Get Rid of those Little Red Bumps on your Arms

Happy Independence Day!

 

If you have a skin condition called Keratosis Polaris (little red bumps on your skin), you might find this helpful. I will tell you how I significantly reduced mine in just two weeks! Please keep in mind though that I am not a Dermatologist and my case is not severe. If you do have a severe case of Keratosis Polaris you might want to talk to your doctor before you do this.

 

I Had to Sacrifice a Nap, but I Finally Got it Done!

Laila has finally in the last month started taking real naps. Instead of forty minutes, I actually get 2 hours! That means I've been able to take a Sunday nap the last 3 weeks in a row. Not today though. Remember how terrible my feet looked on Thursday's post? I couldn't stand it anymore.

This is actually a re-post, but since a lot of you might not have seen it a year ago and most of you that did see it have probably forgotten about it, I figured it wouldn't hurt to post it again.

For an easy french pedicure, check out This Tutorial I did as a guest post.

Today I decided to get a little crazy and do blue.

Now I can wear sandals tomorrow and not be embarrassed.

Mom's Tips & Tricks

I've been thinking about my mom a lot lately. With Mother's Day just a few short days ago it's obvious that she would be on my mind. In addition to Mother's Day her birthday was yesterday (and I forgot to call...although she did tell me I'm not the only one who didn't call so I guess it's a tie for the "worst daughter of the year" award)! It hasn't just been those two things that have brought her to mind though. My mom has always suffered from poor self esteem. I don't why. I could guess, but I don't want to get into it right now. At least not in this post. It may be good for discussion some other time. The point is, she's beautiful. She's 54 years old and has been mistaken for my sister on more than one occasion. She looks amazing.  Example: I found this picture of my mom holding my youngest daughter when she was born (less than 2 years ago) and you'd never know it was her grandma and not her mom holding her.

See what I mean? Total babe, right?  (I know my dad thinks so because he tells me all the time. So sweet!)  Anyway, people have always been awed by my 54 year old mom's basically flawless and wrinkle free skin. (go ahead, zoom in, I dare you!)  I've often been told "you're lucky you have good genes" but the truth is it's not her genes. She actually takes care of her skin. Really good care. And I thought you might like to know just what her secret is. So here they are. Mom's tips and tricks to beautiful, young, healthy, glowing, wrinkle-free, you get the point, skin.

1. Mom never wears foundation. Ever. If you're thinking "there's now way that will ever be me" then we are in the same boat. I have to wear foundation. So here's the key. Put your foundation on as gently as possible. First, by not pulling so hard on your skin you will help prevent wrinkles. Second (and this is my own knowledge), if you rub too hard you are just rubbing your foundation off. It's not rubbing in the harder you do it. Trust me. It's coming off. So be gentle with your foundation.

2. Wash your face ever night. Even if you don't wear foundation, like mom, it is an important step. Wearing make up to bed ages you! So ladies, take it off!

3. When washing your face: A: wash with hot water; B: dry off your face by lightly patting a dry or damp wash cloth over your face. Mom uses a fresh, clean wash cloth every day. If you are using a dirty cloth to dry then you are just putting the germs on the cloth back on your face.Not good.

4. When applying lotion use the tips of your fingers and lightly pat the lotion into your face until it absorbs. No rubbing! This stretches your skin and will give you wrinkles.

5. When working with your eyes (whether applying lotion, foundation, or make-up) only use the ring finger or pinky finger to apply. They are your weakest fingers and will keep you from using too much pressure.

That's it. Mom also wears sunblock if she will be in the sun for an extended period of time and she always wears sunglasses and a hat in the sun. This has something to do with headaches (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree on that one) but I think keeping the sun out of your face as much as possible helps (but that's just me talking).

Other the fact that I wear foundation every day I try to always live by these rules.  I'll be happy if I look half as good as her when I'm 50.

Love you mom.

Waxing Week Day 3, Eyebrows

Alright, we've made it to the end of waxing week. I hope I've encouraged at least a few of you to give waxing a try. Today, I'm focusing completely on eyebrows, because they are what frame your face, and in my opinion are the most important and most overlooked feature. Don't believe me? Let me show you what I mean. I had a little fun with photo editing earlier.

This is what I would look like with big, bushy, untamed eyebrows. Basically, these are the eyebrows I was born with. Oh ya! My husband was digging this look.

And this is what I would look like with hardly any eyebrows. Which is what happens when you over pluck. You don't want this! Put the tweezers down!


So much better!

OK, so we've established that eyebrows are important. Now the question is how do you get the right shape?

Grab an eyeliner or lip liner pencil and turn to a mirror. Placing the pencil right next to your nostril, mark a line straight up and down. This is where your eyebrows should start.

Now, keeping the pencil against your nostril, angle the tip so it lines up with the outer edge of your iris. This is where the peak of your arch should be. And yes, I realize my pencil is off a little. You try taking a picture of yourself while trying not to poke yourself in the eye!

And finally, move the tip to the outside corner of your eye and make a mark. This is where your eyebrow should end.

Once you have these three key places marked you can go ahead and start waxing or plucking. And which ever method you choose, just remember to take off a little at a time. You can always take out more hairs but you can't put the hairs back on.

So, what happens if you accidentally over do it? I suggest that everyone invests in an eyebrow powder. This will get you through the growing back out faze. Eyebrow powders are also great for people who have sparse eyebrows to begin with. I have this one and even though it is a little pricey, it will last me forever and has a wax with it to keep unruly hairs in place. And my hairs are unruly. I also have a nice little bold spot in my left eyebrow from years of not knowing how to shape my eyebrows and over plucking.

And speaking of unruly hairs. Did you know that you should also be trimming your eyebrows? OK, maybe not YOU, but a lot of us do. I was going to try and make my own little tutorial, but it's getting late and I found this video that explains it just fine

Well, that's pretty much it. The only other thing I should mention is that it's totally normal if your eyebrows are not the exact same shape. Don't panic and think you did something wrong. Most likely you are the only person who notices.

Oops, I did think of one other thing. If you don't already have an eyebrow brush, get one. You can get one really cheap at any store that sells makeup and taking a quick second in the morning to brush your eyebrows into shape will help make them look polished and nice.

Good luck!

Sandal Ready

I'm doing a guest post over at Bloom today on a how to do a french pedicure.

You will be surprised at how easy it is!

And check back later today for something else we are pretty excited about!

Washing your hair???

This morning I had two different women come over for hair cuts. It was the first time I had cut either one of their hair so they both had the same question. Should I come with wet hair or will you wash it there? Now, most of the time, I love doing hair out of my house, but when it comes to washing hair, there's just no comfortable, easy way to wash someones hair out in your kitchen sink. In the summer, I have no problem saying it's probably best if you come with it wet, however, in the winter I don't really advise walking around with icicles hanging from your head. That leaves two choices, lean over my sink, or come with it clean but dry and I can spray it down with a water bottle.

One of the women opted to lean over my sink, the other one decided to go the icicle route. Both of them however made similar comments about how they didn't want to wash their hair, but it was just too hard to not take a shower.

In my world, those two things don't go together. At least not everyday.

So, here is the age old question...How often should I wash my hair?

You can google this very question and get a hundred different articles and blog posts giving you a hundred different answers. Some long and complicated, some short and simple.

Here is my un-complicated answer...When it's dirty!

Now the question of when it's dirty is a whole other discussion. It's different for everyone.

A lot of people wash their hair everyday because they say it gets too oily if they don't, but washing it everyday can actually increase the amount of oil your scalp produces. And by the way, that oil your scalp produces is actually a good thing. It coats and protects your hair and skin. The only thing bad about it is that it's socially unacceptable to walk around looking like your haven't showered in a month.

If your prone to oily hair and are nervous about switching to say an every other day washing routine, try just rinsing in the shower one day and washing it the next.

And if you have really dry hair like I do, you really will be doing yourself a favor by washing only twice a week. Allow those good protective oils to make their way down to the ends of your hair. You could also rinse one day if it makes you feel better, just make sure to condition the ends.

And if your one of those people who washes their hair every day just because you like that fresh clean smell, just buy a little bottle of body spray and give your hair a spritz or two when your done styling it.

And since were talking about hair, can I just tell you that I have severe hair envy! Every time I watch one of Amand Seyfried's movies, all I can seriously think about is how much I want her hair!

I know I shouldn't covet, but look at her hair. It's kind of hard not too. Ya, that had nothing to do with my post but I just had to throw that in there.

OK, just like with anything pertaining to hair, you are the best expert! You may have to experiment a little bit, but ultimately I think You'll come up with the best routine for your hair.

Bangs And Something Else...Maybe

About a year ago I did a guest post over at Bloom on how to cut your own bangs. While a good number of you have already read that post, there may be a few who never saw it so I'm going to direct you attention over Here for just a few minutes. I'm doing this for two reasons. 1) knowing how to properly cut your own bangs is a good skill to have, and 2) I'm actually stalling. See, I had something really fun to share today but my camera has been on the fritz for the last couple of weeks and now it's pretty much just fritzed, which makes me incredibly angry because it's not that old. So, I'm going to keep working on it, because sometimes after ten minutes of trying I can actually get it to take one picture, but my surprise may have to wait. I hope not for too long, so check back later.

*Update* The camera cannot be brought back to life (cry) Taking it to the Dr. this week for open motor sugery. Hopefully a fun surprise next week!

Fabulous Friday: Our Favorite Foundation

Even though I am a beauty professional, make up has never been something I profess to be an expert in. It's taken me years to figure out what techniques and colors work with my own face. So when friends have asked me to help them pick colors or give them tips, I'm always hesitant. No one product works for everyone, especially foundation... Or does it?

Jenn and I both have discovered Almay's smart shade makeup and I am in love. Not only does it adjust to match your skin,(No more guessing) it is also pretty light so you don't get that caked on look. One more bonus, I don't have to switch foundations in the summer when I get a little sun.

Fabulous Friday: Caring For Your Heels

I love Colorado. I've never really had any regrets about moving here and even though I'll always have a place in my heart for Oregon, Colorado is home now. But, it is so dry here! I never had issues with dry and cracked heels until I moved to Colorado.

Whether you live in a dry area or not though, you may still have problems with dry or calloused feet. Here you will find a simple and quick way to fix and prevent your heels from looking like this:

(Before)

I use this awesome tool called the Ped Egg which I purchased at Target but I've seen them at Bed Bath & Beyond as well. The foot file is from Sally's Beauty Supply but I've seen similar items at Wal Mart, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

**The Ped Egg would make a great gift or stocking stuffer! Can you tell I have Christmas on my mind!

The Ped Egg actually looks like a cheese grater. Don't be alarmed! It doesn't rip you apart and leaving you bleeding. I promise! It gently grates the dead and calloused skin off of your feet. If your feet are just a little rough you can skip over this. If your feet look anything like mine this is a step you really should take.




After you've got off as much dead skin as you can with the Ped Egg switch to the foot file. Beware! You will want to do this over a trash can otherwise you'll have dead skin all over your floor! There are usually two sides on the foot file. Start with the rougher side first. Run the file back and forth over your heel until it feels smooth. Now switch to the fine side and repeat filing. This will just make your heel that much smoother.


*I've heard of people using pumice stone to do the same job as the file. I've never had as much luck with it but if you can't find a foot file try the pumice stone.


Finish off by applying lotion generously to your feet. If you are doing this at night (the ideal time) cover your feet with socks after applying the lotion. When you wake up your feet will thank you!

(After)

If you want to keep your feet smooth and ready-to-be-massaged at any time keep this routine up on a regular basis (2-3 times a week at least).

Maybe next week we can get Sally to give us a tutorial on the perfect pedicure to complete our beautiful feet!

Fabulous Friday: The trick to sunless tanner

If the title of this post makes you want to run away screaming, than chances are you had a bad experience with sunless tanner. For me, it was the first time I ever used sunless tanner. I was in high school and a friend and I decided to try it, only we didn't read all the directions carefully and I ended up with orange hands for a whole week.

Most likely I never would had tried it again after that, but a couple years after Josh and I got married we lived in a little apartment in Wyoming and I became friends with the girl who lived directly above us. She was, in my opinion, an expert on everything relating to beauty. Sometimes, when I was feeling completely overwhelmed in my role as a mom, she would come down and just hang out with me and sometimes she would come fix my hair and teach me new ways to style it. It was from her that I learned everything I know about sunless tanner. And ever since that time it has been one of my beauty staples.

I use it the most during the winter, but for women with extremely fair skin, it can be great year round.

Before I tell you how to apply it, I guess we better quickly run over the different types. I've used several different brands, but the one I'm currently using is this one from L'oreal. I like it because it has instant bronzer in it and on Sunday mornings when I put on a skirt and realize my legs are pasty white, I can rub it on quickly and have some instant color.


There are types without the instant bronzer, which just means it takes a couple hours to see any color. And then there are some that are combined with lotion that take several days of repeated use for the full color to develope. The lotion kind is really popular because it replicates how a real tan would develope gradually over several days of sun exposure. The reason I don't buy that kind, is because if I do want a more subtle look, I can mix a little tanner with a little bit of lotion and it's the same thing.


OK, on to the how to. First, you'll want to exfoliate your skin to ensure even coverage. You can buy expensive exfoliating products or simply make your own. I make my own because it is much cheaper. I posted this recipe last year for a peppermint scrub, but you can also add a few drops of orange oil and a few drops of lemon oil (lemon extract works too) and it's a citrus scrub. Make sure your skin is completely dry and then your ready to start.

If your applying it to your legs, simply rub it all over your legs like you would lotion, just avoid rubbing it on your knees and ankles until most of the tanner has been rubbed in. Continue to smooth it in until dry. Then, take a dry cloth and gently buff your knees and around your ankles. Otherwise they will be darker than the rest of your legs. Let it dry for about five minutes before putting on any clothes

When it comes to your face, if your still a little timid about this whole thing, it might be wise to start out with a diluted solution (lotion/tanner mix) just to ease into it. Which ever you decide to use, simply smooth it over your face and neck (you don't want a tan face and white neck) and rub, rub, rub, it in. Don't forget the back of your neck too. Then, blend it down onto your chest.

Once its all rubbed in take a clean dry cloth and run through your eyebrows.



Next, wipe through your hairline.

I don't usually apply it to my arms, just because I don't care if they have that sun kissed glow, but if you do, just make sure and wipe your elbows with your dry cloth.

OK, just to reassure you that you won't be looking like an oompa loompa. Here is my face before.

And now with a little tan.

You would probably be safe to put on your makeup after about five minutes, but I usually wait about ten. Why, I don't know, I just do. And that's it. It really is easy. Just DON'T FORGET to wash your hands as soon as your done!

I'm hoping that if any of you have had a bad experience, you'll be brave enough to try it again. I am really curious though, did any one else have orange hands in high school?

Next day hair revival

I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it is to have a sister who is a hair dresser. (If you don't have someone in your life who does hair I suggest you go make friends with one! ) My sister Sally is guest posting for us today with a few tips to help keep your hair from being flat and drab on day #2 (if you are washing your hair everyday, stop!). For those of you, like me, who need all the help we can get in the hair department, I'll be asking her back for more hair tips on a regular basis.

If you had all the time and money in the world what would you do with it? Well, my list is pretty long, but definitely in my top ten would be to have my hair washed and styled by someone else every single day. For me, that would be the most relaxing way to start my day.

However, in the real world, I have neither the time or the money for that. I'm a busy Mom with way too many hobbies and sometimes five minutes is all I have for my hair. And yes, I am a hair stylist, so I may have an unfair advantage over some, but there are some simple tricks that every woman can do to make their hair look good every day, without resorting to the dreaded pony tail. And seriously, if your hair ends up in a pony tail more than once a week, we need to talk.

As a side note, if you happen to be one of those women who has long thick luxurious hair, and all you have to do is get out of bed and shake it and it looks fabulous than you might as well stop reading. In fact, I don't think we can be friends. For the rest of you, here is my trick to reviving flat limp hair on day two... or three.

1) lift up a few big sections of hair (4 or 5) and lightly mist with water at the roots (misting the top or ends of the hair will do nothing for you)


2.) If you have root lifter, and any women with fine hair should, give a couple squirts of that in a few spots as well.

3) Flip your hair upside down and blow dry while brushing hair from scalp to ends for about 30 seconds. If you have to dry it for more than a minute than you've misted to much.

4) Hit it with the cool button for another 10 - 15 seconds and then flip your head back up.

5) Run your fingers or a wide comb through it and your done!

Note. Sometimes I get that funny spot on the back of my crown from sleeping, so I just tease that section lightly and I'm done. And when I say tease lightly I do mean lightly. None of this Welcome to Texas stuff!

OK, I hope that helps. Throw out the pony tail holders and have great hair every day.

Thanks Sally!

Got Mom Hair?

Who can blame you? You are a mom after all.

Not sure? Well here's a few signs that you might have "mom hair".......

1. Your hairstyle hasn't changed since high school
2. You sport a perma-ponytail
3. You've got so much grow out your hair is half & half
4. Your layers have gone rogue
5. Your ponytail holders are bright, sparkly, and pink (borrowed from your daughter)

I am, unfortunately, guilty of 2, 3 and 4. I find it hard to make time each day to do my hair any other way than a ponytail. And even though my hairdresser is a close friend I still find it hard to make time to get it to see her for a cut and color. So here's a few tips on how to quickly, easily, and cheaply fix the "mom hair".


Keep your style simple: cuts with lots of layers and longer lengths are harder to control and take care of. Keep your hair no longer than a few inches below your shoulder for the easiest maintenance.

Wear your ponytail lower and looser to keep it more elegant looking.

If you don't have time to visit the hair salon on a regular basis keep your color as close to natural as possible and add a few face-framing highlights. They will be cheaper and easier to maintain.

Keep your layers longer and avoid razors and thinning. The grow out is a lot worse when you do these things. *For a quick fix of your layers part your hair on the opposite side you normally do. It will help hide the grow out until you can get to the salon.

Stop borrowing hairbands from your daughter! :)


If you make it to your hair dresser on a regular basis, good for you! When we look and feel good we are happy. And when you are happy your family will be happy.