Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

I have long hair right now. In fact I have had long hair
since I was old enough to tell my Grandmother No, when
she said let's go get your haircut. Before I was old enough to
make up my own mind on my hair my Grandmother would take
me to Georgette the Butcher every summer the first day
she had me out of my mothers site and at our summer
cottage. Do you know how hard it is to face your friends
when you have a Dorthy Hamel Cut that is a few inches
shorter so it can last a little long then to add insult to
injury she was a perm fanatic and would throw that into
the mix. Think this

But shorter and worse! Once I was old enough to say no
I swore I would never cut my hair again and didn't other
then trims here and there until I was pregnant with my son at 24.
That time Andy's Dad thought it would be funny to shave his head
and called me to tell me. After I climbed through the phone
lines to strangle him I thought I would teach him a lesson and
put my Waist length hair and put it in a pony tail on the top of
my head and snipped it off. ( don't mess with hormones) After
I got stable again I cried and regretted my decision and grew
it long again. My Grandmother almost went off her rocker
because of this and the only gift I received for Holidays and
Birthdays from her in all that time was hair items and
a gift certificate to her saloon and every time I saw her the
first thing she would do would be to hand me a hairbrush.
I once again stuck to trims and it got to my waist and
I found out I was pregnant with Rowan. I did cut it for that
but not like with my son, only about 8 inches. I love my hair
long and will most likely have long hair all my life but I need
to make clear there are problems with long hair. Those
problems have a name and its name is split ends! Even with
regular trims you end up with them and the longer your hair
is the more you get. Add in the fact my hair is super thick
and super dry and then try not to laugh if you see me on
a hot and humid day. The combination of long dry hair and
humidity make me resemble the bride of Frankenstein.

There is not a hair product in the world that can fix this. It was
a trade off I made, super long hair equals split ends. Plain and
simple.

Then I found the split ender. Wow, Bye Bye Split ends. The great
thing about this product is every ones hair ends at different parts
through out your head. Even a straight cut ends up uneven at
times and when ends split it becomes even more choppy. The
Split Ender takes care of those ends no matter where they
are without you having to run to the saloon every week for a trim.
You can do this at home anytime you want and when you keep
a tight reign on your split ends it keeps you hair smoother
and softer and silkier and no more frizzy fly aways. It is
super simple to use and it is almost as big a no- brainer as
brushing your hair. In fact that is what you do, place your hair
between the clips like a curling iron or flat iron and ZIP
bye bye to the frizz! Perfect every time.

It is perfect for those times you got you hair just
so and notice a spot with frizzy ends you just can't stand for
they ruin the effect. 30 seconds later and you are perfect all
over without risking cutting to much like you would scissors for
it only takes the tips. Even my son could do this and I wish I
had this when he was 8 and decided to cut his own bangs for
if he is going to use something on his hair he isn't supposed to
touch I would rather it be something that can't leave him looking
like he just got off the boat! I love how this makes my hair
look and if I had this when I chopped it all off I would still have
that same head of hair for even hormones wouldn't be enough
to allow me to chop off perfectly smooth luxurious hair!

Even better, if you hair is dry like mine and mine is so dry
it feels like horse hair some days, the split ender comes
with a bottle of Silk! Now this stuff made me want to climb
up to my roof and scream its praises! I use frizz ease and other
products like that to keep my hair smooth and glossy for
without it I look like heck. Now I like the look those products
give me but to touch it, Ewwwe! Greasy and gross. I have yet
to find a product that works until now. These are little tablets
you crack open and work into your hair when damp. Then you can
either blow dry or let air dry and what you are left with is
smooth, shinny, glossy, healthy looking hair that you can
touch and not be able to butter a pan with you hand when you
are done. I could not feel this in my hair at all. You look at me
before and after and know I did something, you touch and you
will wonder what. An added perk to this product is it makes
my hair so soft and manageable I can do all those cool, sleek
styles I never could before. When I was younger I would spend
hours trying, when I got older I would just go with the waves
because I will be darned if I spend 4 hours in the bathroom
working on my "do" then walk out in August heat for it to
insta frizz! I can't wait to I go somewhere I can show off
some styles!

This combo gets a huge two thumbs up and a
snip snip from me and you can learn more or even order
one from the button on my site. That's right, I posted
a button for I love this stuff ( the silk) that much and with
the split ender am super impressed with how it works and
the fact it is going to save me a small fortune in saloon costs!
No more Bride of Frankenstein for me!

PUREOLOGY

I used to have silky soft, poker straight, long
blond hair as a child. My Grandparents were as
frugal as they come and the only thing I ever used on
my hair was whatever shampoo was the cheapest at
Farmer Jack that Month. It didn't really matter for it
did the trick and the only thing I ever had to worry about
was tangles for with kids and long hair they are bound to
happen. Somewhere in my life I went wrong. My soft, shiny,
smooth beautiful hair turned to dry, coarse, brittle, fly
away hair that if there is the least bit of humidity in the
air looks like Einstein and I share the same stylist. The
worst part of this whole deal is I think I did it to myself.
I was an 80's child and Died my hair every other week, permed
whenever I was bored, and on a daily basis I Blew dry, curled,
used moose, gel and enough Aqua Net to put my own personal
hole in the Ozone layer. The straw I call hair is what I am
left with!

I really didn't think anything would ever be able
to fix the damage I have done to my hair. I had even gave
up daily blow drying and seldom curl any more. In fact
I treat my hair as if it were Gold now for I feel so bad that I
did so much damage when I was younger. I know that the
hair I had then is long gone and it shouldn't matter but the
point is no matter what science says since I did all that to
my hair 25 years ago it has not been the same. Since
then I have only colored my hair and the only products I use are
items that are supposed to repair damage but I have yet
to have any luck. A week or so ago I got the chance to review
the Pureology line of hair products and as always anything to
do with hair I jumped on for I would give my left arm to have the
hair back I had as a child.

From the web site I learned:

COMPREHENSIVE COLOUR CARE SYSTEMS FOR
ALL TYPES OF HAIR

NATURE-INFUSED FORMULAS
FOR PURE PERFORMANCE

CONCENTRATED FORMULAS
FOR PURE INDULGENCE

CREATED WITH INTEGRITY

The package I received contained 2 shampoos, the Hydrate
and the Super smooth and also the Super Smooth conditioner and
last of all the Hydrate Hair mask. On day one I decided to try the
Super Smooth products. I felt since the shampoo and conditioner
where from the same branch of the Pureology line I should keep
them together for the best results. The first thing I noticed was the
consistency is different. It looked and felt different. In appearance
it looked much thicker but to feel it you really couldn't tell a difference
only that the texture was different, not necessarily thicker. I don't
think it sudded up as much as the last few shampoos I have used
did but I could feel it seeping into my hair and directly onto my
scalp and that was new for my hair is so thick I really have to
scrub to get too my scalp and with this I didn't. I also had to rinse
longer to get it out for it clung to my hair. I don't mean it left
a residue for it didn't but more like it belonged on my hair
and didn't want to leave. Next came the conditioner and it
too felt thicker and this one even looked much creamier. My
hair drank it in and I know you have heard that phrase before
for I have but I never knew what it meant to now. I swear if I
measured how much I applied and say it was 1/4 cup I put on
my hair I can promise you what I rinsed out was only half of that
and there was no product left in my hair for it was absorbed.
I did the full Monty with this stuff and dried my hair to see
if this was as good as it was supposed to be and could tame
my hair when heat was involved and it did. It really did! I was
shocked for I was left with smooth, manageable hair that felt
soft and not dry or greasy like it feels when I use frizz serum to
take care of the dryness. It may not have been as perfect as
my childhood dream hair but it was such a drastic change that
I felt given enough time I might come close to what I had oh,
so long ago! I was more then impressed!
The next day I used the Hydrate and the hair
masque. I can't say I could tell the difference from this Shampoo
to the next but then again it is the same line and the differences
from this shampoo to the other are probably very subtle. If you
lined these up to other shampoos though I would know the difference
in a heartbeat. Now the Masque was very different and very thick
and so thick in fact they give you a pick to help sort through your
hair. I had some problems making sure it went through my hair
due to how long and thick it was but I did manage to get it through
and was thankful for the pick. This needed to be left on for up
to five minutes and I left it on the full five and I also noticed this
was harder to remove from my hair and if I did not rinse well
enough it would leave a residue. I had to be very careful to make
sure I got it all out. I also blew dried my hair with these two
and I will say the extra effort to apply and remove the masque was
worth it when you feel and see the results. My hair is silky and
feels healthy and is not only smooth but you can almost feel the
moisture in your hair. It also left my hair feeling thick and
fresh like it feels right after a hair cut. I really loved how
my hair felt and looked but this would be a ritual I would only
use on special events for it was a lot of effort and a busy
Mom just doesn't have the time to do this on a daily basis.

My final thoughts on the Pureology line are it is pricey but
worth the price and delivers on its promises. A green haircare
line that is Natural makes it an even better buy but as a
normal person who does not have a lot of cash to throw around
I would buy this and keep it for special occasions. Not necessarily
a coveted night out with your Love but maybe date night, even if
it is spend at home with a rented movie and some popcorn. I
would not want to pay the price to buy this more then once a
month but I would also not want to live with out it. As most hair
products go with my hair I tend to use 3 times as much as the
normal person and a bottle of shampoo averages about 6 uses
for me so this would be something I would use once a week or so
even less often with the Masque. I would be more then willing
to give up a weekly cup of Starbucks to fit this into my
Budget for it truly is that good!
Five ***** for me!

With Rowan on the scene I have spent a lot
of time shopping for clothes. For me, I love
to shop on line and over the years I have developed
my favorite sites. I understand their sizing, return policy
and know first hand what quality of product I am going to get.
With Rowan and the fact I have not been around
Babies in oh what, forever! I have no edge. I have
to go to the retail stores for things have changed so
much since Andy was a child that I wouldn't even
know where to start looking on line. To make it easy to
understand, when Andrew was a baby there was no
such thing as buying on line. The computer had web sites
devoted to information, games and chat rooms. Now
the Internet is part of every day life and I do pretty
well with most things but where do I go for
Kids Clothes?

Unlike her Toys where it doesn't matter
what retail outlet you buy them at they are still
the same toys, clothing is way different. Every place
cuts their clothing different and a size 1 at one place
can be a size 12 somewhere else. Plus it really bothers
me that since kids outgrow clothes so fast I have noticed
that manufacturer's do not use the same quality standards
as they do for adults. What I mean by this is since
the kids will only be wearing it for a few months it
is my opinion a lot of places make their clothes cheap and
I do not know how many pair of PJ's I have went through
where the Zipper broke super fast. Now you guys tell me,
Rowan is going on 6 months and I have lost 4
pair of Jammie's, all different brands, to a zipper that
jams and breaks. Now they can't says its because kids
are hard on their clothes and she fiddles with it because
out of these 6 months 3 she couldn't even find her own
hands much less a zipper. People will also say that it
is because she spends so much time in them they get
worn faster and that isn't true either. She is so messy and
is MZ Spit up so Rowan clothes are changed no less then
4 times a day, so at that rate she is wearing something
maybe 8 hours for a day, maybe once a week. About 6 wears
into it, the zipper goes boom! Now that makes me mad, I pay
$9.99 for a pair of Jammie's I get 48 hours of wear out of.
If that happened to my clothes I would be standing on
Donna Karen's front porch but since its a child we forget
it!
So my dilemma was where can I find reasonably priced,
cute clothes that do not fall apart and be able to trust
the place enough to order on line? The answer is Like Wear!
I found them through word of mouth and decided to check
them out. When I got to the site I was surprised to find out
that if offers sales opportunity's to Moms and other work
from home people. Sorta like Avon but with clothes and they
also carry more then just children's cloths they also carry
accessory's and you can order from the main site or one
of the retailers. I decided to start in the kids section and was
pleased with what I found. All of their items are simple, no
frills in timeless styles that your children can wear every day.
I found no fad styles that your kids will refuse to wear a few
months from now because the "super super chill brothers supreme
dream team from mars is no longer cool", but I did find designs
that would appeal to even the pickiest pallet of the pickiest
child. The clothes they did carry with logos were of things
that are going to be here 6 years from now and not go away
and can be passed down from child to child. Who doesn't love
a Tootsie Pop? Kids when I was little knew them and loved them
and I am sure my Grandchildren will too! Plus they are too cute!

I was sent a Dress for Rowan to review that was very
girly girl and adorable. It was pink and simple and I loved
the fact she could wear this dress to a fancy Do Dah! or to
the play ground and fit in either place. Clothes that are versatile
give me more bang for my buck and Momma loves that!
Even the T-shirts have styles that will never fade and feature
designs such as Peace or Love. Very sweet! I was also
impressed with the Quality. I did the Michelle Test with a
little more gusto then I would with adult items for like I told
you I am a little angry on the quality of children's items I have
been getting and they blew my test away. The dress has been
washed 17 times in the last week and still is the same bright
shade of pink as when I pulled it out of the box. It also
has not frayed and the seems are still tight as, well you know
that frog cliche'.

With the children's line of clothes I am most impressed
with the style and the fact is these are a mix and match item
and everything they make can be used with items already in
your child's wardrobe so there are endless possibilities for
wearing them often yet still looking like you have a different
outfit on each and every time! They also have some of the
cutest onesies and blanket for babies I have ever seen and
the bags are to die for! Final verdict on Like Wear!
I LIKE!

A LOT!

Check them out, maybe next time I buy I will be buying
from you!

Did you all read my She' Essential

Beauty Review? If you did then you know

how bad I need help with my hair, eyes, skin,

face and nails. I really need help! It has been

a year since I even got my hair cut. I have

disgusted myself even. For 25 years I have

been the resident Diva! The I was 40 and

pregnant and lost all ambition.



If I click my heels together 3 times and

say " I am a Diva" do you think I can go

back to the way I was?



Well She' Essentials fixed me! Or, at least

they gave me a great head start. I still need

that hair doo!



Now I have another problem. Did you know

that if you ignore your make-up for over a year

that anything liquid or cream based will dry

up? Did you know there is a shelf life on

make-up? Um, shocker to me! My collection

is dust! Now I need to buy more.



I have a thing about skin. I was blessed

with flawless, youth full looking Ivory skin.

I realized at a young age how blessed

I was and saw other people suffering through

acne and other ailments. I swore to myself

that I would never put anything but a high

quality product and do everything in my

power to care for my skin. I spend more

money on make-up then I will ever admit too.

I lived at the Lanacomb, Estee Lauder and

Clinique Counters at the mall. Now I am ready

to face the world again and I have no "face" to

put on. Everything but my Eye Shadow and Blush

are ruined and as useful to me as my son on

the first day of spring cleaning. I could just

die! I started surfing the net going from beauty

site to beauty site saying goodbye to all my old

friends when I stumbled upon a site called

KORRES.

Wait a minute.....................

They look good...................

I took a few minutes to read through their site

and check out their product listings, checking out

the ingredients, the philosophy and the dedication

they pour into their products.

They sound good.......

I wonder................

Next thing I know I am swapping emails back

and forth and was able to offer a contest for

you guys and a review for the site. while you

all have been busy entering the contest I have

been pacing the floors here waiting.

TODAY IT CAME!

Bright and early!

I received the same kit that is in the contest.

It contains

• Pro vitamin B5 and Rice Bran mascara

in black that conditions and strengthens

the lashes while boosting volume and length.



• Cherry oil lip gloss in Light Purple 23

provides high shine and moisture without

being sticky.



• Guava lipstick in Natural Pink 13 is highly

pigmented and offers intense creamy color.



• Sunflower and Evening Primrose Eyeshadow

in White 10 provides hydration, long lasting-

wear and eyelid firming benefits.



• Soft Eyeliner in black has the perfect smooth

texture to give you endless options for the eyes.

And they are my colors too!



The first thing I grabbed was the eyeliner for

I am super fickle about those.It was a pencil and

I was a little nervous. I had a flashback to my

teen years and the hard pencil eyeliners I used

then. This was so NOT that product. I was shocked

at how creamy and smooth it was. How it glided on

and there was no smudging like with the twist up

eye liners I had been using. It was solid and went

where you put it. It did not stick on parts of your

skin and end up skipping and leaving a mess.

It was perfect!

BIG SMILE

Phase one complete.

After the liner I grabbed the shadow. Again, Amazed.

The color applies smooth and looks the same on you

as it does in the pallet. You can feel the moisture in

it but it is dry enough to cover even and not leave

blops. Very impressive and I really liked it better then

the lanacomb I have in my drawers right now.

Phase two rocked!

Next was the Mascara and I spent some time

pulling it in and out of the container. From past

experiences I know that about half the time you

pull out the wand there are thick clumps on it

and they end up making your lashes stick together

and when you try to get it off you make a mess and

need to start over. This didn't do that at all. I tried

like the dickens to get it to but it didn't. Not even

close. It went on smooth and stayed where I put

it!

Phase three is kick-en it top shelf style!

Last was the Lipstick and Gloss. I could own

stock in a lipstick and Gloss factory. I use 2-4

tubes a month and have spent my sons Collage

money buying it. ( Shhhh!) The Lipstick went on

creamy and felt moist, not dry and caked. I could

run my tongue over my lips without fear of ending

up with a pink tongue. It lasted too. I felt no need

to reapply and think I could save money on this for

I will not be using 2-4 tubes a month. The gloss

was equally impressive. It was just shiny and

glossy enough without making me look like

I belonged in a Vegas Cat house. It was not

too thick and didn't leave me feeling like

I had casted my lips in some disgusting

foreign substance. It was really clean feeling

and I was tickled pink, funny, same shade as the

lip products.

All of this came in a perfect sized, quality

case I will be taking everywhere with me. It is

not flashy or silly looking like the ones I get with

a lot of gift packs at the mall and it is one color

(brown) and will go with everything!



My review is so positive I can't even

give you descriptive words that won't make

me look like a 6 year old in a candy shop.

I was that excited to do this review. I would

be more then willing to review anything KORRES

has to offer ( hint hint, LOL) for everything I received

today was so spectacular I can't see them making

anything bad. It is MY new brand of make-up!

I am a stay at home Mom and John
got laid off last January and the way the
Michigan economy is right now who
knows when he will be back to work.
This is a terrible cross to bear for a
fashion Diva like I am. Even Dots and
other cheaper stores are out of my price
range right now and I was going out
of my mind with the need to shop
for I am used to getting at least one
new outfit a month. I have three
closets at my house, clothes in storage
boxes and about a 20 foot beam in the
laundry room where I also hang clothes.
John has a drawer I bought for under the
bed and about 12 hangers in one of
my closets. I am very generous!






TO make matters even more dire
for me after 16 years of dressing
a boy I finally got a little girl to dress
and no money to "Diva" her out with.
I would go jump off the Ambassador
Bridge but in truth the Detroit River
water sorta creeps me out.I needed ideas
and I needed them fast. I discovered
Thrift Stores. As a Feisty, Frugal middle
aged Mom I also learned to navigate
them and here are the tips I picked up!




1. Don't shop at chain Thrift stores unless
they are having their "Big Sale!" Places
like the Salvation Army or Value world have
sales a few times a year where they give you
50% off your total bill. These places are
cheaper then buying new by 40 t 60 % to
start with but some items can still be pretty
costly and when I look for Jeans for my son
I end up paying between 8 and 10 dollars for
a good pair. At K-Mart I can get a new
pair for $15.00 dollars if I wait for a sale so
the savings are not all that on a normal day.
BUT: when you add in the extra 50% discount
you are paying 4-5 dollars for an almost new pair
of name brand jeans. That I can live with! For
$100.00 I am getting like $600.00 or more
worth of clothes! ( insert happy dance here)






2. Avoid the Trendy Semi Chains! Okay, they are
not as big as Value World or Salvation Army or
St Vincent De Paul but there are more then a few
of them. The label themselves as a boutique shop
or Chic and advertise like crazy. I am not sure of
the ones in your location but an example of one
here would be Plato's Closit. When you take in
your clothes for resale they are very picky about
what they accept and only take high end name
brand items in mint shape. I have no problem with
their stock, it is good and you can find some nice
items. What I do have an issue with is that you bring
in a pair of Jeans you paid $70.00 for and they will
offer to give you 2 or 3 dollars then turn around and
res-ell them for $50.00 or more. To me that is a bit
shady but hey, to each their own. What remains is
the cold hard facts  that at Value World or other
mega chains you save 40-60% but at places like
Plato's Closit you only save 10-20 percent at
best! That isn't worth it for me.






3. Look at local, small corner shops that
are independantly owned. The higher priced
the local home value the better.People who
can afford to drop 500 bucks on a purse or
pair of shoes or pants seldom shop at thrift
stores and lots of the little ones are owned
by upper class housewives with an eye for
fashion and the need to share it with people.
They are not out to get rich with their store
instead they do it because they love clothes.
I have found $300.00 dollar purses for 5 bucks
and $200.00 jeans for just as little. They also
have a lot of clearance sales for the upper
class shopping world fashion styles always
changing so new stock is brought in often.
So if you don't pay attention to Fads you
can find some really good deals on some
high class fashions!






4. Don't forget Garage sales! Unless a person
is a professional Garage Sale Host ( has
3 or more per season) people tend to undervalue
their own property. You can score some clothes
with the tags on still (I know you too have bought
an item once or twice you swore you would fit
someday and never did) for a few bucks or less.
I bought a stack of Levi's once for a quarter each.
This is also the best THE BEST! place to buy
baby's and young childrens clothes for at that
age they outgrow them so fast they seldom show
the signs of wear adult clothes can. Here is
another place where you should pay attention
the the neighborhood and home value for the
bigger the home the better the deals!






5. Last on my list is a resource I am sure you
never thought of. Self storage Unit auctions!
People rent a box and quiet often abandon
them for numerous reasons. It could have been
clothes they outgrew and never got around to
sorting through, or they inherited them or
could have just been a compulsive shopper
like I am and had way to many for home and
stored them there. It doesn't matter how they
ended up there only that they are there!
For a few bucks you can buy a whole garbage
bag of clothes. The drawback is you can't
pick and choose what you want from the bag so
you may get items you don't want but you can
always donate them to charity. Then you do good,
save good, look good and feel good!




All of these are great ways to save some
cash and update your wardrobe at the same
time. You can also pick up other household
items at a deep discount and use the money
you save by buying those items at thrift
stores to fund an occasional trip to
Macy's.






Happy hunting!

It has been a long time since I have
taken care of myself. Let's see, Rowan is
about 6 months and I found out I was, OK,
let's call it a year. Before I found out about
Rowan I was doing pretty good. After years
of neglecting myself Andy was at last old enough
to do things for himself and I had the time.
I lost some weight, got a new "Doo" and
started going out with friends and dressing
up again then BAM, once again I am with
a young child at home and the only thing
I wear on a regular basis is puree's Squash
or applesauce. My enormous collection
of clothing and shoes and make-up and
hair products sit by them self, alone,
untouched.



SOB!



Okay this part I am going to say, you are
going to read then you will all forget I ever
said it. ( Watch the swinging crystal and repeat
after me~I will forget, I will forget!) I also
look like I have been neglecting myself. My
hair, my nails, my skin and my body even.
My poor hair has so many splits it could
give any divorce court a run for its money,

WE WILL NOT TALK ABOUT THE GREY ROOTS!

My skin is blotchy and uneven and that was
Johns favorite part of me, the fact I had even
porcelain skin, and my nails......................

1. my finger nails and cuticles look like
they have been through a salad shooter.
2. If you want to know the last color of
polish I wore on my toes just look at the
tips it is still there.

I need help and I need it bad. Before
Rowan I had my eye out for Macy's and
other makeup counter sales and stocked
up whenever they had that deal where you
buy this and get all thissssssssssss free!

I love those sales! I would always but Concealer
and skin and cuticle cream then get the free
makeup and I do have more Eye shadows then
you can shake a stick at! I can match anything!
But the lotions and creams, well they dry up if
you don't use them and mine are gone.

I look like Heck and I have no product!
Lucky me, She' essential beauty sent
me a few items to review and the first
one was for my nails. YEAH! And the second
was a body scrub! DOUBLE YEAH! There
has never been a woman in the free world
who needed it more! The first item I tackled
was the scrub. Now I don't know how I missed
the section at better stores where body scrubs
are actually scrubs. They are like um, little
pieces of rock candy you rub on your skin.
As a stressed out Mom faced with the possible
presence of Candy it took everything I had not
to eat it. The fact it smelled good made it even
harder. It was fragrant but not too sweet and it
instantly made me relax. I enjoyed the process
of applying for the fact it was a grain made
me slow down and be careful and I needed that
time. I think the application helped me to
relax even more. And the scent, dreamy!
Now the texture didn't bother me, for even in
the cream scrubs I had used they had the
granules feel so I enjoyed the texture and imagined
the little beads removing all the icky parts of my
skin I had grown to despise in the mirror. When I
was done I was pink. Might have rubbed a little
too hard but once that faded I felt and looked fresh.
My skin felt tight and new and I didn't eat any of
the scrub even with the word sugar in the name.
What is more surprising is people noticed
and wondered what I had done to myself. I had
never in my life used a body product that
anyone but me could tel I had used.I enjoyed
the flattery.

All in all my opinion of the Scrub is
very positive. I had never been familiar
with aroma therapy or holistic healing
benefits and really don't understand all
of it but I know how it left me feeling
and I felt fresh and vitalized. At 40
I will take that over old and cagey any
day! This is something I will stick with!
Next up was the cuticle cream. Um,
I am way to embarrassed to even post a
before picture of my cuticles for they are
really that bad. The Cuticle butter
was the product I really really wanted to
try. In truth, I thought for sure mine were
too bad to repair for with Dry Michigan
winters, my own neglect and the damage
I did over thanksgiving with floor to ceiling
deep cleaning with Harsh Chemicals and
my hands in dish-soap for a few days there,
I thought I was toast. The Cuticle Butter
was creamy and smooth and just looked
Hydrating but then again so does regular
butter and that doesn't do anything but
amplify a Sunburn in the summer. I read
these directions very carefully for I wanted
to make darn sure I did this right.
It had a subtle scent of lemon and right
away I could feel the skin soften as I massaged
it in. I swear if I sat still enough and relaxed I
could feel the crack and chips melt away and
my cuticles no longer felt as if they were going
to pull away from my nails. This was amazing!
I don't know how the Chinese discovered all
the benefits of some of these products and
Herbs but I do know I am going to pay closer
attention to what they are using over there!

All in all She' Essential beauty and their
product line really gave me a needed lift and
left me feeling rejuvenated and fresh. I loved
the smell alone of the products and felt instantly
at ease and calm once I opened them. I plan
on making their line a regular part of my
world and can't wait to work my way through
the whole product line!
2 huge thumbs up ( with silky smooth cuticles)

Don't forget to enter the contest She' Essential Beauty has posted right now
and you can get in on the yummy goodness yourself!

This is the season where
dressing up is a weekly event. The
rest of the year you get hit with an
occasional wedding, shower or other
party where ya gotta don your best duds
but November and December are a non-
stop dress fest and and keeping up
with the "Joneses" can end up
being pretty costly. Let's face it, we all
need to save a penny or two where we
can.


One of my pet peeves is buying nail
polish at anywhere from $3.00 to
$15.00 dollars a jar and when you go
to use it again you find it all lumpy and
ruined. Or is it? I couldn't stand tossing
away one more bottle so I decided to find
out what I could do about it. Here is
what I came up with........................






1. First off flip the bottle upside
down and roll it in your hands for
a while. The warmth from your body heat
will help thin it while being upside down
will allow the colors to run together and
redistribute. After a few minutes shake the
bottle vigorously and test it out. Sometimes
that is all it takes.






2. If that doesn't work try a little bit of nail
polish remover. Sometimes just thinning it
out a little bit helps. They also sell a product
you can get at any beauty supply store that
is made just for this reason. It is simply
called thinner or nail polish re-newer. It costs
between 5 and 10 dollars but will last forever
and it is worth it in the long run not to have to
toss out so many bottles in the mean time.






If those tips don't work you might find
yourself up the creek so to speak but if
you store it properly in a cool, dark place
and remember that darker shades go bad a
little bit faster you can avoid a lot of the hassle
to begin with.






Last of all if you are getting a shade for a special
event and know chances are you won't use it
again don't splurge on the good stuff. Though
the cheaper brands don't spread as well they still
do the trick for a one time event and why waste
cash if you can help it!

I love Skin stuff. It doesn't really matter
what it is as long as it is for my skin. Scrubs,
lotions, oils and gels. ALL OF IT! I could live at
the body shop so when I get a chance to review
anything that has to do with your skin or skin care
I jump for joy. This week I got a chance to do a
review for Scrubz and some of their yummy
products.

I was sent some of the body scrub in
Cotton Candy for kids but I had to try it
for myself and boy oh boy did I want to
eat it! The smell literally made my mouth
water and for a second I was worried people
would be wandering up to me trying to lick
me! I could not wait to try it and after the last
few days of hard labor in the kitchen preparing
for Thanksgiving I could really use some pampering
and a hot shower with some product you love is the best
thing in the world next to a Fabio type guy giving you
a 4 hour massage. I skipped to the bathroom and
waved goodbye to my Husband and kids.




Once I got in there and took the top off I
still wanted to eat it! Is that good or bad? Didn't
matter for soon I was in the soothing confines of
a hot shower and the smell of Cotton Candy
was filling the room. I decided to use it for shaving
for it is the cold months in Michigan and let's just say
I have been putting it off for a while. I followed the
directions and loved the results. It leaves your skin
just soft enough where the razor didn't nick me
at all. Normally when you go through the hair jungle
on my legs in the winter months I look like I lost a losing
battle with the razor. Not today. The Sugar softened
my legs just right and the natural oils left let the razor glide
and still manage to remove the parts that needed to be gone.

And the scent?


Though it smells perfect in the bottle on your
skin it is very subtle and you do not, I repeat do not
have to worry about strange men walking up and taking
a lick. How I view it is the scent is for your enjoyment and
and is meant to make using it a pleasure! It would not
compete with any perfumes or other sprays you might
use and is just the right touch of YUM!



Scrubz not only works to soften your skin it
also helps to protect it from the environment and
provides a barrier from the harsh elements around us.
It contains coconut, olive and vitamin E oils and can
be used to de-stress and has even worked wonders on
eczema and psoriasis. They also carry seasonal and
Holiday scents that would make perfect gifts! Best of
all it is great for a little "Me Time!" All ladies deserve
and need that!


I tried the body Scrub but they have other products
as well. They carry Butters and Oils and even products
for the kids and the guys in your life. Best of all they
have a variety of gift baskets so you can get something
for even the most fickle person that is sure to delight!
They have lots of specials going on right now and some
monthly plans as well.

Just in time for winter
dry skin I received some Lip Stuff to review.
I was tickled pink since dry skin is a big issue
here and if you follow my Fashion, makeup and
style section you know I have been posting
tips on how to beat the winter dry skin blues!





I was sent a variety pack that include
some pretty cool flavors such as Spank, Lollypop
and Pancakes and syrup. My first reaction was
these would be perfect for teenage girls then
I tried them!








They were not strong or overpowering like
I thought they might be but more of a subtle
flavor that left a fresh taste on your lips. When
I think of flavored lip balms I had always thought
of the old school Bonnie Bells that I had when
younger and how you would apply them over and
over again for the taste alone. These are not
your daughters lip balms. These rock!






I was afraid they would be waxy for I have
never been a fan of balms for this reason but
they went on smooth and silky. And they last!
With the stuff I use now (OR DID) I find myself
re-applying over and over again just to keep
my lips moist. With my Lip stuff I put it on
and hours went by before I felt the need to
do it again. I also let my Husband and son
try for they really need it as well and was
waiting for the "Hey, I am not a girly, girl!"
reply I always get from them but it never
came. They loved it as well!






SO let's go over the details here, No
overpowering scent or taste, smooth and
silky not waxy and clumpy and they guys
will wear it and like it. AND it is still a perfect
gift for teenage girls!





After checking out their site I also
learned some more good stuff. For starters
they are green and do not use any harsh ingredients
or chemicals and do not test on animals. They are affordable
and Brea the owner and inventor still keeps a very hands
on philosophy to ensure a perfect product. She cares about
your lips! Also, after reading a little about her I found myself
really liking her personality and she would be the kind
of person I would love to do lunch with!




There are over 500 flavors available and you can
even get personalized labels. Perfect for shower gifts,
birthday parties and other events where a little bit
of a personal touch goes a long way. You also have a size
choice and other products to peak your fancy. I for one,
would love to try more of her products for I really love
the lip balms and can't wait to explore the rest of her items.

Posting about dry skin and lips got

me thinking. Those are bad! Yes they are!

But what is worse is when that dry skin

hits you under the socks and does a number

on your tootsies and feet. There is nothing

worse then trying to slip on a pair of socks

and your used to be soft and lovable feet

getting stuck by the speed-bumps dry

skin causes on your feet. GROSS!

We won't even go into rubbing them

up against your husband in the middle of

the night and him asking if the dog had its

raw hide chew toy somewhere under the covers.

When you look at them all you can think is I

will never wear sandals again and I hope

I don't have to wear dress shoes to a holiday

party!

Well guys, don't worry. There are cures and

cures that won't cost an arm and a well, foot!

You can make them at home with items you

already have! Get rid of those scales Dragon

lady and get back to being smooth like you know

you are!



1. Soak them in Vinegar. Its not just for salads.

Get a large pan fill it with water add one cup

of vinegar and a drop of dish washing liquid

and just cover those tootsies and feet and let

um soak. When your done, dry and apply

your favorite lotion. I like Aveeno products.



2. The other way is to sleep in socks. No,

not to hide them or cover up the little offenders,

but to soften them. Slather your feet with lotion,

don't be shy, the more the merrier and cover with

some thick socks so you don't get it everywhere.

Do this every night for about a week and the problem

should be history.



Good luck guys and don't forget to use a pumice

stone for upkeep and hopefully they won't get that

dry again!

If your like me Winter is the dreaded season
of dry skin, chapped lips and sinuses that scream
for moisture. In runs in my family too for I cringe
when I see my son wear anything short sleeved from
October to May for his elbows get so dry and cracked
I am waiting for a hoard of Alligators to knock on my
front door and call for their leader. I beg him to use
lotion but he is a "Manly" boy and refuses to put
anything on that he might find on my shelf in the
bathroom.



So how can I help him and me? How can I stop
the sure to be busting down my door stampede of
Alligator's? ( they live in the sewers ya know!)

Well I did a little diggen and came up with these
tips to help you if you too might have some long
lost reptile relatives in your family or living under
your own roof for that matter.The first thing I
discovered is that the winter stinks for those
of us prone to dry skin. The Humidity level,
the cold air and blowing wind and that beast
that costs us a fortune to run and heats our
house are all offenders on the list. If you
don't live in a rain forest, dry skin is going
to be an issue! How do we cope? Here is
some tips I found.






1. Don't take hot showers, take luke warm.
I know it is tempting to jump into a hot
shower on a cold winter day but hot water
is the enemy. It drys out your skin and robs
it of needed moisture.




2. Exfoliate! Scrub scrub scrub and scrub
that dead skin away. It will keep your skin
fresh and your moisturizer will work better.
Why buy and apply if you are not going to
do it right?






3. Skip the soaps! Not ewwwe Gross I feel
so dirty but go for the creamy cleansers
instead.






4. Don't lick your lips, use product. Licking
them only drys them out more!




5. Try Fish oil pills and make sure you drink
your water. Don't go overboard. The age old
8 glasses a day credo works just fine!






Hope this helps you guys, stay smooth and
stay soft!

Aveeno



I Love Aveeno so I was very excited to get a full sized bottle
of Aveeno's New Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo.It comes in
a simple bottle with a push up top that is easy to open, even with
slippery hands. To me it looked a little thick, more like a conditioner
then a baby shampoo but I thought, "hey, its new, let's give it a
whirl."
The label told me it was made with natural Wheat, and Oat, and
Vitamin but I would have liked to have known what kind of Vitamin.
It also says it is lightly scented and it was true to its word. The real
test would be to see if it could live up to its Tear-Free, Cleanses and
Conditions and Rinses Easily claim as it says on the bottom of the
bottle.
My worry was would what is what I consider dreamy be safe
and suitable for my little bundle of joy with much more sensitive
skin? Rowan has our family trait of fair skin, eyes and hair and
when you are born with that type of complexion it doesn't take
much to leave you red and blotchy or worse, rashy and itchy.
I have not been able to wear any jewelry other then 18 carat or
higher my whole life because of that. Do you know how bad it
sucked to be me in the 80's and not be able to wear one dangly
over sized earring. I could already see the tell-tail signs Rowan
would suffer the same fate since when ever she spilled some
formula on her chin or neck she has gotten a rash similar to
a diaper rash and I was a little worried this would do the same
to her.
The first time I used it I found out the smell was a little
bit stronger when mixed with warm water. Not bad, but
I am not sure I would qualify it as lightly scented. Rowan
seemed to like the fact it was a little thicker then her
Johnson's Baby Shampoo and I think it has to do with
the fact it wasn't as runny and since Shampoo's seem to be a
little colder then the water around them it kind of shocks
her when you put this first bit on her. With her old Shampoo
it starts to run right away so the cold spreads. This stuff
stays right where you put it and allows for you to get your
hands in there to warm it up right away.
I am not going to tell you there were doves and butter-
flys floating around with Julie Andrews singing in the back-
ground for Rowan is not a bath lover and no matter how great
a product is her fussing is going to make it enjoyable.
BUT- the Aveeno Worked great Cleaned her up in a snap.
Just the right amount of suds and rinsed off super easy and
more importantly clean. No residue.
After rinsing her I held my breath ( Really, I did!) and
brought her to her room to get dressed. I was waiting for
her skin to turn blotchy and hit a shade of red that is not
humanly possible. Guess what? It didn't! I could not
believe my eyes. I will definitely buy this again for that
reason alone. How can you not love a product that does
just what it says it does?
The only draw back is the price. Like most Aveeno
items it is on the step side. It can be found at most
retail locations and drug stores for around 5 dollars.
About 2 dollars more then her old brand but to me
it is worth it. The old saying holds true in this case.
"You get what you pay for!"

http://www.aveeno.com/baby/essential_moisture.jsp?channelFull=09AVOSGGLUBASHPOO01&utm_campaign=Aveeno%20Baby%20-%20Unbr%20-%20Baby%20Shampoo&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Baby%20Shampoo&utm_term=babies%20shampoo#/product-by-line/essential-moisture/



I give this a big two thumbs up

Moving forward with a complete guide to everything
good about mineral make-up I found another keeper! Pur!
Pur Minerals is one of the best I have found so far. If you
were to ask me to sum these guys up in a couple of words
I would have to say Simple Elegance. From the moment I
went to the site I was relaxed for the very aura they portray
left me relaxed and knowing I was in some very good hands.
They were Fashion Magazines 2010 reader Favorite and
for a good reasons. They are all about Quality and more then
that flexibility and offer products for every type of skin and
women of every age. They are cutting edge in the industry and
are famous for their 4 in 1 mineral make-up that adapts to
fit everyone. No more searching for just the right item
for with the 4 in 1 you always get perfection!
I was given a Pur Perfection kit for review and it
pretty much was just that! Perfection. What it included
was the 4 in 1 ( sold, hook line and sinker with this baby)
and a chisel brush, mineral glow and Universal marble
powder. I explained to them I was just learning about
Mineral Make-up and did not really know what I was doing
or what would work for me and was told not to worry, with
their products I could not mess up if I tried. Well, they didn't
know me for I am really good at messing up but I figured
I would take them at face value and give it a shot. I could
not believe how right they were and I was a skeptic. How
could they cover ever ones needs when they only offered
one shade of the 4 in 1 and only two shades of Primer?
I am so used to the sites where you go through pages and
pages of products and end up guessing at the one you
need then are never happy with the results. This was one
page for their entire foundation line and the same went
for all the rest of their products. I could not understand
how that would be enough of a selection until I tried it and
it really worked fantastic! The Foundation brings out your
own skin tone and makes it even and healthy and gives
you that all over perfect feel. The Universal Marble added life
to your cheeks and the effect was a look of health, not paint
and I never felt more natural and fresh. To top everything
off was the Mineral Glow and that left me with a slight sun kissed
look without the worries and all of the glamor! The Chisel Brush
was perfect for application and I felt stunned and very very
impressed at the total package and could not believe I
didn't need a whole line of items to get this same look. I
was almost disgusted with the fact I normally have drawers
and bags and boxes of items to get the same look on a daily
basis from products that are not mineral makeup. These
guys are a keeper and the Pur Perfection Kit is the perfect
way to get started if you were a Mineral Make-up virgin like
I was. Let's go over this real fast:
3 easy steps
5 minutes total
Perfect Appearance
It just does not get any better then that. I now have no excuse
to not look like a star every single day for with minutes to
apply, how can you argue? My final opinion on Pur Minerals
is a spectacular two thumbs up for you can't beat the value,
the simplicity and the finished look they have to offer!
Truly remarkable!
Pur Minerals

Ah, it was only a few months ago when I was such
a novice with Make-up and Beauty. A blank canvas with a
mind like a sponge and a desire to learn. Too bad I am 40
years old and didn't learn all these tricks to now. My Diva
status could have reached an all time high by now instead
of running around with training wheels and a 12 step program
to stick to the new tips I learned and not revert to my old ways.
Even my Mother is Benefiting from all the great Products and
advice I have been receiving from these Companies and
leading the pack in getting me on my feet and a seat
on the "Wow, you look stunning bus!" has been Korres!
Last month we did a review and giveaway with them and
have more planned in the future but right now they had
some new items they wanted me to try and share my
experience with you guys.

Korres is a fantastic company and I plan on adding them
on the top ten list when I update it hopefully this week.
The customer service has been fantastic and they have had
no problem walking me through my insecurity's and have been
helping me turn my lack of knowledge into an expert status
even if I do have to take baby steps for sometimes I learn
at a snails pace. As you know it takes more then first rate
customer service to make the list and they meet all the
rest of the criteria and then some. They offer lighting fast
delivery, a spectacular product line and extremely
competitive pricing. You have no idea how glad I am I found
them and hope to have a long relationship with them for
their help greatly benefits you your guys, myself and the site!

They sent a couple of great products for review and
I love the fact they offer a lot of sets and kits for when
you have as much work as I do walking out of the 70's
and 80's you need a lot to get going and kits or collections
make that job a lot more easy for I don't end up looking
like a deer caught in the headlights wondering what I should
pair with what. The first item they sent was their Prep,
Prime, Perfect collection. I must say it was all of that and more!
The kit included:
Wild Rose Cream
Wild Rose Serum
Face Primer
Wild Rose Lip Butter
Wild Rose Foundation
Mascara
and Pomegranate Cleansing wipes
I decided to try everything at once and see how it felt. I started
with the cleansing wipes for I have a really bad problem with
just washing my face with Body wash and not paying special
attention to my face and at 40 I can really start to see the
wear on my face. I really liked the wipes for they were simple and
the last time I used anything it was for acne and left my face dry
and ick, this was refreshing. I love love love the smell and it
dissipated really fast for those of you who do not like items that
linger. It left my face not just looking clean but feeling clean and
you don't get that with soap alone. There always feels like a film
no matter how gentle it says it is. Next I used the Serum on my
wrinkle areas and though they can't fix what damage I have done
it did a heck of a job softening the lines and making me look
younger or should I say taunter with the appearance of the skin
of a much younger person. I was very impressed and when I
added the cream next I felt like I was rubbing in youth for it
just soaked it up and added the much needed softness and
moisture my skin has been lacking the last few years, Next I
tried the Primer and I tell you this is something I had never heard
of to lately and I LOVED IT!!!! Where has this been all my life. I felt
like it was sealing in all the goodness I had just done without
feeling like I was wearing a mask. I always have an issue and
I even have normal skin, but when I put on foundation it
always gets caky and makes my skin look dry. With the primer
I could tell all that moisture from the lotion and serum was
still there and felt pretty and natural not like I was just painting
over the imperfections. Awesome. That made the next item,
the foundation just flow over my skin and do what it is
supposed to do, create the perfect tone, instead of clumping and
caking on the dryer areas of my face. When I was done now I
not only felt like I had the skin of a younger person I looked
like it. I really wish I could post a picture of this but Andrew
helped me take some pictures for another review and left
the Camera on and the battery died and I would like to get
this review up for you. I do promise to post one as soon as
I get to the store and grab a new battery for it is really
unbelievable looking! Or I am nuts, but even my son said I
look happy instead of tired so that screams volumes to me
that it is working! I felt so good at that point that I decided
to just use the last two items and no eyeliner or shadow and
go for a natural look that only younger women can pull off.
Both the Mascara and the lip butter worked perfect and the
mascara did not cake or smear at all. The lip butter was
creamy and not waxy or too thick ( I hate that) and loved the
mild taste! This review was a total joy and I now need to
do a shoe review for I need to slip on some dancing shoes
for that is what I feel like doing!
The other item they sent was the Love Your Lips set
and it has:
3 Cherry Oil Lip Glosses and a Pomegranate Lip Butter
Now you know from the other lip butter I love these
Little tubs and they are a permanent fixture in my purse
now and this one was no exception other then to say I
loved the flavor and scent just a little more with this
one. I am hooked on Pomegranate now. The glosses were
spectacular and had just the right amount of glimmer and
shine without appearing thick and too glazy. A light touch
and I really liked it for even though I like the shiny part
of lip gloss I hate then when it is so thick it makes you
look like you are 12 and just raided your Mothers Makeup
and did a disaster of a job putting it on. This made me
feel like an adult with a pretty smile. I do not
think I will leave these lying around for Rowan to get
into when she is 12 for no way do I want her to ruin them!
Mine I say!
As always, Korres once again did a great job with the
items they sent to me and everything left me feeling
beautiful, stunning and stylish and if they can help
me and the mess I have become I know they can help
you guys who are a lot more put together. Korres always
has some great deal going on and I have to tell you to
run, don't walk and grab the wipes and Primer for that
stuff is DA Bomb! If you have not used them, those items
are a must have! To the next time we have a Korres review
or giveaway and let's hope it is soon for they have a
awe inspiring product line and can make an over sized
dork like me feel like a star!