Celebrating Mum...

On Sunday, May 10, 2015, a lot of people in this country was celebrating their mums.  Not this family.  It wasn't that we didn't think Mum was worth celebrating, but rather we didn't want to celebrate Mum on the same day everyone else was celebrating.  Why? Because restaurants, parks, and other places we would go are packed with people.  So, this lovely woman was celebrated the next day - Monday.

Lovely, isn't see? She's my mum and a kick-in-the-bum.  Don't let those grey hairs fool you - there is nothing elderly about this woman.  She may walk a little slower, have bad knees, and serious arthritis but she's still as fiesty and youthful as ever.  She is one of the few who, at her age, has no wrinkles.  While she has laugh lines and a little baggage under her eyes from 35+ years of working the graveyard shift, the age spots have yet to appear and her laugh is as boisterous and lively as ever.

So, Dawn and I decided to take Mum out to lunch at one of her favorite restaurants - Calico Cupboard in LaConner, Washington.

Review: TRESemme Dry Shampoo

I admit it.  I don't shampoo my hair every day.  I don't because my hair it just isn't good for your hair.  However, because I have baby-fine hair - when I don't shampoo my hair on a daily basis, my hair can look on the greasy side on Day 2 or Day 3.  So, I've been on the hunt for a dry shampoo that will soak up those oils and refresh my hair.  I don't want my hair to be gunked down with product, plus I want to still have the flexibility to put my hair up, put it in braids, or pull it back into a ponytail.  When I saw this TRESemme product, I thought I would give it a try.

I have used this product several times since I purchased it.  This dry shampoo product doesn't do the trick.  While it is easy to use, the heavily fragranced product will give you a headache within minutes.  In fact, every time I've used this product - I had to leave the house for meetings, errands, or other reasons.  Not even going outside eased the heavy chemical smell.

While affordable (I purchased my canister from a local Target for $4.99), it is nothing more than glorified hair spray.  Once on, don't bother to try to manipulate your hair into different styles.  At first I thought I put too much on my hair, but even with the most mild application - my hair turned into a helmet head.  I tried styling my hair and then spraying it on, but my hair looked like greasy hair with hairspray on because I wasn't able to apply the product to the roots of my hair - as I would do if my hair hadn't been styled yet.

That said, if you can manage that over-whelming stench (and don't mind other people pointing out the strong fragrance) and don't plan on styling your hair beyond the basics, this could be the product for you.  For me, though, the hunt continues.

I give this product 2 (for price and ease of use) out of 5 stars.

Review: EcoTools' Kabuki Brush

I don't wear make up.  I used to wear make-up.  From the ages of 13 to 18, I wore make up.  Well... What I wore was mascara, a little eye shadow, and even less eye liner.  That was the extent of my make up.  However, when I left high school and moved across the state to attend University - I stopped wearing make up.  It wasn't that I didn't need it.  It was more that I was incredibly lazy.

This practice of going make up free continued through to today (unless you count Burt's Bees Lip Balm).  What started off as lazy, quickly became a skin care choice.  Unlike many women of my age who do wear make up, I don't have those fine lines that start to surface at my age.  I rarely get pimples, zits, or spots.  I have, what many have described as, a "peaches and cream" complexion.  However, I'm not quite sure what that means.  I just know I have good skin, but I cannot take credit for it.  I credit the genetics I received from Mum... good skin runs in the family.

That said, I have a few major projects happening in 2015 that have already started, and a few of those projects require me to wear make up.  They require a lot of make up.  Without the make up, I look incredibly pale and sickly.  But more about those projects in 2015.

So, I've taken a crash course in learning about make up.  I've tackled the topic like the academic I am, and I've become a little more comfortable with something that used to take me less than 5 minutes to do.  And one of the major lessons learned is the importance of using the right brushes during the application phase.  The Kabuki brush by EcoTools is a dream.

The bristles are soft and do not shed like many brushes.  This Kabuki holds powder well and spreads liquid consistently.  It is one of those great all-around brushes you need in your toolbox, and it is offered at a very affordable price.  I paid $7.95 for it.

EcoTools did not sponsor this review, nor did they provide me with the Kabuki brush to review.  I went to the store and purchased it - just like anyone else.  However, I was so pleased with my experience with this brush, I wanted to share it with all of you, and will most likely expand my EcoTools' brush collection based on this Kabuki.

What about you? What tools do you find especially helpful when applying make up? Do share, and I'll check them out.  I need all the tips I can get!

Review: bSoft Flannel Sleepshirts from Sleepyheads

Back in July, when I went to BlogHer 2014 in San Jose, California, I shook hands with a few people and handed out my business card to a few more people then that.  Apparently, one of those business cards went into a contest where I won a flannel sleepshirt.  So, I thought I would write a little review on that sleepshirt.  Keep in mind, while I did receive the sleepshirt for free - I'm not being paid for this review.  All opinions are mine own.  That said... On to the review!

The sleepshirt came courtesy of Sleepyheads.  I had 3 options to choose from, so I thought I would purchase the pink flowered one since it was going to go to Dawn.  She loves the color pink, so it was the logical choice.

Made of 100% cotton, this flannel sleepshirt cost $26.00.  I didn't know what to expect, but it came wrapped in a big plastic bag instead another big plastic bag.

Here is what it looks like laid out on Dawn's bed.  I have to say, it is soft.  Soft as heck!  I admit I had second thoughts about giving it to Dawn based on how soft the sleepshirt is but the shirt was significantly shorter on me than Dawn and I already promised her the shirt anyway.

And she had it on faster than I could unbutton a button to try it on.  This is her modeling it for the camera.  I recommend this sleep shirt.  However, when you get it - make sure you wash it first.  Even though it is very soft and you'll immediately want to put it on, the fabric is a bit stiff.  A simple wash takes care of that easily.

Dawn stayed toasty warm in the pajamas, and they have a firm footing in her bedtime line up.  I would definitely recommend this sleepshirt, and if you want to get one for yourself... head over to Sleepyheads and look for the bSoft sleepshirt.

The Bouqs... A Review

Hey, Folks! I did something I haven't done before... I ordered flowers for myself.  I've ordered flowers for others, but not simply for myself.

While at BlogHer 2014, I was introduced to a company called The Bouqs.  They were letting bloggers know about their company and giving away stems of their flowers.  Those flowers were incredibly fragrant and in such vivid colors.  Never missing an opportunity to add a little pretty to my office, I returned from California and ordered an arrangement.

The arrangement I picked out was called Confetti, so I thought I would share my experience with the company and the flowers.  Here we go...

Maneuvering through the website is easy.  It is very user friendly.  Keep in mind, when you want to order flowers - whether it be for yourself or someone else - you need to order in advance.  It took a week for my flowers to arrive.  And when they arrived, they can in a very distinctive box (see above).

When opening the box, you are greeted by a note from The Bouqs company.

The flowers come securely wrapped.  Be careful, though.  The Confetti arrangement is roses, and I neglected to take the thorns into consideration.  So, when opening the box and pulling out the flowers - I managed to stick myself several times on those thorns.

The flowers were tightly encased by cardboard to protect the blooms.  Aren't they lovely?  I was quite pleased, and the fragrance of these petals were as strong as the ones I was introduced to back at BlogHer 2014.  

After the flowers were cut free from their bindings, I put the blooms into a vase for a nice arrangement.  The Bouqs arrangement was lovely, vivid colors and incredibly fragrant.  My only complaint was the flowers didn't last very long.  But, then, with flowers this fragrant - I wanted them to last for months.  Not very realistic of me, but I cannot help myself.

So, if you want to order yourself a gorgeous bundle of flowers from The Bouqs - here is what you should do. Click on the link on The Bouqs' image on your right, and it will dash you over to The Bouqs website. If you order flowers for yourself or someone you adore, be sure to come back to this post and tell me what you think of your Bouqs delivery. 

Happy Monday!