but unfortunately I can not seem to justify adding it to my family's budget. I was browsing the aisles of Target last week and spent some time reading bottles and packages of facial lotions, debating on prices and brands. I had finally decided to try Olay's Total Effects + Touch of Sun.
I am turning 31 this month (holla!) and while that age is NOT old, I can see that my skin is starting to show signs of aging. Those fine lines and wrinkles of mine become more apparent this time of year when the sun starts to come out. I don't usually wear sunglasses, so the extra squinting helps defines my lines a bit more. I wanted a moisturizer that was going to help minimize the appearance of these imperfections, as well as give my skin the daily hydration it craves. Olay claimed to do all these things AND add a little boost of color with a sunless tanner added to the mix. Sold!!
I have been using this product daily for the last 9 days and I am loving it!! I notice my complexion has evened out and has a nice glow to it. The lotion gets an A in the moisturization department, no greasy or oily feel and absorbs nicely. And while I don't believe a topical cream can erase the fine line and wrinkles I already have, maybe this lotion can help prevent new ones from appearing. I definitely think this is a product to try, especially if you are in the market for a new moisturizer. This one retails for around $23. I snagged it for under $20 on sale.
What are your thoughts? Do you use Olay products? What facial lotion do you swear by?

Fashion Friday ... Rawr, baby!!

Channeling my inner Snooki, I am rockin' this fun cheetah shirt that I found at H&M for $5.95!

It is a stretchy cotton ... perfect to layer with the tights that I got at Target.

The tank is from Gap, cardigan is from Express, bracelet from American Eagle, and these two necklaces were actually apart of two other layered necklaces that I no longer liked, so I seperated them with some trusty scissors and kept the pieces I liked. Crafty, huh?
The boots are knock-off Uggs. Fuggs as my hubby likes to call them (Fake Uggs = Fuggs). I got them through Groupon for $20. They are no where near the quality or comfort of the real deal, but I ain't hatin' for 20 bucks!

I know y'all may be sick of seeing the boots in every.flippin.fashion.post, but it is OREGON!! We only get a day or two of sunny spring weather here in the Pacific Northwest, and our summers don't even get started until mid-July. Hang in there, peeps! Eventually I will pull out the cute booties and flip flops, sandals, and pumps! Until then, homegirl has got to keep her feet warm!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

xoxo

Fashion Friday !!!

Long Sleeve Tee ... Nordstrom B.P.

Ruffle Cardigan ... Express

Layering Tank ... Target

Skirt ... H & M

Leggings ... Old Navy

Uggs ... Nordstrom, Kids Shoes Department

Necklace ... Forever 21

Earrings ... Target

Hair ... Triple Barrel Iron
Happy Friday!!

xoxo

Damage Control

I knew when I decided to go ombre with my hair, that I was going to be damaging my locks. To achieve an ombre with my black hair, we had to completely strip the years of black dye from my strands. To do this, we had to process my hair with bleach; which ultimately fried my hair. I had a lot of breakage, and my hair was so brittle.

My hair stylist prepped me for this and recommended a recovery routine ... lots of moisturization, color-safe shampoo and conditioner, and a full blow-out treatment after every wash. I left the salon with a $24, 4-oz bottle of It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In plus Keratin. Of course, Pureology was her shampoo and conditioner line of choice, but I went to Rite-Aid from the salon and picked up a trusty bottle of L'Oreal's EverStrong Shampoo and Organix TeaTree Mint Conditioner.

The shampoo and conditioner smell amazing!! I love that minty smell and shower steam combination! The shampoo is so thick and creamy, and it lathers really well. The conditioner is super silky ... I apply mostly to the bottom half of my hair where the most damage is, and I leave it in for several minutes.

After rinsing and towel-drying, I spray the leave-in treatment throughout all my hair and massage it in. At this point, my nappy ends are a tangled mess. I use a really wide-toothed comb to work out the tangles, then I blow dry until my hair is completely dry.

I then use my Hana Pro Flat Iron I got from Misikko, and iron out section-by-section until all my strands are nice and smooth. This routine usually takes about 20-30 minutes from the time I step out of the shower to finish. I wash my hair every 2-3 days, and this process lasts me through between washings.Was going ombre worth all the time and damage? Absolutely! I am loving my new look, and my hair feels normal when it is all blown out. I am not sure if the situation is the same for someone going darker in hair color, but if you do decide to go with this style, be prepared for the aftermath and upkeep. Shiny ... smooth ... silky soft ... the Keratin leave-in treatment is definitely worth the $24! I have 1/4 of my bottle left and have used it every 2-3 days since bleaching my hair (on February 2nd). The bottle promises to replace lost protein, protect and maintain natural keratin in hair, protect against heat, restore hydration balance, strengthen hair structure, add shine, and seal hair cuticles. I don't think my hair would be this manageable or any healthier without using this product. I definitely recommend for all hair types - dyed or natural!

And as the haircut countdown ticks down (my birthday, 4/25), I am still unsettled about chopping my locks. Hubby is against it, so that doesn't help either. We will see if I can hold to it, or chicken out for the 5th year in a row. Ha!

What hair products do you recommend and use every day?

I tried it ... and will never be without it again!!

Dry skin, wrinkles, under-eye puffiness and dark circles ... I thought being in my 30's was supposed to be fun? Recently, I have been experiencing these issues with my eyes. Fancy eye treatments are simply not in my budget, so I did a little online research to see what the hottest and affordable eye care products were out on the market.
Clinique's All About Eyes constantly popped up on top pick lists, claiming to show dramatic results in minimizing these common problems. There are 2 formulas in the All About Eyes series, one being Rich. That's the one I decided to try, afterall, the more hydration the better, right?
Here is Clinique's overview of All About Eyes Rich, found on Sephora's website:

All About Eyes™ Rich
What it is: A moisturizing eye treatment that helps minimize the look of dark circles, shadows, and puffiness.
What it is formulated to do: This brightening eye cream works instantly and over time to diminish the look of undereye circles, shadows, and fine lines. Its botanical ingredients de-puff and calm the eye area. It also boosts natural collagen production while strengthening skin's moisture barrier against common irritants.
What else you need to know: This hydrating product sends puffy eyes packing with a formulation that is ophthalmologist tested and ideal for all skin types.

I popped into Sephora with a $25 gift card I had burning a hole in my pocket. A sales rep tried to convince me that Philosophy had the most amazing eye serum known to man, however it's $49 price tag was just too steep for me. I debated on the 2 formulas of All About Eyes, and decided the extra hydration and creamier product of the Rich version will better suit my needs. The price tag ... $29 for the .5 oz size.
I rushed it home and immediately dabbed it under my eyes ... already soothed the dry feeling! I now use it twice a day, once before my makeup goes on in the morning, and right before bedtime after washing my face. I am LOVING the hydration that my skin is soaking up!! I will even dab it between my eyes on my nose, and between my eyebrows where fine lines are becoming not-so-fine.
Now, is this product performing miracles on the puffs and dark circles? Eh. Not quite sure yet. I am only about a week and a half into using this, but we will see. I tend to sleep pretty hard and puffiness and dark circles are pretty genetic in my family. I have even passed them on to my oldest son (sorry, Bubba). What about the fine lines? I am not convinced just yet that this cream is going to build up enough collagen to make these lines disappear. I have a hard time believing that ANY topical product can conquer such tasks, but again, we will see. Pretty sure Botox is in my future.
Bottom line, I am really happy with this product. You don't need very much of it, and I think this jar will last me months! Definitely worth $29!!
Is there an eye product that you are head-over-heels for? Please share!!

Guest Post ...

I am more than happy to share dot...dot...dot... today. Such a great reminder that cancer, as nasty as this disease is, doesn't always have to be ugly.

Hi,

My name is Jackie and I do outreach for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, a leading web resource for mesothelioma cancer. I was interested in seeing if you allow guest posts on your site?

I have always had a passion for fashion-from shoes to makeup, nail polish to handbags, and everything in between! Coupled with that is belief that all women need to feel beautiful, no matter what circumstances they may be facing. Women are powerful beings and WE need to realize it! Sadly, many women are hearing those devastating words 'you have cancer.' Despite a cancer diagnosis, women can still feel beautiful in their own skin. Fashion is a wonderful way to feel strong and confident. I would like to share with your audience the reality of cancer and how women can say 'YES I have cancer', but I am no less beautiful than I was before my diagnosis.

Hope you find this topic as compelling as I do. Please let me know if this opportunity interests you and I would be happy to share with you and your audience a powerful article on women and beauty.

Thanks!

Jackie

Feeling Beautiful After a Cancer Diagnosis
By: Jackie Clark

Being diagnosed with cancer often destroys a woman’s self-esteem. However, it is important for women who have been recently diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other type of cancer to know that they are still beautiful regardless of the diagnosis. There are many different ways for women to still feel beautiful in their own skin, even while fighting cancer. In fact, fighting cancer makes a woman even more beautiful because it shows that she is a strong individual who can overcome just about anything.
Fashion and makeup play an important role in helping women, especially those with cancer, to feel good about themselves even while undergoing different types of treatment to get rid of the
cancerous cells. Mineral makeup is, by far, a popular choice amongst all women, not just those with cancer, because there are so many benefits that come along with this natural type of makeup. Mineral makeup is composed with all-natural minerals and is free of chemicals. The makeup will not irritate the skin or cause any problems, which are definitely important because women suffering from cancer do not want to have to deal with irritated skin as well.
When applied to the skin, mineral makeup brings out natural beauty. All women are beautiful in their own way and the mineral makeup only exemplifies that beauty. The mineral makeup
covers flaws and goes onto the skin very lightly while providing a natural look so that it does not even appear that the woman may be wearing makeup at all. It has been used by women to cover wrinkles, age spots, acne and acne marks, and to simply enhance beauty.
Fashion is also a way for women with cancer to continue feeling confident. Just because a woman has been diagnosed with cancer does not mean that she has to give up on dressing nicely
and caring about her appearance. Instead, women with cancer can feel good while wearing some of their most favorite and fashionable pieces. And, when a woman feels good about how she looks and has a greater sense of confidence because she feels beautiful, she will be able to get through the battle of fighting off cancer much easier than someone who is depressed and not confident at all.

Spring Swap on dot...dot...dot... !!

Happy Monday, Dolls!!

It is time to sign up for the Spring Swap here on dot...dot...dot...!

The theme is going to be Spring Essentials. Anything you find to be a must-have for this beautiful new season ... accessories, flip flops, polishes, cosmetics, home decor, recipe goodies, etc.

The rules are simple ...

$20 is the amount to spend on pampering your swap buddy. This does not include the shipping or packaging.

Packages are to be shipped no later than Monday, April 9th.

The Spring Swap is for US residents only ... sorry, but this will help save on shipping costs.

And most important ... PLEASE do not sign up if you do not plan on participating!! There is nothing more frustrating or more tacky than when someone receives their goodies, but does not follow through in giving back!!

Sign-up is easy ... leave a comment here with your name and email address. Entries will be taken until this Friday, March 16th. Partners will be announced here on dot...dot...dot... on Monday, March 19th!

Have a wonderful week!!

♥

Spring Swap on dot...dot...dot...

It's SPRING!! Nothing lifts my spirits better than warm sunshine, blooming flowers, and receiving goodies in the mail!! Let's celebrate the gorgeous weather and swap our favorite Spring essentials! Ideas are welcome for a theme, just leave them here in the comments. I was thinking a $20 budget ... too high/low?? Sign-ups will start on Monday and go for a week or so, then I will partner everyone up. Be sure to spread the word so all your favorite girls can participate!

Happy Thursday!!

Recipe of the Week ... No Carb Pizza

Did anyone try last week's recipe? What did you think?

This week's recipe claims to be carbohydrate free, however, when I made it this week, mine was about 5 grams of carbs for the ENTIRE pizza!!

And guess what?!?

It was delicious!!

If you are counting your carb intake like I am lately, then give this recipe a try. Your family will love it, too. Mine did!

The only downside is not having that hunk of pizza crust to enjoy at the end (personally, my favorite part), but bread and my stomach are not getting along right now, so they are on a break.

The pic below is of the pizza I made ... black olives, turkey sausage and turkey pepperoni - YUM! Click on the pic and you will be directed to the recipe. Enjoy!!

Call Me Maybe

A couple of weekends ago, I saw the Justin Bieber movie, Never Say Never. And I watched it twice! Not back-to-back, of course, but TWICE in the same weekend (with several family members I should add).
I have always been a fan of this kid - little cutie with swagger and such talent! I was happy to see him and Selena fall in love. I heart seeing their random pics that pop up here and there, and seem to get sad when I hear of break-up rumors.
Wierd?
Nah. Just impressed with seeing this guy doing things right. So rare these days.
So I was visiting Christina's {Pop} Life one day and she had this video of Justin, Selena, Ashley Tisdale and more of their crew dancing around to Carly Rae Jepsen's song, Call Me Maybe. First off, I had never heard this song before, and now I listen to it everyday ... my 5-year-old son sings along to it, too. It's pretty catchy. But I adore this video rendition, because I love seeing Justin and Selena kick back and let loose, in their own world without the cameras, being all made up and in character.

Recipe of the Week

It's Wednesday, and I decided that today is the day each week that I am going to post a fabulous recipe that you and your family will be sure to love. Each recipe will be from Pinterest - I spend so much time on there now-a-days, that I seem to be finding some delicious and blog-worthy recipes. If you have a dish you think is the bomb.com and want me to try it out on my fam, leave me a comment, or snag my email address in the sidebar.

This week's recipe was made last night ... it was a hit and I was told to put it in the weekly rotation! Jamie Cooks It Up! displays this easy-to-follow recipe with great pics and I bet you already have the ingredients in your kitchen! Click on the pic and enjoy!

The Hunger Games

I had heard the hype around blogs and Facebook, but I was never interested in such an adventure-packed story that didn't involve sparkly vampires. I never paid attention to the movie trailers that are on TV or in the theaters for the March 23rd premiere. Then my hubby asked if I had read the books yet, to which I replied "eh, they just don't interest me." Shopping at Costco last week, the trilogy was all boxed up, tempting me with a fabulous Costco price - I mean, who could pass up 3 hardcover books for under $30? Let's just say, I cannot put this book down! I am hooked and I am only half-way through.

Have you read the series yet?

(Please no spoilers.)

I like it dirty ...

... my mascara! What else were you thinking I was going to be talking about today? Geesh!

I don't know 'bout you all, but I hate brand new mascara! It is too thin, too fresh, and doesn't at all do what it promises. Give a new tube some air time, a few weeks to get globby and mixed up a bit, and now we are talkin'!

Right now I am using Maybelline's Volum' Express the Classic in Very Black. I had a coupon for it a while back and snagged it at Target for $4. This stuff promises 3x the volume instantly and has a clump-free curved brush. When I first applied this to my lashes, I hated it! No plumping or volume, just spider-leg thin hairs that were attached to my eye lids. Sexy, huh? Not quite.

I decided to layer this mascara with the MAC Haute & Naughty mascara I was already using. It took a little over a week, but the Maybelline formula started to thicken a bit, and now it is the only one I am using on my lashes. The curved brush is pretty clump-free, too. I had to get used to using it the correct way. By 'correct' I mean the only way I can seem to position the wand with the proper amount of lash pressure to apply the stuff evenly. Who really knows for sure if it is actually being used in the correct form, but it is workin' for me.

What's your current mascara of choice? Do you like it dirty?

What's for dinner??

I saw a pin on good ol' Pinterest that inspired me to start meal planning for my family. It's pretty simple, really. Crock pot meals that can be put on in the morning before heading out to work, cooking throughout the day, and a fabulous dinner waiting for you when you get home .... but wait! What if you pre-made these meals so there was zero prep time in the mornings? Genius, I tell ya!! You know how the typical morning goes ... making breakfasts, packing lunches, getting kids off to school and getting yourself cleaned up and out the door in time for that daunting thing in life called a job. Did you see any time in there to prepare dinner?

I have decided that every Sunday, I am going to put together 4-5 meals and bag them up in Ziplocks to store in the fridge. This way I can throw them in the crock pot in the morning and not have to worry about the measuring, dicing, chopping, and mixing. Last night, I made up 5 meals in an hour. I found a few recipes online that I thought sounded yummy (we will see if they pass the test with my 3 boys), and they were pretty simple to throw together. I am excited to see how much stress is relieved in my evenings this week, being I am not having to create dinners with my oh-so-tired brain come dinner time.

Have y'all tried this sorta meal planning with your family? What are some of your favorite recipes?? I would love to try out some of your favorites on my own family! If you share, I'll be sure to give you proper kudos here on the bloggity blog!

Have a wonderful week, peeps!! xoxo

It's On Like Donkey Kong!

The number shouldn't matter. But I am a girl. And it does.

Jillian and The Pussycat Dolls are helping me out at home. Free personal training. I like it.

Things are all better once I plug in my headphones.Water. It does the body good.Who do you jam out to while you are workin' it out?

Ombre Love

Sorry for the delay in the unveiling of my new 'do, girls ... this was a two week process! My style wizard wanted to be sure my hair didn't turn out all funky being we were bleaching my black hair, so she did some test strips last week. I brought in this pic of the gorgeous Mila Kunis ... this was the look I had finally fell in love with.And two salon trips later, my stylist worked her magic ...
OMBRE!!!

I am loving my new color!

♥

Bling-tastic!

Nail color of the week ... Sally Hansen's Bling-tastic from their new Gem Crush line.

Base coat: Essie's Fill The Gap

3 Coats of Bling-tastic

Top Coat: Seche Vite

Indoor lighting
In the sun, indoors
~
I am LOVING this color. I needed 3 layers to coat each nail. By the 3rd time around, I found that the glitter stayed better if I tapped it on with the brush, rather than glide it across my nails. The finished results are quite smooth ... tons of aqua-blue glitter and silvery-gold pieces, too! What do you think??
~
So sorry for the iPhone pics ... I should really pull out my fancy camera to show you just how vivid and gorgeous this color actually is, but that involves a lot more process time. I am all about quick and simple these days! :o)