new do..

So. . This happened over the weekend.   I had been wanting to get my hair cut forever and finally took the leap.  I am glad I went back short.  I feel like my self and am loving it.  

It is sorry and day may like me.  Will post more later.  Have a good one guys. 

my amazing skincare and hair discovery.

I don't know about your guys but I am constantly on the search for two things. 1. is soothing that helps with my exzema on my scalp. 2 is something with amazing skin benefits that will help my fine lines, treat my exzema,  and help with the sun spots I have got from age. This is a big deal to me because now that I'm in my thirties I'm really trying to pay attention to my skin care routine that is good for anti-aging but I have mostly been at a loss because everything is so expensive you hate to try and not have it work I have been so happy with my hair and skin lately that I had to share the products and results with you. My skin has been in such good shape that most days I don't even wear foundation! I throw a bit of concealer under my eyes and call it a day!  To demonstrate just how much I am loving my skin right now I took them bare faced pictures for you. 

Normally this time of year I have a big problem with exzema on my face and scalp, but this year I have found some product is cleared that up entirely for me and I had to share I took a picture of my face up close so that you can see there is no eczema patches no dry patches on my bare face and my dark spots that I have under my eyes on the edges have started to fade drastically! The only problem I have with my skin in this picture is some hyper pigmentation on my chin from a pimple. I have also seen a huge difference in my fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes.  Take note of the fact that there is no red patches around my hairline and my scalp insanely flaky or red and raw. 

okay so let's get into it. I have two main products that I think are responsible. For myskin it is my marula oil from acure organics. I am in love with the stuff.  I put it underneath my eyes in the upside down triangle just like I would do my concealer at morning and at night and then I take whatever is left over and ran it through the ends of my hair. I think this is a huge reason that my dark spots are fading and I have no eczema right now. I have also noticed a big difference in the fine lines around my eyes. I've been doing this for over a month because I wanted to give it a good try and see the difference before I reviewed it. This is working wonders for my skin and I use less than half a pump twice a day. On top of that its only $15 for a bottle so that will last you forever at a crazy reasonable price.  Here are a few more great things you should know about it :it's cruelty free, paraben free, gluten free and its wild crafted and is cold pressed also it provides economic empowerment to South African women!!! Can you say amazing.  

As for my scalp and hair I have been using acure organics shampoo and conditioner in pure mint and echincea stem cell.  This has been great for my scalp.  It is full of amazing natural ingredients but still lathers amazingly and leaves your hair clean soft and shiny but not feeling striped. The mint is cooling and soothing. 

My hair is wet and snarly in these pics so it's hard to tell.  But it is shiny and smooth.  My skin has its glow back.  Bye bye dull red exzema ridden skin hello glowing even smooth skin. 

 I am so glad I found these products I can't even tell you.  I hope you give them a try and am as satisfied as I am.  I did some research and found a coupon code for you to get 15% off your first purchase use TRYACURE. (they didn't give this to me it isn't a referral code I get nothing from your purchase) 

Have a good one guys. 

how to tell if you got a bad haircut!

I have done hair since monkey butt was just little so she really has only had her hair cut by anyone but me only once!  About a week ago she asked to have her hair cut in a salon.  She had gone with her grandma for her haircut and thought it looked fun and wanted to try.  I totally get it and had been debating having there school haircuts in a salon because I feel like they might be missing out on the experience.  So we had a minute I called the salon I normally go to and my stylist was full but someone I didn't know had a opening and I have seen the other stylists work and I felt like it would be fine...then this happened.

eek Not what she asked for.  First off shelby brought a picture we explained what she would like.  The stylist didn't listen at all.  She didn't talk to shelby the entire cut and with the wash she was done in less then 15 minutes!!!  We got home and we were so disappointed.  I felt like this experience was ruined for her.  I was soo bummed.  So I recut her hair but first I took some pics and figured I would make this a learning experience for you guys.   

So here are some things to look for if you think you got a bad haircut.

1. First there shouldn't be big gouges out of your hair like this..

It should be a smooth transition like this..

2.  If you take a comb and grab a vertical or horizontal section it should be in some sort of a line weither curved or straight diagonal....not zipzag not like this...(ps not naughty looking at this ..his caption should be "oh no she didn't")

I like chevron but not in a haircut lol.  So this was shelbys before. 

 The picture she brought along was this..

Not so much.  Wasn't anything like what she wanted.  So I went in straightened out the bottom recut the layers and angled it around her face and touched up her swoop bang and this is the end result.

 about as close as a 11 year old should be to that cut :)  She is much happier.  

Here is a before and after with out her hair flipped.

 This is the unflipped cut.

 See the even bottom and smooth layers.  I also cut her layers quiet a bit because that is what the cut she asked for had. 

In ending I thought I would leave you with some tips on how to ensure you will have the best odds of getting the cut you want.  

1. Bring a picture of the cut or color you want to the stylist with you.
2. If you can find a cut with differnt angles the sides and back that is the best
3. If you are talking color make sure you point out which tone you like in the picture.  There is always lots of differnt colors and tones make sure you guys are clear on exactly what part you are talking.
4. pay attention when you stylist is styling your hair and ask for explanations as you go if they aren't explaining because you will want to recreate it.
5. If there is a certain product you need to style the do (pomaid or wax or what not) make sure you have something to do it because you will want to achieve the look.  I am not saying you have to buy the exact thing that they use.  If it is in your budget that is great and it is best bet but if not go to the drug store and find something the same texture as what they used.
6. Have realistic exceptions if you want a cut but that person has curly hair and you have straight or if you are low maintenance and that is a style that will need curled or straightened every day it probably won't work for you. If you have black hair and want blond expect to have fried hair or some brassiness.  You aren't going to look like a natural blond and have perfect hair. Or the exact color you showed but they will do their best to get you close to what you want.  If your not sure ask your stylist.  If they are worth their salt they can tell you. 

Those are my tips for helping you and your stylist the best color or cut you can.  I hope it was helpful. 

Have a great day guys.

new hair cut

I finally made a appointment to cut my hair.  I have been sick of it for a while now.  Even though my thyroid is off and I am losing hair like crazy it is still soo long and thick it was giving me headaches and I had to keep it up all the time so max didn't grab it.  So I made the plung.  I thought I would share some of my old hair styles for the new comers to show how far my hair has come in the last 4 years.  I will show some of my favorite styles.

This was august  2010 (less then a week after my breast reduction) This was my stock cut for a while there It was easy and cute and I was going to the gym all the time so that was important.

 This was new years eve that same year

This was march 2011 my thirtieth birthday.

Now these were this summer when I was still pregnant with max.

 This is when I could just scruch it and use some beach spray.

 Some head band curls.  I had trimmed and grown it out for a few years and it was actually a bit longer then this yesterday when I went in.

Here is the end product.  I debated going back to my short style but I went for a in between because I wanted to be able to pull it back still.  I love short hair but my hair is soo stick straight that if I don't style it every day I just look awful. 

Since then I touched up my front angle and thinned it a smidgen more because you can't see it but the back is awful and super crazy thick.  I might go short this spring who knows but for now I need anything that can give this minne-snow-dah girl some more warmth considering it is a record cold this year.  (many many below 0 temps in my area)  Have a good duy guys and to all my northerners stay warm.

new haircut/maternity ootd

Okay So I got my haircut a few days ago and I didn't post until today because I didn't style it at all until today.  I went with TONS of thinning, and layers and trimming it.  I feel much better. 

 I went with a swoop bang (I always redo my front angle and bang myself when I get home because no one quiet gets it how I want ) I am a pro don't cut your own hair people.

 It looks a bit shorter then it really is since it is curled.

 Here is the view from the back.

For make up I used Eyes: w&w limited edition nude awakenings palette, milani waterproof liquid eye pen, almay get up and grow waterproof mascara, maybelline 24 hour foundation, nyc sunny bronzer, nyx Bourgeois pig blush, and remmil airy fairy lipstick.

As for maternity outfit of the day I am wearing a maxi dress from walmart, and a bubble necklace from shop lately (I have two more coming and would have liked to wear one of them but they don't come until tomorrow) 

Here is another lovely view lol.

 Well Monkey butt has her opening day of disneys beauty and the beast today so she wanted her hair and most of her makeup done early so that it wasn't such a rush today.  She looks super cute today in her cute summer outfit.  Those shorts I did with the eyelet lace trim last year are still a huge fav. around this house. :) Here is the tutorial on how to make them :)

 Well I am off to find some lunch for my ladies and get our day moving :)  Have a good day guys.

my fav. beauty gurus.

It is no secret that I am obsessed with youtube/watching makeup tutorials/get ready with me videos/ get unready with me videos/favorite ect.  I thought it would be fun to share with you guys some of my favorite gurus that I just can't get enough of.  This is in no certain order btw.

I totally love missglamorazzi/aka ingrid.  She is cute as a button.  I went through a whole funk when her and her boyfriend broke up recently (so sad) but she is and will always be a fav guru of mine.

How to be fancy.  She is very different but very cool and cute and soo much fun.

Leighannsays  I love Leigh ann.  She is crazy and lots of fun.  She is sarcastic and a bit crazy but not in a bad way.  Love her!

Itsjudytime.  Judy is my girl!  She is from the seattle area and she does some of the best first impressions and tutorials out there she is cute but to the point so her videos don't waste allot of time talking about nothing lol.

she is amazing totally <3 her.="" p="">

  

Littleladylohrey She is my new FAV.  I love her I don't know why she just rocks my world.  I find myself checking for her videos lol I was actually bummed she didn't do a Friday favorites this week but she is moving so I get that. ;)  She went to hair school like me, and she is my neighbor in WI.  So she also froze her butt off this winter lol. She inspired me to start shopping on shoplatley.com and also I couldn't not buy the wet and wild limited edition palette off ebay once I watched this. She is great check her out 

makeupbytiffanyd.  Probably the first makeup guru I started following but still a fav. she is awesome.

Glamlifeguru Aka tati.  She is a goodie

Melmphs aka melissa.  She is very southern very crazy but I love her to peices.Me and my girls look forward to her friday favorites and a possible poo every week. When they hear her cheer and goofy singing they come running lol

and last but not least beautybroadcast with emily noele.  She is informative and funny and knows her stuff.  I always listen to her opinions.  She was a news broadcaster for years and it shows.  She is amazing.  Love her.  I rocked this look all the time this winter with my lorac pro palette.

.

Well I hope you guys enjoyed this.  I love these guys they find their way into my home and life almost everyday.   Check them out and get inspired.

Vote on my new hair cut

I have a hair cut coming up on Wednesday and I am stumped as to what to do.  I put together my top three choices and I am taking votes.  I have the super short pixie cut, the cute bob like pixie, or keep it long and get it thinned and shaped. 

Leave me a comment below and let me know what your opinion is.  I would really appreciate it. 

haircut time :)

 Today was a good day I would say the good things out weighed the bad.  The only bad thing was for the 4th day in a row I got woke up at 3:00 a.m. by fire monster and didn't get to go back to sleep until 8:00 and slept until 11:00 which is a total of 6 hours broken up.  Not enough on a good day for this mama to be and these days have not been good days she has been argumentative and nasty!! Today had some great points to make up for it.  For one the weather was soo much nicer we had a high of 42 which compared to below 0 just a few days ago feel like heaven!!    So I didn't have to squeeze my big bump into my peacoat putting even more strain on the one poor button I can still use lol.  I wore my cute little strapless dress I got after my breast reduction,  my motherhood leggins, and a cashmere sweater my sister had thrifted to make mittens out and I just couldn't bring myself to ruin (its way too cute right?)

 I also got to get my haircut.  It was great because I haven't had it cut in like 9 months.  You might not be able to tell much of a difference because I wore it curly but here is the before...

 and here is the after..

I decided to keep the length but get it trimmed up then have my layers brought up, get some shape back in it and my bangs trimmed.  :)   I am just happy to have got a little pampering and some warm weather.  I picked up unisom which is on my pregnancy approved list and I plan on getting some dang sleep tonight before I get to go celebrate my birthday with my family. :)  I suppose my family would like fed so I will write more over the weekend :)

girls next day no heat headband curls

I told you in yesterdays post that my girls had headbands in to curl their hair over night.  I thought I would show you how they turned out.  Here they are the next morning after being run through and hair sprayed.

They have a few spots that were a big kinked (esp. fire monster) so I just touched up those spots with a curling iron.

 but that was barely anything at all really. :)

 Monkey butts was more tame.  She just really needed it brushed through a bit like the girl in the first video I posted yesterday did.  (remember to form it around your hand that is what keeps it from firizzing)

 Here is the back of hers.

They slept great where as with curlers they complain and have a hard time and are cranky the next day.  The problem with just curling their hair with a curling iron is straight fine hair doesn't hold curl like that well and it falls out...then you have a whole new tantrum on your hands!  Well they are off to school and this mama is off to nap. ;)

No heat vintage curls (headband method

I have been slacking lately.  I haven't been posting much because I just haven't been accomplishing much.  You know how the first trimester goes.  Spending most of the day trying to stay awake and the other trying not to throw up.  If I am lucky I find enough energy to sweep, make the bed, and throw a load of laundry in.  Not super interesting blog material lol.

So I was digging in the recesses of my mind for a juicy tid bit to share with you guys.  Here is what I came up with how to do no heat vintage curls.  I love this method I do it all the time.  Any picture you have seen of me with curly hair for the last 9 months my hair has been curled this way.  The best part all it takes is a head band and 5 minutes.  Here is a picture of the finished product..

If you want more curl in the back have the head band a bit higher or you can touch it up with a curling iron back there.   I find it works well enough for me though with out touching up.  Both of my girl have these in the hair tonight.  It is way easier to sleep on then curlers.  And don't take as long to get in for their little attention spans.

Here are a few video tutorials that I used when I first started to do this method.  

This one is long but she shows the sort of head band I prefer to use and how I wear it when I will be keeping it in for a day . ( I bought a big pack at the dollar tree and they have lasted me ages they are tight enough to stay put and keep the curls well.)

and this one is shorter but I find these headbands don't work as well. I also thing it will be helpful to you guys to see how she touches them up at the end.

Here are some tips after months of doing this.

1. The bigger the sections you do the bigger the curl.  ( I usually take everything in front of the ear until a bit behind it for my first section and stay about that size) If you take too small of sections you will look like you got a bad perm.

2. Don't do it with super wet hair.  Let your hair get almost dry before you toss it up.

3. I bobbi pin it at night time to make sure little hairs aren't slipping out. 

4. if you will be wearing it more then one day , at night I just brush it out give it a quick spray with some water and put it back up and pin it.  

5. if you have a silk pillow case it works best.

6. before I pull up I mix together some styling gel (or mousse currently using mane boost or aveda confixer ) and barely a pump of organix coconut milk serum and smooth through my hair.  It makes it shiny and less likely to friz

7.  I wear it for a day up usually with a cute dress or something it makes a cute little up type do.  Just use a thinner headband that matches your hair color more and push it back into your hairline. (people always complement me when I wear it this way)

Hope you guys enjoy this.  Please let me know if you try it and how it works out.

Favorite skin/hair care of 2012

 Favorite facial cleanser:

Olay dual action cleanser pore scrub is great it doesn't dry me out but I don't get break outs either.

Another things I used allot this year is my Norwex make up remover towels.

Favorite Mask:

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque is a great favorite esp if I am having some break outs.  I do this about once a week.

Favorite Moisturizer:

I love this simple replenishing lotion.  It has helped my dry skin soooo much.  It doesn't burn and I have no dry patches.

Favorite Shampoo:

My favorite shampoo and I know I have sang its praises over and over is clear scalp and hair therapy.  It is amazing smells good is moisturizing and actually works.  I am basically flake free (that never happens)

 My fav dry shampoo is dove it smells good and works well.  You should never wash your hair every day. I wash mine about every 3rd day or so and dry shampoo is a life savor.

 Favorite Hair Products:

I love this hair spray. It smells wonderful has light hold but can be built to a higher hold.

 I love this coconut milk anti breakage serum.  Everyone is my house uses this.  It makes your hair smell great and leaves it stronger and shiny.  I mix it with my gel or mouse and put it in when my hair is wet.

That is all for my stand out skin care/ hair care this year.  Did you have any stand out favorites.