Momathon Blog

Glamorous Top Knots and Sock Buns—Oh My!

Yep. To the amazement of my family—and my dogs—I often glam up my hair with a sock. And the more unglamorous the sock the better. I'm not saying the results are always fabulous—but as long as I'm able to do anything with my stick-straight hair it's all good. Complete instructions on how to create a sock bun in the two tutorial links at the end of the post.

Of course, you can create a sweet bun without a sock. I think the gals at Alt Design Summit SLC rocked the top knot... 

Photos above from Alt Summit in SLC by the awesome photographer Brooke Dennis!

Wanna test drive a sock bun or top knot? Here are the best tutorials I've found. You can go directly to the links below. Or check out my Pinterest board Hair and makeup

• DIY Sock Bun via Wedding Chicks
• The Perfect Bun in 3 Minutes or Less via Defrump Me 

 

Spring Trends {Nail Polish}

Pale nails and two-tone manicures are a few of the trends this spring. I like the new twist on a French manicure that pairs a pale or nude polish with a bolder color painted in a graphic style like a diagonal strip, or a half moon, or a vertical split. You can find examples here.

Looking at all the lacquer color options with clever names made me wonder, do you ever select a polish color based on the name? 

 

Can you match the names below with the colors above? (Answers after the jump) 

Colors in a random order: P.Y.T. Pretty young thing • Baby love • Daytripper • Girls just want to have fun • Before he cheats • Like a virgin

Get a Sun-kissed Glow {Makeup Tutorial}

 

My skin is so pale this time of year. Looking tan-ish for me is often more ISH than tan. With fair skin and a sprinkling of freckles across my cheeks, I end up burning more easily than tanning. Don't get me wrong I love my freckles, but achieving a tan is nearly impossible. So I was searching for a good way to add a sun-kissed glow similar to the model above.   

Charlotte Ronson's bronzer is a start. Who knew you could use bronzer to sculpt and naturally enhance your features. Find out what else you need in this video by Sephora. 

 

In the tutorial the makeup artist uses Charlotte Ronson On the Glow Makeup:

• All Eye Need palette in Nicole.

• Bronze eyeliner pencil

• Your favorite mascara. 

• 3X the Charm Bronzer, Blush, and Luminizer.  

• A Perfect Kiss lip gloss in Eleanor

Okay, this works flawlessly on the pretty model who is decades younger than me. Will it work on someone my age? I'll let you know how it works for me in a future post.

Sephora also created a video tutorial last year, you can find the tutorial here.

 

Images: Hair and Makeup | Sephora.com

{This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.}

Recharge

The rush of the holiday season is just beginning. What do you do to recharge? Do you read? Take a walk? Call a friend? Pin on Pinterest? Or escape everything and take a vacation?

If you are like me, those precious recharging moments often can't be planned. I run through my day almost with blinders on. Not the best plan, but it happens. The good things happen when I slow down enough to notice what is going on around me—that's when I catch myself thinking: Wow! That was really cool. You know, that meal my kids made... or that silly dance my dog did before dinner... or that illustration I thought I'd totally messed up but now I like. 

Those unplanned moments when I stop judging every little thing and just open my eyes, those are the golden moments that keep my creativity going.

Taking a class has been one of the best ways for me to recharge my batteries and feel energized because I am learning something new and making new friends in class at the same time. Many of my favorite classes are sponsored by Alt Design Summit. And I'm thrilled to say that I'm going to the Alt Design Summit conference in SLC in January. The conference sold out in seconds, but thanks to Bing's Natalie Bowman (@missbeaux on Twitter) and the awesome folks at @Bing I scored a conference ticket! Thanks Bing! I've taken several inspiring ALT Summit Channel courses with Natalie, Bing's Marketing Director, including her awesome class "Tough Love: What Brands Really Think About Your Blog."

This week on the Alt Summit Blog, Melanie Blodget (author/editor/featured dancer at the lifestyle blog You Are My Fave) shared a video by Joss & Main. Watching the video featuring bloggers at Alt NYC conference makes me even more excited to attend the ALT SLC in January. Get inspired—check out the video below.

For more inspiration, see the Alt Summit Blog.

 

Images: JUST BREATHE graphic by me, Chris Olson and features photo by me. Feel free to Pin images on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

 

Go Ahead, Be Awesome!

Are you a perfectionist? As a card-carrying "over thinker" I know my tendency to be self critical happens all too often. I need to tape the message above to my mirror. 

If you are looking to get out of a rut and reclaim your awesome-ness, check out these inspiring links:

I believe awesome-ness is contagious. Look at the awesome collections Erin Loechner features daily on her blog Design For Mankind.

Creative awesomeness needs to be shared. Do you like to create things and dream of turning your craft into a career? Check out the the books Craft, Inc. and Creative, Inc. by the super creative Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho.

Gretchen Rubin's best-selling book and her blog The Happiness Project offers insights on how to find happiness in your life.

Image above by me, Chris Olson. 

Sleepy? Try Out the Caffeine-O-Meter

Waking up at the crack of dawn has never been easy for me. With kids getting breakfast and heading to school before 6:30 a.m., a cup of coffee is essential for me.

Not all coffees and teas are created equal according to the caffeine-o-meter. A Starbucks Vanilla Latte sounds mellow, but it has 150 mg of caffeine compared to a 16 oz Dunkin' Donuts cup at 143-206 mg. As for tea, a 16 oz. Starbucks Tazo Chai Tea Latte has 100 mg. Who knows, maybe next time I'm feeling a bit sluggish in the morning I'll really go wild and grab a cup of ice cream. Did you know that 8 oz. of Ben and Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch has a whopping 84 mg of caffeine. And two tablets of Excedrin, Extra Strength has 130 mg.

According to research by the USDA as reported by the MayoClinic.com the following coffees, teas, and other drinks include the following amounts of caffeine. Note that the caffeine amount listed is specific to the size of the cup tested. For specifics on caffeine levels, continue reading.

You Have Permission to Act Your Age

At 90 years young, fashion and design icon Iris Apfel gives all of us permission to act our age—and perhaps most importantly—to also be proud of your age.

Known for her round oversize glasses and pairs of bangle bracelets, Apfel obviously loves expressing herself creatively through fashion and creating a signature look.

Although we may live in a youth-obsessed culture, a shift is beginning to take place in fashion and beauty. The self-proclaimed "geriatric starlet, " Apfel has become a hot new rock star in the cosmetic's industry with the limited edition Iris Apfel collection with MAC Cosmetics. Apfel also has her own line of jewelry, scarves and beads at HSN.

(Image above by me, Chris Olson. Photos: MAC Cosmetics)

Back to work and a kid-tested hiccup remedy

 

 

Good morning, friends. Time to grab another cup of coffee and get back to work. Hope you had a relaxing long holiday weekend.

Here is what caught my eye this morning:

My favorite hiccup cure was not listed in the WSJ.com article today: Hiccup Remedies to the Rescue. Maybe I should write to Philip Hagen, a physician in preventive medicine at the Mayo Clinic, who offers the five proven remedies for common hiccups in the WSJ.

My hiccup remedy comes from my daughter (kids often know best): Fill a glass with water and take 16 small sips in a row. Try it.

(Art by by me, Chris Olson.)

8 Simple Holiday Stress Busters

 

Completely avoiding all stress triggers during the holidays is an unrealistic goal that might end up making you feel more tense. Instead try one of these eight simple ways to feel better fast when stress levels build.

1. Take a short stress break and laugh – watch, read or listen to something funny

2. Forget about being the super hero – stop juggling and try focusing on one activity at a time or find a way to collaborate with others such as a joining a babysitting co-op to free up some time

3. Slow down and "meditate on the go"– Build your mind-body connection by practicing slowly breathing in and out or even talking more slowly than normal

4. Simplify your to-do list – for starters examine your list and check one thing off and do it now

5. Skip the afternoon caffeine and instead take a brisk walk outside to boost your energy

6. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water

7. Avoid slumping at your desk – set a timer on your laptop and every 30 minutes do a posture check.

8. Build in a daily or weekly "mini escape" from the holiday rush – immerse yourself in something relaxing like a soak in the tub with bath products containing rosemary or eucalyptus or indulge in some aquatic therapy in a pool with sunlight streaming in a few windows

For more information on stress reducers:

• Whole Body Action Plan | Whole Living
• 10 Stress Busters | World of Psychology
• 8 Immediate Stress Busters by MedicineNet.com

Photo by me, Chris Olson

 

Simple fixes for the germiest places in your home (and office)

 

Did you know germs from flushing the toilet can last in the air for up to 2 hours after flushing? Gross!

I'm a germophobe and visions of floating bacteria in a bathroom scares me. The problem is I am not a neat freak. And I know overly friendly germs are lurking...

Because a squirt of hand sanitizer can only do so much good, it's time to for me to break out the cleaning supplies. Mary Anne Dunkin in a WebMD article lists six surprising places germs live and even thrive in your home as well as your office. Here are Dunkins cleaning tips:

Kitchen Sink

The problem: Leftover food particles from plates can end up multiplying before they reach the dishwasher. According to WebMD, the sink zone is a breeding ground for illness-causing bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella.

The fix: 

• wash sink with a solution of bleach and water once a day 
• let the bleach solution run down the drain 
• remove the drain plug and clean it
• wash your hands

 

Toothbrushes

The problem: "Flushing the toilet sends a spray of bacteria- and virus-contaminated water droplets into air." These germs can survive in the air for at least two hours after each flush before landing on surfaces such as your toothbrush."

The fix:

• place your toothbrush away from your toilet 
• close toilet lid when flushing
• put toothbrush in a place where it can air out and dry between uses
• replace your toothbrush often
• replace toothbrush after you've been sick

 

Salt and Pepper Shaker

The problem: Cold viruses can live on surfaces you touch when you are sick.

The fix:

• wipe off the salt and pepper shaker at each meal
• wash your hands before and after you use seasonings

 

TV Remote Control

The problem: People don't wash hands regularily and then they touch and also cough on the remote.

The fix:

• wipe remote with a bleach or alcohol wipe daily
• practice regular hand-washing

 

Computer Keyboard

The problem: In a recent study "4 of 33 sampled keyboards had enough germs to be considered health hazards. One had levels of germs five times higher than that found on a toilet seat."

The fix:

• wash your hands before and after using your computer
• don't drop crumbs into your keyboard
• clean your keyboard by carefully shaking out the crumbs or vacuum it
• wipe the keys with alcohol or bleach wipes that are not too wet
• wipe the mouse

 

Bathtub

The problem: "A recent study found staphylococcus bacteria in 26% of the tubs tested. A separate study had even worse findings for whirlpool tubs."

The fix:

• disinfect tub with bleach or bathroom cleaner after bath
• dry tub with a clean towel after use
• whirlpool tubs: clean out the pipes in tub

 

The best advice? Remember to wash your hands often--and don't stop washing too soon. Wash for at least 20 seconds or the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday song twice. According to WebMD, if you depend on hand sanitizers to stay clean, remember to try to wash hands at a sink at least after every 4th use because the hand sanitizers build up on hands.

(Photo by Plutor with processing by me.)

 

When bad hair dye happens to good people

I am one of those moms who can speak up for her kids when something goes wrong, but for myself--silence. Even worse, I have been known to say thank you for really bad service.

Last week I went to the salon for partial highlights. Somehow the partial highlights turned into full. The "a few brown highlights here and there" idea ended up making my naturally blond hair turn an ashy brown with a few blond highlights.

I think after the unveiling in front of the mirror at the end of the appointment, if the stylist had looked at my eyes with my total deer-in-the-headlight look instead of my awkward smile, she may have realized that something had gone terribly wrong.

Bad hair dye and hair cuts happen all the time. Figuring out what to say to your stylist is the tricky part. According to Susan Wagner in a BlogHer post, how you communicate your concern is key: 

Call the salon as soon as possible; be specific about what exactly isn't right about your cut or color, but keep your cool. It won't help to yell or cry, even though you might feel like doing both. If you need to, make a list of things you would like the stylist to fix and take that with you to your appointment. It's important that you communicate clearly with your stylist in order to prevent a second mishap.

Is my new hair color worth a do-over? Evidently using highlights to completely change your hair color is a no-no. According to 10 Tips For Beautiful Dyed Hair From Oprah's Hair Expert, Rita Hazan says: The highlights are an accent to the color, not a color themselves.

And my new haggard look isn't just a normal mommy condition. My new ashy hair color could be the problem. According to Hazan, "Colors that are too beige or ashy don't complement skin tones." Gold or warm tones give the skin a more youthful, healthy glow.

Well, enough about me. Evidently lots of moms feel guilty about going to the salon and then complaining later. 

Over at the blog The Laughing Stork, Candy says:

I was expecting to relax and revel in a much-needed ego boost from my fabulous new style. Instead, I sat down in the chair, and the stylist (whom we’ll randomly call Dick) tilted his head and pursed his lips at me. “Can we talk about your color?  It is SO DINGY,” Dick clucked.

Yep. We have all heard our stylists complain about our hair. And we just sit there and take the abuse because heaven forbid we make a scene.

Fortunately, good dye (and good cuts) can happen to good people. All it takes is good communication between you and your stylist. As Candy says at the end of her post:

The point is (yes, I DO have one, thankyouverymuch), when you are in customer service, you do not greet a new client by insulting her hair.  Everyone knows you’re supposed to start off by insulting something small, like lipstick color, then work your way up to hair color.  Customer Service 101. Duh...

I don't love my new hair color. However, I DO like my hair stylist. This episode is just a fluke event. So, what should I do? My good friend and mentor for all things style says I need to put on my big girl pants and tell my stylist that my new hair color is not what I asked for and ask her to fix it.

Sigh. Sounds easy enough. Three days later and I am still working up the nerve to do this. And I'm remembering my mom's advice, "even a bad haircut grows out."

Wonder how those blond roots growing in will look? 

Why a cup of tea makes you feel better

Different types of tea have hidden health benefits according to The Dr. Oz Show. 

Migraines: Ginger tea has anti-inflammatory properties and blocks prostagladins that cause migraines. Drink the ginger tea as soon as you feel the headache symptoms.

Weight loss: Oolong helps you burn fat faster because it boosts metabolism.

Libido: Ginseng tea helps both men and women improve their libido by boosting sexual arousal and combating erectile dysfunction.

 

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

DIY: Homemade sugar bliss lip scrub

 

Feeling a bit flaky? I know the feeling. In the morning when I put on layer after layer of my favorite cotton candy gloss, sometimes the flakiness won't go away. 

If you are longing for the days when your lips felt soft and smooth, then try this homemade lip scrub to make your lips ultra kissable. The sugar in the recipe exfoliates and softens your lips and the Vaseline moisturizes and soothes your lips. 

Sugar Bliss Lip Scrub:

• Moisturize your lips generously with Vaseline or generic petroleum jelly.
• Add a tsp. of sugar into a small bowl.
• Lightly moisten your finger in water and dip it into the sugar.
• Apply sugar to both the upper and lower lips with your finger.
• Gently rub the sugar into the Vaseline for about 30 seconds in a circular motion and you will remove the dry, flaky skin.
• Rinse off your lips with warm (not cold) water.
• Dry off your lips and add your favorite lip gloss or lipstick.

(Lip photo by Apdk on Flickr)

I also posted this DIY lip scrub recipe in April.

For more recipes, click on Momathon recipes.

I also posted this DIY lip scrub recipe in April.

For more recipes, click on Momathon recipes.

Should an 8-yr-old get a bikini wax?

 

What happened to childhood? A new salon trend has girls before they reach puberty getting a "virgin" wax. Sounds outrageous to me. My big question is why? 

Evidently moms are scheduling virgin waxes for their young girls because they think getting a wax treatment at an early age will prevent future hair growth. That's news to me. I have never heard my pediatrician bring up virgin waxing as an option.

According to an article in Gothamist, Wanda Stawczyk, who runs Wanda's European Skin Care on West 57th Street:

"Virgin-waxing for children 8 years old and up who have never shaved before. Virgin hair can be waxed so successfully that growth can be permanently stopped in just 2 to 6 sessions. Save your child a lifetime of waxing... and put the money in the bank for her college education instead."

And this makes me ask again... WHY? Does an 8-yr-old even have pubic hair? According to dermatology.com, the barely noticeable pre-puberty hair is called vellus. This fine, non-pigmented hair covers the body of children. 

Except for the advice of the salon worker quoted above, I'm not sure this shaving will prevent hair growth in the future. Besides, if vellus is not noticeable, why should anyone shave it?

What happened to childhood? Virgin waxing is one more way very young girls are asked to grow up way too fast. 

(Photo above by Tom@HK.)

Embrace your inner celebrity and wear sunglasses

Chances are you will remember to slather on the sunscreen if you are going to spend time outdoors. Did you know that your eyes can suffer from too much sun too? 

July is UV Safety Month. The same UV-A and UV-B rays that damage your skin can harm your eyes as well. Too much UV exposure can lead to eye health problems similar to a sunburn on the surface of the eye. Conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration can also be caused by too much exposure to UV exposure. 

Simple ways to protect your eyes
Next time you or your kids go outside wear sunglasses that block at least 99% UV-A and UV-B rays. Add a wide brimmed had and your eyes will appreciate the comfort and protection. Watch out for over exposure during midday as well as when the sun reflects the off water or snow. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

DIY: Homemade sugar bliss lip scrub

 

 

Feeling a bit flaky? I know the feeling. In the morning when I put on layer after layer of my favorite cotton candy gloss, sometimes the flakiness won't go away. 

If you are longing for the days when your lips felt soft and smooth, then try this homemade lip scrub to make your lips ultra kissable. The sugar in the recipe exfoliates and softens your lips and the Vaseline moisturizes and soothes your lips. 

Sugar Bliss Lip Scrub:

• Moisturize your lips generously with Vaseline or generic petroleum jelly.
• Add a tsp. of sugar into a small bowl.
• Lightly moisten your finger in water and dip it into the sugar.
• Apply sugar to both the upper and lower lips with your finger.
• Gently rub the sugar into the Vaseline for about 30 seconds in a circular motion and you will remove the dry, flaky skin.
• Rinse off your lips with warm (not cold) water.
• Dry off your lips and add your favorite lip gloss or lipstick.

(Lip photo by Apdk on Flickr)

Tame those resolutions and live a little

Have you already broken all your resolutions for 2010? Don't worry. Breaking a few rules does not spell disaster. According to surgeon Dr. Susan Love and psychologist Dr. Alice Domar, authors of the new book Live a Little!, perfection should not be the goal. Learning to relax and live a little in 2010 just might improve your life.  Setting unrealistic goals that require following every health rule all the time only sets us up for failure. In fact, the authors say perfect health is a myth and a healthy middle ground is better suited for our busy lives. The book's dose of realism in a world filled with hype about healthy habits is perhaps the best medicine of all.

Read an excerpt from their book here.

 

A new twist on mommy hair: perfect ponytails

 

 (image: obo-bobolina)

My kids call it mommy hair. I pull my hair back in a quick ponytail. It's a timesaver for me, but I am not sure the look works. I am always in a rush and never have enough time to mess with a fussy hairstyle.

Ponytails are easy, but they can also be kinda boring. But wait, today's ponytail can also come in a variety of sassy styles: 

• Full high tail: this ponytail goes high on your head, just tip your head upside down, pull the hair into a ponytail, add some curls, and you have a pretty cascading ponytail.

• Full low tail: this ponytail is pulled to the side, put the tail on the opposite side of the part to make hair flow nicely to one side, ponytail looks very full.

• Wrapped tail: this style works best with longer hair, slick back your hair nice and clean, put into a ponytail, take half of the hair from the ponytail and start at the base and wrap the tail with your hair. 

Check out the video clip with celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Antin on the TODAY Show demonstrating how to make the new perfect ponytails:

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Was this a good hair day?

We've all had bad hair days. If I can get away with it, those are the the days that I hide my hair under a baseball cap. The thing is, everyone knows exactly why I have the cap on.

Why is good hair so important? And why can't we convince our kids (and ourselves) that the stuff on top of our head isn't nearly as important as what is inside. 

According to the Sundance Film Festival 2009 website: When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” the bewildered comic committed himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl's head! 

So what does Chris Rock do next? He makes the award-winning new comedy/ documentary Good Hair that looks at the preoccupation with straightening hair.

Relaxants for hair, weaves and more for black hair are expensive. It's almost as if you can get addicted to the products that make straight hair. Who can afford it? Discussing why and how people turn their kinky hair into straight hair is almost a taboo subject. Which makes me wonder is straight hair really "good."

 Our relationship with hair is a complicated one. Even when life is getting tough some women may choose their hair care over more basic needs. Says Rock in the Chicago Sun Times: "You know Beyonce is going to spend five grand getting ready for the Grammys. But to know Kiki spends five grand to work for AT&T -- where she's only making $35,000 or $40,000, or whatever she's making -- that blew my mind."

 In his documentary Good Hair, Chris Rock visits beauty salons, barber shops, hair manufacturers and wig merchants in his quest to understand how so-called "good hair" affects self-esteem and even sexual relations. Rock's candid look at the nine billion dollar African American hair business opens this Friday.

No Botox Beauty Mojo

I am at that age where I won't deny that I have considered Botox. I probably could use something... My "mature" skin with freckles definitely gets too much Rocky Mountain sun year around. I don't follow a complicated beauty regimen. I never find enough time for beauty luxuries with kids, pets (including a puppy) and a husband. Sleep is the one nutrient I crave and my face shows it.

Just heard a great tip to at least fake that healthy and rested look in photos:  Raising your brows for a photo gives you the appearance of a instant face lift.

Sure, the temporary rested look is pure fantasy.
No worries. I say whatever works. 

image: Wee-Peng

"All right Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." 

. ,

(Beautiful photo of Louie the cat thanks to Wee-Peng.)