Change is Good and brings me Back!

Well, hello, there!

Exactly 3 days after my last Blog Post, life as I knew it started to change dramatically, and in a great way. I ventured into something "new". Actually, not exactly "new". I had known about it for a year, I had known and read about the industry in general for at least 7 years and the industry has been around for at least 60 years.

I say "NEW" because I made a DECISION. I made a decision to start changing our lives and that was new. The decision was STRONG and came accompanied by a beautiful action plan I started developing in my heart and mind. The changes I envisioned coming are going to make all the difference. Not even 2 months have passed and I can attest that yes, life has been better already.

Now you may be asking yourself: "Well, I didn't know they were unhappy! I didn't know life was not good for them!" No, not at all. That was not the case! Life was good. In my opinion, though, life is an evolution and (good) continuous change is a big part of it we all shall seek no matter what. New dreams, new ideas, an enhanced personal development...No matter how great life is, why should we ever stop trying to better our lives, right? Why should we close ourselves to "the world"?

This is what I decided for me and my family, and this is why I've been missing in action here on the Blogosphere. I was dedicating much of my time to our new venture, however, now, I feel ready and comfortable in coming back to report more from the "Hip & Kind Mom" here on my Blog!

One thing I've been learning in these past 6 weeks: An open mind is one of our biggest allies in life. Negativity can never win and as I've "preached" for so long: being kind, giving back, supporting and helping great causes and great friends, strangers and yourself transforms your life "magically". And I love this.

(both images found on Google)

Multitasking for your Skin!

Last year I bought my first BB Cream. The funny thing was the moment when the beauty consultant and I were wondering, together, what the BB stood for! ...and you'd would think she had to know that! Well, she was partially right. She told me "I think it means blemish balm!" When the other beauty consultant came back from her break she added the other half: "It also stands for beauty balm!" This was a Clinique inside Nordstrom, last Fall! BB stands for both blemish balm and beauty balm, and there are many brands that carry a BB cream. This type of cream is like a bit of magic for your face!

Time went by and here we are: Spring 2013 with Summer right around the corner. If your skin is like mine, it acts quite differently when it becomes hot and humid outside. I may have more breakouts and definitely need to watch out for the harmful sun rays. My skin gets oily in a matter of seconds, and sticky too. While during the colder days I need a different approach for my skin, the warmer time of the year requires a bit of a shift.

I still don't want to give up the BB Cream in the hot weather! I like it a lot and it's quite beneficial for the skin. It acts like a multitasker, covering up imprefections and evening out skin tone making it possible for you to skip foundation and concealer, moisturizing the skin (even oily skin needs moisture!), protecting from the sun, adding antioxidants to the skin and acting like a primer if you're applying make up after it. Talk about the possibility of saving space on your vanity and your travel beauty bag! This BB cream was first developed in Germany and when it hit Asia, South Koreans were the first ones to go crazy about it!

So, what I decided to do was test out 4 different BB creams: Clinique, Maybelline, L'Oreal and Revlon. These 4 were featured last month in a popular beauty magazine, and I decided to give it a try.

While all of them have a nice tint (you can choose light, medium or dark) I believe the "dark" option is not truly a darker tone like you'd see in a foundation that has so many different color variations. So, the tint color may actually disappoint a few people. I am not too fair but not too tanned either, and I tried the medium tones, which worked best for me. The Clinique BB cream was too light for me and made my skin look a bit ashy. The Revlon one and the Clinique one had a very similar, thicker texture and I can see it working well for Fall and Winter time, if you have "oily issues" like I do. Both have a broad spectrum sun protection (SPF 30) which is wonderful! The L'Oreal BB cream was a nice surprise: It's actually white with grey grains that, when applied in light circular and even motions to your skin turn beige like the skin. Very light texture, but once applied (and when you wash your hands) you feel the moisturizing action in it. The only thing I missed in the L'Oreal BB Cream was sun protection! My favorite of all these 4 was the Maybelline BB cream! It's got great sun protection (SPF 30), the texture is not too light and not too heavy and the coverage is perfect! The price factor is also very appealing (these 3 except for Clinique range between $8 and $10), as you can find it in all drugstores and it's not expensive if you compare it to Clinique and others such as Estee Lauder, Boscia, Too Faced, Stila, Smashbox and other BB creams in the higher end (all $30 and up).

My advice is this: If you're interested in using a BB cream, protecting and beautifying your skin, look at your budget and "invest" in 2 or 3. Don't just do the cream on the hand test at the store. You gotta wear it for a whole day to approve it or not! If you don't like it, find a friend who'd like to try the ones you didn't like and she can do the same, passing on the creams around your friendship circle. That's what I will do!

I'm so excited already because the fun won't stop here: Have you heard of the newer CC Creams?

Treat yourself well and be happy! Have a wonderful Sunday!

Dress for the SUN!

Spring is here and Summer is right around the corner!
I grew up in a city where this means it's time to buy a new bikini! I grew up in a city where bikinis are quite small and cover up just the necessary. Contrary to popular belief, going topless at Rio de Janeiro's famous Ipanema or Copacabana beaches is illegal! Actually, this is illegal at most Brazilian beaches - there are, however, designated "hidden" nudist beaches for those who enjoy it!

Anyways, I'd like to keep up the tradition of buying one or two new bikinis every year, but honestly, usually don't spend big bucks on this. I find that variety and quality is much more important than the brand name behind it, most of all, however, I look for something that fits me well.

I say this because I have a "tricky" body: I have a very small, tiny upper body and a more womanly, curvy lower body. I decided NOT to insist on having my Mom send me Brazilian bikinis over to the U.S. anymore. "That was so my early 20s...before I got pregnant!" I love the bikinis I can find over here because they fit me much better!

I got the inspiration to write this post from my quick trip to Target today. Yes, Super Target! I mean, have you seen the variety and prices on those bikinis? Bottom fro $14 and Top for $14! The GREAT, wonderful thing about buying bikinis at Target is that you can choose to buy an XS top with a M bottom. Mix & match without any issues. Or, if you're bustier (well, maybe one day I'll be, right?) you get the L or XL one and pick out the bottom you want, the one that fits you the best. I love it over there also because they have so many different cuts. Wanna cover up your belly? No problem! They got it! Want to go strapless? They got it too!

Same goes for buying bikinis at Victoria's Secret online. You can also mix & match sizes, for most part of it, and the bikinis are SO gorgeous. A bit pricier, yes, but what I do love about Victoria's Secret bikinis is the "enhancement" part: They really got me looking twice when I read "look 2 cups larger in your bikini"! That one can't seem to escape my mind! LOL...I wonder if it's comfortable?!

It's really about feeling comfortable, right? Most of us are a bit (or  lot) body conscious - we're all  on the same boat. We don't like our legs, but love our boobies. We don't like our bootie, but love our belly. We don't like our belly, but love our legs...and so on and so forth. If you don't like bikinis, that's alright, too! Target and Victoria's Secret have beautiful one-piece swimming suits!

Last year I became a pro in using self-tanning lotions to fake a tan. I'll look for some more natural alternatives, if they're out there, and will try them out. I'll report back to you soon!
For now, enjoy your Monday and just know the weekend is only 4 days away! :)

(image from Google Images) 

YOU

 Remember:

It's OK to feel like you need a break.
It's OK to feel exhausted.
It's OK to feel like you can't do it all, after all.
It's OK to call it the day and say "tomorrow will be a better day".
It's OK to find comfort in a hot shower, in the couch, in your pillows.
It's OK to eat that piece of chocolate if you want that piece of chocolate.
It's OK to cry. It's OK to cry a lot.
It's OK to not want to talk to anybody. Right now. The entire day.
It's OK to feel so overwhelmed that all you can think of is how overwhelmed you feel.
It's OK if that this overwhelming feeling makes you numb for a moment.
It's OK if you prefer to be alone the entire day.
It's OK if you want to be in your pajamas the entire day.
It's OK if you want to lay on the couch the entire day.
It's OK if you can't find any motivation to go workout today.
It's OK if you "don't care" today.
It's OK if you're sad today.

However, know this:

It is NOT OK if everyday you feel like this. It is NOT OK if you feel like that most of the time. It is NOT OK if you don't pay attention to what you feel and ignore the signs that something may be wrong.
It is NOT OK if you don't seek professional help.

It is NEVER OK to feel ashamed.
It is NEVER OK to assume "things will get better".
It is NEVER OK to not take care of yourself.
It is NEVER OK to live a sad life.
It is NEVER OK to not want to be happy.

You DESERVE to be the happiest person you can ever be.
You DESERVE love, no matter how you feel.
You DESERVE help, because help can make you stronger, better and happier.
You DESERVE to be listened to.

Ultimately, LISTEN to YOURSELF first and if something doesn't feel right in your heart and/or mind, never ignore it.
Only you can know YOU and allow yourself to HEAL. Allow yourself to HEAL. Start NOW.

With much love from me...

To sweeten or not to sweeten?

In my teens!
That's when I started consuming artificial sweeteners! Diet Coke became my favorite drink, and I had a passion for finding drinks and foods carrying the "diet" label on it. This was my effort to get in shape. I was mostly exposed to Aspartame (Equal) and Saccharin (Sweet'n Low). Sucralose (Splenda) came a few years later.

Well, forward quite a few years later, here I am today: I still enjoy my Diet Coke, although I may prefer Diet Pepsi. Not so hooked on artificial sweeteners at all, though. Nowadays I think a lot more about my health and the health of my family.

So I switched to Stevia!
Can't find Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi made with Stevia, but that's quite alright with me. I've been using Stevia to sweeten my coffee, occasionally to sweeten my hot tea, oatmeal, shakes, smoothies and sometimes fruit salads.

Do you know what Stevia is?
Have a look at the picture below:

Stevia is a plant grown in South America, which has been used by South Americans as a sweetener for hundreds of years! Before the FDA allowed it to be widely sold as we know it nowadays in supermarkets all around, it was sold and used mostly as a dietary supplement. Only in 2008 was Stevia granted the status of "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) by the FDA: mainly, one of the naturally occurring chemicals in Stevia, rebaudioside A, which plays a big part in "sweetening", was considered generally safe for consumption.

This sweetener is a non-caloric natural sweetener. It has a slightly bitter taste, but honestly, I don't mind it one bit. My quest is, however, to make sure I buy the purest form of Stevia available. And that's when marketing tricks us. Just because it's Stevia, it's not always all natural and pure. READ THE LABEL.

I used to buy "Truvia" (see picture), but switched over to Stevia in the Raw (also in picture), because Truvia contains an additional sugar alcohol that could have different (negative) effects on some people. It contains erythritol.
So, I immediately turned to the next available Stevia in my supermarket: "Stevia in the Raw".
Well, it contains Dextrose, a form of glucose, or, simply, a form of sugar. I thought this was at least better than a sugar alcohol like the one in TRuvia. Still not so satisfied with the lack of purity available, I researched online, and came across this option: "KAL Pure Stevia" (picture below).

I read many reviews and decided I will give this one a try. I will buy it at my local Vitamin Shoppe and will report back to you soon. Apparently, this is truly pure Stevia, sweetening more for less. Let's see! Bottom line is: Read the labels! My goal is to find good choices for my family! Not always is it possible to avoid Splenda, Aspartame or Saccharin, but we can try as much as possible. For now, I've been carrying little "Stevia in the Raw" packets in my purse, and use this in my coffees I get around town. At least it IS more natural than the other sugar substitutes, and that matters to me!

Pack on the building blocks!

An Instagram picture I posted on a Qunioa Salad and a talk I had yesterday with my husband gave me the idea for today's post: Protein!I'd like to talk about protein, its importance as building blocks for our bodies and the deliciousness it can be!

First of all, let me briefly tell you I grew up a total meat-eater. Hamburgers were my favorite food, and my Mom's Ham & Cheese Lasagna was also always a hit at home! I loved a succulent filet and loved dining at Brazilian Steakhouses. That all changed in my 20's. I'm not here to preach anybody on Vegetarianism, mostly because it is a personal choice (my children aren't even Vegetarians) but, after long admitting my passion for animals and silently "suffering" with them, I started cutting back on eating meat. It hasn't happened too long ago and not all at once! In fact, in 2009, when I was pregnant with Nati, I craved and ate hamburgers from "Five Guys" every single week. Last year I decided I was ready to become a full Vegetarian. After 5 months on it, I decided to change and become a Pescatorian, or Pescetarian - I went back to eating fish (Salmon, Tuna, Sea Bass). That's it for meat. No other meat. Needless to say, my protein intake in that half year dropped immensely. Although working out a bit, I still didn't have the muscles I had in 2010 and 2011.

In 2010 I did a wonderful 12-week program called "Body for Life". It was by far the best exercise and nutrition program I had ever done in my life. Not only did I drop 10% of my body fat in only 12 weeks, but I also gained so much lean muscle mass. I kept it up a bit in 2011, but didn't maintain it properly, and now I am back to it again. I started the program 2 weeks ago, and so far, it's been awesome. Weight lifting and high intensity cardio are part of the program. Nothing impossible to do. And you get a day off! BUT, the biggest secret is the nutrition factor. And I saw it happening; I saw the magic happening in 2010. Muscles growing and strong Denise appearing!

The program and my personal Trainer (Brad Minns) taught me the importance of eating enough protein. Basically, to put on muscle, really, you gotta eat 1g of protein per pound (not Kilo!) of body weight. Right now I weigh 125 pounds, so, I should consume 125g of protein every day to increase my lean muscle mass, decrease my body fat and become lean. I have long been the "fake skinny", having low body weight but no muscles - which was the case when I first met Brad in 2010, weighing in at only 117 pounds. But my body fat % then was 28%!!! Wow! Super high body fat % with no muscles. Something was wrong. I changed that around and at the end of 12 weeks, I weighed 121 pounds with 18% fat - for my height, the borderline from normal to lean. I looked and felt so much stronger.

Without the higher intake of protein, I would have NEVER achieved those results. Eating clean along with it was a must, of course, so, cutting sugars and white flour, pasta, too much bread,...all that was minimal. Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated was a daily task, while eating every 3-4 hours became the norm. I was never hungry!

My point on protein is this, and this is what I've been reading all long: To maintain your muscles while casually working out, at least 0.8g per pound (not Kilo!) of body weight. To increase muscle mass, you must up this. You must fuel your muscles! You must give them the building blocks to GROW. I've done it, and I know it works. 1 to 1.5g of protein per pound of body weight!

Now, doing it again, I'm taking it up a notch, including supplements for exercising and adding protein shakes, which, oh my goodness, have SO much protein (30g!) and taste so great! Protein keeps you full and satisfied for a long time. Variety is key! Be creative!

Here a picture of a few great protein sources I use on a daily basis, low in fat, low in sugar, low in calories overall (I didn't take a picture of eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, smoked  salmon, quinoa, tofu, soy, brown rice, beans, but all of these I consume as well!):

This Muscle Milk protein shake is DELICIOUS. 

Both "Oh Yeah" and "Power Crunch" bars are packed with protein and SO yummy.

Almond Butter is a great substitute for those with peanut allergies! 

I hope you enjoyed this post and hope you share the passion for a healthy lifestyle! One more secret: Don't be paranoid! The occasional "treat" is totally OK! Pizza, chocolate, ice cream, fries...we all have those faves!

WHY?

A questionnaire of honesty between your mind, your heart and your soul. Give it a try.

Why buy a pair of shoes that hurt you as soon as you put them on?
Why eat something that you don't really like?
Why dress to make a fashion statement when it's not actually your style?
Why date someone who doesn't make you laugh?
Why take a job because "at least it's a job"?
Why not *ask* if the worst that can happen is to receive a "no"?
Why drink or smoke just because others are doing it?
Why not try something new?
Why accept things the way they are because "that's the way they are"?
Why not fight for what you truly believe in?
Why give up and think "there's nothing I can do.."?
Why undermine your own power and abilities?
Why not believe you are indeed very talented?
Why attend a gathering you're not interested in?
Why buy something to make the sales person happy?
Why not ask for help when all you really want is help?
Why insist no advice given to you can ever be good?
Why believe you simply can't?
Why befriend someone who doesn't add value to your life?
Why not forgive?
Why choose negativity over positive thoughts?
Why do something you don't want to?
Why live in uncertainty?
Why not believe your dreams can come true?
Why not make decisions just because others have made them already?

Why settle for less when you can change all of this around? Why?   

We are fully responsible for our lives. 
At any point, we can say "No more". At any point we can start doing what is right for us and for our loved ones. At any point, we can ask for help. Don't accept it just the way it is. If you even think you should go against it, why are you not?

What is holding you back to BE the best human being you can ever be?

(Image found on Google Images)

Pure, Essential, Therapeutic and Kind!

Our sense of smell does wonderful things to us...From creating a cozy-yummy atmosphere in your home when the smell of a delicious home-cooked meal emerges from the kitchen, to your favorite perfume that inspires you to feel powerful at work or sensual at night...From the warm smell our little babies have to clean sheets or the fresh flowers in the park...You get the idea! What would we do if we weren't able to use our sense of smell to create a better life?

I have long been a fan of this amazing Aromatherapy company called "Aura Cacia". Aura Cacia was founded in 1981 and uses nothing but pure essential oils of high quality combined with a strong belief for ethical environmental sustainability, giving back, no animal testing and minimal animal by-products (just beeswax).

In a nutshell, Aromatherapy is the healing through the use of essential oils extracted from plants. Essential oils exist in leaves, blossoms, roots and seeds of plants. Usually, these oils are massaged on the skin or scalp or inhaled. Different oils are used for different purposes, and a combination of oils can be even more effective. Some can promote relaxation, while others help reduce inflammation or energize you and make you happier. Some make a small place become more welcoming and others help purify the air. From my understanding the key is to realize that essential oils are not the same as synthetic fragrances, which will not have the same effect. High quality essential oils will usually cost you more, however, they last for a long time. If you'd like to learn more about Aromatherapy, follow this link here.

These small spray bottles in the 2 photos I took are some of the Aura Cacia essential oils I have and use at home. I love them all, and it's impossible to choose a favorite one, as each serves a different purpose. If you read the labels, you'll understand what I mean.

I find they have worked well on my pets, as well. I spray (with "Chill Pill") the area they sleep in a bit before we all go to bed, and not only does it smell very pleasant, but it seems to calm them down. I do the same in our room and it works well for us and the kids.

At the office, I find myself using "Pep Talk" a lot, as it motivates and inspires me to focus on positive thinking.  You see, our sense of smell can be healing! And here a great travel tip: "First Response" purifies the surrounding air/area. It can be used in hotel rooms, meeting rooms, cars, rental cars and can even be used to purify your hands, and anything you touch, like a telephone, door knobs, remote controls! Isn't this great? I use it in my car all the time. Once a week, my 4 dogs "bombard" my car, and I often have a little mess from the kids in the back seat. This essential oil mist comes in very handy all the time!

Do something good for yourself and others and positively impact your surroundings. This is just an example... I have long believed and used Aromatherapy. It's wonderfully healing. Everything always smells so great!

Last but not least, there is something I love even more about Aura Cacia! It has a "Giving back" program, where they give 1% of their sales back to organic farmers around the world in order to help them build their small communities. You can find out more about the company and its giving back program by clicking here.

Oh, by the way...Aura Cacia products can be bought online through their web site, and at other retail stores. I bought mine at my local "Vitamin Shoppe"! It makes for great gifts!...

Make it special...

This weekend, make sure you make it special!

Make coffee time special and play with your senses. Have coffee outside in your garden, on the porch or by the lake. If it's cold, have coffee by the fire and play soft music. Sit on the floor with your pets or look at old family pictures. If the kids are around, have coffee while you color or while you watch a great family movie.

Make it special.
Start noticing more and more how each minute counts. Don't rush.

This is here at the house. My Brazilian Melitta "extra forte" coffee truly smells delicious! Did you notice the detail on the coffee mug? 

And if you don't like coffee, no problem...enjoy a great cup of tea! This reminds me...oh, how I'd love to enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea one of these days again!

Happy Saturday morning and a beautiful weekend to all!

Little girls' nails deserve the BEST!

Little, tiny fingers deserve what's best out there!

My girls love getting their nails painted and we usually do this on the weekends! My biggest worry is not a matter of an early onset of excessive vanity (honestly, I came to the conclusion that little girls are born with a nice healthy dose of vanity!), but the toxic chemicals present in nail polish.

Let's be realistic here: Kids put their hands in their mouths all the time. I truly don't want them to be ingesting all of the bad stuff.

So, I came across 2 companies that make beautiful nail polish with less toxic chemicals than other well known brands.

I often use them on my nails as well, after all, hey, we deserve good stuff too, and you can see them in the picture below: Zoya and Butter LONDON

Zoya's natural nail polish doesn't contain toluene, formaldehyde, camphor or DBP (phthalates). This is GREAT! They have over 300 colors to choose from, and I wish Ulta, the store I purchase them at here in Florida, had a larger selection. Please note, Ulta's web site is not showing they distribte Zoya. I don't know if they will discontinue carrying the line, so I suggest you either look at their web site or try different local nail salons.

Butter LONDON follows a "3 free philosophy" and the nail polish they sell is also free of toluene, formaldehyde and DBP. The great thing about Butter LONDON is that they also have beautiful lip glosses.  You can find them all at Ulta as well!

Again, as I had mentioned in previous posts: I have no affiliation with either Zoya or Butter LONDON. I simply love the brands and enjoy showing them off here! Good things deserve to be mentioned more often!

My point is: If I'll be spending money on my girls, I'll do so wisely. That doesn't mean "expensive". It means being conscious of what I'm paying for. In this case, I'm looking for less harmful health impact combined with fun and the possibility to create wonderful memories together!

I know what we'll be doing tomorrow morning after breakfast!... :)

Your skin SO deserves this!

I got good feedback from some of you about my post on cosmetics. Nothing like being KIND to our skin, right?
As I had written before, I would have been a great research subject for any Dermatologist over the years. Read my other post (click here) to understand what I mean!

Ever since I can remember, my Mom has always taken very good care of her skin. She's well over 60 now and always receives compliments on her skin. The benefits of using the right products, the need to protect, exfoliate, treat and put time (an sometimes $) into a good skin regimen SHOW. Alright, some of us have great genes that help tremendously, but, let's face it, it's not always the case. At least not my case!

My Mom has taught me by example. Her diligent routine has allowed me to understand, over the years, the benefits of taking good care of our skin. Mostly, protecting it from environmental damage, like the sun, cold, pollution or dry and recycled air. No matter what phase in my skin situation I was in (puberty, adult acne, dry & flaky skin, allergies, sunburn, you name it), there was always something that could be done.

But all these cremes, lotions, serums, ...all this time and money spent! Yes...it's not always easy. The idea of keeping it simple is so appealing, but that will also depend on your skin type, your budget, the time commitment you want to put into it and your age!

There is ONE product, however, that I now LOVE with all my heart and wished I had started using a while ago. This one thing goes well for every skin type and I say that because it's part of a major step: cleansing. I'm sorry, but don't you dare put on anything on dirty skin. No, no. Go wash it first!

I can't picture my life without the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System. If you don't have one yet, either go get one now or save up (prices range from around US$120 to US$235) because IT IS THE BEST.

Our hands-on way of cleansing our face and neck doesn't get all the dirt and make-up off, and if we wanted to try, we'd be scrubbing for the longest time, irritating our skin and potentially damaging our skin's collagen. Because our gentle hands can't possibly do the real deal work, creams, serums and lotions have a bit more of a challenge penetrating our skin, jeopardizing how many benefits we're truly getting from all these products.

What I find with  the Clarisonic brush is that it's gentle brush massager truly cleanses the skin. I can even feel the water totally refreshing my pores. I'm not joking. I use the Clarisonic brush mornings and evenings, and use a bit of the gel cleanser from that brand (they have a good variety of gel cleansers to use with the brush).You wet your face, apply the gel cleanser, turn on your handheld Clarisonic brush and use light, circular motions over the face to cleanse it. Then, you rinse your face with water. Work wonders. It's quick and efficient.

Do something GOOD for yourself and invest in a Clarisonic Cleansing System. I honestly don't think you'll be disappointed at all. If you want to pass the kindness along, this makes for a grate birthday gift, Mother's day gift, Christmas gift, Valentine's gift, raffle prize, silent auction prize or even graduation prize!

Please note, these are my personal opinions on this product. I don't have any connections or affiliations with Clarisonic International. I'm simply a very happy customer spreading the word and sending out good vibes!
(picture of the product found in Google Images)

Happy cleansing, all!

From my personal "Collection"!...

Don't we all have things we simply love? Some people are crazy about shoes. Others love journals and fancy pens. I have a friend who's the biggest "PEZ" collector (yes, the candy!...Hi, chica!)! We all have things, stuff, we love! These things make us happy, don't they?
I, for example, LOVE pajamas! If you know me, you didn't see this one coming, huh? I sort of collect pajamas! I use them, I really do! I'm a bit of a fake collector, guess. I USE my collections - I don't just leave them alone.
Another collection that I actively use is SOAPS! I LOVE soaps! The more, the merrier!

There are a few requirements for a soap to make it into may collection, though: It's gotta be "cruelty free" (not tested on animals" and should have the least amount of animal products (such as honey, goat milk etc) as possible. Handcrafted soaps are a big hit in my collection!

Some soaps I truly love come from two companies that are so hip and won't break your wallet: "Shea Moisture" and "Pharmacopia". The soaps from Shea Moisture are made in the U.S.A. and I find them at Walgreens and Target, while Pharmacopia soaps, made in Canada, I buy at The Vitamin Shoppe! You see, nothing that will require you to spend a lot. And the smell SO good!

Let me show you some examples of these great soaps that would also make great GIFTS!
Below you will see pictures of 4 soaps. It's so sad you can't smell them!...

While I love these 4 soaps, I'd like to point out the "African Black Soap" (great for troubled, combination skin - bumps on your back, anyone?). There is such an incredible story behind this soap! In 1912, Sofi Tucker started selling Shea Nuts at their local market in the small village of Bonthe, in Sierra Leone. When she was 19, this Mom of 4 and at that time widow, had a wide array of natural beauty products she was selling; all homemade! Sofi left a legacy, empowering disadvantaged women to follow their dreams of a bigger and brighter future! When you purchase these soaps from Shea Moisture, you're helping a wonderful cause! Isn't this simply amazing? Give the gift of kindness, to yourself and your loved ones!

Time to greet the New Year!

What a way to start the New Year: Sick.
On January 31st I woke up and felt it was not a good idea to wake up. Could I have the flu? All symptoms indicated that was the case. After 2 and a half weeks fighting off the germs and a bad case of bronchitis, I'm feeling better and ready to start the YEAR! Thank you, pharmaceutical companies. I'm not the biggest fan, but you helped me out after all, I must say!

Being sick and taking time off, whether I wanted to do so or not, helped me realize the importance of seizing the present moment. So many times we forget to LIVE right HERE right NOW, as we try to plan, write To Do Lists and fill our calendars with future appointments. We rush in the morning, rush through lunch and are exhausted in the evening!

One of my goals this year is to SLOW DOWN.
Part of this means asking for help more often, napping when  my body really needs it (naps are great, but I always thought I was losing precious time! That is not the case!), taking the necessary time to complete tasks, even if simple tasks  not leaving it for later and erasing the notion that a "Superwoman-Mom" exists. We are human after all and I appreciate that!

I wish everybody a wonderful 2013! Simplify your goals and don't overwhelm yourself! Forget about lengthy  New Year's Resolution lists! Keep it simple and achievable! Pick your priority and NEVER forget to include your OWN happiness! Goals are very important in life, but should be attainable. Overall, stay healthy!

Cheers to a GREAT YEAR! No matter what challenges you may face, know you are strong enough! Simply keep LOVE alive in your heart!

Be Kind to your (aging...) skin!

I am grateful my skin has been changing over the years.
From puberty's pimples to an oily adulthood, passing through 2 pregnancies, breastfeeding years, stress, happiness, awful eating habits in College, wonderful eating habits packed with exercise, facials and TONS of medicated and non-medicated cosmetics, healthy sun bathing and terrible sun burning, good make-up and cheap make-up - my skin has been through it all over my almost 35 years.

Today I want to talk about an awesome skin line: Dermalogica

This privately owned company is headquartered in Carson, California and has offices spread around the world, in dozens of countries. All products are made in the USA.
I first explored Dermalogica a bit when my Mom, in her mid-60s, purchased a starter-kit at Ulta about a year and a half ago. My Mom's very dry and aging skin did not react very well to it, however, as my Mom was used to a much richer consistency. I do not remember which starter-kit she purchased.

About 2 weeks ago, I went to Ulta looking for a skin-brightening solution. My skin started showing some serious sun damage. I love freckles, don't get me wrong, but those are sun spots from toasting in the sun throughout the years before I understood the great importance of a good  sunscreen!
I browsed around, left and went back a few days later. I wanted to research online before settling on anything and spending a bit more than usual. Good skin care IS more expensive. Do NOT believe in cheap miracles. Really. You WANT to put good stuff on your skin! It's your skin! Be kind to it! The quality of the ingredients, the place from where and the way natural ingredients were acquired, the packaging, the care, the storage, the Chemists, the team, the research (hopefully NOT involving animal testing!!!), oh my goodness, all this COSTS. The more you eliminate from the large equation, and the more you mass produce and the less care you put into the cosmetics, the cheaper it will get. I want good stuff for my skin.It deserves it! Please note, I don't splurge on cosmetics all the time. I go to Walgreens and CVS all the time. There are some things, though, that I believe are worth the big bucks.

I fell in love with Dermalogica's mission, which puts strong emphasis on Education and Innovation, offering us products free of common skin irritants, free of animal testing, free of fragrance and artificial colors, mineral oils, alcohol etc). To the company, skin care is a health issue, not just a cosmetic problem. The focus is not on selling us their products through pretty packaging and catchy names. They are straight-forward as can be. You know what you're getting and what I've gotten for my skin is MARVELLOUS.

I just recently started using the Clarisonic Mia 2 Skin Cleaning System. I feel the skin cleaner and more fully and efficiently absorbing the products I use.
This is what I bought from Dermalogica and rave about:

C-12 Concentrate: A strong brightening treatment I use during the day. I apply sunscreen afterwards, without a doubt. I learned my lesson! I have an oily T-zone, but the smooth, silky texture is just perfect for my skin. It's very light!

Overnight Repair Serum: Even oily skin needs to stay moisturized. Don't think that by drying it out you'll keep the oil away. Our skin needs a natural barrier against indoor and outdoor exposure. I love this serum. It makes me feel I'm truly nourishing my skin with so much goodness. It's greasy, but don't be fooled: It's good stuff from Argan and Rose oils, which, by the way, smell oh-so-good! I have tried the serum by itself and have mixed it in with my night moisturizer. In the morning, my skin feels soft, looks bright, looks rested and stress-free. This serum is a serum that helps your skin cope with aging. Everyday our skin ages. It doesn't matter if we are 25, 30, 40 or 50. Skin is still aging.

Be kind to it.