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)

Damn you, Pinterest!!!

Oh My Goodness!!! It's a slight sickness. My hubby looks at me like I have lost my mind. And I kinda have. Pinterest. For those of you who know this site all too well, then you already know the addictive powers it possesses. For those who haven't been properly introduced, you wouldn't understand. Hours, upon hours, upon hours ... I can't get enough. Mindless browsing, endless dreaming, crafty ideas that stick in my brain even when the computer has been turned off.

This weekend, I decided to get all crafty for a minute and go on a little DIY project. I searched high and low at several stores for a spice rack. Not the carousel style, but one that can hang on a wall. What for, you may ask?

Nail polish.

My nail polish collection that I keep in a shoe box.

No such luck on finding this said spice rack that I saw a DIY pin for, that was all painted up and looking cute and fancy. Sigh.

One last stop at a Ross store, and walking up and down each aisle (because you know nothing is ever put where it belongs), I came across a shower caddy. Shelves and hooks ... an idea popped into my temporarily crafty little mind!

Nail polishes and accessories!!

How great is this?!? I added some pretty cardstock into the bottom of the shelves so the polishes sat up better on the wires. Eventually I will spray paint this in a fabulous teal color, but for now, and for $9.99, I have a great little storage area to display my polishes and jewelry. What do you think, peeps?

Excited for Thursday!!!

Miss Kim ... liking the two tones hereNot such a fab pic of my girl, Mila, but focus on the hair ...

Little bit of the Ombre trend ...
~
Alright girls - here's where I need ya the most!! The first step I need to take before chopping off my locks in April is creating some dimension in my hair. I dye my hair every 6 weeks or so BLACK. Not a lot of contrast, I know. I have to start incorporating some highlights so when I do cut my hair short, you will be able to see that it is a cute, fun and flirty style, rather than a straight, blunt, gothic-looking mess. I have done the purple and blue highlights ... I ADORED them, however I am slightly over that fun stage in my life and am looking for a little more of a big girl look. {GASP!! I know, we can talk about that later.}
So the above looks are colors I think would mesh well with my black hair. What do y'all think? Do you think I can pull it off ... caramel-y brown highlights? Should I go more red? More blonde? My official salon appointment is on Thursday, so speak up now or forever hold your peace! I need honest opinions, pictures, web links, etc ... Don't be shy girls!!
Thanks for the support, chicas!! Happy Monday!!

Linking up ... it's all about the shoes!!

I am linking up with Terri over at PeaceLoveApplesauce today - she has an awesome blog and if you haven't checked her out yet, do so (after you check out this post, of course)!!

I am usually not into wearing flats - don't know why, just not a fan. I got a new job working for a real estate company, and some days I just don't feel like rockin' boots or Uggs. These are perfect for the office and pretty darn comfy. Wanna know where they came from?

Walmart ... $14.98

Yep. Cute, huh?

'dem Jersey Girls

Nicole "Snooki" PolizziSammi "Sweethart" GiancolaJenni "JWoww" Farley

~

Not too shabby! I think the Jersey Shore girls look amazing without all the make-up caked on! They clean up quite nicely!

Apparently, Miss Deena hasn't been caught by the paparazzi au natural yet. I couldn't find any pics of her without her mask on, but we have all seen the show.

Post work-out yumminess!!

I am not a protein bar kinda gal. I have yet to find a bar that isn't chalky or dry or just plain artificial tasting. Hubby and I are hittin' up the gym each night to get in some cardio - go resolutions, go!! After last night's session, we popped into the grocery store to get a couple things we needed, and browsed through the supplements aisle. I was griping to Tim that I haven't found any yummy protein bars to munch on, and the flavors that I found to even remotely sound appetizing, are all loaded with carbs (which I am trying to avoid). After a mini lesson from my man about the importance of some carbs in my diet and yada yada yada, I scoped the KIND Fruit and Nut bar. Almonds and coconut - that was really all the wrapper needed to say to get me hooked. There aren't a lot of grams of protein (only 4), and the carbs are up at 19 grams with 10 grams of sugar and 210 calories per bar (wait - should these be considered a health bar??), BUT they are SO YUMMY!! Reminded me of an Almond Joy without the chocolate, which is perfect being I don't like chocolate in solid form. I ate the whole bar, which cost $1.49 on sale, and my hunger was satisfied, although I did drink 24 ounces of water with it as well. Probably not the best choice, but I definitely did a little dance while eating it!
What about you? Do you have a favorite protein bar you love to snack on? Please share!!

It will happen ...

I will cut my hair this year. I really will. I know y'all don't believe me. I have only talked about it (and chickened out) multiple times the last couple years, but I swear that this is the year! In fact, I will be chopping it off on my birthday, April 25th. Here are some cuts I am loving at the moment ... This one may be too short for my liking (or my hubby's for that matter), but I am loving the purple! If y'all remember last year, I got purple extensions added to black hair for my 30th birthday. I adored them!

Browsing on Pinterest (oh.my.gosh. that site is addicting!!), I found this cut ... love the layers and the lengths. Just not sure if my hair would be thick enough to pull off such amazing volume.

I heart ... I heart a lot!!

I may be too scared to go this short, but this looks so cute on Kristen. It would be fun for spring/summer.
Opinions??

Letting ya'll in on my New Year goals ...

Oh 2012 ... what shall my goals be this year? I didn't make any last year. Didn't want to give in to the hype of setting those resolutions, only to forget about 'em 3 weeks later. It's always sad to me when those goals fizzle so quickly and my motivation for the rest of the year hinges on those failed attempts. Sigh.

This year, I am setting goals, but first and foremost, there will be no time limit or pressure to accomplish them by. This way, I am not stressed at an approaching date and psyching myself out, jeopardizing the goal I am trying to reach. That is one weakness I have - too much pressure on myself. It is so much easier to fail when you are telling yourself you aren't going to make it!

Now ... onto my 2012 resolutions!!!

The last part of 2011 was a stressful time. Lots of changes in our family occurred, more financial than anything more serious, but stressful enough for some tears, anxiety, sleepless nights, eye twitches, and a full body rash that came about with all the worry. I had to step back and take look at what really mattered in life ... my husband and I are more in love and stronger now than ever in our 13 years of being together, we have 2 happy and healthy boys, we are not in need of anything. Life is such a blessing and I need to always keep this in the front of my mind. Job changes and financial woes are a part of life. I want to make sure that I don't dwell on these issues and keep a positive and happy spirit in life. I am blessed and I don't want anyone to ever think that I am not grateful for that.

This year, the only drama I wanna see is on reality TV. I got caught up in friend drama this last year ... gossip, fights, and nonsense that didn't concern me. I entertained the trash talking amongst others and found myself not only with a migraine, but even being blamed in some of the rumors being spread about. My bad for being a part of the conversations in the first place, but even a bigger bad to put myself in a situation where blame could have been shifted on me. Not cool and lesson learned. How 'bout them Housewives? Let's see what kind of drama they stir up in 2012!!

And, of course, like so many others ... the 'Get In Shape' resolution!! I gained an unwanted 15 pounds in 2011. I want those pounds to disappear. Unfortunately, I need to learn to enjoy eating right and working out. That would be my first baby step to accomplishing this one. But hey - no pressure, right? Do it at a steady pace, no rushing, no deadlines, just learning to like a healthier lifestyle.

So there ya have it ... nothing major, just learning to take better care of myself in all aspects. What about you? How did last year's resolutions go, and what are the new ones you set for 2012?

Hello Lovelies ...

Happy 2012!! I have been contemplating whether or not to come back to the blogging world. Seems like life is uber cray cray these days (yep, just quoted Whitney - anyone lovin' her show?) . I have taken on a new job (which I l.o.v.e.), switched the stay-at-home role with my hubby for a bit, and have been trying to get used to new schedules. Seems like there is not enough time or brain power left at the end of my days to focus.

I have come to the conclusion though that my blogging days are definitely not over yet. There are too many times throughout each day that I use a product and wanna share a review, or dress myself up and wanna take pics to post on Fashion Fridays. Movies, books, recipes, celeb gossip, wish lists and so on ... all things a girl loves to chat about with her bloggy friends. I definitely need to squeeze in some quality time with y'all here on dot...dot...dot...! ♥