I have CRAZY hair!

I was born with crazy hair. It's a well know fact about me. I actually didn't even know that I had wavy hair until I was about 22.

For my 22nd bday I asked for a gift certificate to a high end salon I came across one day. I was fortunate enough to get the owner of the salon as my stylist and let her cut my hair as she thought best. It was a great cut that came with a sleek blow out. Everyone knows your hair never looks as good when you do it at home so I didn't even attempt to emulate the styling job. What I did do was allow it to air dry and low and behold when it dried it was naturally and stylishly wavy. My hair has never been the same since.

When I was in high school I would fight with curling irons, trying to get my hair to lay just right but it never did and I never knew I needed special products for my crazy hair. My dad's hair is straight my mom's hair is curly my hair was frizzy. I has happy to blame all my hair issues on genetics and just leave it at that, that was until my 22nd bday of course.

Armed with my new epiphany about my hair I have since set out, like most of you I'm sure to find the perfect products for my hair.

So it's really important to get a good cut to suit your hair style, that's the first step. I don't know how many times I asked for a cut like a picture in a magazine never to be told my hair would not lay that way without tons of styling and products-not for me. I had the same stylist for about 3 years and decided I wanted something new. With each new stylist I was very honest and up front.
"I want a cut that will enhance my wave and make my hair look fabulous, but with minimal effort on my part. I'm really low maintenance when it comes to my hair. I don't like to comb it, blow dry it, style it."

Fortunately, I've found someone I really like.

Most important for me is taming frizz.
Shine, Shine, Shine.
Now I'm trying curl enhancing products.

There will be a slew of product reviews about hair from shampoos to serums, drugstore to salon products.

As far as products go I don't even know where to begin, but you will soon learn about some good, great and not worth it products.

Letita

It's Snowing!

It snowed 4 inches yesterday.

Here is a link to photos of our snow filled day.

Here are a few videos documenting our snowman making skills and my dog playing in the snow.

So it seems there is a prob with uploading more videos at the moment.

Check back and they might be up.

Letita

Pretty Petals for my Wrist

This will be the first of many reviews for sewcranberry!!

I have always loved to accessorize. I think accessories though small, make a big statement and really show off your personality.

Today we have a few bracelets from sewcranberry. I really like the fact that they have interchangeable bands and flowers. In the picture there is a leather like black band with grommets for when you're feeling kinda edgy or wider black fabric "cuff" with a beautiful design.

Pictured are just a few of the flower color/pattern options that you can easily pop and change to fit your outfit or mood. They can easily be changed but I never have to worry about them falling off, they securely snap into place.

Another cool and innovative idea from sewcranberry is the flower pin. Again you can easily change colors and they snap securely into place every time. Pins add personality to any outfit but I like to add them to jackets. I'm wearing a jean jacket in the pic and like to wear it on the pocket because I use the button hole to secure the pin and I don't have to make hole.

I always get comments and questions every time I wear these little beauties and I'm sure you will too! I've seen flowers for your hair on headbands and as clips (I'll review those later) and the quality of these are so much better and really affordable. Plus you can request custom colors or patterns making your item truely one of a kind.

Where can you buy these? Well on Etsy of course. Remember, "Support your local crafter, buy handmade." Click here to be taken to sewcranberry store.

Learn more about sewcranberry

I'm a Kindergarten teacher who is relatively new to sewing and the crafting community and I am loving it! I remember knitting and crafting with my grandma growing up in the 70's and am glad to have gotten back to it. I am also an auntie and most, if not all, of the items I put in my shop I've first made for my nephew and niece. I also don't put anything in my shop that I wouldn't give myself as a gift. I like working with my hands and take the time and effort to do quality work using the best materials I can find. All my work is done in a smoke and pet free studio.,As well as selling on etsy I enjoy shopping here. And as I like to tell my family and friends: "Support your local crafter, buy handmade." ;^)

Letita

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE!

Dr. Dima's Cosminology Astro-Orbital Hues & Astro-Orbital Accent makes this "Eyes with Attitude" look easy.

Dr. Dima's mineral formulations are ALL NATURAL.
Free of:
Parabens, Talc, Oil, Fragrances, Bismuth, Oxychloride.

I love using these shadows and liners and always, always, always get compliments on my eye make up.

Dr. Dima's Cosminology has dark dramatic colors and natural soft colors to choose from. You can use both shadows and liners wet or dry which really changes the finished look and makes them last crease free all day and night (even after dancing all night at the club).

One of the things I really like about these prodcuts is that they are pressed minerals so you don't have to worry about spilling your minerals all over the place like with most mineral lines. They are pressed with jojoba esters which is really hydrating and great for your skin. We often don't pay enough attention to our delicate eyelids so look SEXY or Natural and condition your skin at the same time.

Don't forget to play with your minerals; you can layer or mix these shadows and liners to create your own custom colors. Right now all mineral eye compacts are buy 1 get 1 free and you get a complimentary brush too! It's a great time to stock up or share with others!



click here to read what others have to say about it.

Letita

Under eye puffiness

Med school is def starting to wear on me from all the stress and lack of beauty sleep :( I've noticed that I have puffiness under my eyes more regularly now. Any suggestions as far as make up or other beauty tips? :D Y.G.

Hi Y.G.,

There are a few simple things you can do to help with this problem.

Beauty Tips:

A quick thing you can do in the morning is to splash some cold water on your face, this gets the circulation going.

You can also try lightly tapping your upper or lower lids to help move fluids away from your eyes. Use only your fingertips.

If you have more time use a chilled gel eye mask. If you don't have a mask you can always use chilled cucumbers, tea bags or teaspoons. They are just the right size and it's the cold that will help the puffiness.

Make up Tips:
According to Dr. Haberman clinical instructor of dermatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City and author of The Doctor's Beauty Hotline. To minimize upper lid puffiness, apply a darker shade of makeup on your upper lid, from just below the brow to the crease. Then stroke a lighter shade on the lid from the crease to the lashes. Puffiness is less noticeable when you highlight the lower portion of the lid. For under-eye bags, use a slightly darker shade over your regular foundation.

Hope this helps!

Letita

Botox Cosmetic & Dress for Success

In honor of working women who have helped make BOTOX® Cosmetic (botulinumtoxinA) the most popular physician-administered aesthetic treatment since 2002I, Allergan, Inc. developed the ”BOTOX® Cosmetic: Express Success“ charitable education campaign spearheaded by actress and singer Vanessa Williams. The campaign benefits not-for-profit Dress for Success, an organization that helps disadvantaged women succeed in the workforce, through a $250,000 donation from Allergan. The donation supports the organization’s efforts to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Dress for Success is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has helped more than 500,000 women work towards self-sufficiency. The organization offers a number of services to help women reach their goals, including:

■The Career Center promotes confidence and professionalism by providing clients with services and resources that are vital to women entering the workforce, including career guidance, technology skills and support in their job searches.
■The Professional Women’s Group provides employed Dress for Success women with support to help them make the transition from unemployment to work by offering sessions with expert speakers and monthly meetings covering professional development topics such as communication skills, financial planning and health and wellness.
■Finally, Dress for Success helps women “look the part” by providing each client with one suit when she has a job interview and a week’s worth of career separates when she lands a job.


Visit http://www.dressforsuccess.org/ for more information about how to get involved, including various ways to donate and volunteer.

Pledge Your Support:
As part of the ”BOTOX® Cosmetic: Express Success” campaign, for each of the first 25,000 people who register, Allergan will donate $2 to Dress for Success on their behalf.

Your Closet Can Help Too
Donate your nearly-new professional attire to Dress for Success through one of the BOTOX® Cosmetic: Express Success campaign local events. Sign up to receive more information about local events.

click here for more information

Letita

My Skin is Winter ready!

The weather is getting colder every day here in Northern Virginia.

Every morning I get prepared to walk my dog:
Boots? Check
Coat? Check
Gloves and Hat? Check

When I walk outside and the cold air hits my face I think maybe I should buy a ski mask. Every part of me is covered and protected but what about my face? Then I remember I do have a glove for my face, a Galactic Glove.

Galactic Glove Seal Your Skin Anti-Oxidant Serum is an important part of your daily skin care regime. It “seals” your skin with a protective layer making you less susceptible to irritation or inflammation caused by external factors; in this case harsh cold winter weather.

When we are outside the biting cold and wind can irritate our skin. When we are inside the heat pumping through the house adds to our skin dryness. It’s lose, lose for your skin unless you “skinsulate” as Dr. Dima says “You need to apply the right product to replenish and skinsulate your largest organ to allow for proper functioning of your cells and prevent water loss.” click here to continue reading about skinsulation.

Don’t think this is a one trick pony, Galactic Glove not only protects and hydrates your skin it also:
Helps treat acne breakouts and enlarged pores
Decreases the look of fine lines and wrinkles
Is an excellent base for mineral make up

I use Galactic Glove every morning because of the wonderful skin benefits. When cold weather comes around I make sure to apply it morning and night as a result my skin never gets dry or irritated.

Cosminology is having a 10% off special on Galactic Glove Seal Your Skin Anti-Oxidant Serum. Just in time to help you “Skinsulate” this winter!

Letita