Archive for fashion

Buy your own V-day gifts? Well, of course!

By admin · Comments (2)
Thursday, February 9th, 2012

No-one knows you better than yourself. You know what you like and sometimes you like something and then change your mind…often. Even Mama does it. While the hubs does a pretty good job at shopping and picking out things for Mama, it seems that sometimes it’s not what Mama wants. Which reminds Mama to tell you that one should always receive something that they WANT for a gift…not what they NEED. While in some instances it may be both…you do WANT it and NEED it but Mama is the first one to tell you that while a vacuum is something that Mama may NEED, it is not a WANT and therefore totally gift inappropriate. Listen up fellows…lingerie is neither a WANT or a NEED — Mama already has three kids and last V-day we ended up with a special delivery nine months later (do the math…).

So now we are left with only the things that one could WANT for Valentine’s Day…something special, something romantic and something that one would not buy herself. Mama has plenty of ideas for those special guys in your life so send them here and get their booties shopping…there’s still plenty of time! Plus did you know that the kids, the dog (or any pets in the house) and the hubs are supposed to give you a gift of love because you do take care of all of them…for Mama that equals three gifts so Mama will be getting one of each of these — don’t forget to remind him of that RULE too.

Mama L-O-V-E-S this necklace. It’s so simple and delicate and even more special when it comes from the special someone in your life. Sterling Silver Ever After Necklace, $49, at stelladot.com. Also comes in gold.

Mama’s current obsession is DryBar. They are all over the place now and for $35 you get your hair washed, a head massage (an extra $10 but so worth it!), and your hair blown-out in any style you choose. Mama has tried three of the styles so far and can’t wait to try the rest of them. After getting your hair blown you don’t even have to wash it for three days and it still looks good! Mama never even actually has a place to go but just likes to go and escape the kids and be pampered for 30 minutes. Plus…they serve you drinks! Yes, enjoy a mimosa or a SkinnyGirl Margarita while you get blown away…there’s always ice tea or fruit-infused water too! This better be here on V-day hubs…A Bouquet of Blowouts, starting at $125 and available in 3, 6 and 12 sets, at thedrybar.com.

Chocolates. Yes, every women loves chocolate. Give her the best of the best for V-day with the Exotic Truffle Heart Collection from Vosges, $45, at vosgeschocolates.com. So yummy in every way…take Mama’s word for it…Mama has eaten a whole box of them before!

Bring home flowers but forget the cheap vase and get one that is special and that she keep for years to come with or without fresh flowers. Because we all know the flowers die…quickly. Anemone Mezzo Vase, $18, at anthropologie.com. And they get bonus points if they add a gift card to your favorite store to shop with…SCORE!

I’m not sure about you but Mama is a tea freak! Love drinking it, collecting it and serving it. If you are too then you may want to add this one to your list of WANTS because V-day is a great excuse to stock up on favorites. Lots of ideas at teavana.com but Mama loves the Tea of the Month Club…the gift that keeps giving!

Then in the end all that Mama really wants is to spend time with loved ones enjoying a peaceful meal and talking about our day. HA…that’s a dream. So instead of going out, we’re picking up a Make Your Own Pizza Kit at Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza (throughout California, Nevada and Arizona) that includes dough (gluten-free and whole wheat too!), fresh mozzarella, pizza sauce, basil and pepperoni for $9. That’s a bargain and the best part is…Mama won’t even have to lift a finger…the kids can’t wait to make it with the hubs!

What’s on your Valentine’s wish list?

Comments (2)
Categories : fashion; shopping, gift ideas, Valentine's Day;, Valentine's Day; shopping
Tags : ,

February Must-Haves…

By admin · Comments (2)
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Oh dear Mama…where does the time go?! Everyone has moved on from Apres Ski clothes to hearts, flowers and love. Yes, it’s time to celebrate Valentine’s Day, have a four day weekend to celebrate our past U.S. President’s birthdays, do a little Mardi Gras, start the season of Lent and give up something that you L-O-V-E (if you do that sort of thing), and have one extra day in the month this year. It’s Leap Year so that means if you’re lucky enough to have your birthday on February 29th, you actually get to celebrate it this year. While February is such a short, short month…it seems that there is so much that actually happens. Not to mention the Superbowl but really, since the Chargers weren’t playing…Mama just let that one fly right on by.

As always in Mama’s life….there is so much to do and just never enough time. Mama is still working one-handed these days and while at times feels like a either a cow or an octopus, we’re still managing to remain sane. Mama is still trying to organize the house a little better and get rid of all this paper that seems to be piling up everywhere. Mama for some reason can never quite get a handle on going paperless…Mama loves her paper….it’s either that or dig through e-mail to find things and Mama can’t imagine having to do that either.

And have you not joined Pinterest yet?! Well, Mama has been on there for awhile now and while Mama adores it in every single way…it now seems that everything Mama makes or does is never a surprise anymore. This is the new quote, “Oh, I remembered you pinned that on Pinterest!” Isn’t that a party spoiler?!

Speaking of parties…Baby Boy has been three for a month now and no updates on the potty training front…at this point, Mama would pay someone to do it — a lot of money if there’s any takers out there! Oh and the party planning has begun for Lily-girl’s birthday for next month…one can never plan too much in advance, right?

So here we go again, into February and everything we must, must, must have to make our lives complete this month…what are you craving?

Oh and tomorrow is some FAB V-day ideas so come back…okay?!

Must-Have: Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?! They come in six vibrant colors and Mama wants one of each color…for what…who knows but it’s a must-have for sure! Zig Zag Strapping Baskets, $49 for set of 3, at landofnod.com.

Must-Do: Know someone that needs a haircut? Well send them on down to Quality Social in Downtown San Diego tomorrow night, Feb. 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to sign-up to be a part of the 4th Annual St. Baldrick’s Shave-a-thon to raise awareness and funds for children’s cancer research. What could be better than getting your head shaved for a good cause?! Details are below…are you brave enough to look like Sinead O’Conner?! For details check out the St. Baldrick’s Facebook Page…give them a like too while you’re at it!

Must-Have: Mama is always on the search for the perfect pair of shoes, the perfect hair tie and the perfect skin regimen. It’s true, something is always wrong. Now that we know that it matters what we put into our bodies and that organics are, of course, better for us. Same is true for what we PUT onto our skin as well! Why wouldn’t a holistic, organic approach to our skincare be better for us?! So now Mama is two weeks into a 30 day challenge to prove just that. Sponsored by Naturopathica, the holistic health skincare regimen has proved wonders for Mama’s winter dry skin making ruddiness something of the past and giving Mama a glow that only seemed to come during pregnancy (seriously). The 30-day regimen kit comes with everything you need to give your skin a wake-up call and Mama loves that it comes with a Plant Stem Cell Serum (which Mama is obsessed with!) and an Oat Facial Polish that gets rid of all the dry, flaky skin of winter. Mama has never looked better (well, maybe when Mama was 18 but we’ll never get those years back…). Mama challenges you to give it a try the challenge and see if it makes a difference in your look. Naturopathica, $65 for 30-day regimen kit.

Must-Wear: What must one wear in February…RED, of course! Not only is it the color of love and hearts but it’s also Heart Health Month so eat your oatmeal for breakfast while wearing this fabulous gem. Pleated Chiffon Crochet Blouse, $49, at piperlime.com.

Comments (2)
Categories : fashion;, fashion; shopping, must-haves, Shopping
Tags : , ,

The philosophy of shopping…

By admin · Comments (3)
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Take it from Mama…shopping is completely a mind game on the part of the retailers. Perhaps it’s just because Mama is fuming today over another shopping fiasco (believe it or not…it did not involve Mama’s children) but Mama has had enough of these mind games. It’s time to beat them at their own game. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Free Shipping Weekend…it’s all a gimmick to get YOU and MAMA to believe that you’re getting a great deal when in fact, you’re not. Let’s dissect the shopping world for a few minutes so you begin to understand how to beat them at their own game…

Group Deal Sites — aren’t you sick of them yet? Everyday there is a new one popping up promising you the BEST and most DIVERSE deals in your area. Yeah right…Mama has seen it all from deals on tattoos to things that Mama loved buying like the one from Shabby Apple (from which brings this fuming post by the way…!) to buy wonderful and beautiful clothing at a deep discount. Here’s the problem — the expiration dates and the hoops one must jump through to redeem them. Mama is one of those last minute deal users. For example, Mama tried to redeem her voucher for Shabby Apple on December 31, 2011. The expiration date was for December 31, 2011. YES…Mama made it! Oh…not so fast or so easy…coupon code says it’s already expired! GRRRRR!!!! This is not the first time this has happened when trying to redeem a voucher on the said expiration date (what can Mama say…Mama lives for deadlines!). So Mama e-mailed the deal company for which it was purchased from…their response, “Not our problem, contact the company!” Huh?! So Mama e-mails the company and doesn’t hear back for almost a week. They extended Mama’s coupon which ended  January 31, 2012. Mama tries to redeem it on the deadline that it was extended to and guess what…YOUR VOUCHER HAS EXPIRED appears on Mama’s screen! GRRRRRRRR….does one give up or keep trying in this instance. So companies, if you give a deadline — STICK TO IT!!! **Mama must say that after contacting Shabby Apple’s customer service again, they did honor Mama’s vouchers — great customer service on their part…not so much on the deal site’s end. Moral of the story — don’t stock up on the deals just because it’s a good deal — they will come again and only buy things you know you’ll use immediately!

One more left in stock — impulse buying! This is totally psychological. Flash sale sites are notorious for this method labeling things like only 4 in stock or putting a 15 minute time limit on your cart. It makes you just push the BUY button instead of taking the time to decide you don’t actually need it. Mama fell into this trap last week buying a diaper bag that was so not needed but there was only ONE left. Mama is trying so hard to be good and not fall into the limited quantity trap but it’s so hard! Moral of the story — don’t fall into the limited quantity trap. If you find it one place, you’ll find it at another too and maybe even at a better price!

The season before it’s needed — this is where Mama always gets into trouble. We’re still in the middle of winter and yet, spring clothing is upon us and so is Easter decor and it’s not even Valentine’s Day yet. So when you go to Target a week before Valentine’s Day, you know that there won’t be anything left. So you stock up and stock up and then…you can’t remember what you have already bought so you end up with so much stuff. It’s the story of Mama’s life! It’s no wonder we’re busting at the seams. That and well…Mama intends to make all these crafty-crafts with Lily-girl and then time always slips away from us. Moral of the story — take inventory before you shop…do you NEED IT? Do you WANT it? Usually it’s always WANT!

How else do they get you to spend? Well, it’s the sale thing…25 percent off, 40 percent off, FREE SHIPPING, Clearance…it’s everywhere all the time and you always think you’re getting a good deal…unless, they actually mark-up the price before the sale?! Ha, that’s how they get us, isn’t it!

So what did Mama buy anyways that sparked this lovely little rant…well, let’s see…

With Mama’s deal coupons…Bon Voyage Dress, $78, at

And this one too…because one wasn’t enough! El Mar Dress, $66, at

Then there was the diaper bag…OpenSky.com is great at getting you to impulse buy (only one left!), Yummy Mummy Diaper Bag from Pink Lining UK, marked down to $69 from $129! Although, they are having a pretty good sale :)

What have you bought lately that you just couldn’t resist because of the great price?

Comments (3)
Categories : deal, fashion; shopping, Rant; Web site, Uncategorized
Tags : , , ,

Do you hear that…?

By admin · Comments (0)
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Hey Mama…where you been?

Oh, you missed me?!

Why, yes…YES, I did! 

Well lucky for you…Mama is back because…do you hear that? It’s silence! Yes, Mama has exactly 30 minutes left of silence before the rat race starts again or until CeCe realizes that she’s nodded off to sleep and begs to picked up again. Mama won’t lie to you — whoever said having three kids was easy (or four, or five, or nineteen…!) was totally lying to you. LYING! Mama never has a free hand anymore. Someone always needs something. Except for right now and it’s like bliss. Mama can actually form a thought…actually, Mama is having trouble concentrating because it’s TOO quiet. Everyone needs a little noise in their life!

So what has Mama been up to? Oh, just that…you know, being a Mama! CeCe is now 10 weeks old and Mama wishes every minute that one could freeze time. This very well could be (almost, 100 percent positive about this) that this will be Mama’s last newborn baby to cuddle and coo at and it’s making Mama very, very sad. You know how much Mama adores babies — especially Mama’s very own — so as Mama packs away the newborn clothes (almost time for three months!) and goes up a size in diapers…the tears start to flow. How could this be? It’s exciting and troubling and then Mama thinks that she should stop and document everything…however, the other two missed out on that because Mama was too busy, too disorganized or too distracted. So this time Mama is determined to take every minute and drink it in — thus, why you haven’t heard from Mama as often as you like!

And what else? Hmmm…the volunteering, the baking, the party planning, the carpooling…it all takes up so much time these days. It’s rare to get to sit, sip a latte and write like one used to. Oh Mama has plenty of ideas to share with you…it’s just getting the time to write them — that’s the issue…always the issue of time. Mama needs a dictation machine that writes it while Mama shouts it over the screaming kids in the background. And the styles…so many styles for the coming spring to share with you that are so, so adorable. However now it’s all about…can Mama nurse in that? Won’t that get ruined by spit-up? Do I need a tank top under that?

One needs to think about these things in order to look and feel like a regular human being instead of a constant milk machine. Which is exactly what nursing Mamas are — according to the hubs. REALLY DUDE? So here’s Mama’s latest quest for “milk-friendly” styles that not only look and feel great when you wear them but it makes nursing a breeze (imagine that)! Oh and you can also wear these even if you’re not nursing…which most of you probably aren’t so style away!

First one must start with the basics. Mama wears a tank-top underneath EVERY single top these days — it’s just one of those things that you just have to do. It’s personal preference but the Bravado! brand is just great and even holds in us large-chested Mamas…plus you can buy it at Target, $49!

Once you have that covered…then you can really start shopping for the styles. This is right on trend for spring and is a perfect for nursing! It’s a cardigan and a circle scarf in one…Mama is officially in love. More the Merrier Top, $69.99, at modcloth.com.

Same with this one…you can never have too many stripes in your closet this season. Creative Thesis Defense Cardigan, $49.99, at modcloth.com.

This top will go with everything in your wardrobe and is easy to work. Ever Placid Top, $68, at anthropologie.com.

We need a little COLOR up in here! Try this one for a bit of spring milking…AE Floral Wrap Top, $29.99, at ae.com.

Need a dress? Try this coral-colored one for brunch, work or just because you don’t want to wear sweats again today! Tinley Road Long Sleeve Wrap Dress, $49, at piperlime.com.

Happy Feeding!

Comments (0)
Categories : fashion;, nursing, Shopping
Tags : , ,

Hungry, pretty British eyes…

By admin · Comments (1)
Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Thanks to L’Oreal for sponsoring my post about my favorite beauty looks, tips and tricks! Check out Makeup.com for beauty advice from the experts.

Why hello there friends…yesterday it was announced that the top selling album of the year was (to no-one’s surprise) ADELE. She’s so talented and she has a retro beauty that people are dying to copy. Mama is one of them. Her sultry, smokey eyed look is one that has Mama has long wanted to copy and now is a great time. WHY? Well it is the holiday season and even though Mama is still in the post-partum stage, it doesn’t mean you can’t put on a little eye make-up! While she’s not your typical rock star beauty, she is every bit the English Rose and her voice shines through to the highest and lowest octave while she showcases awesome eye make-up.

Another great reason…it’s always funny to hear the neighbor tell Mama, “You look different. Did you get a haircut?”

Which we all know is code for…“Did you actually brush and blowdry your hair this morning?! Oh and you have make-up on — what’s the special occasion?!”

There is no special occasion, just wanted to show off a few new make-up tricks…you know, once upon a time Mama was the go-to girl for getting make-up done by sorority friends, neighbors and girlfriends. Oh yes, Mama had quite the make-up collection and was a pro at doing it. Now those days are gone but it’s still fun to play beauty shop every once and awhile…so here we go to copying ADELE’s pretty, retro, sultry smokey eyed look.

Mama top tips and products:

  • Use a light foundation and matte powder all over including your eyes to create a base. Mama prefers to use L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Make-up, $9 — it makes the prefect base. Once blended, use a light translucent powder like Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder, $34.
  • Mama prefers to use a complete collection rather than individual shadows because it’s just easier (all about fast and easy) so Mama recommends the Too Faced Smokey Eye Shadow Collection, $36, for this project. However if you do want to go for individual shadows make sure you have a light, neutral base with hints of gold, a shimmery bronze or brown for highlights and a matte black or navy for lining. It sounds weird but once you combine and blend them — it looks HAUTE!
  • Apply your base shadow from eyelash to eyebrow — go over at least three times to get a nice complete base. Next blend your highlight shadow from the inside of your eye to mid-eye in the crease. BLEND really well. Take your liner and line your eye and blend up to create a thicker line than you normally would. Believe Mama…it looks heavenly! If you’re afraid of it being too dark, go easy at first as you can always darken but it’s harder to lighten!
  • Make sure your make-up brushes are clean — you should be washing and sanitizing them every six weeks in warm soapy water. Rinse well to get off all the soap. Pink eye is the worst!
  • Blush them apples! But not TOO much. Adele naturally has pink undertones so her blush lightly plays them up. Pick a light pink blush and do one or two sweeps and blend. You don’t want to look like Bozo the clown (hee, hee). Mama recommends Maison Lancome Powder Blush, $40 — it works on every skin tone because of the different colors it blends together.
  • The key to making the look work altogether is the lips. They are very neutral compared to the eyes. Use a lip color that blends with your skin tone and lips and then add  a gloss over if its a matte. Mama recommends using a lipglass that’s all in one like, MAC Lipglass in Varnessh, $14.50.
  • To complete the look…go for false eyelashes! Yes, just do it and never regret it. Try Make Up For Ever Eyelashes, $15, pick your color and your style and love the look.
  • Here’s how Mama’s eye turned out — remember, Mama is fair so yours could look much, much darker!
So who’s make-up look are you wanting to steal this holiday season? Perhaps Mama can tell you how to achieve it…and who knows…next time a vlog may be in order (don’t say you weren’t warned)!

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. Click here to learn more about Makeup.com or become a Facebook fan by clicking here.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Comments (1)
Categories : beauty;, girl style; fashion; shopping, sponsored
Tags : , ,
Next Page »

Connect…

         

About Me

My philosophy is simple: just because you're a mom doesn't mean you have to forgo style or your life. You can do it all with a little help from Mama. Mama makes life easier by doing all the shopping, crafting and ranting for you because really...what Mama has the time for that?! Mama will not lie, I can bake but if you're looking for cooking tips you might be better off going someplace else!

Grab My Button


Find Mama At…

parenting advice

Design ideas from Mama!

Archives

Categories

Blog Design By