Beauty Tip Thursday: Yay! It’s almost summer! Warm Weather Beauty Tips

May 30, 2012 · by · 3 Comments

Summer means sundresses, fun shoes, flip flops, days at the beach, water logged hands from the pool, boat rides, soft serve ice cream, potato salad and barbecues. It also means you will face some of your most annoying beauty snafus.

Previous week’s sock bun and dry shampoo posts were hits, so I thought I’d go over some other tips to keep you looking fresh in this warm, humid weather.

Shave lotion that helps prevent razor bumps!

Breaking a Sweat: Spray deodorant is your only defense. That’s right, aerosol deodorant like your Mom had in the 80′s. My Mom was the one who actually showed me this trick! Spray it inside shoes, flip flops or anywhere you’re known to sweat excessively. It’s magic.

Blistered Feet From Your Heels/New Shoes: Stretch out those strappy heels. Whenever I have shoes that cut into my feet, I will wear them around with thick athletic socks on to stretch them out. It’s great because it helps to break in your shoes as you stretch them a little bit. Again, magic.

Razor Burn: Steal your boyfriend’s after shave. We know we have to shave in some unmentionable spots for bathing suit season. To avoid razor burn, use an after shave soothing gel made for men. My husband uses a brand called Baxter that I enjoy.

Smooth Legs: I’ve learned that women’s razors have been holding out on us. Men’s razors usually have more blades and produce a closer shave. You just have to make sure your husband doesn’t mind if you borrow his razor (Mine does).

Facials on the Go-Go: I’ve noticed that as long as I have a little St. Ives Apricot scrub in the shower, I can keep my skin looking fresh and smooth especially with all the sweat and grime your face builds up on a hot summer day. Apricot refreshes, the sand smooths and you are able to exfoliate away those rough spots. I like to use it on my feet as well, as it really helps to clean and soften.

Protecting Your Skin: When you get out of the shower and do your normal moisturizing, mix your regular lotion with a 30 SPF plus sunscreen. That way no matter where you end up that day, you are protected and only need to reapply. This is helpful to Moms who spend a TON of time applying sunscreen to kids and often forget about themselves.

If you have any of your own Summer Beauty Tips, please comment below!

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Mommy Monday: The Un-shortcut- Celia’s Baptism Luau

May 29, 2012 · by · 1 Comment

Celia was baptized on Sunday. We were happy to celebrate such an occasion on a festive holiday weekend. But, I’ll be the first to admit: This party was anything but a shortcut. We transported a full Baptism celebration for 30-40 people to the state park near our house where we rented a pavilion and spent the beautiful day outside. I was reminded continually as we prepared for the bash that I have entered into a mixed marriage. Myself, a crafty shortcutter, has married a non-shortcutter. Michael is a great cook and goes to great lengths to make sure each dish is cooked just right and tastes divine. He made both homemade guacamole and two kinds of homemade salsa. His ability to layer flavor and bring ingenuity and originailty (I learned these terms for critiquing food on Top Chef) to each thing you taste.

So, Saturday, I reminded myself the following things about my husband over and over again:

a. He hates shortcuts.

and

b. Don’t criticize the lengths he goes to because surely you will be sorry. His “extras” always end up people’s favorites.

We have a small home so having parties is always interesting. We have hosted many different parties over our eight years together and each one seemed to impress upon me one thing: When Michael does a party, he does it big. Where I would like to pull snacks our of the fridge and open a couple bags of chips, he wants to have a made to order meal ready to go. When it comes to parties and that party frame of mind, we could not be more different.

We knew we wanted to have a big family gathering for Celia’s Baptism. We planned it for the Spring even though she is 9 months old in order to have the best weather and be able to have the party outside. We were lucky to have a wonderful day of sunshine and a cool breeze. Kids ran around playing lacrosse and other games they invented and we all got to eat, eat, eat.

Here’s the menu:

What I Made:

Fruit skewers- pineapple, grapes, strawberries and blueberries

Hawaiian baked beans

Hawaiian sweet potatoes

What Michael Made:

Homemade salsa

Homemade Guacamole

Steak and Shrimp Fajitas (with special rubs and marinades for each!)

What my Mom Made:

Mexican pinwheels

Jambalya

It was an epic feast. When Mike is the meal planner, we never have to worry about having good food to eat. Mike spent a good part of the day on Saturday slicing, dicing, marinading and trimming meat. It smelled awesome and was well worth it! The food was great!

We admit that the party had a little bit of an identity crisis (Luau decorations, Mexican entrees and Jambalya?) but no one seemed to notice.

Here are the (few) shortcuts we made:

  • We found ALL the decor at our local dollar store or at the dollar section of Target- everything was great, cheap and will double as awesome summer get together decor in the coming months. We decorated the tables with leis and Luau lawn ornaments.
  • We purchased a good amount of our paper products, drinks, meat and produce at our local Wholesale club. It’s really the only way to get the quantity you need for a big party.
  • Years ago, we invested in chafing pan holders for our engagement party and again used them for this event. This helps keep food hot for the entire party as people come and go. All you need is to buy some sternos to do this.
  • We transported drinks in big iced down tubs. This makes them easy to haul here and there and also makes it so you don’t have to flip open cooler after cooler in order to find just the right drink at the party:)
  • We rented a pavilion which makes the whole cleaning the house x2 thing a non-issue. There were bathrooms right on the premises and plenty of room for all the kids to play and have room to run. With kids ranging from 8 months to 11 years of age, there were a lot of little people to entertain.
  • As a keepsake of the day, I bought a nice frame at Target and had everyone at the party sign it. I plan to put Celia’s Baptism picture in there and hang it in her bedroom. This was a nice way to record all the people that were there for her that day.
  • (Shameful Shortcut): I messed up the cake royally and had to purchase a cake the day of. I found our local supermarket had great “gourmet cake” options. This was not the most thrifty choice, but it turned out to be a great choice for the taste! Everyone loved the cake.

Upon reflection on this mixed marriage, I have noted this: When we have a party, celebration, special occasion, milestone, accomplishment, etc, some of us can do them with a cheese, crackers and a liter of diet coke. Some people want something more extravagant, gallant, elaborate, beautiful. Where I have the “let’s keep it simple” approach, Michael has the “let’s show ‘em what we got” approach. And, in saying that, I have decided that nothing makes me happier in life than being married to Michael— his non-shortcutterness and all.

Celia still showing her post Baptism glow.

My little man had an awesome time with all of his cousins!
The bar!
Steaks hot on the grill!
My big cheat— the cake!
My sweet potatoes, with coasters I found at Target that I used as menu descriptors.
The steak and the shrimp!
The peppers, Hawaiian baked beans and refried beans– we had it all!
Michael’s amazing guacamole
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Foodie Friday: Thai Chicken Pizza

May 25, 2012 · by · 8 Comments

This is so easy, it is hurting me to write it all out!!!

1. Buy pizza dough from the grocery store. Roll it out nice and thin and oil it up. The bigger and the thinner it is, the crispier it will be!

2. Get some bottled satay sauce or peanut sauce in the Asian section of the market. Sometimes it needs a little more peanut butter to thicken it.

3. Buy a rotisserie chicken or even grill your own chicken and pull it apart yourself. Toss the chicken in a bowl with the sauce and place it on top of the pizza. Make sure you have enough sauce to keep it a little wet.

4. Use Jalapeno Jack Cheddar on top of the chicken for a little spice. Of course, you could add some crushed red pepper to the satay if you wanted to give it some bite.

5. Bake in a 400-450 degree oven or until crispy. It is so good, you won’t want to share!

I apologize for not having a picture here- but in order to combat my post baby belly, I have been eating low carb. This is a shortcut that I am not a fan of:)

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Time management – scheduling e-mails in Gmail

May 24, 2012 · by · Leave a Comment

Here’s a shortcut I haven’t even considered. I wil be posting about Iphone and Google shortcuts that are pretty time saving soon though!

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Beauty Tip Thursday: Dry Shampoo

May 23, 2012 · by · 9 Comments

Confession: I don’t like washing my hair. There’s the drying and the curling and the spraying and the styling (yeah right) Usually, even after I do all of this, I catch myself in the bathroom for an afternoon potty break and (gasp!), I look like a washed up street performer who hasn’t had a shower, not to mention a shampoo in days.

I was fed up with the bad hair day cycle and was starting to find that the little trick my friend Stephanie taught me years ago (baby powder on your roots) was only making me look like I was baking cakes all morning. It was time for an intervention. And quick. My shortcut, my savior, the beauty item that has changed my life forever is what I am posting about today: dry shampoo!

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Now, I first heard about dry shampoo sometime in February. I overheard the term at the salon I go to and only pictured something like dry milk. Shampoo flakes you mix with water to shampoo your hair. But, I was wrong. So. Terribly. Wrong.

Then women at work started talking about it. When you can get work friends to tell you the last day they washed their hair, then you know you’re really close. I was befuddled at the notion- a miracle spray? A way to avoid the whole wet-dry-style nightmare? It couldn’t be.

Mind you, I was sleep deprived and desperate. Celia was waking at 4:30 and somehow I still needed that extra time in the morning to snooze, chug coffee, make lunches, get dressed, etc rather than spend it on my hair. Even though I was skeptical, I had a small part of me deep down that wanted to believe that I could shortcut the crap out of my morning and still look good. Oh boy, was I right.

So think of your roll-out-of-bed second day hair- a little greasy, flat, dull, limp. Dry shampoo spray (my fave brands shown above) takes out the grease and adds life, shine, volume and softness. You don’t even see these things on a clean hair day. I embarrassingly noted to a fellow dry shampooer (not a name that will probably stick, huh?) that I actually dread the day I have to wash my hair. It’s just that good!

The Do

1. Part hair as you usually do.

2. Spray dry shampoo at roots and ends. Focus on the underneath parts that can get greasy and snarly.

3. Comb through as needed.

4. Style as usual.

I promise you will not only save time but you will also realize you actually like your hair again. Never will you run out with wet hair because you just didn’t have enough time. You will have shiny, bouncy hair that will turn heads in the next zip code, or even the next state.

Final Tip: Invest in shower caps. And buy a couple extra mirrors to admire your new do- you’re gonna rock it, girl!

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Mommy Monday: The Diaper Debacle

May 21, 2012 · by · 4 Comments

So, this post might not be relevant to all Moms, but it is something that I wish I had read before I had kids.

These are the things to know about diapers:

1. You need them.

2. They are expensive.

3. It is important that they work right.

4. The amount you will purchase for one child might be enough to wrap around the planet earth 3 times.

So, there are things to know to avoid spending a ton of money and/or pulling your hair out. I feel like I have kind of shopped around and tried different brands enough to be an expert (and if I haven’t, well, I’m calling myself an expert anyway).

The name brand diapers are all different– in size, in fit, in absorbency. But really, I look for price first. For a long time, I was a Luvs only buying Mom. The only time I vary from this is for newborn and size one diapers because I think it is good to have diapers that are sensitive to a nerborn’s skin– so I always went with Pampers Swaddlers. I tried the Huggies version of Swaddlers but they have a weird netting inside the diaper that just looked gross with poop in it. That’s a silly reason not to get a diaper, but it was enough for me. Huggies no more.

But Luvs have been my go to for size 2 diapers on. They are cheap and I have not had leaking issues. Right now, we are trying to finish out a box of size 2even though Celia is actually growing out of them and we have not even had one problem.

For Parker, we used Luvs until just recently. I noticed the Target store brand Up and Up were virtually the same price (a wee bit cheaper) for diapers. I thought since e were potty training, diapers that didn’t work would only encourage the peeing on the potty process. I was wrong! These diapers are great! A little bigger, more coverage (going up high on a boy is very important), and I have had very, very few leaks with them. There are sometimes coupons for Up and Up through Target circulars, so you can always get a buy.

The Soak Through

I have always had a problem with Parker for nighttime. I don’t know what it is, but this kid saves up all his fluids and lets them out during his sleep. He wets through his diaper almost nightly and even started doing it diring his nap at day care. He is a big drinker (not a big eater) so this could be part of it. But we still have tried many different things to combat the soak-through.

1. Double diaper. This sounds insane, but it’s so smart! rip out just the absorbent part of one diaper and put it inside another (Parker’s first caregiver, Jody showed me this). It works and keeps him dry and if the outside diaper doesn’t get wet, then you can just use it that morning!

2. Nighttime diapers. This is a racket. They are super absorbent (almost scarily so) but they are the most expensive things ever! You might as well just buy new sheets every time he wets through them! We bought one box and never did again.

3. Wearing one size up. This people always think is funny but it works, especially when they are younger. The bigger diapers tend to be able to hold more fluid, so if you use one size up just for nighttime, this can save your leaking woes.

Where to Buy

I like Target so I am loyal to them but I know you can get good buys at Wholesale stores and even sometimes at the grocery store with a coupon. Wal- Mart does not seem to have the selection of Luvs that I would like, but who knows. Buying on Amazon Mom or Target online is always a good idea– but be careful– make sure you always price per diaper and with Amazon Mom, make sure you always know what price you are being charged. There is something in the fine print that the price you sign on to the program with might not be the price you are charag4ed for future deliveries. I don’t like that. I like buying them myself and knowing how much I need to buy on a week to week basis. Diapers.com can be very fast for shipping but I never priced anything out to be a deal on their site. They are great for the new Mom who can’t spend 15 minutes in Target looking at unit prices of diapers and divining the cost by the diaper count on her Iphone. For us with older kids, we’ll do that work for you.

Wiping the Bum

I don’t know what it is but when it comes to wipes, I will not stray from my favorite brand. I am a Huggies Wipes girl through and through. They are quilted, absorbent and strong and come in the best scents– Shea Butter and Cucumber and Green Tea! You can also get them unscented, but you might regret that the next blowout your kid has all over their new outfit and blankets. Scented wipes go a long way for both Mommy and baby.

Okay, I think I have bored you enough with this diaper talk– it’s entertaining what we Moms find interesting. Don’t even get me going on potty training tactics…

;

;

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Sap Dog: 10 Sappy Shortcuts

May 20, 2012 · by · 1 Comment

In college, I received the award for the “sap dog.” I am known for how easily I tear up at the most everyday things. I cry at standing ovations, anyone’s proposal story and Johnson and Johnson soap commercials. If you looked up sap dog in the encyclopedia, there I would be: blubbering and blowing my nose.

Today I bring you sappy shortcuts. All the shortcut girl wisdom with just a little extra syrup mixed in.

  1. Instead of reading If you Give a Mouse a Cookie for the umpteenth time, I’ve taken to just telling random stories about a character my sister developed, Lollipop Dragon. Never boring and my son watches me with such wonder in his eyes.
  2. I use folding laundry by myself in the laundry room as a time to catch up on phone calls to my Mom, sister, and best friends. It’s a sanity saver for sure.
  3. The nights my husband plays poker, I plan something special for myself to enjoy on my own- Oreos, Real Housewives, a mud mask- just something that reminds me that it’s my time alone.
  4. I write poems for special occasions with Michael and like to read them aloud to him when we exchange cards.
  5. When I sigh in frustration as I pick up clothes all over the house, see a dirty footprint on a freshly mopped floor, or rinse shaving cream out of the sink, I think of all the wives taking care of their families while their husbands are in the Middle East. A friend whose husband was deployed once said, “all I wanted was his dirty laundry in the hamper when he was gone.”
  6. When I think about my Mom, I call her and tell her just that. I mean, who wants bad Mom karma? I want my kids to still call me on a whim when they are 32!
  7. I listen. To Parker’s laugh. The way he talks to himself. Celia’s baby-sighs. You won’t hear those noises forever, try to snapshot them with your ears.
  8. I always have blank cards at home and in my desk at work- for thank yous, get wells, hellos, goodbyes, etc You never have to run to the store for a card. Dollar store and dollar section at Target is great for these finds.
  9. I email my best friend since fifth grade nearly every day (more about this in a future post). We each exchange five things that make us happy that day. It’s connection, appreciation and reflection all in one. It’s helped us remain close too.
  10. I use my son’s video monitor to watch my husband read books to him and snuggle him before bed. I mean, is there anything better?

So now you’ve seen a touchy feely post from the SSG (Sappy Shortcut Girl). If you have one to add, please comment below!

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