My “beauty” products

Two posts in one week..who the heck am I?  Sad that has become the reality, but honestly my day-to-day life is fairly repetitive, so unless I were to show new outfits every day as content, not much else changes.

I did make it to another fabulous spin class last night and have plans to hit up Gravity wine bar in Palo Alto with a friend this evening

Moving on…

Some of the posts I find most interesting are the products that people like (and I will give them soooo much more credit if they are not sponsored by any given company).  I decided it might be fun to show you what beauty products I’m loving.  Really my fave beauty product is a good pair of heels, but I’ll stick to traditional products

Body:

• Suave Cocoa Butter Lotion – I’ve been a faithful user of this for decades now.  There really is no other lotion I’d rather use on my body.  I used it all during pregnancy as well, and no stretch marks (though I don’t know if that was just luck)
• Bath & Body vanilla lotion – I’m a devoted vanilla scent fan.  Though right now I’m using an Xmas present of Philosophy gingerbread scent
• Vera Wang Bouquet – rarely do I go through an entire bottle of perfume, but this one has been my go-to work scent for 2 years now.  Sadly it’s empty.  I’ve been using Anthropologies vanilla spray as well as Hanae Mori.

Hair:

• Joico shampoo and conditioner as the staples – I prefer the color protecting.  I also have been using the Neutrogena triple moisture conditioner (purchased at Target)
• Tresseme volume mousse – love that this gives lift to my roots.  It’s a little too much for the ends of my hair since they are so dry
• Josie Maran Argan Oil – purchased at Sephora over a year ago and it makes your ends so much more manageable…same for fly-aways.  I also will use Garnier Sleek and Shine in a pinch.
• Color Mark – yep, I’ve got grey hairs…more than I’d like to admit.  In between my highlight / color appts (every 10-12 weeks), I use this on those greys popping through.  It’s pricey for such a small bottle (about $20) but lasts maybe 6 months or so.
• Tresseme Hair Spray (#4) – of all the hairsprays I’ve tried in my life, this one ranks up there as one of the better.  It’s very similar to Shaper hair spray at a fraction of the cost.

Face:

• Clean and Clear lotion – it’s light and has sacyllic acid in that helps clear up acne.  It does not have sun protection so I tend to use this at night
• Lancome Renergie – my friend Mojan got me hooked on this and I’m so glad she did.  It feels luxurious on my skin, neck, and chest and seems to be adding moisture to my skin and making my wrinkles slightly less noticeable.
• Aveeno Daily Moisturizer – this is my standard day-to-day moisturizer.  It’s not too thick/oily and not too light and has an SPF of 15
• Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer – I never wear traditional foundation so if I’m trying to get a more even look on my face (date night, etc), I’ll use this.
• Trader Joe’s cleanser – I randomly purchased this and am now a devout fan.  Others I’ve talked to who have used it have amazing results as well.  Something certainly doesn’t have to be expensive to be wonderful.
• Bare Escentuals Blush in Beauty – Love this color.  I used in on my wedding day and continue to purchase it.  Also love the lightness and feel of almost all Bare Escentuals face products
• Benefit BADgal Eyeliner – I love a good cat eye look which this does well, but also love it for daily wear.  It’s a pencil that goes on like a pen and stays on all day long
• Benefit High Bro – I’ll use this to accent the inside of my eyes and lift my brows if I’m going out or on days that I look like death
• Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara – I have never (ever) found a high-end mascara that compares to drugstore brands.  Covergirl last blast is a fave as is Almay.

Lips:

• Chap Stick brand chapstick – this is my daily base.  It actually moisturizes and has an SPF 4.
• Express lip glosses – the first time I bought one of them, it was a last minute purchase to put me at the minimum required to use my $30 off coupon.  Such a great idea.  I love the shimmer, the staying power, the color, and the smell.  Seriously, I highly recommend.
• Benefit  lipstick in Good-to-Go – periodically I like to get a new makeup look done.  This color was the result of one of those times.  I love the smoothness of this lipstick, how well it moisturizes, and the soft color (more applications will make darker).
• Origins Liquid Lip Color in Really Rosy – this was in my stocking and I love it.  I would never have thought to try Origins, but will definitely be going back to test out their other options.
• Aveda lip pencil – I’ve rubbed the name of this dual-sided pencil, but love using it to actually fill in my lips, and top with a gloss, for a deep color.  The one I have is a berry on one side and a light shimmery pink on the other (which I use as an eyebrow highlighter).

If there is any great product you want to rave about, please share!

Mama clothes and baby clothes

Okay so time does in fact fly even when you’re not working. Today marks the end of 2 weeks of maternity leave already!  But I have got so much done and have needed every bit of it. 

Still I look forward to the weekends when others can come out and play.  I have a fun blend date tomorrow to bake cookies too   And with any luck we’ll get our tree on Sunday.

So although I’m not working, I refuse to schlep around in sweats during the day (err, that and I don’t own sweats).  I am trying to wear similar clothes that I’d wear on casual Friday or the weekends. 

Here are a few more 3rd trimester looks for you:

This is what I wore to Zach’s boss’s cabin when he hosted a baby shower for us. I’ve got skinny Motherhood (under belly panel) jeans paired with a long sleeved navy maternity tee by Pea in the Pod, my red Express cardi, camel Alfani boots, and a cream and brown scarf (from a shop in SF).

An outfit made for shopping!  4 hours worth! Flat Steve Madden black boots (with foldover shaft), black Old Navy maternity leggings, and taupe tunic (via Marshalls)

Luckily I live in a place where the winters aren’t that cold, but I still need a jacket now and then.  This is a fabulous trench by Vertigo that I got via Marshalls for a real steal.  I can only manage one button, but that’s where the buckle-less belt comes in handy!

Okay now onto the fun stuff   Baby clothes!

I thought I had a ton of baby clothes, but it turns out, I really think I’m going to need more. 

And with this extra time on my hands, I’ve been obsessing over what to bring Sawyer home from the hospital in.  Will he fit in a newborn outfit (under 7lbs and <18”)?  Will he swim in the 0-3mo outfit?  Footies?  No footies?  Pants?  No pants (because of umbilical cord)?  Knit hat?  Cotton hat?  Something uber fabulous or practical?  GAHHHHH! 

I’ve finally decided on two outfits and I plan to bring both!

Being that Mr Sawyer is arriving in December, I wanted to make sure he is cozy warm, so I found this incrediblly soft one-piece cream outfit that I adore.  I searched high and low at the poshest of stores and found this at good ol’ Target (actually bestie picked it out )!  Underneath I will put on a simple onesie, perhaps like the blue on to the side.  And although the his feet will be covered and the cream one-piece has foldover mittens, I’m bringing both just in case.  The knit hat completes the outfit (even though there is also a hood).  And of course he will be cuddled up in a blue knit blankie thanks to my blend Jillian!  *The cream one-piece and blue onesie are both newborn size. 

What’s even more brilliant is that there is a through hole for the car seat to buckle him in.  Love this aspect!

Now this outfit is a completely different look and more ‘mature’…ha!  It’s all from Gap Baby and I think it’s so festive and appropriate for the holidays.  A red plaid button down onesie paired with black pocketed knit pants.  I managed to clip off the top of the hat, but it actually has reindeer antlers on it too!  So appropriate for the season right!  And this time he will definitely need little mittens and some toasty socks.  He will be cuddled up in a fuzzy brown giraffe blankie that we were given from our friends Priya and Vijay. *This outfit is 0-3 months size.

Any thoughts or advice on the outfits? I’m all ears!!!!

Are babies and clothes like woman and shoes? There’s no such thing as too many?

What’s on deck for your weekend?

Operation Good Mood

Today is my Friday – I love the invention of the 9×80 workweek even if I do end up working on Sundays.  It’s just nice to have a weekday to tackle all the things you can’t normally get done on a weekend.  Oh and also have some “me time” which will include a sweaty workout, a car wash (for my car that is), and an iced latte if I’m good   I also need to make a Target run and I think I need to come home with one of these:

Another piece of great news to share?  Airfare ticket prices went down for August travel to Philly (à Healthy Living Summit)!  They were $600 at the beginning of the week and I snagged direct flights both ways for $339 yesterday.  SCORE!   Now who wants to be roomies with me

Lately I’ve had a major case of the crabbypants.  Don’t ask me why.  I wake up every day in a foul mood, and this never happens.  I’m a total morning person.  Actually, come to think of it, when I get to sleep 10+ hours on the weekend, I wake up just fine.

And I gotta tell ya, there really is something to that whole “waking up on the wrong side of the bed” thing.  I’m finding my sour mood is perpetuating my days.  At work, I can be high functioning and smile and engage, but I immediately turn off when I get home. And then I get bored.  I finish my workouts, my chores (dog walking, laundry, dishes, etc), watch some DVRed shows, and then sit on my rump feeling lame.  Perhaps I’m in bestie withdrawal from this girl?

Luckily I get to see her on Saturday! She’s coming into Cali for her sister’s and a friend’s baby shower and I’m going to meet her near Sacramento for din-din.  It will be too little time of course, but I also am spending the 4^th of July weekend with her in Tahoe.  Yipppeee!  Hey, look I’m smiling already

I think another thing that’s bumming me out is that the hubby and I want to move.  We desperately want a yard for Naava (the dog) and hardwood floors to keep cleaner as a result of both the dog and the cats.  Problem is, no one wants to rent to people with dogs.  See our dilemma?  Well, wait, I should modify that, if we were willing to pay $3500/mo, we may have more luck, but I’m having a hard enough time stomaching $3K / month.  Dang Cali prices.  And don’t get me started on a just buying a home.  Prices have *not* fallen in NorCal – and putting the requisite 20% (aka $200,000 in cash) down for a ho-hum small ranch house that needs fixing up is no bueno to me.  Ooo just thinking about it makes me blood boil a bit.  So let’s stop this talk shall we.

I need to get in OGM – that’s Operation Good Mood.  Here’s the start of my OGM list:

1) Go out to lunch with a friend at least once a week (on a work day…gasp!)

2) Date nights once a week during the week (already doing this, but must continue)

3) Go out at least one other night, even if for fro yo, gelato, dinner, group workout, etc

4) Spend >30 minutes in the sunshine each weekend day (by the pool, at Starbucks…)

5) Pedis every 3-4 weeks (already do this, but must continue)

6) More phone calls to friends / family so I don’t feel so lonely in Cali

7) ….

What else can I add to my list?

 

Have you had the coconut Twix?  Yay or nay?  Or would you try it?