Sunday, April 29, 2012


Oh my God yall. 

I am so tired. Rundown. Exhausted. 

Things have been so crazy here lately. 

Tater has really been giving us hell, and it has not been fun. 

He turned six last week, and his behavior has gone from bad to worse. 

He is such a good boy, most of the time, until one little thing goes wrong or he doesn't get his way. 

Then all hell breaks loose. 

He has the worst smart ass mouth I have ever seen. 

I have been told some really mean things the last few days. 

I mean, let's just put it this way. If my hubs said the things that Tater has been saying to me, I would have left him by now. For realz. 

I really don't know what to do anymore, I have exhausted all of my options. 

We did the dye-free thing, we have run the gamut of discipline options, the doctors seem to think he is fine, just a smart ass. Nothing is really seeming to help. 

It just seems like each day gets longer than the previous one, and I fall deeper into the unknown, and not knowing what to do. 

I feel like he really tries to push my buttons and get under my skin. He knows how to piss me off and he does it so well. 

I love that little guy, I really do, and most of the time he is my best friend. 

But lately, he has really been hurting me. 

This post is pretty pointless, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am still out here, just a little down and working on getting things back in order. 

Love,

Mama

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Super Cute Keychains for Mom!

If you are looking for a great, cheap, cute Mother's Day Gift, I have found a great one! 

The website is called Build A Head, and they make those giant face/head thingys that you see at sports events, in political campaigns, etc. You know what I'm talking about! I love those giant heads! LOL! 

Now they have the same cute and funny heads on a key-chain! This would make a great gift for any mom! (ME!ME!) They are super cheap at only $5.99 and you can upload any photo you want! You can get a photo key-chain of your kids, or even your favorite celeb! I think these mom key-chains are a great idea and an even greater gift!Not to mention family like grandparents, aunts, etc.!!

I am really excited about these adorable key chains! My other favorite thing that the Build A Head site has are the custom dog tags! I would love for Tucker to have a tag with my face on it !How Cool!

Check out the Build A Head Site today!



Fitness TV For Kids? I'm In!

As most of you guys know, I am really big on getting my kids out of the house and exercising as much as I can. I know they would rather be laying on the couch and playing video games, but that is not what I want for them. So, when I heard about a new kid's television program that combines TV and fitness, I was really intrigued. 

The Fo-Fo Figgily Show is that show, and I can't wait til it comes to a channel near us! It sounds like a really great concept and will make a great children's program! 

Here's a brief overview of the show: 

The Fo-Fo Figgily Show is a fitness based program, targeting childhood obesity with educational components consisting of identification of letters, numbers, and shapes. Some of the benefits of the Fo-Fo Figgily Show experience include better interactive social skills, increased self-confidence, improved concentration, fitness and healthy eating, and most importantly, having fun!


Fo-Fo Figgily and his friends will captivate your child’s imagination in this delightful children's show. The fantastical characters that create the limitless world of The Fo-Fo Figgily Show are truly enchanting! Your child will be engaged and benefit from the program’s positive messages including, exhilarating fitness, healthy eating suggestions and treating others with kindness.

 Doesn't that sound great? I will be happy to let my kids watch TV with such a great message. Any show that encourages exercise and movement, and helps them make better eating choices is a friend of mine! If you are interested in checking out more about the Fo-Fo Figgily show, click here!

Monday, April 23, 2012



Do you love to celebrate birthdays? Do you find that this economy has made you think twice about spending tons of cash going out to celebrate? Well take a peek at www.FreeBirthdayStuff.com , a website started by a mom for moms. Take out your best friends and spouses and have a bit more pocket change left over for that special gift.

Hey guys! I definitely recommend checking out this site! Y'all know how hard I am working on the boys' birthday party plans, and I need any help I can get with free stuff! There is a ton of great free stuff on this site and I really can't wait to explore it and find some great free birthday stuff! Take a look at it today!

Great Snacking Tips For Summer!

Hey guys! 

Last week, I told you guys about a great book, Food Fights, that I have been reading to help with the boys eating habits. It really is a great resource, and has been really helpful to us. Today I am going to share an excerpt with you from the book! I hope that it helps you too! 

I thought that with Summer coming real soon,
finding good snacks for the boys will become harder and harder.. So, I thought that this excerpt could help you guys find some healthy snacking tips. 

WHAT’S LACKING IN SNACKING
What’s Not Lacking in Snacking
One of the biggest problems with snacks is, quite simply, that they typically
consist of high-calorie, unhealthy foods rather than nutrient-dense,
healthy foods. With fresh fruit all too frequently replaced by juice and
other sugary drinks, more candy, less milk, and the prize for the largest
increase in snack foods over the past 30 years going to chips and crackers,
what’s clearly not lacking in snacking is salt, sugar, and fat.
Smart Snacking
So now that you know what not to serve for snacks, we wanted to make
sure to impress on you the fact that snacking can and still should play an
important role in your child’s daily diet. Simply put, the right approach
to snacking can help keep kids from getting hungry and cranky while
also giving them added energy and (if you plan it right) added nutrients.
By following simple, smart snacking advice like the tips below, you
can ultimately help your child grow better, think better, and stay active
throughout the day and throughout childhood.
Snacks should not be the exception to the rule that food, in general,
should have nutritional value. Make sure you commit to applying the
same noble goals in choosing your snacks as you (hopefully) do for
your child’s meals.
Keep finger foods on hand. Finding foods that are quick and easy to
grab and serve is actually quite easy. Simply cut up some fresh fruits
or veggies; keep whole grain crackers, pretzels, or ready-to-eat (and
preferably low-sugar/high-fiber) cereals on hand; and then let your
toddler or older child handle the feeding part independently.
Don’t be fooled by packaging. Labels on snack foods for kids, along
with sugary children’s cereals, seem to be the most commonly misleading
when it comes to nutrition. Don’t let creative labeling such as
“fruit snacks” or “low-fat” lead you to believe that sugary treats are
necessarily healthy.

Figure out some “free foods” that your child can eat at any time. It’s
entirely appropriate to agree on some healthy “free foods” (such as
fruits, vegetables, yogurt, or hard-boiled eggs, for example) that your
child can sit down and eat whenever he’s hungry. Remembering that
your ultimate goal is to help your child learn to eat when he’s hungry
and refrain when he’s not, your role is to simply make very sure that
the criteria you use for creating this list is based squarely on the food’s
nutritional value.
Keep junk food out of sight and out of mind. This means not
only limiting the amount of junk food you buy and allow into your
pantry, but also the amount of television your child is allowed to
watch. With literally thousands of television ads designed specifically
to make your child’s mouth water over unhealthy snacks and cereals,
turning off the television—not just when you’re eating but keeping it
turned off throughout the day—can go a long way toward preventing
unhealthy eating habits

Thursday, April 19, 2012



I hate my job. 

There, I said it. Most of you guys already knew this anyway, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise. 

Almost a year ago, a left my waitress job at a failing restaurant to work nights at the deli of my local big box store. And I do not like it one bit. 

I worried a lot before making the decision of leaving my waitress job, whether or not I was making the right decision. I was really afraid that I would hate my new job, even though it was better money, and steady pay. 

Turns out, I was right to be worried.

I am not better off, even though I thought I would be. 

This job I have now, it really stinks. 

It pays the bills, kinda. But I hate being away from my hubs and kids at night. I miss dinner together, I miss bath time. I miss tucking the boys in and putting them to bed. I miss hanging out with my hubs after the kids are in bed. 

I have been trying to do more freelance work, hoping to find a steady blogging or writing job, so I can be at home with the boys. 

Because, clearly, this is not what I was supposed to do with my life! 

What I really want is to work from home, but who knows if that will ever happen for me? 

I have been doing a lot of looking on the internet, and trying to find some helpful leads. 

One of the coolest sites I have found so far is Virtual Vocations. It is a great resource for finding a ton of telecommuting jobs all in one place! 

This is so much better than searching high and low to find one single virtual job to apply for, and then starting all over again to find another, and another!


The Virtual Vocations site makes it super easy to find and apply for work at home jobs! Registering takes only seconds, and you can set the frequency that you receive job alerts! There are a ton of different companies that are looking for employees to work from home, from data entry, to writing, to customer service or education. Whatever your skills are, you can find a work at home job to fit your needs! I am really motivated and excited about being able to find work here!

They also have a wonderful forum with tons of tips, tools, and stories that can help educate and motivate you to make the right choices! It is really nice to read the testimonials and see that other people have found success. It really is motivating to think that it could happen to me too!

I am very hopeful that becoming a member of this site will help me to find a work at home job that I truly love and will help me to be able to stay home with my boys! I will be so happy if I can find something stable enough to allow me to be back at home!

Do any of you guys have experience with work at home jobs?
 
Leave your comments below, I would love to hear your stories! 



Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Show Your Team USA Spirit With Your Baby's Bottom (And Pampers!)


It's almost time for the Summer Olympics!! Who is excited!?!? 

As you might have heard, Pampers is partnering with Team USA and Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh!! I love Kerri, so this was very exciting for us to hear! They have new limited edition Team USA diapers and wipes, and they are so cute! 

Aren't they!?!?

Even the wipes are adorable: 




And, right now, you can go to Pamper's Facebook page and enter their awesome "Team USA Sweeps!" You can register for a chance to win the grand prize trip for a family of four to attend the London 2012 Olympic Games and attend the first ever Pampers Playground event alongside Team USA Hopeful, Kerri Walsh, and her husband and sons. The recipient of the grand prize trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games will be drawn on or around May 21st. Additionally, Pampers will be randomly selecting weekly winners between now and August 12 to receive a prize pack consisting of one month’s supply of Pampers Limited Edition “USA” diapers and wipes as well as a souvenir volleyball signed by Kerri Walsh. How cool would that be?!?! 

You can enter to win right here!!

And, Pampers is so nice, they are giving one lucky Flip Out Mama reader a economy box of Diapers and a package of wipes!! 

All you have to do to win is leave a comment below telling me what your favorite sport is!! 

Contest will end on 5/15/2012 at approx 11:59 pm est. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification or an alternate winner will be chosen. We received a pack of wipes and diapers in order to conduct this review and all opinions are 100% mine. No monetary compensation was received.

Bath And Body Works New Pocket Bacs!



You guys know I love my Bath and Body Works! 

And I love Summer! 

So, for us, what would be better than combining the two of them? 

NOTHING!!

So, when we got the chance to try out some of Bath and Body Works new PocketBacs, we were thrilled!!

We got to try the new Fresh Picked line of PocketBacs, and boy, are they cute!! 

I absolutely love these, and they are perfect for our busy Summer days! 

I can throw them right in my purse, diaper bag, beach bag, glove compartment, or even Tater's filthy little pocket and off we can go! 

Plus, they even smell like SUMMER! And for only $1.50, you can stock up on all the scents: Raspberries, Tangerines, Peaches, and Pears! To check them out, head to your local Bath & Body Works, or check out their site here! 


(We received a sample product in order to conduct this review. All opinions are 100% mine and no monetary compensation was received)

Dangerous Diets: Top Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy




Ask any mom to be and she will be able to tell you how cravings--and just eating in general satisfies something deep inside.  While research proves that women don't actually need excessive calories during their pregnancy, some women use this as a time to say good bye to dieting and hello to indulging in pretty much everything that tastes good. 

What's wrong with that you say? Well, aside from the obvious excessive weight gain that many women experience, not every food is actually safe for pregnant women to eat.  Many common foods can serve as reservoirs for bacteria and toxins that may be harmful to both mother and baby.
Remember--pregnancy is a special time when mom's body must make drastic changes relatively quickly, and the demand on her body results in a weakened immune system.  This weakness results in an increased susceptibility to contract illnesses and have those illnesses last longer, and be more severe.

Sushi (and other raw fish)

While taking a trip to the unlimited sushi buffet may be right up your alley, raw seafood may harbor dangerous parasites and bacteria.  You may feel free to eat fish (avoiding those higher in mercury, like swordfish, tilefish, kingfish, shark and mackerel) but make sure it is cooked thoroughly to remove any invaders that could make you sick.  And yes, tuna is safe--but if you prefer the chunk white version, limit yourself to 6 ounces per week.

Raw Cookie Dough

That batch of chocolate chip goodness, all gooey in the bowl is tempting for many of us. Unfortunately the eggs used to make your next batch of cookies may not be so tempting when you learn that the FDA estimates that one out of every 20,000 eggs sold in the U.S. is tainted with the bacteria salmonella. If you do get a craving for cookie dough, rest assured that you can get your fix--ice cream sold in retail stores is safe.

Raw Sprouts

Sprouts of any kind are unsafe during pregnancy because seeds can become contaminated early in their growth process--making bacteria nearly impossible to remove. Avoid alfalfa, clover and radish sprouts and make sure they aren't added to your food when eating out.

Deli Meats and Hot Dogs

Because the dangerous bacteria listeria can grow at temperatures inside your fridge, make sure to avoid ready to eat deli cold cuts and hot dogs.  Listeria has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage--so stay away, just until you deliver.

Even though it may seem like there's nothing left to eat, take heart.  Feel free to indulge in washed, fresh fruits and veggies, hard cheeses (not soft ones--sorry), and well done beef, chicken, pork and fish until your heart's content. 


It may seem challenging to understand what is safe and what isn't, and giving your baby a great start is undoubtedly on your mind. If you have questions, contact your doctor.

Hey there. I’m Rachel Ballard—I’m a wife, mother, maternal-newborn RN and writer for Dr. Hessel MD.com. If you enjoyed this post, you can find many more medically accurate, easy-to-read posts like it on our women’s health and pregnancy blog at www.drhesselmd.com/blog. Have something to say? Come on over and start a conversation! 



My hubs is a smoker. Not just a little bit, either. We're talking a big, heavy, two-pack-a-day smoker. 

He knows he needs to quit. Not only is smoking so very unhealthy, but we are literally paying more for cigarettes than some of our utility bills. Seriously, that is not okay. His work is getting ready to impose a store/property wide smoking ban, so he is going to have to do something soon, before he is going to have to travel twenty minutes on his breaks to smoke!

Recently we got the chance to try some disposable e-cigarettes from Blu Cigs, to see if they could help him on his journey. 


If you have never heard of Blu, let me tell you a little bit about them. They are the best selling electronic cigarette brand!

The coolest thing (I think) about Blu Cigs is that they have the patented Smart Pack. The Smart Pack is really cool in that it not only serves as an e-cig carrying case, but also a mobile charger. My hubs would really like this to give him the "feel" of having his pack of cigarettes with him! 

The disposables that we received were also pretty cool! We got two menthol and two tobacco flavored disposables. Each disposable equals over a pack and a half of cigarettes, which was pretty cool. I really like that the ecigs have no ashes and no odor to deal with. It was so nice to be around my hubs without him smelling like a stinky ashtray! (And making me smell like one too!) My hubs really enjoyed these. He says the Blu Cigs feel more like a real cigarette than any of the other e cigs he has tried in the past! 

Probably the thing that my hubs was the most excited about were the flavor cartridges. He didn't get to try them with the disposables, of course, but he read all about them! The flavors that these cigs have are amazing! I was thinking, you know, menthol and tobacco... but no, they have cherry crush, java jolt, pina colada, even peach schnapps! These sound super awesome and my hubs is already on a mission to try them! 

They have tons of great information on their site, so whether you are a first time e-cig smoker or a veteran, you can find some great info, some great support, and great ideas! If you would like to check out Blu Cigs, go here! 

(We received a sample product in order to conduct this review. All opinions are 100% mine and no monetary compensation was given.)

Book Review & Giveaway: Food Fights!



If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time, you probably know about my kids and their food issues. We have a really hard time eating well, and have recently removed all artificial dyes from the boys' diets in an attempt to curb some less than awesome behavior.

I am always wanting to learn more about how to help them eat better, and how to make them WANT to eat better. So, when I had the chance to review the new "Food Fights" book, I was really excited about it! 

Here is a little info about the book: 


Drs. Laura Jana and Jennifer Shu, (who also wrote "Heading Home with Your Newborn"), continue to bring “peas and harmony” to family meals with practical advice gleaned from their experience both as pediatricians and as moms in their new book,
Food Fights, 2nd Edition.

Knowing what to feed children is one thing. Getting them to eat it is quite another! In
Food Fights, 2nd edition, the authors tastefully blend the science of nutrition and pediatrics with the practical insights of parents who have been in your shoes―offering simple solutions for your daily nutritional challenges. Whether you've got an infant, toddler, or young child, Food Fights promises entertaining, reality-based advice on:

▪ How to pick your battles (and arm yourself accordingly)

▪ Whining and dining, throwing food, and other dietary distractions
▪ Heaping helpings, TV dinners, fast food, and other nutritional minefields
▪ Eating out, grocery shopping, and travel
▪ The 5-second rule
▪ Drinking and dozing, juice, soda pop, and other classic drinking problems
▪ Sick kids, vitamins, body weight, allergies, constipation, spitting up…and so much more!

This revised second edition also includes new chapters on healthy breakfasts, what's lacking in snacking, and supermarket sanity, and serves up important guidance on making sense of package labels and choosing foods wisely. Add the cornucopia of resources such as recipes for success, a nutrient primer, and phone apps that help families stay on a tech-savvy track to good nutrition and this new and improved edition of Food Fights is guaranteed to leave you satisfied.


I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. A lot of times, I will get a book and think that it will be super helpful but it really isn't realistic, or doesn't apply to my family. However, this book wasn't like that at all!  

Even though the authors are doctors, they write in an easy to understand, friendly tone, kind of like talking to a friend. I really liked that it wasn't just a "manual", you know? It was personal. 

I got a ton of really great tips from this book. I found ways to try to get my boys to eat, and stop snacking so much! 

I really enjoyed the chapters on what to do when your kids are sick, and also the Five Second Rule! These were great chapters! 

We are lucky enough to be giving away a copy of Food Fights to one lucky Flip Out Mama reader! 

To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us you want to win! 

Contest will end on 4/30/2012 at approx 11:59 pm. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will have 48 hours to claim their prize! 

 (I received a copy for Food Fights in order to conduct this review. All opinions are 100% mine)

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Our Day In The Woods



Last week was Spring Break for Tater. Although we didn't do anything super big or super exciting since I was just a week out of my surgery, we had a great time. 

We took the boys down to the nature preserve by our house and went for a hike.

It is so pretty there, the trails go all the way down by the Kentucky River and you can see the Kentucky River Palisades.  

We are really lucky to live less than two minutes from the beautiful Tom Dorman Nature Preserve, and we are really excited about the plans for the Palisades State Park that will be literally, a stone's throw away! 

Anyways, we had a great day at the Nature Preserve, and it was the first time in probably, six or eight months, that I have been able to walk more than five minutes without that horrible chest pain (more mad props to Dr. Morales!). It was so nice to enjoy the day with the boys and do something that I honestly wasn't sure that I would ever be able to do again! 
 Just thought you guys might enjoy some pics from our special day!
 


Monday, April 9, 2012

Get All The Deals at Coupon Trade!



Okay, everybody, I recently found a great site called Coupon Trade that wants to help us all get great deals and make some money! Who doesn't love that?!?

You can either buy gift cards or daily deal coupons, or sell them and make some money! They also help you to keep up to date on the latest and greatest deals in your area! 

You can also find coupon codes for a huge variety of stores, so no matter where you're shopping, you know you are getting a great deal! I love that I was able to find online coupons to big box stores like Walmart and Target too! I was really pumped to find an online Target coupon for $5 off a $50 online purchase and also free shipping over $50 too! How awesome! 

I also love the fact that I can list my old and unwanted gift cards on Coupon Trade too and make a little extra cash! I will probably spend it all on the site, but that's okay too! I highly advise you guys to check it out! You're gonna love it!

Getting Back In Shape



I am so happy that I finally had my surgery and now I can get back in shape! It is LONG overdue, and I can't wait to start exercising! I found a great site called Body By Vi, and they are a great company with an even greater product! They have complete meal replacement shakes to help you get fit and stay in shape. They offer a ton of different kits depending on your needs! The Body By Vi system includes over 200 recipes so you never get bored, and you can get your product for free if you refer three customers! 

They are doing a 90 day challenge that helps people lose weight and get motivated, all while awarding up to $25,000,000 in free prizes and rewards! This seems like a super awesome opportunity, and I can't wait to give it a try! They have different kits to help you meet your weight loss goals and I can't wait to get started on my goals! 

Check out their site here: 
http://tulare.bodybyvi.com/ or watch the video below for more info!




(View Giveaway Details
Here)



RafflecopterA TrainACE giveaway

Friday, April 6, 2012

Pampers Partners With Kerri Walsh for London Olympics!



From crawling and walking to balancing and tumbling, the efforts they go to in order to overcome everyday challenges are podium-topping in their determination. To celebrate this unique spirit of play, Pampers has partnered with two-time Olympic Games Gold medalist (Beach Volleyball) and Team USA Hopeful, Kerri Walsh, to help introduce Pampers Limited Edition “USA” diapers and wipes, which will be hitting shelves this mid-April, and a new sweepstakes just for Pampers Facebook fans.


In celebration of these great products, Pampers will launch a Facebook sweepstakes of ‘podium-topping’ proportions. Beginning April 16th through May 19th, parents can visit the “Team USA Sweeps” tab on the Pampers Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/Pampers) and register for a chance to win the grand prize trip for a family of four to attend the London 2012 Olympic Games and attend the first ever Pampers Playground event alongside Team USA Hopeful, Kerri Walsh, and her husband and sons. The recipient of the grand prize trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games will be drawn on or around May 21st. Additionally, Pampers will be randomly selecting weekly winners between now and August 12th to receive a prize pack consisting of one month’s supply of Pampers Limited Edition “USA” diapers and wipes as well as a souvenir volleyball signed by Kerri Walsh.





Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Guest Post: Push Presents For New Mothers?



Okay, y'all. Where were these push presents when I was having my babies??? NO FAIR! I am totally jealous of this idea, and I think I should get two gifts now to make up for not getting them then!

Today we have a great guest post to explain this awesome trend, in case you are behind the times like me!

Now that you have given birth, there's no doubt the number one thing on your mind is bonding with the new member of your family. The whole world of diapers, bottles, and strollers can wait until you get home.

But lately there is a new thing to add to that list - push presents.

Push presents are gifts given to a new mother to celebrate the newborn baby and to recognize her role in the childbirth. Usually the father buys it, but sometimes your parents or friends might get you one as well.

While we might have heard about the extravagant rings and jewelry that celebrities buy each other to celebrate the birth of their children, the fact is that push gifts do not have to be complicated.

Even simple pieces of jewely or a spa-day gift certificate are appropriate.

This really is a quick-growing trend. In fact, a recent poll conducted found out that about half of new mothers wanted some kind of push present to celebrate this time. Surprisingly though only 25% of women actually asked for one.

Many guys simply do not know about this trend though. There is nothing wrong with giving him a gentle nudge about this type of gift if you'd like one.

How about you? Did you want a push present, and did you ask for one? If so, what did you get? Let us know!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Calling All Alvin Fans! Free printables for Easter!!



You guys know that my guys are big fans of Alvin & The Chipmunks, and we are anxiously waiting to see the new Chipwrecked movie! It's out now on DVD, BluRay and Digital Download, and we are hoping to be able to watch it and tell you guys all about it real soon!

So, in preparation for Easter, we are excited to tell you guys about some great free printables that we found! 



How cute are these!?! Love it!

Guest Post: Do You Need Charm School To Date?



Happy Tuesday, everyone! Hard to believe that one week ago today, I was in the middle of a six hour surgery! Wow, I feel so much better than I did then! 

Today, I have a great guest post for you guys. It's from my friend, Lisa, who is a dating coach for women over 50. Her website is http://www.findaqualityman.com/, and she has some really great resources for women who are getting back in the dating game! 

Guest Post: Do I Need A Class At Charm School To Date?



Chances are if you’re a woman over 50 coming out of a long marriage, it’s probably been a while since you’ve dated.  This might be the right time for what I like to call a “Dating Update.”  You don’t need to go to the extremes Lucy and Ethel did for Ricky and Fred to notice them. Just a few changes can take you from feeling kind of dowdy and outdated to feeling chic, confident and pretty spectacular.  See it as an investment in yourself as you begin this next chapter in your life.


But where do you start?  If you have a daughter or a close friend, ask them for their honest opinion of what could use some updating.  We all have a tendency over time to do the same styles over and over again, never even noticing whether they are still current.


Daughters are best for this job because they won’t hold back, plus they’ll go with you and help you, which can be a lot of fun.  Thanks to cable TV, our adult children have a good sense of style and they’ll tell you if what you’re wearing is not age appropriate, as in too young or too old for you.
Starting at the top and working our way down-take a good look at your hair.  Is your  cut updated yet classic?  Weird hairdo’s like severe wedges or spikes are best left to the younger crowd.   Is the color one that enhances your skin tone or does it age you by being too light or faded?  The opposite is a problem too.  Dark hair can make women our age look a bit ghoulish.  Even though it would be nice, Mother Nature doesn’t usually give us black hair once we’ve hit 50.


Do you like your hair stylist?  If not, find another one by asking friends who they use.  A friend of mine actually stopped a woman on the street with great hair and got the name of her stylist.   It is important to have a good hair stylist you can trust.


The next step is buying some great makeup to enhance your features.  Check out your favorite department store counter.  The makeup artists will gladly show you how great you can look using their products.  You can replicate the results with less expensive makeup purchased elsewhere if you want.
It’s important to stop here for a minute and mention that you are probably used to seeing yourself one way and change can be hard.  I know it takes me days not to be startled looking in the mirror when trying a new lip color.


It might help to take a friend or two with you.  They aren’t attached to your old look so they’ll let you know whether or not a new look is working for you.  Give yourself some time to get used to the changes you’re making.  Fortunately, hair grows back fairly quickly and makeup can be changed if you aren’t satisfied.


Shopping if you’re a shopper can be fun.  I’m not a shopper and that is why the second I found out about Personal Shoppers, I found a good one.  By the way, they don’t cost you a thing since they’re paid by commission.


With her gentle pushing, I tried new styles that actually enhanced my body.   I will admit the compliments were not only nice but they confirmed how much better I was beginning to feel about myself as the result of the changes I was making.


And, I have to admit, for the first time in my life, I felt really good in what I was wearing.  I no longer rummaged through my closet looking for something just right for a date.  Knowing I always had a couple of nice pieces I could mix and match made a huge difference in my confidence level.
You don’t have to use a personal shopper and you don’t have to shop at expensive stores to look and feel great.  Browse fashion magazines or check out style shows on TV like “What Not to Wear.”   Both will give you great ideas and tips on how to best enhance your body with clothes. Looking great makes you feel great and when you feel great, you are going to feel more confident as you adventure into the dating world.



What a great post! Thanks, Lisa! Ladies, if you would like to learn more about Finding A Quality Man, make sure to check out Lisa's site here!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

I'm Ready For Spring With Bath And Body Works Shower Gel!


I love the way a scent can make you think of a certain season, place, time, anything really.. 

That is one of the reasons I love a good shower gel. 

You can enjoy the scent while you shower, and it sticks with you all day long! 

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel is probably my favorite shower gel on the market today. 

It's a classic! 

I love that it lasts a long time, and a little goes a long way! 

The fragrances, well, cmon, they are from B&BW, so you know they are the best! 

My absolute favorite is Japanese Cherry Blossom! 

I love that it has lots of nourishing oils, including aloe vera. 

In case you have never tried it (you really should!), it's kind of a fresh and heady scent. 

The key tones are Asian Pear, Kyoto Rose, Mimosa Petals, and Himalayan Cedarwood. 

This is just one of the great scents that B&BW has to choose from! 

You can purchase this or any of the other great fragrances at a Bath & Body Works store near you!

 I received a sample product in order to conduct a review and share my thoughts. All opinions are 100% mine.

My Kids Are Getting Screwed.



I am so upset that I honestly don't know if I will be able to write this post. 

Today, while we are eating lunch, Tater asks to see a picture of his grandpa that sits up on the shelf in the kitchen. (His dad's dad.) 

I hand it to him. He looks at it quite often, and I really think he thinks it is cool to see the same house we live in now, a long time ago. 

I go to lay Bean down for his nap, and come back in the kitchen.

Tater is sitting there with the picture in his hands, tears rolling down his little cheeks. 

I ask him what's wrong. 

"It's just not fair mommy, it's just not fair".

"Daddy got to meet him and I didn't."

"Why did he want to die instead of wanting to meet me?"

It was the absolute saddest thing I have ever seen.

And he's right. It's not fair.

My kids are getting screwed by not having any grandparents.

Seriously.

I always thought it in the back of my mind, but now I know for sure.

He realizes that he's missing out.

He doesn't know the people that he's missing, but he knows they would have loved him very much.

I just don't know what to do.

There is really nothing I can do..

It is not fair that my kids are missing out.

I never thought that I would be raising my kids this way.

Even when my parents died, I was so devastated and sad that my kids would never get to know them, but I thought that their dad's parents would be a good supplement for them.

Well, their other grandpa died before I got pregnant with Tater, and their other grandma moved 1000+ miles away, and never looked back.

(Seriously, Tater will be six in April, and she's never met him.)

This is definitely NOT what I had planned.

I have thought about doing an "adopt a grandparent" program type thing, but seriously, wouldn't that just be effing them up even more?

To get them attached to some old person that is just going to die and crush their little souls again?

I don't know if that's the right path.

I just wish that they had more extended family. They have my sister, who is like a surrogate mom/grandma to them, but she has her own life and can't be with them as much as they would like.

I just hope that I can get them through this life without having this fuck them up too much..

Only  time will tell, I guess.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails