I took this picture when a friend and I decided to take a walk through Central Park. It was such a beautiful day, warm but not too warm with all the trees and nature. It was very calm and peaceful despite all of the people. I just love Central Park because of so many things. Independent musicians playing their instruments throughout the park, ice cream and hot dog vendors selling their delicious food and the scent of the food while you pass the carts.
There are some photos that I take that I absolutely love and this was one of them. It just looks so calm and peaceful with the water in the front and the famous Bow Bridge int he distance. The sun bouncing off the water and shadowing the trees and foreground is just such a good contrast... I love this photo! It's a great memory of a fun (but tiring!) day!
I'm a sucker for infomercials and late night advertising. I've said that before and I proudly admit to it! Ha! The other night I was in bed, couldn't sleep and came upon an infomercial for WEN Haircare. It really peaked my interest because, as I always say, I am always looking for a product to make my hair silky and smooth. Frizz is constantly my enemy. Chaz Dean, the creator of WEN Haircare, claimed that regular Shampoos and even Conditioners strip your hair of natural oils and leave your hair feeling dull, dry and frizzy. WEN Haircare claimed to fight all that and leave your hair moisturized, replacing the natural oils that have been stripped by regular use of Shampoos, shiny, silky, soft and fight the frizz. Of course, being the obsessed hair product tester that I am, I decided to try this out.
Tonight was Night 1 of trying WEN. I really had high hopes because of the infomercial and really wanted to like this product. I wanted it to be the miracle that I've been waiting for and wanted it to do miraculous things within one washing. First time using WEN, I have to say that I was a little disappointed. I did all the steps as was told, used some as a leave in conditioner, combed it through and when it was dry it was still very frizzy.
Now, I'm not one to just leave the product and count it as something that didn't work, so I did a little more research into the product. I found some tips on numerous websites including someone who has been using WEN for two years. She said that the first time she washed her hair with WEN it didn't work too well either. That was because her hair was severely damaged. (As is mine!) What she had said, was after using it for about 2-3 weeks, the product really does wonders and begins to repair your hair, giving the natural oils back. I will give it a try and will definitely keep up the posts about how it goes. I'm thinking about washing my hair again tomorrow just to see if it makes any other difference. I am still very excited about this product and have high hopes.
You wouldn't know this by the color of my skin and definitely not by the way I burn to a freaking crisp in the sun, but I am 100% Italian. (HA!!) I constantly say that I am the whitest Italian on the face of the earth and also probably the only Italian that doesn't tan. Well, of course, I do tan after I burn to a crisp and peel like a snake shedding it's skin, but that is too much frustration and too much pain and danger to go through for a nice tan.
For a few years now, I have been trying self tanners. I know, I know...Garfield the cat syndrome is ALWAYS what the end result was of my self tanning tries. (I'm not kidding. The day of my confirmation my aunt, who was my confirmation sponsor and is also my Godmother, came over with self tanner that she had put on. It looked beautiful on her. She wanted to self tan me and at the end result, I looked like a Garfield cling on. We ran out that afternoon and got tan corrector and enough exfoliating stuff to exfoliate half the universe...LOL) Very rarely did I actually look decent with the self tanner.
This summer, I was hell bent on finding something that worked and hell bent on getting a good looking tan. After all, I have a lot of great things coming up this summer and would love not to look so pasty ghost white and would love not to look like a freaking lobster before I got tan. So, I was off on my journey. I tried some things that left me streaky and embarrassed to go out of the house, some things that were so-so and some things that worked great. (And it took me since May to find this out. Ha) I feel inclined to help out fellow bloggers and mommies who can't tan, don't want to go in the sun because of health risks and people who just want a nice glow for a special occasion. This was all learned through my trial and error. (And some research)
Some TIPS for self tanning
If your skin is very white and pasty like mine is and if you burn easily, I would suggest using a light - medium at first. If after 2 applications that is not working for you, or if it gives you an orangy tint, I would suggest trying strictly a "Medium". I wouldn't really venture towards the "Dark" or "Medium to dark" because that may not give you good results. Most self tanners have a "Light/Medium" a strict "Medium" and a "Medium/Dark".
EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN WELL before putting on the self tanner. Use a cotton wash cloth. If you use a "scrubbie", exfoliate in circular motions. If you go up and down there is a good chance you may miss a spot to exfoliate and the tan will not look even. I would use an exfoliater that isn't oil based. It can make you look streaky as well since the self tanner may not stick to it evenly. I use an exfoliater that you can get in small packages that cost $1.25. It works pretty well.
I suggest waiting at least 30 minutes after you get out of the shower to use the self tanner. Some people say using it on moist skin works for them, but I haven't found that for myself. If I use it when my skin is moist, I get streaks. I would rather it be mostly dry. BUT -- WHEN YOU GET OUT OF THE SHOWER, IMMEDIATELY USE A MOISTURIZER! I use a Nivea Q10 Firming Moisturizer and I swear by that stuff.
When you're ready to tan, take the moisturizer that you used and put it on the sides of your ankles, feet, knees and elbows. Those are the places that the self tanner can build up and it will make them look dirty unless you use the moisturizer first. JUST PUT IT ON THOSE PLACES!
Put maybe a quarter sized amount in your hand and start rubbing it on your legs at your ankles first. Don't put it on your feet yet. On the sides of your ankles where you just applied the moisturizer, rub it in lightly. RUB IN CIRCULAR MOTION, NOT UP AND DOWN. This helps you get a streak free tan and helps to cover all places.
ON YOUR FEET - I haven't learned to perfect this yet. I either won't use it on my feet unless I had to or I will take a small but and rub it in circular motionsJUST ON THE TOP OF YOUR FEET. Sometimes I will smooth the tanner from my ankles down towards my feet. No one has a natural tan on their feet anyway. It usually just fades from your ankles.
Work up your leg as you go in circular motions. Cover it evenly. It doesn't matter if you rub it all the way in or just rub it lightly, as long as you feel it's covering evenly. You don't want to be streaky or a Garfield cling on!!
WASH YOUR HANDS after each leg. Don't put the water on too high that it will splash on you, or you will get little dots on your tan. Not attractive!! ;) Though, wash your hands thouroughly. You don't want orange palms.
Now it's time for your arms. Start at your shoulders and work down. AGAIN, rub in circular motions. If you feel your elbows aren't completely moisturized, use a bit more moisturizer and put the self tanner over that. You don't want your elbows to be darker! Work to your wrists and stop. When it comes to do your hands take a VERY LITTLE AMOUNT and rub it only on the tops of your hands. I don't do my fingers unless I absolutely have to when the tan gets darker. When you wash your hands, get a moist cotton wash cloth and wash the palms of your hands and sides of your hands. (If you did tan the tops of your hands. If not, just wash your hands normally. Again, put the water on low so you don't splash it.) Wash your hands before you do the other arm.
When it comes to doing your back, I switch to a spray of the same brand and shade. In my opinion, it's easier. If you're going to do the spray for your back, stand in the shower while doing this. It's easier to mist the spray and back into it. Like you do when you spritz perfume and walk through it. Do this about 2-3 times. If you spray it directly onto your back, you may not get an even coverage. This has proven to work for me. I don't use the lotion on my back because it's too unpredictable. If you prefer lotion, I suggest having someone else do it for you.
You can also use a larger painting sponge tip brush to do your back. I haven't tried this so I don't know how true it is, but I've read it. You would put the lotion on the brush and massage it in a circular motion onto your back. I'D STICK WITH THE SPRAY.
DO NOT PUT CLOTHES ON FOR THE FIRST 30 MINUTES AFTER TANNING. If you can't walk around naked, put a bathing suit on before you start self tanning. After the 30 minutes, put on loose fitting clothes or a robe for the remainder of the hour. After an hour, it should be safe to dress.
IF TANNING YOUR FACE, I would suggest to use a sunless tanner specially for the face. Although, a regular self tanner would actually work, the ones designed for the face are gentler and don't clog pours. Either way, I would suggest taking a little dab after you have exfoliated and spreading it in a circular motion. Avoid the lip and eye area as well as the hairline. After you have spread that, clean off your hands and from what is still on your face, spread the areas that you avoided. (Don't get too close to the eye! It will probably cause iritation.) Some people suggest using a makeup sponge to spread, but honestly I don't find this the best method. The sponge absorbs most of it, so you probably will look uneven.
I don't tan anywhere else because #1. I don't walk around naked or wear a bikinni. Ha. But if you're going to tan your torso, do the same thing as I suggested. Circular motions.
These tips should leave you with an even tan. I do it every day until I get the desired depth. Do it, as I said, 30 minute after a shower when you have exfoliated well. You don't have to exfoliate AS much after you do the tan once as you did when you were completely white. Just lightly exfoliate to make sure the tan stays even. After you reach the desired depth, it's best to reapply the self tanner every 3-4 days.
TOMORROW I will post the best self tanners that I have tried that actually worked without streaking and without an orange tint. I've worked pretty hard to compile this list and I think I may have tried everything that's out on the market. (Well, with drug store brands. I wish I had the money to try department store brands! I'm sure those work miracles.)
As moms, we can't always go to the spa, get a professional manicure, pedicure, massage and I know sometimes we want one more than anything else in the world! I whole-heartedly believe that we deserve one after those long days of chasing the kids, putting clothes back on numerous times, the poops that may worry us and the housework/errands we had to finish. Moms are really supermoms...they are always on the go with very little sleep. How do we stay sane? How do we keep ourselves in check? There has to be a way!
1. MAKE SURE TO MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF - If you don't take at least one hour per day (even when the kids go to bed) just relax. Drink a glass of wine, watch a movie, take a bath... Just spend some time recollecting yourself. If you don't do that, you'll probably start to feel overwhelmed. I know that's how I felt.
2. Take time out to exercise - You can do this alone by walking earlier in the morning or going to the gym earlier in the morning or with your kids. I have gotten many "mommy and me" exercise tapes over the years and Alayna, Olivia and I really enjoy doing them together! It's a fun activity to keep them busy and yourself fit and relaxed. :)
3. Drink plenty of water per day - Water purifies your body and gets rid of unnecessary toxins. It also keeps your skin hydrated and makes you feel better! You should have (6) 8oz glasses of water per day. You may also lose a pound or two in the process!
4. Eat healthy - Add some veggies or fruits into your food planning. Maybe add a salad to your meal. I was very surprised how eating healthier made me feel so much better and gave me so much more energy. It also makes you feel like you're doing something
5. Take some time outside - I can vouch for the fact that if you go out in the fresh air with your kids, it will calm them down and they will usually go to sleep at their bedtime. It's just the fresh air tires them out, not to mention the running around and playing outside as well! That will lead to a happier, healthier you because you can get to relax earlier and not have to have the stress of kids that will not calm down.
6. Take a shower and get dressed as soon as you wake up - I know this from experience, if you wake up before the kids, take a shower and get dressed right then and there. There are some days that I haven't done that, and it ended up 12 am the next day before I even had a chance to take a shower. I know it's more comfy to walk around in your jammies, but getting dressed makes you feel refreshed and better!
7. Read alone or with your kids - Take at least 20 minutes a day and read by yourself or with your kids; whichever you prefer. You'll feel better because reading is very relaxing, and if you are reading with your kids, you're spending quality time with them.
8. Don't diet, change your way of eating - After years of dieting, I realized this is important. Diets are not reliable. You may lose some weight, but as soon as temptation hits and you binge or cave; you will gain it back. Take it from someone who has been there, done that and made that mistake too many times. Rather, change your way of eating. I started Nutrisystem with their plan and their food...a year later, I know enough to cook my own healthy foods and still eat the appropriate serving sizes... I thank Nutrisystem for their assistance in my learning what's a right portion and what's a wrong portion... And I'm still losing weight. :) I definitely do suggest Nutrisystem if you are starting out. Even though it is a plan, it isn't a diet. It's a long term way of life. :)
9. Think of things that you are thankful for every day - It is so easy to just concentrate on the negative things in our everyday life. I have been there. I used to take everything negative and let it get me down. One day, I realized that was not the way to go throughout my day. It didn't accomplish anything and just depressed me! Instead, whenever I feel like I am getting down, I think of things I am thankful for and things that I feel make my life absolutely great. It definitely works!
10. Every week; paint your nails - Rather you paint your own nails or buy a cheap pair of fakes, doing your own nails once a week really helps you feel like you're pampering yourself. I look forward to that one day per week that I give myself a manicure. It makes me feel lady-like and beautiful. Give yourself some attention!
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Last night I installed my Microsoft LifeCam that I purchased two years ago. I tried to vlog with it and OMG - the quality was TERRIBLE! Even changing the settings on the program itself! The synch was off, the lighting was dark, I had to move a table lamp next to me to get it to work! That said, today I tried my Macbook cam. I set the macbook a little higher than my line of vision and it was so much better. I recorded a vlog with that, and hopefully it's a lot better! Don't mind my hair. It wasn't poofy before I went out in the downpour. EDIT: The video still seems a bit dark, but YouTube says it's still processing. Maybe it will get better afterwards!
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I have been using the Lash Boosting Serum for a little while now, and even though it hasn't been long enough to see some real results, I do see slight results in the way my lashes are during the day. I use the Lash Boosting Serum every day twice a day. (In the morning under mascara and before bed.) I think this duo is well worth it and ArtsyMom is giving you a chance to try it!!
The winner will receive the Lash Boosting Serum as well as the Double Extend Mascara! Ends: February 14th, 2010!
Ways To Enter:
Comment here and tell me what make-up related item you cannot live without. (1 entry) - MANDATORY
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Tweet about this giveaway (1 entry - you can do this once per day) @kickitykickball ArtsyMom is having a great L'Oreal Giveaway!! Check it out! http://tinyurl.com/y9zwufx Ends Feb 14h!
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Please post a separate comment for the entries, it will be easier to count them. Winners will be e-mailed and announced. Please add an e-mail address in one of your entries so I will be able to contact you! Will be announced February 14th, 2010
Who could pass up the 30% off everything sale at Old Navy? Definitely not me. I didn't have much extra that I could spend, however I did get enough to make it a great deal! Unfortunately, I didn't try a lot on and do have to return some things tomorrow...Oh well. Shit happens! There were some greal deals like a spring jacket for $12, Khakis for $8, some shirts that were $2 or $3... I also got some lip gloss for $1, two notepads for $0.50 each. I got quite a bit.
Don't mind the quality, it's courtesy of my MacBook webcam. lol
I'm going to a "Card Party" tomorrow with my mom and her friends. (I can hear it now, you are all saying; "Oooo What a mommy event!" lol) The last time I dyed my hair was around November or December and my roots were showing pretty apparently! So I had to dye my hair. I love my hair red, so I wanted to go with that instead of dying it dark. By the time I got the dye into my hair it was 1 am and my mom was too exhausted to help, so I did it myself. Oy! My roots completely did not dye. I guess tomorrow or some other time I'm going to have to just touch them up because of that. I don't know why, I used two bottles of hair dye.
The funny part is this: It's red hair dye. When I washed out the dye from my hair, I swear to God my shower looked like a scene from Psycho or any other horror movie shower scene. LOL. I was so worried it would stain the bath tub and my mom would flip. (I was using her shower, not mine upstairs. lol) It came out good despite the root problems. I usually pull my bangs up with a clip anyway, so the roots won't even show. It just annoyed me they didn't dye too!!
29 year old single mom of two little girls, blogging her way through life. Lives in New Jersey and is obsessed with going to New York City. Self proclaimed theater geek.
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