Kiss My Face Kids **GIVEAWAY**

I've got a great giveway up and running over at Chic Critique today. It features the new Kiss My Face Kids line of bath and body care products -- all of which totally rock. Be sure to head on over and check it out! :)

Relief for Tender Tootsies

Summer is here and sandal season is in full swing.

Since moving to Georgia 10 years ago, I’ve amassed a sizable collection of adorable sandals and peep-toe shoes.

This time of year, a stroll through the shoe department at a place like Target, for example, leaves me swooning. So, many trendy, chic summer shoes at uber-affordable prices.

Problem is – some of these shoes, while I swear they were the “most comfortable shoes I’ve ever tried on” before I left the store, turn out to be not-so-comfortable once I get them home and wear them in real life. (read more at Chic Critique)

How to Choose a Sunscreen

I have a confession to make.

I only began applying sunscreen daily within the last couple of years.

I have olive skin, which means I tan without even trying. Burning has never been an issue for me. And, for years, I never gave sun damage a second thought.

Until I turned 30 and looked in the mirror.

Ah. There it was. All my hours of sun worship taking up residence on my face in the form of hyper-pigmentation and even a few wrinkles.

All that to say, I’ve been on a bit of a mission to preserve what’s left of my skin. Which brings me to the point of this post: not all sunscreens are created equal. (read more at Chic Critique)

Lacura Skincare: Fountain of Youth at a Bargain Price

I always figured I’d be the kind of woman who would happily embrace the aging process.

You know, the type who insists “age is just a number” and who celebrates every single laugh line as the sign of a life well lived.

But then, I hit my 30s.

That was when Father Time began marching across my face in the form of age spots, fine lines and laugh lines that stick around long after I stop smiling.

And I’ve got to admit, it kind of freaked me out. (read more at Chic Critique)

Spring Wardrobe Essential: The White Button-Down Shirt

Read any list of the “must-have” pieces every woman should have in her wardrobe and you’ll always find the white button-down shirt near the top.

But until recently, I never owned one.

The reason for this is two-fold.

First, I have young children. Wearing a crisp, white shirt is akin to wearing a sandwich board that screams, “Please, use me as your human hand towel for the day.”

Secondly, I’ve always considered buying a white shirt (and wearing one, for that matter), well…kind of boring. It’s so much more fun to buy a trendy peasant top or a spring sweater in a candy-colored hue. White shirt? Dull in comparison.

But a couple weeks ago, I finally picked one up. (read more at Chic Critique)

Designer Duds for a Song

Every year my husband and I attend a black tie charity gala. And every year I find myself asking the same agonizing question:

“What am I going to wear?”

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned it before — I’m cheap. It causes me great physical pain and emotional anguish to drop $200 on a cocktail dress I’ll only wear — at best — a handful of times. And, with the economic situation being what it is, it was pretty much a given I’d spend zippo on a new frock this year.

But, turns out, I did snag a new dress for the gala. It was a black, long-sleeved number that hit right about the knee and had a great plunging neckline. I love its versatility — I easily dressed it up for this event, but can also wear it more casually on a day-to-day basis.

Here, see for yourself. This is my husband and I before heading to the gala:



So…wanna know where I got it? Wanna know how much I spent?

Okay. Lean in a little.

Closer.

Seriously — this is top secret. (read more at Chic Critique)

TLC for Dry Winter Hands

I don’t know about you, but at this point in the winter season, my hands have pretty much had it.

Cooler temperatures, windy conditions, indoor heating and a lot of contact with dishwater is the perfect recipe for dry, cracked and inflamed hands. So today, I’m sharing two of my all-time favorite products for giving those weary winter hands a little TLC. (read more at Chic Critique)

Why Jane Iredale is my new BFF

I’ve been a little slow to jump on the mineral makeup bandwagon. The reason is two-fold:

1. I’m super self-conscious of the hyperpigmentation/sun damage on my face. I prefer a liquid foundation with significant coverage — allowing me to pretty much paint myself a perfect complexion each morning. Despite the claims, loose powder mineral foundations don’t seem to provide the kind of coverage I need.

2. On the few occasions when I have given mineral powder foundation a whirl, it never seems to last very long and — even worse — I see the makeup “settling” into fine lines.

But, I do love the concept of mineral makeup. After all, I apply foundation all over my face and it sits on my skin all day long. I’d much prefer to use a formulation that is free of preservatives and synthetic ingredients.

So, I did a little research and discovered that Jane Iredale made a liquid mineral foundation. Hooray! The best of both worlds! I went to the Jane Iredale website, searched for a local retailer and headed in to get color matched. (read more at Chic Critique)

iPosture: Your Personal Posture Coach

Hey, I'm over at Chic Critique today offering help to the slouchers of the world!

Chic Critique is coming up on it's one-year blogoversasry, btw, and we want to know if we're on the right track. If you've been a regular reader of Chic Critique, or pop over there on occassion, would you be willing to help some sisters out? We've set up a super-brief survey. Your answers will help us figure out where we take Chic Critique next. And it will only take a few minutes. Muchos gracias!


Today, I’m going to share a simple beauty tip that will make you instantly look five pounds thinner, while also helping you to appear more confident and self-assured.

Are you ready?

Here it is: Stand up straight.

Good posture can cover a multitude of sins. It’s one of the first things people notice about you. When we slouch, we not only reduce our height, but our chest appears smaller, our belly “pooches,” and we can even experience lower back pain.

Standing up straight should be simple. But, it’s not.

I should know. I am, like many women, a habitual sloucher.

For the sake of illustrating a point, I managed to dig out a couple of candid shots of myself taken at my daughter’s birthday party. (read more at Chic Critique)

Hey there! Remember me?

I'm a little "off" this week. Over the weekend I headed to Myrtle Beach with my sister for a scrapbooking retreat. It was the first time I picked up my scrapbooking supplies in months. It felt so good to catch up on our albums. But somehow, even though I was gone for only two days, I feel like I've been gone a week. It's been hard to get back in the swing of things -- and this poor little blog has been sorely neglected.

To top it all off, Josh came down with a stomach bug early this morning, and I'm starting to feel a little woozy myself. But, before things really go downhill, I wanted to share a couple neat things with y'all.

It's been cold in Georgia, but not nearly as cold as up north. If you're looking for the perfect winter comfort food recipe, try this Creamy Chipotle Chicken Tortellini with White Beans and Cilantro that Jenny posted. I could eat the entire pot in one sitting. Unbelieveably good.

Jo-Lynne gave me the heads up on this next one. Audrey's tip on how to fit pants without trying them on is amazing and really works! It will forever change my shopping excursions with kids in tow. Where was this information two kids ago? :)

Finally, I recently discovered a pure, organic "magic soap." It's now a staple in our family. Curious? Go check it out.

With that, I'm off to be nurse for the day. Stay warm and healthy, y'all!

The Green Beauty Guide

Be sure to check out the super-fantastic giveaway at the end!

When I was first offered an opportunity to review The Green Beauty Guide, I’ve got to admit, I was initially skeptical.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for healthful eating (I don’t do high fructose corn syrup or trans fats, and I buy organic when I can), but when it comes to “green” beauty products my knee-jerk reaction was something along the lines of, “C’mon. That is such a ploy to get you to spend more money. Does it really matter if my moisturizer is ‘certified organic’?”

Well turns out, it actually may. (Read more at Chic Critique)

Putting the "Oh!" Back in H2O

Before I had kids, I was one of those annoying people who claimed caffeine had no effect on them. I would drink a cup of coffee and never notice the "burst of energy" everyone always claimed to get from that morning hit of caffeine.

Apparently, in my early years, I was the picture of well-rested, youthful exuberance.

But then, I had my first child -- the one who would wake up at 5:30 in the morning and refuse to go back to sleep.

It was during this dark period, I managed to rescue my coffeemaker from the depths of the pantry. I plugged it in and brewed myself a cup of warm, steaming goodness. And this time? You better believe I felt the difference. It was like an instant shot of energy. From that point on, I was hooked.

But lately, my coffee/caffeine consumption has gotten a wee-bit out of hand. When I took a moment to think about it, I realized caffeine was pretty much the ONLY liquid I was consuming, happily alternating between coffee and sweet tea from morning till night. (Read more at Chic Critique)

Last-Minute Gift Ideas

What? Not done with your Christmas shopping yet?

You should be roasting chestnuts over an open fire by now, not racking your brain to come up with gifts for the hard-to-shop for people on your list.

Well, not to worry. I think I might be able to offer some gift guidance. Give me a few minutes and, I promise, we’ll have you kicking up your feet and sipping eggnog in no time. (read more at Chic Critique)

Posting everywhere but here...

It seems like it's been a while since I've posted something over here. It's not that I've been twiddling my thumbs, though. I've actually been pulling together a couple posts for other blogs.

If you want the full scoop on the Twilight movie I saw last Saturday, check out Books on Screen at 5 Minutes for Books. I just posted a review over there.

And, of course, don't miss the latest review over at Chic Critique. I've elaborated on my love for Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer -- and explained why it's now a staple in my winter makeup bag.

With that, I'm off to grocery shop for tomorrow's feast, and I'm officially signing off until next week.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Nail Strengthening: A Greener Option

Back in the halcyon days of my youth -- when I was footloose and fancy free, and my biggest concern was an upcoming algebra test -- I sported perfectly manicured nails.

Seriously.

Each week, I would sit down and soak, file, massage, polish and dry my tips to a state of enameled perfection.

But several years, a husband and three kids later, my nails hardly receive the attention they once did. (I'm lucky if I pull out a nail file once a month, let alone once a week.)

And while, these days, I tend to skip polish all together (housework has a tendency to severely shorten the lifespan of your manicure), I have learned a little trick that manages to keep my tips in check. (read more at Chic Critique)

Makeup Application 101: Brushing up on the basics

When I first got married, I could not cook to save my life.

My culinary repertoire consisted of cold cereal, boiling water and, on a good day, maybe a scrambled egg.

Despite my gastronomic deficiencies, my mother and grandmother insisted on outfitting my newlywed kitchen with every utensil, gadget and pan known to mankind. At the time, it seemed like overkill. I mean, it was highly unlikely I'd be reaching for a meat thermometer to check a turkey when I was still trying to master toast.

But, as my cooking skills slowly improved, I discovered a need for various kitchen tools. Time and again I would be thrilled to discover the perfect tool hiding out in my kitchen drawer (lovingly purchased by mom or grandmom) for use at just the right time.

What on earth does this have to do with beauty?

When you're trying to do a job well, it pays to have the right tools in your arsenal. Cooking is easier when you have the right utensils. When it comes to makeup, what you use to apply it makes all the difference in the world. (read more)

A bargain so good, it'll make you blush

I don't exactly live in a "metropolitan" area.

Most of the time, that has its benefits.

Less traffic.

Less congestion.

Slower pace of life.

But, for the times I'd like to escape hide from my kids take a little break, living in the sticks has its limitations. (read more)

How do I love thee, Smashbox? O, let me count the ways...

I'm going to be straight with y'all.

I'm cheap.

I'm the type of girl who would never spend $80 on a pair of sunglasses, when she can find a similar style for under 10 bucks. I love to shop the outlet stores. I'd buy a no-name purse over a designer bag any day of the week.

And, truth be told, I rarely spend an exorbitant amount of money on makeup.... (read more at chic-critique.com)

A Makeover of a Different Sort

I don't know about y'all, but organization has never been my strong suit.

I believe the reason is two-fold. First, I love to shop. So, I tend to acquire new things somewhat regularly. The other half of it is, I have a hard time parting with things. I am queen of the "I-should-really-keep-this-because-I'm-sure-I'll-need-it-at-some-point-and-it-would-really-save-me-a-ton-of-money" mentality.

I make mention of all this because my organizational dysfunction has had a disastrous effect on my makeup drawer. And, because a picture is worth a thousand words, here you go... (read more)

Sheer Cover: A Missed Opportunity

Everyone's over at Chic Critique today for "I Tried it Tuesday." That's where everyday readers get to write about beauty products they've tried and tested. Here's my contribution...

All of us have made the occassional beauty faux pas.

I may have mentioned my horrid perms (a few thousand times -- those scars run deep). Add to that a slew of makeup and fashion blunders and really, I'm left wondering why the gals over at Chic Critique allow me to regularly write reviews on beauty products.

But, I suppose that's neither here nor there.

At the risk of sounding like a public service announcement, the biggest beauty mistake I've ever made has been sun exposure. See, I grew up in a time when this was the norm.



What's more, I've had the good fortune of inheriting olive skin from my mother. That means that no matter how much time I spend in the sun, I never burn. I just get darker and darker. Throughout my teens and 20s, I happily sported that "healthy glow" each summer.

Then I turned 30. That's when all the sun damage began marching across my face in the form of brown spots. That look, I can assure you, is not so healthy.

So, for the last four years, it has become my mission in life to hide or -- better yet -- eliminate the sun damage. It's something much easier said than done.

But, when I read Leigh Ann's post on Sheer Cover, I figured I'd give it a shot. I ordered the "medium" shade kit through the website. I agonized over whether to order the medium or the tan shade. I asked everyone what they thought. My mom and my sister (c'mon that's "everyone," right?) said that tan was too dark. They assured me I was a medium.

So, I got my kit. I followed the directions and all looked good for about an hour. After that, I wasn't so crazy with the results. It wasn't providing the amount of coverage I had hoped for. And, it didn't feel like it was "staying on" throughout the day.

After a few more tries, I ended up calling Sheer Cover to ask how I could return it and cancel my "membership."

The Sheer Cover customer service is really good. She asked if I was sure I had the right color, as many customers have found that when the coverage wasn't good they were using the wrong shade. She'd be happy to send me the right shade free of charge. I was pretty sure I had chosen the right shade, but in hindsight, I obviously didn't. I should have had her send me the other one. Additionally, she offered to send me the Sheer Cover primer to try at no charge -- which is another thing I should have taken her up on. I felt like without a primer, the makeup settled into my, ahem, fine lines and pores.

Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I was in a funk that day. I didn't want to try more product, I just wanted to cross "Return Sheer Cover" off my to-do list. I've been kicking myself ever since.

So, long story short, I do think Sheer Cover is a good product (the mascara rocked, btw!). If I had given it more of a fair chance, I probably would have been quite pleased. (If you're going to try it, I would highly recommend getting them to send you the primer.)

Really, I consider it a missed opportunity. Would Sheer Cover have been able to hide the sun spots? I'll never know for sure.