Summer is right around the corner so that means its time to exfoliate and self-tan that skin! The products I love to use to prep the skin for the summer (and really to use the whole year) are these must have’s from Josie Maran. They have an amazing sugar balm body scrub that will help prep the skin for your self tanner. It smells great and works. The Argan Tan Extending Body Lotion is great to keep your self tan looking good and to make it last a bit longer. It also smells great and is extra moisturizing. As you know the best way to make your self tan last is to keep up with the moisturizer. For your beach bag don’t forget to pack the Bear Naked Wipes and the Argan Color Stick. This color stick can be used on lips and cheeks – anywhere you want a hint of color. It is organic, chemical free and it conditions the skin as well as provides anti-oxident protection. Check it out!
Disclosure:Â QVC so nicely sent me the above products to review. All opinions are my own!
Get your skin beach ready with great products from @josie_maran available at @QVC
I really believe not all beauty products are created equal. In my quest to find products that 1. work 2. smell good and 3. are more natural, well that has been hard.
That is why I love the Yes line. Yes to carrots is a natural line of fine beauty products for hair, body and face that really works. There are five, fun product lines: cucumber, grapefruit, blueberries, tomatoes and carrots.
I tested out (along with my girls) the following:
Yes to cucumbers eye make-up remover pads and facial towelettes – Yes, we all want to jump on the bandwagon of these easy to use pre-moistened towelettes but have you noticed that some really sting and don’t do the job? That is why I love the yes to cucumbers as they are soothing, smell great and the girls love them too. (a little too much as they used all 30 wipes in about three days!) These make a nice addition to the middle school locker for a quick refresher during the day. The eye make-up remover pads are very effective at removing tough make-up and as my 7th grader says – “they work so good” – especially for theater make-up removal. I also like how you do not have to rinse!
Yes to blueberries hydrating body wash – I do like how the lines are free of petroleum, SLS and paraben free! The blueberry ultra hydrating body wash is great for dry skin, has a blueberry, lavender scent and did you know blueberries are a natural anti-oxidant? This also has shea butter in it – so yummy for your body. One of the nicest body washes I have used in a while.
Yes to grapefruit daily facial scrub – My 12 year old wanted a facial scrub/cleaner with little beads in it, but all that we saw in the store had yucky ingredients and some of the more natural lines she turned her nose up at them- “they all smell bad” she said! I handed her the yes to grapefruit daily facial scrub (did not tell her it was paraben-free and 99% natural) and she said, “this smells awesome and it has the little beads in it that I wanted” This is rich in vitamin C and it has lemon balm in it to calm and repair damaged skin.
I really believe not all beauty products are created equal. In my quest to find products that 1. work 2. smell good and 3. are more natural, well that has been hard.
That is why I love the Yes line. Yes to carrots is a natural line of fine beauty products for hair, body and face that really works. There are five, fun product lines: cucumber, grapefruit, blueberries, tomatoes and carrots.
I tested out (along with my girls) the following:
Yes to cucumbers eye make-up remover pads and facial towelettes – Yes, we all want to jump on the bandwagon of these easy to use pre-moistened towelettes but have you noticed that some really sting and don’t do the job? That is why I love the yes to cucumbers as they are soothing, smell great and the girls love them too. (a little too much as they used all 30 wipes in about three days!) These make a nice addition to the middle school locker for a quick refresher during the day. The eye make-up remover pads are very effective at removing tough make-up and as my 7th grader says – “they work so good” – especially for theater make-up removal. I also like how you do not have to rinse!
Yes to blueberries hydrating body wash – I do like how the lines are free of petroleum, SLS and paraben free! The blueberry ultra hydrating body wash is great for dry skin, has a blueberry, lavender scent and did you know blueberries are a natural anti-oxidant? This also has shea butter in it – so yummy for your body. One of the nicest body washes I have used in a while.
Yes to grapefruit daily facial scrub – My 12 year old wanted a facial scrub/cleaner with little beads in it, but all that we saw in the store had yucky ingredients and some of the more natural lines she turned her nose up at them- “they all smell bad” she said! I handed her the yes to grapefruit daily facial scrub (did not tell her it was paraben-free and 99% natural) and she said, “this smells awesome and it has the little beads in it that I wanted” This is rich in vitamin C and it has lemon balm in it to calm and repair damaged skin.
Mother’s Day is almost here! For those of you who need a reminder (men out there…) It’s this Sunday, May 11th. What do most moms want? Something thoughtful? Yes. flowers again? No. If you can’t figure out what sweet treat to get for mom this year, I know what I just received that was tasty and good for you – an arrangement from Edible Arrangements. They are so good that be warned…once you open it up it will be gone in a flash!Â
I wanted to open up the arrangement so I could take a photo so you all could see how it arrived very nicely presented. Oh, so I couldn’t resist taking just one chocolate covered strawberry. I wrapped it back up and put in the refrigerator in the garage and got back to work. Then I was thinking about how good that strawberry was….so I went back to the garage and unwrapped it again taking another…. this went on a few more times! Then my younger daughter arrived home and I wanted to show her the bouquet. Well, she just had to taste it too..(she loves fruit!)Â All in the family agreed it was yummy (but there was no way this would last until Sunday for the table decoration!) But we did enjoy it!Â
The Mother’s Day Bouquet™ featuring an assortment of chocolate-dipped strawberries, heart-shaped pineapple and other fresh fruit favorites is a great gift that makes everyone in the family smile. All of their arrangements are made fresh in local stores daily and available for same day delivery. You can order by calling 877 Do Fruit or visit their web site at edible arrangements.
Yummy Mother’s Day Bouquet™ from Edible Arrangements
Disclosure:Â Edible Arrangements sent me the bouquet to sample. Of course we ate it all…. All opinions are my own!
In this day of social media it’s hard not to look at Facebook with everyone’s photos in Florida and be a bit sad not to be enjoying a vacation in a warmer climate. But as long as you keep your kids busy and plan out something each day during school vacation week, it can be a good time! OK, not as good as a Disney vacation, but still we had a good week. Included in this week’s activities were multiple trips to Starbucks, eating out and sleepovers. See the rest of the list below and try not to be jealous. Lol!
Monday – Enjoyed the Patriot’s Day Parade in Lexington (along with popcorn, slushies, Orange Leaf, etc.) Treats and a parade makes a good day!
Tuesday – ME – numerous conference calls and then a late afternoon trip to the beach! Beach pizza, arcade, prizes, DQ! At least it was sunny there.
Wednesday – Kids got to meet the New England Patriot Players and did a session with the Patriots Cheerleaders. Yes, that is my 9 year old at the top of the pyramid.
Thursday – Kids had friends over; tried to hold a lemonade stand but the money, cups and stand blew away; kids had friends sleepover. Friends can help with keeping kids from fighting with each other and it allows you time to work a bit!
Friday – lemonade stand makes $3.00 but a trip to visit to Tasty Burger in Boston is the ultimate reward. Mom on the other hand gets no burger and has to work 🙁
Weekend is filled with soccer and lacrosse games and it’s back to school!
Easter is almost here! Each year I try to come up with fun, less sugary items to put in the Easter baskets, but it’s not easy. One chocolate bunny and some fun items and of course the kids remember the little stuffed animals so I had to add them in there too. I try not to go overboard with the sweets because as we all know (or should) the holiday isn’t about the gifts right? How did I do (see photo) cute right? What fun items do you include in your Easter baskets for the kids?
Today is the first day of Spring! But in New England it is still cold. But that did not stop me from starting to think about spring cleaning and spring storage. Every year at this time I start to think about changing over the kids bedroom – lighter sheets and comforters, etc. (ok, maybe we will wait a week or two to change over the flannels). Bringing out some fun spring decor and adding in functional storage solutions can change the whole look of the room.  Do you ever notice how sometimes the children’s bedrooms can easily become messy?  I like storage options that are small, fit in with the decor and provide a nice balance. I always like the options at Wayfair which has great storage items for the home (and everything else you could possibly need for your home). Strategically placed at the end of a bed like in the photo below, this storage bench from Wayfair is a nice solution to keep clutter at bay. It comes with the bins so all the little items your kids gather has a place. Another option that looks great is the tufted storage ottoman (and it also provides a seating area). Check out Wayfair.com for more home decor options and a great resource for spring storage and spring home makeover ideas!
Today is the first day of Spring! But in New England it is still cold. But that did not stop me from starting to think about spring cleaning and spring storage. Every year at this time I start to think about changing over the kids bedroom – lighter sheets and comforters, etc. (ok, maybe we will wait a week or two to change over the flannels). Bringing out some fun spring decor and adding in functional storage solutions can change the whole look of the room.  Do you ever notice how sometimes the children’s bedrooms can easily become messy?  I like storage options that are small, fit in with the decor and provide a nice balance. I always like the options at Wayfair which has great storage items for the home (and everything else you could possibly need for your home). Strategically placed at the end of a bed like in the photo below, this storage bench from Wayfair is a nice solution to keep clutter at bay. It comes with the bins so all the little items your kids gather has a place. Another option that looks great is the tufted storage ottoman (and it also provides a seating area). Check out Wayfair.com for more home decor options and a great resource for spring storage and spring home makeover ideas!
I was very excited to be invited to see the new Spring 2014 Color Collection from Clarins as well as test out some of their new products. Clarins beauty expert Christopher Truffa explained the products, tips and techniques for beautiful skin. Clairins has unique beauty products that offer great skin benefits. Here are my favorites!
Golden Glow Booster – This is the newest in self-tanning innovation. You add three drops to any moisturizer and your skin will transform beautifully into a nice sun-kissed glow. No self-tanner smell, an even glow and a more natural looking, healthy tan – for the face only. Haven’t we been asking for this for years??
Double Serum – This anti-aging treatment is used before your moisturizer and has 20 plant extract to stimulate your skin’s vital functions and prolong it’s youthful appearance. Yes! Have been asking for this too! Your skin will feel so smooth after just using this for a day.
Opalescence collection – As I get older I noticed my skin is dryer and less radiant. I have tried a few BB, CC creams but didn’t like the texture or the look. The Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base is not a foundation but a light cover that adds radiance, illuminates skin and corrects imperfections while it soothes and hydrates. The cream blush, face and blush powder and mineral palette are so beautiful and easy to use. I am feeling very good today about my skin after testing out all these great products!
New products from Clarins
Disclosure: We received a wonderful gift bag with all the products to test out. All opinions in this blog post are my own.
