A Day Late and a Dollar Short

....as usual!
I have an excuse.
I've been busy.  I'll share all of the pictures on Sunday, but here's a sneak peek.....

Tonight (Friday night) was Shelbie's Junior Prom.
I know I am biased, because she is MINE, but....O.M.G.  She looked SO, SO beautiful.  I couldn't stop the tears, looking at her and her beautiful friends whom I've watched grow up since middle school.  They are so confident, poised, and lovely.

After pictures they headed off to dinner.  Shelbie and my new stepson, Tyler, ate dinner at the same restaurant and one of Shelbie's friends took a pic of the two of them together.

Byron, my mother-in-law, and I went out to dinner together.  We had a great time.  I really lucked out in the MIL department this time around.  She loves me and my children.  She's sweet and SMART and a wonderful person.  She, of course, adores her son and so do I.

OK one more.  Then I'm outta here.

Me & My Girl

It's bedtime for this girl.  We're going to hang out with the MIL tomorrow.  I plan on tanning by her pool!
Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!!

Dove Damage Therapy Conditioner: Review & Sweepstakes

I confess: I love Dove products.  

 I have used them for years, 

from the bar soaps to the deodorants 

and everything in between.

So I was excited for the opportunity to review another Dove product.

This time, it was the Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner.

You may notice the package is all bent out of shape.  
That's because, by the time I took the picture, we'd already used it a LOT!  

When it arrived in the mail, the first thing I did was pop the cap and smell it.  It smells wonderful.  I wish I knew how to describe it, but it's not a fruity or floral scent.  Just a very clean, soap-like aroma.  Love it!

It's a thick yet weightless formula.  I condition my hair every time I wash it because I like for my hair to feel soft and free of tangles.  This conditioner was perfect for that!

We also took it camping with us last weekend.  I liked that it was in a lightweight, portable container.  It made it really easy to toss in the caddy and bring it along.

We swam in chlorinated water and lake water, and baked in the sun.  

Our hair definitely needed repair and protection, after all of that abuse!

After my 16 year old daughter, Shelbie, used it for the first time, I asked her how she liked it.

She said that she hadn't styled her hair after using it (obviously, since we were camping), but her hair definitely felt soft and she was able to comb through it easily and had no tangles.

Our hair looked great and never had that straw-like feeling it so often gets in the summer after the typical summer activities in Florida.

Instead of the dry, rough hair we often experience at this time of the year, 

our hair was silky-smooth.  

Dove uses a patented technology to achieve this; it penetrates deep inside the hair strand, helping rebind damaged proteins.

The patented Micromoisture Serum targets damage, 

repairing the surface of hair by sealing lifted cuticles.

It's available in two daily treatment conditioners:

a nourishing oil care daily treatment conditioner as well as the intensive repair daily treatment conditioner.

There are also other formulas that I'd like to try, like the Color Repair Conditioner - 

Mama colors OFTEN to cover up the gray!

Many conditioners that I've used in the past for repair of damage and dryness left my hair greasy.  It can be hard to nourish and moisturize your hair without leaving it oily as a result.  But Dove succeeded in that area as well.  My hair is soft, smooth, silky and shiny - not weighted down with oil.  

It feels great, and I think it looks pretty good!

me & Shelbie during our camping weekend

For more information about this and other Dove hair products, visit dovehair.com.

And now - what's in it for YOU?

We wanna know - what's the most important thing you look for in a conditioner?

Enter to win a $1,000 Spafinder gift certificate!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt:
What is the most important thing you look for in a conditioner?

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that post.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 9/4/2012 - 9/30/2012

Be sure to visit Dove^®Hair.com to get a coupon for $1.50 off Dove Hair Therapy products.

Remember - comments here don't count - you have to follow the links!  GOOD LUCK!

Summer Silliness in Florida | Giveaway!

Summertime is usually a very fun time in Florida. It's so HOT that, to beat the heat, we usually spend any free time in the water, be it the beach, springs, or rivers. This summer has been a little less fun than normal, because we haven't been able to do all of the fun things we like to do, due to work, schedules, storms, and just general CRAP. But it's still important to keep up with our beauty routine, because even just running to the store, we may not wear a bikini (you're WELCOME!) but we do wear flip flops, shorts, and tank tops.
Oh, how I need a tan!

Anyhoo, my youngest daughter, Elayna, interviewed me about my summer beauty tips, and I wanted to share the silliness with you!

Elayna: Mom. You hate feet. Do you hate your own feet?
Me: Nope. I love MY feet. My feet are awesome. I hate everyone else's feet!

My Awesome Feet.

Elayna: Have you ever had a pedicure?
Me: I've had two. I'm not a huge fan. I do my own pedicures.

Elayna: What's the silliest thing you've ever done to try to make yourself look good?
Me: That would probably be the time I dyed my hair kool-aid red. The box said "Copper". I thought, Copper=Penny. A nice bright auburn, perhaps? Except for No. Not at all. KOOL-AID RED.
It wasn't pretty.

Beach Time!

Elayna: What summer beauty tips would you like to share with everyone?
Me: Keep your feet looking good. Nobody wants to see nasty, scaly heels and chipping toenail polish. And fortheloveofGod, shave your legs! And don't use a cheap razor that's going to cut them up; nobody wants to see that either. Use a great razor, like Venus Embrace. You'll get a close shave without slicing your skin to ribbons.
Also? A secret to silky legs is most definitely Satin Care Passionista Fruit Shave Gel!

Its infused with the sparkling scent of juicy, fresh fruit, leaves your skin soft and satiny smooth every time you shave. That stuff is the bomb DOT COM!

Elayna: Mom, stop saying that. Seriously.

Me: Also, you don't want to go to the beach with nicks and cuts on your legs. That.HURTS. That's why I love the smooth-glide Ribbon of Moisture that Venus Embrace has, and the 5 blades for a comfortable shave. It's great for first-time shavers.

Beach Girl!

Elayna: So Mom. WHEN are you going to take us to the beach??
Me: When we hit the lottery, maybe???

Check out the brand's Facebook page for more fun & informative info. They've also got some great tips for moms of first-time shavers over here.

Aaaand check out this awesome sweepstakes!!

"What's the best beauty tip you have shared with your daughter to prepare her for the summer or share your funniest beauty mishap for the chance to win a $50 gift card!”

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/26 - 8/23.

Be sure to visit the Venus brand feature page on BlogHer.com where you can read other

bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Have you checked out the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com? There are some great tips and expert posts on everything from Looking Your Best to Getting Happy and Getting Organized!

Wrinkles, Aging & Toning - Oh My! | Review & Giveaway

Introducing Dove^® VisibleCare^® Crème Body Wash. Built on the brand’s heritage in cleansing and caring for skin, Dove VisibleCare combines the best of Dove technology into a luxurious experience for beauty seekers. With the highest concentration of NutriumMoisture technology across the Dove portfolio, Dove VisibleCare Crème Body Wash actually improves the look of skin over time. Visit Dove^® VisibleCare^® to get a coupon for $1 off!



Dove has released a new, premium line of body wash products, and being a long-time fan of Dove products, I was excited to check them out.

 I tried the Dove Visible Care Toning Creme Body Wash. Because, I am not exactly a spring chicken, and I figured I need all the toning I can get. It's not like I'm going to get any at the gym I never go to! The Toning Creme helps promote skin's elasticity and strength. Yes, please! Seriously, this is really important as we age. We lose so much of our elasticity, so I was happy to find a product that helps to promote that.

Wrinkles much?? 

 And it really does work! It contains the highest concentration of Nutrium Moisture technology across the Dove portfolio. These body washes give you visibly more beautiful skin in just one week. And yes - they really do! And it feels amazingly soft, and the difference really is noticeable. Oh - and it smells amaaaazing! I love a body wash that has a really great fragrance.

I use a lot of Dove products in my beauty routine; deodorant, bar soap, lotion, shampoo and conditioner are just a few. I've trusted the brand for many years for both my own beauty routine and my family's. I'm happy to add this to my collection of Dove products that I'll be using regularly.

 It may sound surprising - visibly more beautiful skin from a body wash? But it's true. I'm pushing 40 so I know all about the need for toning, and I was very impressed with the results of Dove's new body wash. It's been increasingly challenging lately to find time to take care of my skin & other beauty needs. (my gray roots are OUT OF CONTROL at the moment!! Time to color STAT!!) So I appreciate that Dove has a product to make toning as easy as washing up in the shower.

 They also offer a renewing creme body wash and a softening creme body wash - both of which I look forward to trying out.


 And now it's time for the fun part!! Hello, PLEASE check this out - $500 Spafinder gift certificate?!?! TWO of them up for grabs?
Have you EVER had $500 with which to pamper yourself at a spa?  Because I have NOT so I am SO excited that TWO of my awesome readers are going to get such a fantastic prize. Good luck, amigos!


Enter to win one of two $500 Spafinder gift certificates!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/18/2012 - 8/22/2012
Be sure to visit the Dove^® VisibleCare™ Crème Body Wash brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

A First of Many Firsts

When my youngest child came to me asking about shaving her legs, a few thoughts ran through my head.
First of all: Wasn't she just born, like, last week? And now she's ELEVEN years old? How does this happen?
And then: OMG she's going to cut herself to pieces.
The thing is, she does need to shave. Her legs are quite hairy (sorry, kid), and we live in Florida. Shorts are worn year-round.
I just wasn't sure I was ready for yet another "first".
She's my last child. So all of her "firsts" are also "lasts"...her first Christmas was the last first Christmas I'd ever experience with a child. Same for her first steps, first words, first smile...
Her first day of Kindergarten nearly brought me to my knees!
And then there are those precious firsts...like last year when she and I sat on a dock and she saw her first shooting star. Priceless!
So here we are again, with yet another first. Her first time shaving her legs.
At first we tried the non-razor approach. We used a foam hair remover. It worked....somewhat. It left her stubbly and not smooth, and it was kind of a hassle, what with having to time how long the product was on her skin. "MOM!! Has it been five minutes yet?!?!"
So I finally let her move on to *gasp* razors.
And it really wasn't as bad as I thought.
I had visions of my own wounds from years past. I have had some lovely shaving-related injuries, which I won't elaborate on...you can thank me later. But times have changed, and the products available now are so much better.
I love that there are products specifically geared to women now. They smell fantastic and are made for the contours of our legs instead of men's faces.
The products we prefer are Venus Embrace & Satin Care Passionista Fruit shave gel. The Satin Care has a sparkling, fruity scent and is without a doubt the key to silky legs. It feels great!
And I love the Venus Embrace for Elayna. It has 5 blades for a close, comfortable shave. It also has a Ribbon of Moisture, for a smooth glide. This is so important...remember my flashbacks of shaving injuries past?? It also features a soft grip handle for great control, which also helps prevent those nicks and cuts.

So all in all, this was a good "first". She feels a little more grown-up and likes having silky smooth legs. I feel reassured that she's not going to cut herself up while getting those silky smooth legs. I'm glad these products are available now to help us get through one of many firsts in life! If you have a first-time shaver in your home, you should check out some of these great tips from Venus Embrace!

I know she's starting to pay more attention to her appearance and I want to make sure she's getting the right information from me. What are some of the ways you tackle conversations like shaving (or other "firsts") with your daughter?

Leave a comment to be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card, courtesy of BlogHer and Venus!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/21 - 6/30.

Be sure to visit the Venus Brand feature page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and

find more chances to win!

Beauty in Blogging

I got this lovely award from my lovely blog friend Christine at Raised Queer. I love her blog; she is funny and heartfelt, which is a wonderful combination.
I love this particular award and am honored to receive it; thank you again, Christine!



Of course, there are rules that go along with this award. The rules are that I have to tell you 7 interesting things about myself and pass it along to 7 other bloggers.

So, I'll start with trying to come up with 7 interesting things about ME. Some of you may already know a few of these things, but some of you may not.

1. I'm one of those people who is chronically late. I don't do it on purpose. I try to be punctual, or even early. It just never happens!

2. I hate cigarette smoking. I mean seriously hate, loathe, despise it. I may even post all about that in the near future.

3. I haven't had a real vacation in several years...but I'm taking one this year! And I can't wait.

4. My ex-husband and I were in the same kindergarten class. Then he moved to another school and we didn't see each other again until we both started working at Publix Supermarket. I still remember him in Kindergarten!

5. I had weight loss surgery almost two years ago, and it was one of the best decisions I could've made. I'll be blogging about that later, too!

6. When I was very young, I LOVED Barry Manilow. Seriously loved him. When I got older and heard people make fun of him, I was shocked. I thought he was great!

7. I hate feet. I have a serious aversion to them. They are nasty. Just the thought of touching someone else's feet makes me queasy. *shudder*

OK, whew, done with that!

Now, time for the fun part - passing this on! I'm awarding this Beautiful Blogger award to:

Dina @ 4 Lettre Words

Erin @ My Little Miracles

Debby @ Just Breathe

Mama Wheaton @ The Unperfect Mom

Cat @ Juggling Act of Life

ShortMama @ Family of Shorts

Jenn @ Seizing My Day

These beautiful bloggers are some of my most loyal commenters, so this is my way of saying -

When I grow up....

............I either want to be her:

{Catherine Zeta-Jones}

or her:

{Sofia Vergara}

Clearly there's a connection here. It's obvious that I have a "type". Brunettes, for one. I am a brunette and I think dark hair is beautiful.
But there's something about Latino women!
Sofia Vergara plays Gloria on Modern Family, one of my favorite shows, and her accent is to DIE for! Instead of "yes" she says "jes", instead of "you" she says "jou". It's awesome. I love her and want to be her!

Okay, not really, but if I had to trade bodies....it would be one of these two women hands.down.
And now I'm off to work on a dark tan and a fake accent.....

ETA: I wrote this post last week, and then on Sunday I was reading the Parade Magazine and was thrilled to see a feature article on Sofia Vergara! Now I know that not only is she beautiful, but she has a wonderful attitude. She's been through hard times, including the murder of her brother and a personal battle with thyroid cancer. But still she says, "It's a beautiful world." The article quotes her as saying “I’ve been through it all, so I don’t take life’s little dramas too seriously. I say, don’t sweat the small stuff, because there’s bigger stuff that can really make you sweat.” Now I not only admire her beauty, but her attitude as well!

So tell me about you...if you could trade bodies (and maybe accents?) with anyone out there......who would it be?