I have some big changes coming up in 2011.   After 11 years in Maine we will likely move away, I’m not sure where yet but I’m hoping we get to back to Florida. 

As important as were you live is, the most important even in my life will be to return to the work force.  I am officially in the home stretch of my stay-at-home mom status.  After ten years I must admit I am ready to get out and do something out of the home.

 My youngest will start kindergarden (girl2006), my oldest (boy2001)  will be a fifth grader and girl 2004 will be in second grade.  Just thinking about going back to work has been working as a catalyst in my life for some time but never as much as in the recent weeks.

The biggest change will be the need for organization.  I have already donated more than half of our household items and will continue to streamline the house as much as possible.  It’s very hard of course and that especially true with all the beauty products and tools that usually scatter our room and bathroom! 

In 2011 I’ll be looking out for products for women that are on the go.  Multi-purpose, beauty and function will be my catch words throughout 2011!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network blogging program, for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

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Some of you may know that I’ve been a solo parent since February.  That was one thing when school was in session as I went from 3 to 2 to 1 kid(s) during different parts of the day.  When summer came I was totally unprepared for all day kids x 3 and pretty much wore myself out all summer!  

Maine got a LOT of rain which made life even more unbearable.  In between, the kids went to short 1/2 day camps which I had to shuttle them to and we went to the beach as often as possible to get sea glass and take in the view.

In August we took a great vacation with the kids and my mom to Disney World for the second time.  We stayed ten days at the All Star Sports Resort this time.  I would highly recommend this resort (or the Pop Century) and Disney World in general.  Everything was wonderful!   

Even my mom was impressed with what we got for the price —  That is not an easy thing to do trust me!  We went to all four parks, and enjoyed several sit down dinners with some characters!  We were lucky with the weather and there were very short lines everywhere but they were pretty stingy with the coveted switch rider passes!! (Switch rider passes are a bit like fast passes so those of us with little kids that can’t ride can “switch” to ride with a minimal wait.) 

• Cinderella’s Castle
• Chef Mickey’s
• Crystal Palace
• Sci-Fi
• Teppan Edo
• Tusker House
• 1900 Park Fair
• Morrocco @ Epcot
• ***somewhere else I can’t recall***

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Cross collectible alert! 

Jean Paul Gaultier and Evian have teamed up to create these unique bottles just in time for holiday gift giving. 

I’m a fan of all things Evian and most things Gaultier so this is a natural for me.

Want to learn more about Evian?

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As it’s a holiday, I would like to leave you with my current favorite youtube video.  I am the biggest Little House on the Prairie fan, if I could go to Fantasy Island, I would like the life of Ma aka Caroline Ingalls.  I’m all about baking pies, pumping water, using an outhouse, swaying in time with the beat of a fiddle, oh yeah did I forget to mention the leading man?! *starry eyes*

The role of Ma was played by Karen Grassle.  Grassle is described as the most underrated actress in history by the vid creator and I whole-heartedly agree!  Not exactly beauty fodder but I can’t think of a more beautiful actress to portray Mrs. America on the Fourth of July. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

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ILPA – I love pronouncing acronyms

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Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause slow or shallow breathing in infants. Phenoxyenthanol, a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications, can also depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants. Mothers and caregivers should seek immediate medical attention if their child shows signs and symptoms of a decrease in appetite, difficulty in awakening, limpness of extremities or a decrease in an infant’s strength of grip and a change in skin color.

I’m incredibly shocked by all this, how could something designed specifically for the nursing community cause such harm?  My experience in breastfeeding comes from nursing my three children. I breastfed exlusively until they were about 10 months old and then paired with mushed table foods until 18 months/2 years.  I can’t think of a more rewarding experience.  I continuously thought, why take a chance with plastic bottles and nipples, not to mention formula, when nature has given me all I need.  It takes an extraordinary amount of effort to breastfeed and I truly believe motherhood is a calling because of it. 

At the same time there is little real information out there, I was always skeptical so I steered clear from all of the creams I was sent and given at the hospital.  I mean seriously, my ancestors were not that pampered, I come from tough folk so I was determined to do things the hard way with no intervention and I want to testify that it is possible to overcome.

All three breastfeeding experiences were different, with boy2001 I was bursting with milk, I had to have a collage of towels under me as I slept because if I rolled on my belly I would wake up in a puddle of milk.  Many people use plastic liners which stops the seeping into your mattress but creates a puddle so I prefer about ten thick towels collage style.  Ridiculous but effective, I could just remove the soiled towel(s) the next morning.  I had much less milk with each babe but still more than enough to feed one at a time.

I was blessed to have all three babes at a local hospital that was very small and personal.  The nurse asked me while in labor if I was going to breast or bottle feed and she made a BIG notation that I wanted to breast feed. I had no idea what to expect when they kept coming in shaking me to make me feed. 

They were quite rough and demanding but explained to me that I had to get the milk going.  I was so worried because I didn’t have much milk at first but they assured me if I kept at it there would be no problem.  So, I kept on feeding him and worrying and it hurt and I couldn’t believe the pain and saw no results but he was providing evidence that he was being nourished so I kept on.  The cracks, the soreness and pressure, it was all too much.  The first two weeks was pure agony but I perservered and got through.

I took showers every few hours and rinsed off.  I wasn’t using deodorant much as I nursed on my side on the sofa and in bed and I didn’t want all that chemical smell up their noses… have you noticed how close your armpits are to your breasts??  you can imagine I needed frequent showers.  I also didn’t use anything on my breasts, no soap or cream.   I would bring the baby in with me usually after their belly buttons dried up, as none of my children tolerated being put down and I indulged them and myself and after a few weeks my nipples realized their reality and toughened up and it didn’t hurt anymore. 

The purpose of this post is to make myself available if you have any questions, feel free to comment or email me if you prefer.  I know this is a beauty blog, but I also like to cover health issues, and I feel strongly that this is a very important one for society.  The best thing I found while nursing is less is more.  If your nipples get sore, wash off, pat dry and expose to air and a little sunlight.  (this is also great to combat diaper rash)  Are you going to do this while running around, no, you need some time for yourself until your body can recuperate naturally and then you can re-immerse yourself in the social circuit that also means not answering your door if people drop by unannounced (my pet peeve #1). 

If you’re reading this and are with child or have a new baby congratulations and best wishes!! 

 To the men, this is your time to shine, it’s hard to keep a perfect house, cook dinners, run to the grocery store, snuggle with babes and smile while keeping all the fingernails cut and tracking outfits somewhere between the hamper, machines, diaper bag, dresser drawers or bitty body.  Setting a joyful tone in the home is a great gift my husband sometimes provides and it goes such a long way.  Help when you can, and appreciate the enormity of the undertaking, especially at first but even in the years to come it’s usually not as easy as it may seem.

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Photo Credit: Longchamp.com

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Click here to view the embedded video.

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MY Quirks are mundane run-0f-the-mill variety exciting and noteworthy, here we go…
1.  I don’t particular like to use plush bath towels.  Those big fluffy towels look beautiful in the linen closet but when it comes to drying off I really like the thin, rough and abrasive type of towel that are hard to find nowadays.  I also can’t stand using fabric softener with my towels, I like them stiff.  If I had time I would iron them!

2.  Something I’ve learned about myself is I *have to* maintain a certain amount of stuff, having my this’s there and my what’s where? is time consuming but I’m a pack rat!  I’m convinced that the cereal boxes I’ve kept flattenned under boy2001′s bed, used Japanese phone cards tucked under my panty organizer, AOL cd’s etc… will rise in value and I will become the most famous pack rat of all!

3.  I can’t stand predictability.  I know it’s comforting for children so I appease them with a routine but in all other aspects of my life I try to diversify as much as possible.  You may have noticed that on this blog, I will have 5 posts in one day and none the next.  I could easily post date the launch of the post to have readers on a rationed feeding schedule.  That would be the orderly and sensible thing to do but that is NOT who I am so it’s not going to happen.  I will continue to post as the inspiration and impulse strikes and hit “Publish” without regret.

4.  I love to birdwatch.  I have 10 bird feeders around my front windows and I secretly despise the birds when they snub me and go to my neighbors.  Right now my Goldfinches are MIA and the Hummingbirds have not shown up yet this year- it’s still early but… I love when they hang out here and let me watch them through the window all day.  All of my family members have been trained to look for birds before attempting to enter the front door.  If there are birds they have to wait or go through the back entrance!

5.    I can only cut my hair if a famous celebrity is involved.  When I was a child I got a Mary Lou Retton hair cut and in the early 90′s I got a Demi Moore “Ghost” hair cut.  Scraggly longer hair since then.

6.  Not only do I love to use makeup, I love to look at it.  I have some posts coming up with the cutest little makeup packaging.  It’s just so pretty I can’t stand it.’

There are my answers, now I’d like to tag 6 other fab bloggers:

Raging Rouge

NY Spender

Spoiled Pretty

Hooked On Beauty

MakeUp Bag

The MakeUP Divas

Here are the RULES

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules in your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 random bloggers by linking them at the end of your post.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.
6. Once your post is up, notify the person who tagged you.–we share six quirkie things about us and then tag 6 other bloggers.

If you get a chance leave your links to your exact posts here for continuity’s sake.  Have a great day everyone!!

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Earth Day has now officially passed so it’s time for a mayday for all of us who can’t seem to get to sleep!  My husband and I are guilty, he’s doing his last two classes to get his Master’s degree all night every night and I’m watching crazy stuff on youtube like Rihanna in Dallas till the wee hours of the morning.  I LOVE the original scene so when I saw this dub with the Rihanna song it kills me.

And YES, I am the BIGGEST Dallas fan there ever was, or ever will be, thanks for asking.  One of the reasons is because Dallas is so much like a telenovela.  Dallas just needed a creepy clown or strange pet involved in the show.  Another reason is Bobby Ewing dates a latina, I’m sure of it, I just can’t find the evidence needed to make such a claim!  I remember thinking Patrick Duffy would someday bump into me in NYC and sweep me away because I was just his type… *sigh*  I am very happy to hear that he’s happilly married and has been for a loooong time but it still stings.  And I should also mention that I love Victoria Principal, one of these days I will buy your Principal Secret skincare if it’s still for sale – I swear it!

No wonder I can’t get any sleep thinking about all this and here we are almost in May which is Better Sleep Month!  yawn, sounds like it could put you right to sleep?  great, because that’s what the aim of this post is, keep reading here are some sleep tips.  Dr. Michael Breus, PhD is a sleep expert and author of Beauty Sleep:  Look Younger, Lose Weight and Feel Great Through Better Sleep…

*Take a hot bath: “Taking a hot bath before bed heats up our body’s core, then cools it down just like the process when we sleep,” says Dr. Breus. “Therefore a hot bath can trigger a biological function that our bodies associate with being at rest.” 
*Get a relaxing massage: “A relaxing massage is a great way to de-stress and help us get ready for bed,” says Dr. Breus. “Ask your partner to give you a massage using Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Sleep Body Lotion to help relax or apply the formula yourself very slowly, taking deep breaths along the way.”
*Be aware of surroundings: “Our surroundings play a huge role in the quality of our sleep,” says Dr. Breus. “By using the Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Sleep Pillow Mist on your bedding you are creating a calm environment that is conducive to sleep.”

If you enjoyed these tips, let me know and enjoy every second of May Sleep Better Month!  That Sleep Pillow Mist is on my must get list in the very near future on sale at www.bathandbodyworks.com and your local stores! 

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