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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Spring Makeup Must Haves from Nordstrom Trend Show

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Want-it Wednesdays:
I received free admission and several samples for my personal review. However, the opinions expressed here are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)


I’m a make-up fantatic. Which is quite funny because I don’t wear that much, but I sure do love to play with it and basically collect it like figurines on my bathroom shelves (I’m positive I would be considered a Hoarder, but that’s not the topic of today’s discussion.)

What is though? Some spring make-up must haves. 

Recently, I was privileged to attend Nordstrom Spring Trend Show event at Galleria Dallas. If you’ve never been or never heard of it, it’s like Beauty Church…complete with a preacher, deacon, music and pews (well, figuratively speaking). It’s heavenly for people like me and even more so for those women who will spend the whole day at Nordstrom buying and trying all the latest and greatest in makeup and receiving mega bonus buys while being treated to some pretty nice treatments. All for a little $25 golden ticket. And gals, it’s worth it. 

Sitting in attendance with some of beauty royalty like Karla Sugar, I was able to see what was new on the market and also score several samples of it, too. So once I got home I dumped out my goodies to try ’em out. 

Here’s what I found that I really loved: 

  1. La Mer: Does it need explanation? There’s a reason women pay around $275 for this magic cream in a bottle! $150-$275
  2. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution: Dark circles and big pores be gone! $85
  3. Laura Mercier ambre vanille souffle body creme: Smells A-mazing $35
  4. Viktor & Rolf SpiceBomb: It’s for the men, but smells so good I haven’t given it to my husband to wear in fear I might jump his bones in public. $48-$128
  5. Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate: Firm my skin and even out the skin tone.$85
  6. Brushes from Nordstrom: Just like a pen, it’s gotta feel good when you use it. It’s good to replace those brushes from time to time and these are so soft and with a little care, can last me a while!
  7. Kate Somerville CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream: I’m sure sleep my help me cure some of my huge dark circle issues, but in the meantime until I win the lottery or someone wants to pay me for my sarcasm, I’ll be using this stuff.  $75
  8. Lancome Visionnaire Corrector: More love for my dark circles as well as my pores and evening my skin tone using a little handle applicator. $89-$109
  9. Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials: Always in search of making my eyes look brighter, this shadow primer helps keep your eye makeup in place and makes you appear that you’ve had at least eight hours of shuteye, even if two is sounding good. $25
What’s new in your makeup bag? 


Celeb-Inspired Spring Jewelry Looks {Invitation to My Online Spring Trunk Show}

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To-Do Thursdays:

JOIN THE PARTY  
—————> AUTUMN’S TRUNK SHOW <—————–

So this week’s Want-it Wednesday and To-Do Thursday comes together to for a mega party and YOU’RE INVITED! 

Spring means it’s time to update your wardrobe with color and fun…for me that means it’s time to take out the black and put some white in there, too. Luckily, I dress up my look with fun statement pieces like big necklaces and cuff bracelets. (In the words of Rachel Zoe, “I die!”) 



I’ll admit that my kids love to play in my jewelry and even my son likes to help me accesorize my look – he actually told me the other day I needed a little pop of color! So I’m taking his advice and sharing a few of my favorite pieces (and the celebs) from the spring Stella & Dot line! 

I’m kinda obsessed with this Modern Mom, Brooke Burke!

Most people know Stella & Dot for at-home parties with your friends – but the lack of time makes it hard to just have a night to hang out with the girls. So I’ve done us all a favor and created an online jewelry trunk show you can attend in your PJs and from your couch! 

JOIN THE PARTY  
—————> AUTUMN’S TRUNK SHOW  <—————–


Elizabeth Banks is more than “Pitch Perfect,” but she’s got jewerly perfect taste, too! 

If you don’t love Olivia, you should – look at her good taste! 


I hope you join me at least for a little time-out to see what you’re missing…
and even better: 


So what are you waiting for? 

JOIN THE PARTY  
—————> AUTUMN’S TRUNK SHOW <—————–




Let’s Go Brazilian…

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Me Mondays:



No, we aren’t talking that (but if you want to, I’ve gone there, too.)
However, we are talking about Brazilian blowouts. They’ve been around for a while, but basically after this special treatment from your stylist, you can have straight, beautiful hair and minimize your blow drying time to boot. Seemed like the perfect solution to those of us that look like Tina Turner without a blowdryer, flat iron and tons of products, however, the $200-$500 plus price tag and the drama about formaldehyde, has made it a little harder than just making an appointment to your local salon.
So I took it into my own hands and considered two at-home treatments.
Two totally different lines and different price points both promising to make my long locks light, shiny and smooth as well as:
  • Works with all hair types
  • Repairs cuticle damage
  • Regenerates and strengthens hair fibers
  • Restores natural shine and softness
  • Seals hair cuticles
  • Reduces volume and frizz
  • Makes hair resilient and healthy
  • Formaldehyde and sodium chloride free
Best of all, my 30 minute blowdry routine could be minimized to $15 minutes AND no flat iron/curling iron time. With the holidays sucking up all my extra time outside of work and dealing with the kiddos, I needed to get back all the time I could get as well as give me shortcut to look like a million without making me spend that much time to do my hair (or pay someone else to do it.)


The original, the Brazilian Blowout is the line of products that started it all. While you can still can get the treatment professionally administered, the line has provided an at-home product that’s meant to provide at-home users a way to take it into their own hands.   This Brazilian Blowout hair care kit thoroughly cleanses the hair while maintaining vital moisture for increased strength and radiant shine. Combining these hair care products results in smooth, frizz-free and radiant hair.
Approximately $125 and available online at brazilianblowout.com, drugstore.comand others.


Made for every day use. Also recommended for those who have professionally relaxed/straightened hair to keep hair at its best between touch-ups. From the instructions, it looked like an actual treatment that could take up to an hour or longer and a couple of trips to the shower, but the site had lots of instructions and videos to not mess anything up.
Approximately $25 and available at local Walgreens, Walgreens.comand drugstore.com.
Now off to my bathroom to see what I can do to make my hair shiny and beautiful…maybe.

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

7 Facebook Auction Sites You Should Like: Your Guide to Facebook Auctions

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Tech Tuesdays:

Facebook has brought us so many things:  the ability to communicate with long-lost friends, quietly stalk old boyfriends and brag about the cool places you are going to. Actually, I love Facebook and it’s amazing what one website has allowed us to do (or in my case, not do.) And now it’s brought us the easiest shopping experiences possible – via Facebook auction.

If you haven’t had the chance to participate in an online auction to snag the trendies jewelry pieces or cutest kids clothes, then you shouldn’t start. Honestly, like Pinterest, it makes spending time you don’t have feel like you might miss an opportunity to learn the secret to eternity if you don’t scroll down the page for a few pages and type those four letters : S-O-L-D.

I know I came by my first Facebook auction honestly…I heard about it from a friend who had “liked” the page and decided, that I would snoop and see what she liked. Shouldn’t have done that. I found myself at Jewelry Nut Auctions, had bid on the must-have necklace of 2012 and then within a few hours had received an invoice, paid via PayPal and then around a week later had a cute little delivery. It was so easy it hurt and that started my newest addiction.

After a “why didn’t I think about that?” moment, especially since so many of them are DFW-based… I found out I was a little late to the game.  Jewelry Nut claims they were the first Facebook online auction site dating to 2011, but the concept has spread like wildfire and there are many others including adorable kids clothes that work just the same way. 

The 2012 necklace of the year, inspired by J. Crew. Grabbed mine on Jewelry Nut  for around $26. (Grabbed this shot from Cupcake Life.)

The concept is easy. Basically 2-3 times a week for one hour, the site loads up their goodies for the night, you bid on them and then if you make your bid before the quantity is out, it’s yours. The rest of the time the Facebook site is showing previews of the things you can bid on during auction nights. It really is genius and after looking at some of the “Like” counts on these, you can see that I’m not the only addict.

Just make sure you check out the basic rules first before your first bid, but here are the normal fundamentals before you jump in blindly.
  •          Check to see if you need to register for bidding
  •          No returns or exchanges
  •          Invoices should be paid immediately (within 48 hours)
  •          Shipping is normally included


Still think you need to try a taste? Here’s just a few of the ones I’m following:

Auctions are twice a week on Monday and Wednesday, 8 – 9 PM CST.
Also, they recently began Style Nut Auctions (Women’s Clothing and Accessories), which are on Wednesdays at 8 PM. (Love these gals since they are local yokals from Fort Worth!)

Smocked by StellyBelly: (Children’s Clothing)
Auctions are twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 PM CST.
Accessories Auction: (Jewelry/Accessories)
Auctions are twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 PM CST. (More Dallas ladies with their business hats on.)
Accessory Concierge: (Jewelry/Accessories)
Auctions are twice a week on Mondays at 11 AM and Wednesdays at 8 PM CST. (See the trend here? Dallas likes its accessories!)
Southern Tots: (Children’s Clothing)
Not necessarily an auction, but sales happen Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays.
Zdori Auctions: (Jewelry)
Auctions happen Tuesday – Thursdays from 11 AM – 1 PM. This site says they even offer items for free if you claim them in time or share enough of their site with your friends on Facebook. (Hello again from big D!)
Smocked Auctions: (Children’s Clothing)
Auctions are twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 PM CST. (Another lovely Dallas-based company.)

Which ones are you following? Am I missing one? This addict needs another fix!

To-Do This Weekend: Treat Your Senses

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To-do Thursdays:


This weekend is all about preparation for fall…with Halloween next week, my 21st birthday (tee-hee) and a little chill actually roiling into Dallas/Fort Worth, I need a little time to get things in line. 

So with the exception of all the fun things I need to catch up on like laundry, dishes and holiday planning (I did say that), I’m planning on keeping the calendar light — well, kinda.

Here are a few events I’m planning on for this weekend:
Face Logic Spa, one of my favorite local spas owned by local mom Faryn Clark, is holding their annual Image Peel Event with an opportunity to see the future of your skin, Oct. 26 – 28. While I’d like to think my skin isn’t beginning to age, I can’t ignore the things I can see and even worse, the things I can’t see — YET.

The experience includes a special introduction to the Woods Lamp, which utilizes an ultra violet light to reveal color changes and areas of hyperpigmentation (age spots/sun damage) below the skin’s surface so they can prevent those imperfections before they are visible. 



A peek into the future is $25 and includes a Wood’s Lamp session and an aesthetician’s analysis of what it reveals. Consultation also includes a 20 minute Image Vitamin C or Orodemic Peel ($59 value) + a $25 gift card for any Image retail product -to use that same day, cocktails and a pass into the Peel Event reception. 

Annual Image Peel Event 
Facelogic Spa Highland Park
October 26th-28th
Reception – October 27th, 1 pm – 6 pm, featuring Jena Sorenson, LME 
Raffle, goody bags and more than $800 in giveaways
4518 Lovers Lane
214.696.3223

Suck it Up and Suck it In (with a Corset)

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style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Me Mondays – Part of my never-ending challenge to create a better me…
When I think of the word ‘corset’ I  immediately think of Scarlet and Aunt Mammy in “Gone with the Wind.” The two women working to lace her up before going to the Wilkes BBQ and then later again in the movie, when she talks about trying to make her 21 inch waist go back done to 19 inches.  That actually makes me laugh now since it’s been a while since I was 21 inches – a very long time and I certainly haven’t been wearing a corset…at least not until now.

Scarlet and Aunt Mammy work together to cinch her waist back to 19 inches in “Gone With the Wind.”
However, what I used to think as that thing that women USED to wear back then (or if you are a pop star on stage) isn’t so passé anymore. Actually corsets are back on the rise reports the BBC; real women are actually wearing them again as daily undergarments in attempts to make things look a little smaller, a little smoother and in some cases, a little sexier. And after giving birth to two children, a girdle or a corset now seems like small potatoes to get all that mess in the middle to look a little better.
Then last week a special package ended up in my mailbox from corsetchick.com. With Halloween around the corner and a mama still without something to wear, I was intrigued to see what the box had in store for me. And of course, being committed to the cause to help other women like myself and in hopes to squeeze my ass into a pair of my B2K (before two kids) jeans, I happily pulled them out and began the siphoning process.
Devil costume includes corset, skirt and accessories. (Photo courtesy of corsetchick.com)  

When I opened things up I found both a witch and a devil complete with a skirt and appropriate accessories.  They were really hot outfits, although it was still going to take some guts and a few shots of liquor to wear thse out of my house. I will admit I now understand why it took Scarlet and Mammy to cinch her in – it really is a two-man process. I had intended to be THAT wife and put one of them on for show after a weekend away, but I really needed his help to put me in it or get it off of me when he got home (it was a lot less sexy and a lot more funny than you could have imagined.)
Add a hat and this corset and skirt becomes a witch costume. (Photo courtesy of corsetchick.com) 

But once I got it on, I did feel pretty hot mama. I couldn’t breathe so great, but at least I looked good. And along with a pair of fishnet pantyhose and sexy shoes, I was going to conquer Halloween, even if the only trick-or-treat was going to be happening behind closed doors. ;>
As for suggesting if a corset is for you? That’s all up to you (and your waistline.) However, corsetchick.com can give you a chance to try one out without making a huge financial commitment. And they certainly make it fun with all kinds of cute outfits for Halloween (and more if you’re looking at adult dress up time.) The only thing you should know is to ignore the sizing and cut them off immediately when you receive them at home. For instance a size XL is an 8-10, so if your waistline is over 32 inches, get ready for 2XL. Not exactly what you want to see before you slide your tummy into a piece of lingerie, but that’s nothing a pair of scissors can’t fix. 
Trick-or-Treat!

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Trendy Baby Fashion Tips (Without Going Broke)

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A recent article said that raising a child costs an average family $235,000 from birth to 17. While that probably seems hard to imagine as a new or parent-to-be,  ask any parent with at least a six-month old and they know that babies and all their “stuff” add up.  And by “stuff” I’m not even talking about the perfect stroller (which I’ve yet to find and have five), but your baby’s style – like clothes, shoes and even their diapers.


I got a glimpse of my grim (and poor) future when I waspregnant with my daughter and purchased a white Burberry onesie. Not onlyshould a baby not wear while, but there is no use for Burberry on a one-yearold. I don’t even have any Burberry!
So in efforts to help you rather than pretend it’s not important, here are a couple of tips from this mom on head-to-toe baby style(not to be exemplified on mom’s own capacity to be stylish.) Besides, when your kiddo is 17 they won’t hate you for putting them in that ugly Elephant out fitif you put them in some of these designer shoes! 

One-stop shopping that cute for all ages
I’m so excited to share some new happenings from one of our favorite stores, The Children’s Place! While I have been a fan of The Children’s Place for the kids when they hit those toddler years, when they were infants it seemed like their baby section was limited. However, the store is now understanding that moms don’t have time to go to several stores to score all our kiddos’ clothes,so they’ve revved up their under 12 months old department and appropriately named it BABY PLACE! Now not only can you grab all your uniforms and staple items, but can also get clothing for the baby too! And best of all, they say during the holidays, you’ll be able to find coordinating outfits for all ages…(yes, I said that and you probably will too!)
Also,for those of you that already have kids, right now there are so good deals going on instore and online as well as cash back when you spend $40!

           Consignment shopping
If you like dressing your kids as much as I do, you’ll go broke – no matter how much money you have! Thankfully, nowadays being thrifty is nifty, so sales like Just Between Friends and Rhea Lana have become celebrated bi-annual events for moms. Whether you are selling or buying,these events make having young children affordable and you benefit from those moms who buy all the nice clothes for their kids and take care of them! When kids only wear things 2-3 times when they are under 1, it doesn’t make sense to invest in really expensive clothing,but your kids can if you are willing to look and go early at these not-to-miss sales.  So just go to these websites, save the dates and make sure you get there before the crowds do!
           Stepin Style with her first pair of designer shoes!
If you follow me, you know I prefer to be barefoot, but still love the art of a beautiful shoe. And given the opportunity to have a pair of my own Stuart Weitzmans, I would probably put them in a shrine to look at every day rather than wear them. Soget almost the fun out of a having a pair and for a whole lot cheaper, get your baby fashionista her own pair of My First Weitzman.  Available from newborn to 12 months in a broad range of colors and styles, any stylish mom and her baby will thrilled to have a pair! This perfect gift item comes beautifully packaged in a pink signature box.

You can be stylish all the way to their undies
Having your baby all dolled up doesn’t end with the dress and the shoes. With designer disposable diapers and adorable cloth diapers, your baby can look good with hardly anything but their bottoms! Now while I am not a cloth diaper mama, I have tons of friends who are and claim it really is easy as well as much more inexpensive and not to mention more environmentally friendly. So when I was received a few samples of adorable cloth nappies from Ones & Twos that grew with you from ages 0-2, my curiosity made me want to try cloth diapers (only as a test.) Once I read the instructions a few times and popped online to the cloth diapering pros at Pooters, I felt I could do it…and since we weren’t going anywhere for the evening, why not?
In the words of Paul Harvey, “and the rest of story…”:
Actually there really wasn’t one. I didn’t love the part about washing them after the mess, so I know I would outsource that part to the professionals. But all together, I can proclaim it can be done…(at least once that is!)

Just face it kids cost money. A lot. But by being smart and being willing to pair a little hand-me-down Ralph with a brand new pair of Stuart Weitzmans, your baby will still be the belle of the ball!
DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Mama Needs a New Pair of Shoes

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Unlike most women, I don’t like shoes. (Pause for gasping.)

We’ll let me paraphrase…I don’t like to wear shoes.

I actually like to look at shoes and even take them out for a walk from time to time, but I’d just rather be barefooted all the time. Unfortunately, the only thing bad about an upcoming trip to Italy is that I have to get a few pair of shoes that are supremely comfortable to wear for several miles of exploring, but have a smidge of style since I only have room enough for two pairs of shoes for two weeks! What I found is that shoes can be a lot more than just footwear. They can have their own personality and even improve your health.

The Predictable: Black Crocs Capri IV Sandal, ($39)

I’m a big Crocs lover, not of their most familiar shoe design, but their sandal line. I’ve had four years to research all the pros and cons of these shoes. They’re versatile, far-beyond comfortable with Crocs technology, minimal design, and reasonably priced at approximately $40. The double-cushioned footbed feels amazing, the little “massage pods” feel nice all day long. I can tell you from experience the only downfall is that if you leave a pair in the sun for several hours, they will shrink, so I pay attention to the warning they give you! However, a few avid travelers told me that Crocs were not the way to do Italy and I needed something more “sturdy.”


However, from looking at some blogs, it seems you either think Crocs are the best or the worst option for traveling. I won’t know which of these camps I’ll be in, but I’ll let you know in August upon my return as I don’t go anywhere without my Crocs – at least not yet.

The Trendy: Tom’s Wedge, ($69) 




A recent birthday party with some moms all discussed their love or hate of Toms. Some of the ladies owned like ten pairs and my side still didn’t get it. I really want to like Tom’s…really. I looked at buying several pairs of them, although I think they are the cutest ugly shoe I’ve seen in a while. But after I yearned for a cute comfortable shoe that I could go to a party or the grocery store and not feel like I looked like “that” mom, I finally broke down and bought the Tom’s Wedge. I considered this style to be an upgrade from the original style and would be so stylish. Once they arrived on the doorstep, I put them on immediately and was pretty depressed. Not so comfortable and actually kind of tight, but thought I needed to break them in. While I got complimented EVERYWHERE I went, my feet hated me even more than they did all swollen at 9 months preggo…I still have hopes, but they just feel like a nice boyfriend that you just couldn’t get yourself to like no matter what.


The Wise One: Dr. Andrew Weil Spirit Sandal, ($90)

In the middle of my research on comfortable shoes, I ran into Dr. Andrew Weil…or at least his line of MOVE-ment sandals. Developed to not only make your feet look good, his podiatrist-designed, biomechanical Tri-planar Motion Control footbed has a deep heel cup that stabilizes, supports and naturally realigns the feet. And since this renowned doctor has focused his line on the mantra walking for life, I knew these shoes had to be comfortable and really great for my feet — if anything my feet (and my posture) would better than it was before. So to be a little “out-of-the-norm,” I opted for a snake-skin look and put these puppies to work.

I definitely felt the difference. Immediately the way I stood changed in the sandals. The style was cute and certainly above my everyday sandal. Now while the sole was flexible and soft, I have yet to actually put this sandal and the straps to a real “wear-it-all-day” test on my toes. However, I think this shoe might make it a place in my suitcase…maybe not as my long haul option, but as my dressier number for dinners and a change of shoe. I am actually looking into the Restore Sandal for #1 spot, but at $90 I’ll have to save up a little.


The Wild Card: Marchez Vous Claudette ($395)

In my search to “Google” comfortable shoes, I have run across several probably comfortable but very ugly shoes. But that was not the case with Marchez Vous. French for the words “You Walk,” this Italian-made shoe line is designed not only with comfort in mind, but definitely with style and fine craftsmanship. Created by veteran actress-turned footwear entrepreneur Yeardley Smith (probably most-well known voice of Lisa Simpson), this new line of shoe have a personality all their own. Now while I won’t be galloping in these shoes in Italy, I might have to make some space in my case to at least take these babies out to at least frolic.


Not only were these tall platforms rather comfortable for a pair of 4 1/2-inch shoes, but they made me feel like a whole different woman. And apparently that’s exactly what self-professed shoe-aholic Smith wanted when you slip her shoes on. So much so that each shoe has a card inside the box that has a special name and personality for each shoe.
When I opened my box and unraveled the pretty autographed-inspired paper to find:

Once I buckled them across my ankle, I felt like a supermodel with those killer-to-die-for shoes you repin on Pinterest (and I was just walking from my bedroom to the kitchen!) While I may have to find the right dress to match these hot-mama shoes, it’ll be worth it if I get the same head-turning looks I felt like they deserve. Time to take Claudette for a test drive (or at least another strut around the house!)
         

Do you have any suggestions for a fabulous shoe that is as comfortable as it is hot? Please let me know and soon since I leave for Italy in just a month!

Disclaimer: I was provided a pair of shoes from Dr. Weil and Marchez Vous for purposes of this review. However, all the opinions expressed here are all my own.

Get a picture-perfect smile!

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There’s a month designated for everything nowadays, but this month was new one for me… May is National Smile Month! And considering I’m always working to make my coffee and wine tinted teeth look like they belong on the front page of a celebrity magazine at home WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH MONEY. So when I got a few tips from a dentist to make my teeth look great without a treatment or service, I was excited to share these with you. But after I did a little more research on this dentist office, I found out this was no normal dentist and it’s possible to get those pearly whites – looking a lot more white at home with a home kit!
First, because I can’t keep a secret, I had to share the juicy stuff. After a little Googling I discovered this dentist was in CHICAGO…so immediately, I started to delete her info since I wouldn’t be traveling out of state just to do a crown. However, it was the words “SPA” in Mitchell Dental Spa that really peaked my interest. While you get your dentistry, you can get a facial, massage or botox while you are laying horizontal in the chair waiting for your cavity to get filled. BRILLIANT! So the question remains, when are these guys coming to DFW? 
Second, the free way to get your teeth picture-perfect for National Smile Month, check out these great tips: 
A great smile can go a long way when it comes to making a first impression. White, bright teeth and a wide smile convey an air of confidence that is important in any situation, from a job interview to a first date. Teeth whitening procedures are certainly effective, but small daily steps can also be helpful and less expensive.  
1.) WEAR LIPSTICKS THAT CONTAIN A HINT OF BLUE—Blue tones around the mouth can make teeth appear whiter, so when shopping for new makeup, consider red lipstick with blue undertones.  These will make your smile appear brighter by offsetting any yellow coloration in the teeth.  Coral and orange based lipsticks can make the teeth appear more yellow, so avoid these if you are self-conscious about your pearly whites.
2.) SNACK ON CRUNCHY FRUITS AND VEGGIES –Mildly abrasive fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots or celery not only provide the body with essential nutrients, but also act as a natural toothbrush by gently scrubbing off small bits of plaque that have gathered on the teeth and gums.
3.) SWISH WITH WATER AFTER DRINKING TEA OR COFFEE—Coffee, tea and other dark liquids can stain the teeth and leave them looking dingy. To prevent discoloration, simply swish water around in your mouth immediately after consuming a staining liquid.
4.) CHEW SUGARLESS GUM CONTAINING XYLITOL—Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar substitute, has been added to many sugar-free gums as a sweetening agent, but it also has healthful properties. Chewing a gum containing xylitol, such as Trident, has been shown to reduce the levels of harmful oral bacteria, reducing the likelihood of developing cavities.
5.) BRUSH TEETH BEFORE GOING FOR A RUN—Running dries out the mouth and any plaque that already exists on the gumline will tend to dry out and calcify, resulting in discoloration and even gum disease. A quick brush before leaving for a run can help solve this problem.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: 
While I have tried some reasonably good teeth whitening systems at home, it always seems after I wear the trays or gel on my teeth for an hour, the next morning when I turn on my friend Keurig that it seems like I just wasted the treatment from the night before. So when the IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit system appeared on my doorstep, I figured it would end up in the drawer with the other products. But in addition to the bumpers that keep you from getting the ointment on your tongue this kit gives you an eraser pen to use after your coffee, wine and any other foods that stain your teeth. And best of all, the actual IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit (retailing online for $70 for two packages – buy one, get one free) seems to work well and I give it a pretty good challenge!

 No matter what, remember the best way to celebrate Smile Month is to SMILE! Besides, it increases your face value.

Looking for a better way for a picture-perfect celebrity smile? May is SMILE MONTH so make sure you give those teeth a little extra love!


DISCLAIMER: I received IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit for consideration of a review. However, all the comments listed here are my own. 

Pin It To Get The Perfect Mom’s Day Gift

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Every Mother’s Day everyone scrambles to get the right Mother’s Day gift. Although I have received a good one or two myself (my husband surprised me the year right before my was born with a pair of diamond earrings in my Sunday paper), for the most part it’s like Forrest Gump said, “you never know what you’re gonna get: (and in some cases, not get.) 

So rather than scour the planet to try to figure out what you think mom wants for Mother’s Day, I’m going to tell you exactly what to do to get it right this Mother’s Day… 

Go to Pinterest. You’ll find the motherload (yes, that was the perfect pun!) 

Yep, this social media site (whose users are 70 percent women in the U.S. according to Mashable) is going to give you a full listing of everything you can think of to get for mom and probably at every price point. Don’t know if your mom is on Pinterest or know she doesn’t have an account? Don’t worry: just get one for yourself and type in “Mother’s Day” to get tons of ideas that you can make or buy just to make your mom feel special this Mother’s Day. 

First thing you should know is Mother’s Day isn’t really about what you get her. Yep, while jewelry, purses and all that is nice, you can get away with a lot cheaper items and get big brownie points. A meal, a craft or a keepsake may make take you a little time, but remember, the gift is about letting her know how much you appreciate her. However, if your mama has been screaming for a new Louis Vuitton (like I have) and you’ve got the cash to splurge, don’t worry, you’ll still get your bonus points and a lot more too if you get if for her (honey, this special note was just for you.) 

Here’s just a few pins I’ve come across that might make good Mother’s Day gifts for mom, grandma, etc. And if you’re like me and you get to purchase your own gift and then let everyone know what they got you, there’s even a few ideas just for Mother’s Day for you to give to your kiddos one day to show them how this whole Mother’s Day thing is supposed to work. 


        
      
    

So to all your mamas out there, I hope this post helps to create your perfect Mother’s Day! 


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