While reading this blog, have you ever wondered, “Doesn’t Jen have 5 kids and how does she find the time to write her blog?”

I usually squeeze in my writing and reading moments in between my other “Mommy” responsibilities. For instance, I get the kids breakfast and change a diaper, check my emails. Get the girls breakfast, take the dishes out of the dishwasher, wipe up the spilled milk on the floor, and type up a few sentences on my review about a fabulous eye liner. So it goes…

This event took place while I was taking one of my frequent “blogging breaks.” I was probably reading Jen’s or Cecily’s blog and laughing quietly to myself about how true, candid and wonderful their posts are. Then I hear Rebecca squealing from the back yard!

I find her hanging from the side of her play car roof, she was stuck and in absolute peril!

Maybe a “Good Mom” would immediately rescue her child from this situation, but “This Mom” decided to grab her camera!

And as you can see, I eventually remedied the situation by setting Rebecca upright again. And so goes my life right now, being a Mom and being a Blogger. Bordering insanity and yet, I find it to be most fulfilling, go figure?

I was originally introduced to Herbaria by Bionic Beauty’s glowing review of an extraordinary hand-made soap company in Missouri.

Here’s a little bit about Herbaria’s story:
 “Our soap making business began when I tried to find a mild natural soap that would moisturize my skin rather than dry it out,” said LaRee DeFreece. “I was looking for a soap made with one hundred percent natural plant-based ingredients and enriched with emollients.”

After visiting Herbaria’s web site, I was impressed by the knowledge that goes into each of their 34 soaps. From Almond Green Tea to Spearmint Orange, each soap is uniquely crafted with pure ingredients to provide proven benefits to your skin.At Herbaria, if you purchase 6 bars, you will receive one free. The hard part is choosing only seven!

My first pick was the Sassafras Birch soap. As a girl from Indiana, I have always been fond of the Sassafras tree and the products derived from it. Sassafras was the original flavoring in Root Beer, so you can imagine that this soap has a warm, spicy scent.

Our oldest daughter Amanda is 13 and in the 8th grade, and is fortunate enough to be in a honors English class.  Thankfully, Mrs. Larsen, Amanda’s teacher forces all her students to submit an entry into the Reflections Contest at their school.

This year Amanda wrote and submitted her entry called: “Memories of a Big Sister.” I knew she had submitted this as her entry, and I loved it so much, I thumb-tacked it to the wall in my “office,” aka laundry room. This week I was informed that Amanda’s entry was to be honored, and will be sent to the next level in the school district this year. Here is a picture of the two of them at the ceremony. Congrats Amanda, you are amazing!

Memories of a Big Sister

Do you remember when I painted your toenails bright red? Mom got mad at me because you rubbed it off on your new blanket.
You were so little you couldn’t even talk.

Do you remember when you fell asleep in the car on the way to the bowling alley and I had to stay with you when everyone went inside? I had a lot of fun giving you a makeover with purple eye shadow, pink blush and some shiny hello kitty lip-gloss.
We were listening to the oldies.

Do you remember when I had to babysit you? You were playing in the basement, and I heard you cry I ran over and found you on the floor. Then I sat rocking you ‘till you fell asleep.
I wondered if you would remember.

Did you know that when you were too little to swim I would hold you and cuddle you if someone splashed in your eyes?
You didn’t stay in the pool for twenty minutes tops.

Did you know when I read you a book you’d want me to read it over and over again?
I never got tired of it.

Did you know that if I hugged mom and said “Mine!” you would cry, hit me, then say “Mine!” right back to me.
You were my source of entertainment.

Don’t ever forget that even if you were being a stinker I could make you laugh by saying “Hold on little monkey” and almost letting you slip off me onto the floor.
I always caught you, just in time.

Don’t ever forget that when I was on the computer you always insisted that I hold you even if I wasn’t playing a game or watching a movie, or anything that would interest you.
You inspired my emails.

Don’t ever forget that your tickle spot is right in your armpit and you could never ever help giggling hysterically when I tickled you there.
Once I recorded you because you had the cutest voice.

I remember.
I know.
I won’t let you forget how much I love you.

Foundations… If you are like me, you have facial imperfections you are wanting to hide. I have tried so many products that promise a natural feel with some coverage, and after using them are disappointed with the results. “No orange chalky face please!

Suki was way ahead of me with her skincare and makeup philosophy, and while reading her mission statement, I kept pinching myself, as if dreaming:

“I created sukicolorâ„¢ to fulfill my desire for 100% pure, clean colors that blend effortlessly with my complexion and enhance my features, not make me look powdery or made up. I also wanted a sophisticated natural look that struck the perfect balance — not glittery, not flat.”

Wait, this is incredible news! Sophisticated and natural? Suki is spot on here!

Okay Suki, this all looks great in print. But can your products really stand up your intentions?

Sukicolor Tinted Active Moisturizer:

This gorgeously sheer, customizable tint enhances your complexion, evens tone and minimizes pores. you look perfectly radiant, never cakey or made-up. fabulous for the whole face, for a healthy flush, or for touch-ups.

I instantly fell in love with this tinted moisturizer! Why does Suki call it an “Active” Moisturizer? Because this product goes way beyond a conventional foundation; it heals and repairs your skin.

One very special active ingredient they use is the White Willow Extract:

White willow. provides powerful, natural salicylic acid which treats acne, pain, inflammation, and works as an antioxidant.

 

After using Sukicolor’s Tinted Active Moisturizer for several days, I decided to write them a letter of gratitude, here is an excerpt:

Thanks Sukicolor!

“I just wanted to get back to you about how much I am enjoying your Tinted Active Moisturizer! I was a bit skeptical at first when I noticed how dark it was in the container, but was pleasantly surprised by how it blended perfectly with my skin tone. This Tinted Moisturizer feels incredibly natural and with just the right amount of coverage. It really makes my skin glow. You can tell that it is made with all natural, soothing ingredients as well. Bravo to you for creating such a wonderful product!”

Along with some other Tinted Moisturizers, I strongly encourage you to give this one a try. Sukicolor’s Tinted Active Moisturizer really does it all: covers, nourishes, repairs, and gives you SPF!

“No orange chalky face please!”

Just give me a natural, glowing, sophisticated face, the way I want, and am supposed to be…

 

Janet at Sukipure just informed me that they are offering some wonderful holiday gift sets on their website.  By buying a gift set you receive a $10 value and the packaging is FREE.

Don’t you just love finding out that our little compulsion to be beautiful is passed down from our great, great, great, great….keep on going……great Grandmother’s?  I find great comfort from the fact that women for ages have expressed themselves through the art form of fashion and beauty!

In the article, “Prehistoric Women Had a Passion for Fashion,” archaeologists uncovered artifacts from a Neolithic settlement that is now southern Serbia.

According to the figurines we found, young women were beautifully dressed, like today’s girls in short tops and mini skirts, and wore bracelets around their arms,” said archaeologist Julka Kuzmanovic-Cvetkovic.The unnamed tribe who lived between 5400 and 4700 BC in the 120-hectare site at what is now Plocnik knew about trade, handcrafts, art and metallurgy. Near the settlement, a thermal well might be evidence of Europe’s oldest spa.They pursued beauty and produced 60 different forms of wonderful pottery and figurines, not only to represent deities, but also out of pure enjoyment,” said Kuzmanovic.

So, the next time you are feeling the need to buy a new handbag, cosmetic, or piece of jewelery, blame your heritage! We humans have a need to express ourselves this way. Let’s hear it for the cave woman in all of us! ARGGG!

BTW: And if you are going to shop for beauty, shop wisely!  First, consult the gals at Megsmakeup for the latest and greatest beauty products, and use Sephora’s Friends and Family Code, FF2007 to save 20% off your entire purchase until 11/21!

Just in! Raging Rouge just informed me that there is a great deal over at Urban Decay and Hard Candy that you cannot pass up!

Urban Decay and Hard Candy are offering a whopping 30% off discount for friends and family from 11/14/07 – 11/20/07! To redeem offer, enter “FFH30“ during checkout and hit “redeem coupon”.

Remember my review on UD’s 24/7 waterproof eye pencils, or Hard Candy’s fragrance?

And my bud JenLaw at Meg’s is spreading the word of this sale:

Check out this cuckoocrazy Stila sale!! Liners, vintage eye shadow pots, gift sets, amazing palates and glosses for over 50% off retail! Check this sale out at Stila’s site.

It looks like now it the best time to shop and get a great deal! Woo-Hoo!

This is an excerpt from Juice Beauty’s Website on the issue of Parabens and their use in cosmetics & skincare products:

The skin care products sitting on your store shelves do so because they are preserved to provide effective protection against a broad-spectrum of contamination from molds, bacteria, yeast and fungi. Since the 1920s, parabens have been the most common preservative system used for thousands of cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products. In 2004, the safety of this system came into question. Researchers reported that parabens were found within human breast tumors.

Juice Beauty also claims that 64% of what we place on our skin is absorbed into our bodies. How’s them apples?

I really appreciate that their products contain DMAE, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Co-enzyme 1o. After reading Dr. Perricone’s book,”The Wrinkle Cure: Unlock the Power of Cosmeceuticals for Supple, Youthful Skin,” I actively seek products with these three key ingredients. The latest skin science research has shown these to be beneficial in protecting and improving our ability to develop collagen.

Not only should we put good things on our skin, but Perricone emphasizes that by eating well, our skin will benefit!  You can buy his book at Amazon.com The Wrinkle Cure, or check out his book at your local library.

Click on their website for additional information about Juice’s Beauty Organic Skincare line, and by the way, I’ve heard their Green Apple Moisturizer is fabulous! http://www.juicebeauty.com/

*Here is another very interesting article posted with some interesting thoughts on parabens:

http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/05/02/the-perils-of-parabens/#comment-20428

Today’s post will be a recycled post originally published in September due to my 2 preschoolers having the stomach flu. I won’t fill you in on the shocking, disgusting details, I will just leave that up to your imaginations! Pray for me and my carpet, UGH!

If you haven’t read my bittersweet hair history, you can revisit my past by looking at this post: “Embrace Yourself!”

Through the Naturally Curly website, I have been introduced to several amazing hair products especially designed for the Curly Girl, or Boy. The best bit of advice that I can pass onto you it that regular shampoos are generally too harsh for most hair. Curly and Wavy hair in particular needs its natural oils or sebum to give the hair weight and hold in moisture.

Mainly, we curly girls feel we need to shampoo our hair because of our scalps feel gross. Rarely does my hair ever feel dirty or “greasy.” The regular shampoos strip the hair and scalp of its natural oils. Our scalp becomes dried out and itchy, and our hair becomes dry, frizzy and unmanageable. Blow drying and hot iron straightening doesn’t help either!

In Lorraine Massey’s book, “Curly Girl” she recommends limiting or eliminating the shampooing step altogether. Instead of using a regular shampoo, she claims that a conditioner has enough surfactants to effectively wash our hair and scalp. By using a water-soluble silicone based conditioner, you can wash your hair with condtioner, and termed this process CO-washing. By C0-washing, you can effectively clean your hair and not strip the living daylights out of it!

On Naturally Curly’s website your can find several recommended conditioners that contain water-soluble silicones. Curly girls do not want to put hair products that are not water-soluble, because non-soluble silicone’s will build up on our hair and add to your hair troubles. You will need to check the labels on your conditioners, and you want to find a conditioner that has PEG-modified dimethicone or Dimethicone copolyol.

My favorite all around great conditioner for Co-washing is:

DevaCurl’s One Condition

It’s all in one! This super-rich conditioner will keep the moisture level of hair and scalp balanced to perfection. One Condition restores, hydrates and neutralizes detergent and product residue with the fresh scent of lemongrass.

• Simply rinse your hair like you would before regular shampooing
• Massage a generous amount of your conditioner with the pads of your fingertips
• Use a wide-tooth comb and comb through wet conditioned hair
• Let sit for 3+ minutes, rinse 80% out with warm water
• Finish with a “cold as you can stand” rinse of your hair

If you find that your hair isn’t feeling quite clean enough by the “Co-Shampooing method,” you can try one of DevaCurl’s emollient based shampoos. I would try DevaCurl’s “Lo-P00“ or their “No-Poo” Shampoo instead. DevaCurl’s One Conditioner can also be used as your weekly Deep Conditioner.

Try this “Co-Poo” Routine with your locks and see if your hair responds well with it. Damaged and dead hair cannot always be revived, but over time, your hair can repair itself and return to its natural healthy state.

The “Naturally Curly Challenge” is to not traditionally shampoo, blow dry, or straighten your hair, and then style according to the “Curly Girl” rules for 3 weeks.

• shampoo (never daily)
• conditioners (use lots of water-soluble conditioner)
• No blow frying
• Combing (only when wet and well-conditioned)

Go on, I dare you to try it! You may never be the same again…

Who is my muse? Well, if you aren’t familiar with this blog, this will be a great introduction post for you.

Hello. My name is Jen, aka 38goingon29 and I am a member of Megsmakeup.com.

Meg has the single most fabulous, addictive, informative, and hilarious beauty website on the Internet. She started it all. You will get great beauty advice all week long starting with the famous Sunday Sermon, then Mondays with Meg, Green Chi Tuesdays, Hump Day Hair Day, Drugstore Deal Thursdays, Fabulous Fridays, and my personal favorite, Saturdays at Sephora!

But who is this elusive and beautiful founder Meg? Lucky for you and me, she was willing to fill us in on some fascinating facts about herself!

Jen: Please Meg, introduce yourself, and tell us what led you develop your beauty site, Meg’s Makeup?

Meg: My name is Megan O’Brien, I grew up in a small town, Ashland, outside of Boston, MA. I’ve always been a lover of beauty products. Beautiful boxes, delicious scents, sophisticated tubes and jars – they send me over the moon. If I had unlimited cash I would not have started Megsmakeup. Unfortunately, I was not born a Rockefeller.

I wanted to see what REALLY worked. I thought I couldn’t be the only one out there that felt like this. After a very serious market research effort (having wine with my girlfriends and asking them their opinions) Megsmakeup was born! I’m sure a bunch of births are started with too many cocktails so I think it’s alright.

Jen: What is your typical day like?

Meg: I don’t really have one, some days are exciting and some I don’t even
hop into the shower for. I do constantly check my email (thanks Blackberry). My husband lives in a different city then I do during the week (we’re fine, it’s a career thing-not a personality difference thing). I’m pretty much on my own with my three dogs. This is both a blessing and a curse. Married women are frowned upon if they date. Damn!

I find most of my girlfriends are single so I get together with them a bunch. I was not born with a biological clock and I have no real responsibilities to speak of (besides the site and the dogs) so my day varies. Some nights I’ll work until 4am on the site and sleep until noon. Some days I’ll meet a cosmetic rep for breakfast at 9am, meet a friend for lunch at 1pm have a dinner at 8pm-you see where I’m going with this? No day is the same. Living in Los Angeles has its perks. The night plans can be a movie premiere or a new brand’s launch party. Never know. I can be with the glitterati or at home alone watching “The Office”. The only thing that is certain is that my make-up is on!

Jen: What do you think the turning points have been in your life? What were you like then?

Meg: I was completely fearless when I was younger. I picked up and moved to New York City to become a model-by myself, knowing no one at 18. I thought I would like Miami better so at 19 I moved myself (again knowing no one) to South Beach. After a year there I packed my car and decided to give L.A. a try. Yup, I knew no one there either. I’ve been in LA and have finally realized this is where I should be, this feels like my true home. It wasn’t easy. I ate more Top Ramen then should be allowed!

I think the turning point has never been over analyzed. I just think “What’s the worst that could happen”? If the answer isn’t jail or death I think you should go for it! We only go around once (apologies to any Hindu readers).

Jen: The cosmetic reviewing, beauty obsessed “Brat Pack” team at Megs, which consists of you, Kate2004Rock, Krista, DesertDoll, Tashagogo, Rachael Robbins, Olliebee, Bunny, Beautyzilla, lilykane, Blus Lee Lee, Greenie, Chi Chi, and who else am I forgetting here? If the whole bunch of you could all go on all-expenses paid fantasy vacation together, where would you go and what would it entail?

Meg: You’d probably get 12 different answers on that one! I get to answer, right? Cocktails are very important to Megsmakeup. We loosen up after a few, ladies guards get lowered (oh God, I sound like a date rapist). At Megsmakeup we all love Canelli’s Bellini’s. It’s like a hug in a bottle. A mixture of champagne and pureed peaches, it fizzes and pours pink. We bond over it like crazy.

I’ve always wanted to go to Venice’s top hotel-Hotel Cipriani. How amazing would it be to sit with that crew of beautiful women at that amazing locale drinking the origin of our favorite cocktail? Hotel Cipriani invented our potent potable, our nectar of heaven! We would sit outside, taking in the gorgeous gardens and Mediterranean Sea, sipping our drink and planning our shopping!

I hope you didn’t want me to answer Maine or something…

Jen: If you were stuck on a desert island, what 3 beauty items would you need to survive? I love this question on your site, so you get a turn to answer it for me!

Meg: Honestly, because we try new things all the time it tend to change but I’m going with these right now…

1. The Balm’s BalmShelter, coverage=moisturizer=spf. So multi-tasking and so great!
2. Ole Henriksen’s Truth Serum, I just love it! I feel like it just makes my skin look great.
3. Sugar Bronzer-I use it with their Kabuki Brush EVERY SINGLE DAY for 2 years. It is LA, need a bit of bronze to be able to live here!

Well, there you have it. My interview with Meg. Isn’t she everything and then some! Thank you so much for sharing with us. As a small town gal and a SAHM, I am so much in awe and wonder of your fabulous life as a model, city hopping, celebrity hobnobbing, and beauty site entrepreneur extraordinaire!

Give my best to all your team of makeup Divas! I totally “big hug” love you all at Megsmakeup!