One Bag To Rule Them All Monday, April 30, 2007

Yves Saint Laurent Anais Patent Leather Tote

I love being a fashionable girl, but when you are a busy mom or woman constantly on the go like I am a practical and hassle free handbag is a must. There are moments when I need to get some things completed within a limited amount of time; therefore, I can’t waste precious minutes dealing with cumbersome bags. I must be able to go from the car to my destination with ease.  

And when I have a ton of errands to run, the last thing I want to do is walk out of the house attempting to hold Mademoiselle in one arm while balancing everything but the kitchen sink in the other. I just need one handbag that is chic and will hold diapers plus a few other things a baby might require and my own items.

This handbag will be the ultimate bag, one that will rule over them all like the YSL bag pictured above. It’s perfect to go along with a pair of jeans for a casual sophisticated look. What’s so ideal about this bag is the fact that I don’t have to switch bags whenever I want to hang with the big girls later that evening. 

 

Another all-in-one bag is Sophia, an Italy calfskin leather diaper bag masquerading as aregular handbag by Alexandra Bee. It has enough pockets to organize even the most disorganized individual. You don’t have to be a mom to carry this bag, it is great for any woman who carries a lot of stuff.    

U-toe-pia! Thursday, April 26, 2007

 

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It’s that time of year again, and I’m all giddy inside because this Friday marks the beginning of the season for those wine and art festivals I love to attend. I’m looking forward to seeing great art, meeting new artists and jewelry designers, eating delicious food, and enjoying good music.

Art festivals also brings to mind that summer is just around the corner, meaning it’s time (if you haven’t been doing so already) to focus on those toes in order to get them ready for their time to shine in those fabulous open toe shoes like these cute African print sandals I spotted over at Fly. 

And, if your feet are starving for some attention Paint Shop Beverly Hills has you covered with their Well-heeled Foot Repair cream.

Can’t make it to the salon? Why not invite over a few of your girlfriends for a girls night in and have a pamper party with Carol’s Daughter. Dogs are talkin has everything you need to put your best foot forward.

 

Paging, Cedella Marley Tuesday, April 24, 2007

According to mainstream society’s standards, I was somewhat of an anomaly as a teen, always going against the grain by constantly pushing the fashion envelope to the ultimate limit. I guess you can say I was an independent thinker who didn’t follow popular trends. I didn’t care about the opinion of others. I wore what felt and looked good on me. 

I guess you would describe it as my personal style. The art of personal style is being your true uninhibited self with confidence no matter what you’re wearing. So, I’m always on the look out for clothes that best fit my personality. 

Last year, I was walking past Jeremys, a designer discount clothing store, when I spotted a funky, vintage, urban chic jacket in the window. I rushed in and frantically searched all over the store for the jacket. I finally decided to ask a salesperson for help only to be told  the only jacket left was the one in the window. You know I had to have this jacket, right?

After going back and forth with management, they finally agreed to let me try the jacket on. I don’t understand what the big deal was in the first place, either you want my money or you don’t. It’s that simple. Once I tried it on I immediately fell in love because it screamed me loud and clear. When I looked at the label, I discovered the designer was the daughter of Bob Marley, Cedella Marley. 

Since then, I’ve only been able to find bits and pieces from her clothing line Catch a Fire scattered here and there, and its been pretty frustrating. Although some items are available online through her website, most are out of stock. I know she’s been busy with the new Marley Resort in Cable Beach, Nassau Bahamas, but I’m wondering when she’ll return to doing what she does best, designing clothes for those individuals who dare to be different and are not afraid to live life out loud.

 

Being Mama Daily Sunday, April 22, 2007

 

I’m on a mission today; one that will ensure I’m well enough to function by tomorrow morning because the world is unforgiving to a mom who succumbs to the awful dreaded cold virus. The world has the audacity to continue moving without taking into consideration how I’m feeling physically and mentally. In other words, a mother just can’t afford to be sick.

When one child falls ill, I’m usually pretty good at protecting everyone else in the household from getting sick. How? I immediately quarantine the child by sending him to his room, granting permission to leave only to use the bathroom. Everything he touches gets disinfected with Lysol or Clorox wipes. He is allowed, for this one occassion only, to break one of the golden house rules while he is serving his time in isolation, and that is to eat in his room. However, being allowed to break the rules doesn’t seem to make this unsolicited alone time a joyous affair. Unfortunately, it’s something I feel has to be done in order to prevent a widespread household epidemic. Right?

Usually, I’m good at spotting the warning sign very early on, but I don’t know how I allowed myself to be fooled by Monsieur G’s cold this time. I guess because it was so beguiling in appearance, hiding behind the symptoms of an allergy that I was so easily tricked. My guard was down, which made everyone in the household susceptible to this unseen enemy.

Well, reality hit Saturday morning at around seven when I was awakened by Monsieur D’s loud voice yelling, “Mom, he’s throwing up all over the place. It’s so gross!” Only then was I alerted to the virus’s true identity. Let me just tell you right now, I have a very weak stomach.  And now, the first thing I have to do in the morning is clean up vomit. A couple months ago, when Monsieur D’s nose met the toilet bowl after he slipped in the shower, there was blood every where. Once I ran upstairs and caught sight of the blood splattered walls, I freaked out! He tried to calm me down by telling me he was fine and that I didn’t have to worry because he would clean the blood off the floor, walls, toilet, and tub. Phew! Though it was a relief to hear, I felt really bad because I’m suppose to have it together, be the tough one when something like this happens. Needless to say, I feared what awaited me downstairs.

Thank heavens it wasn’t as bad as Monsieur D made it seem. Since Monsieur G had nothing but water in his system there was nothing too disgusting to clean up. I simply pulled out my mini carpet cleaner, went work, and presto.

In the back of my mind, I knew it was already too late to quarantine this kid and that there was a great possibility we would all get sick. You know what comes next?? The hubby and Monsieur D, so far, seem to have swam through contaminated waters unscathed, but as far as I and Mademoiselle are concerned…we weren’t so fortunate.  

Before I continue, let me tell you that Mademoiselle is a trooper. She’s not letting a little cold slow her down. But I, on the other hand, woke up this morning so very sick. I couldn’t even get out of bed. I laid there flat on my back as I talked on the phone with my grandmother. She told me I needed to make a tea with grapefruit, lemons, and onions. “Onions?” I asked. “That doesn’t sound appealing,” I added. “Trust me,” she said. “You’ll feel 100% better,” she continued.

I followed her instructions somewhat. I ate half of the grapefruit and cut the other half into slices before placing it into a small sauce pan along with slices of a whole lemon, and spring water. I let it bowl on low for an hour. I poured eight ounces of the liquid in a cup then allowed it to steep with a bag of echinacea elder tea for 15 minutes. The tea was actually tasty after I put a little honey in it. I had a bowl of chicken and wild rice soup in which I included a handful of raw onions and cayenne pepper (loaded with vitamin c). Yum!

While I’m not yet feeling one hundred percent, I feel a whole lot better than I did. The thing that seems to linger is a scratchy throat and a slight headache, but other than that I feel I will be able to prepare breakfast and a bag lunch for Monsieur D and take him to school; clean the kitchen, wash a load of clothes, put some clothes away, tend to Mademoiselle and Monsieur G (he’s doing a lot better, but I want to make sure he’s okay so he’s staying home today), finish typing up new rental agreements, make doctor’s appointments, coordinate a year end party for G’s lacrosse team, schedule a meeting with D’s teacher, help with homework, create a grocery list, learn a new program for producing the school’s weekly newsletter (my new position on the Parent Faculty Club, since when did they stop calling it the PTA), and everything else that goes along with being mama daily.

Alright, That’s It! Off To The Bad Girl Box For You! Friday, April 20, 2007

I wish I was the genius who originated this idea, but I copied from my friends Nicole and Nanora who both had pictures of their daughters in a “bad girl box”.

So, You Want an Alternative to Miss Jessie’s Products Thursday, April 19, 2007

 

In my post, Naturally Kinky, I raved about Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme as well as some of my favorite all natural hair products by Cornrows & Co. Based on emails and questions, it seems a lot of people either want to know if the quality of Miss Jessie’s products justify dishing out $60 for a jar of hair cream or if there are other alternatives available. 

Most of you know that I have a love hate relationship with my hair. Mainly because it’s difficult to manage my extremely coarse and very thick mane. When a friend turned me onto Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme, I was elated. It proved to be a good product for me. It’s a great moisturizer for dry hair, making it very soft and pliable, but note that it is not a natural product. 

I’ve read a lot of mixed reviews on Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding, and I have to agree with those who say the product only works well on hair types 3A through 3C, and possibly 4A. It does not work for my 4B hair type nor does it make my hair easy to handle. Most people can achieve the same results by simply using the Buttercreme alone. 

When I was contacted by the owner of Kinky-Curly, Shelley Davis, I was exited at the possibility of having more manageable hair. In fact, the website states to give Kinky-Curly’s products a try before considering a texturizer, silkener, or relaxer. Davis then sent me a full size sample of her Curly Custard and Knot Today conditioner. 

Initially, I had some problems using the products. I had been using Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme almost everyday so I had a lot of oil build up which did not go away after two washes, and since Kinky-Curly Curling Custard is an aloe based product, it does not work well if there is an oily residue present. I then used Federic Fekkai’s Apple Vinegar rinse to rid my hair of any oils, but to my surprise the Curling Custard sat on my hair and left behind white flakes.

After I emailed Shelley, I discovered that I needed to use a clarifying shampoo, which meant I was unable to use Cornrows & Co.’s Coconut Shampoo (love it) since it contains coconut oil or their Orange conditioner which contains macadamia and jojoba oils. I’m a true product junkie; therefore, I didn’t have to go out to buy shampoo since I have a ton of different shampoos readily available. I was determined to try anything to make the product work. Eventually, I found the winning combination when I used Aveda’s Sap Moss shampoo. Now, let me say that you don’t have to use an expensive clarifying shampoo, Shelley suggested using Prell from the local drugstore. In the future, maybe Shelley will consider adding a shampoo to her line that will best compliment her products. In addition, Shelley is really good at giving advice and helpful tips so don’t hesitate to contact her with questions. Before I forget, using a towel will make your hair frizzy. Use your hands to squeeze out excess water.  

Once I was able to find the right shampoo, I was amazed at the results. I applied the Knot Today herbal conditioner and vanilla scented Curling Custard, that made my hair very easy to comb out. It made my hair sleek as if I had used a gel, and actually laid my thick mane down and reduced shrinkage, making my hair easy to brush into a ponytail, which I’m unable to do with the Baby Buttercreme because my hair literally shrinks out of the palm of my hands while brushing it. I also love the way the Curling Custard slicks down my hairline without having to use a scarf. It’s a good moisturizer that does not leave behind a greasy residue.

I love the two products because they make my hair a whole lot easier to deal with. Even though I didn’t get the curls I wanted, this product is on my favorite things list. If I want curls I can achieve them by wrapping my hair around my finger as I’m applying the custard or using a rat tooth comb. I know you’re probably thinking that any product will work using those methods, but not necessarily; I’ve tried others and the Curling Custard gives the best results. The curls are much more defined.   

It’s definitely a cheaper, all natural alternative to Miss Jessie’s products, and well worth a try. The 16 oz. Curling Custard costs $25 and the 8 oz. bottle of Knot Today sells for $12. The ingredients (horsetail, chamomile, etc) are far superior and better for your hair. Be sure to check out Afrobella’s review since she had the opportunity to try the entire line.  

It’s so me! Wednesday, April 18, 2007

I thought this was cute when I spotted it over at Erica’s blog. I took the test, and to my surprise it provided a pretty accurate result that describes me to a “T”.

You Are a Cappuccino

You’re fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new. However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like. You are a total girly girly at heart – and prefer your coffee with good conversation. You’re the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

The Fashionable Germaphob Wednesday, April 18, 2007

 

Growing up, I was free as a bird. It was not uncommon to find me hanging from a tree, sitting in the grass, or walking down the street barefooted. I even looked through our kitchen trash can to find things I could magically turn into a work of art.

When my mother was pregnant with my sister she had a craving for dirt, so there I was in the middle of the night digging up dirt for my mother without giving what I was doing a second thought. I touched door handles, wore shorts to the movies, ate at buffets, and wore shoes in the house. The truth is, I did a lot of things unconsciously that definitely increased my chances of coming in contact with some type of germ. 

But something strange happened after I got married (yay, 15 years of marital bliss) and had my first child thirteen years ago. The more I read or listened to the news about some kind of germ, the more I started over analyzing my environment. I stopped touching public doors and elevator buttons without something to protect my skin; I did and continue to spend several minutes in a public restroom lining the toilets with at least six toilet seat covers and several strips of toilet paper before sitting my little one on it. I even went as far as spraying it down with Lysol before proceeding with my toilet wrapping ritual.

It eventually spilled over to my son, who at two would not use a public restroom if it was dirty. He would literally kick and scream if I attempted to walk him through the doors. He would hold it until we found a clean restroom. Would you believe this kid never wet his pants? The hubby says, “You’re making our kids crazy.” What does he know!?

I cringe whenever someone tells me they’re coming to visit my home because the only thing I can think about is them sitting my sofa. You see in my mind I’m thinking this person probably went to the movies, sat down in those fecal matter filled seats before getting in their car, and you know I’m thinking those germs are going to be transported to my sofa then tracked all through the house. And let’s not talk about their belonging sitting on my floor.  

In fact, no one in my household sits on the sofa with their outside clothes on. As soon as we come home from an outing, we (the hubby, Monsieur D, Monsieur G, and even Mademoiselle) immediately change into our inside clothes. Before company arrives I usually drape blankets and sheets over the sofa. We don’t wear shoes in the house, and everyone is to quickly wash their hands. I rarely go to the movies. I’d rather wait for the video, but if I do go you can rest assure I’m protecting my body. I can’t even sit comfortably for fear I will touch the seat. By the end of the movie, my back is killing me.

This is nothing compared to how I used to be. At one time, I could not shake another persons had without silently freaking out. Though I’ve made some drastic changes, I’m still a germaphob and will continue doing the above (plus some other things) along with spraying the shopping cart with Lysol before using some additional protection for Mademoiselle like this adorable shopping cart cover by Snazzy Baby.

And of course, I and my cousin Lorena, who is a germaphob to the tenth power (yes, she’s worse than I am), can’t put our purses on the floor in a restaurant. Thanks to Luxe Link  for creating a chic device to keep your purse off the icky ground, and kick your fabulocity factor up a notch!

  

   

Hooter Hider Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Okay, I just could not resist writing this post. A few weeks ago, I put Mademoiselle in her Bob jogger (best darn jogger as far as I’m concerned) so that I could get some much needed exercise and run a few local errands.

It’s about a 45 minute walk from my home to Trader Joe’s, but sometimes it takes much longer then that since I usually hit the spots in between (the cleaners, drugstore, Noah’s Bagel’s, Jamba Juice, post office, etc.). On my way back home, I stopped to pick up some additional large size cloth diapers and covers for Mlle.

While I was browsing around -waiting for the salesperson to bring up more diaper covers – I spotted a sign, displaying words that would cause anyone to let out a chuckle. My eyes quickly glossed over the words “Hooter Hiders“. I walked over for a closer look and that’s when I discovered they were gorgeous nursing covers by Bebe au Lait for the style conscious momma. ”How cute is that?” I said out loud. “Got to get my hands on one of those,” I continued.

Whenever I’m nursing Mademoiselle, people always say to me, “Wow, how cute. They didn’t have things like that when my kids were young.” Well, thank goodness for the progression of all things voguish.    

I’ll Take Mine To Go Please Monday, April 16, 2007

 

Baby Mademoiselle is 7 months old now, and she is one busy little bee, which comes at no surprise to me because while I was carrying her in my womb she moved constantly. It often freaked people out who caught a glimpse of something rumbling underneath my blouse (remember the movie, Aliens?), causing them to gasp as they watchedin horror and grabbed their stomachs. And yes, she also ticked off a couple of sonographers. All three had the same response to her frequent movement, “Wow, this kid is active.” One sonographer sucked her teeth in anger the whole time. The hubby and I laughed in silence.

During the ultrsound, Mademoiselle would be playing with her toes, sitting up, flipping, turning around, and balling her tiny hands into a fist. Though it was cute and adorable to watch, it took twice as long to capture images and measure her little limbs. I guess she was just letting us know what to expect when she finally made her debut. 

I thought something was wrong with Mademoiselle because she seems to always be in a rush to go some where even though she can’t crawl or walk yet. Well, she does roll where ever she wants to go and has a weird way of scooting. Let me see if I can give you a visual. It looks like she is laying sideways on a skateboard with one leg hanging off the side, pushing her from one point to another.  

OMG! Let’s not even talk about trying to change this chicks diaper. Mademoiselle just won’t stay still. She wants to turn over and dig through the pockets on her changing table, throw things on the floor, and play with the blinds. I’m using cloth diapers too, so I’m sure you can imagine what a task changing Mademoiselle’s diaper can be.

Mademoiselle can’t sit still. And now…

She seems to think she can have her milk to go and that’s a huge problem because I’m still NURSING! Mademoiselle actually tries to take off with my boob in her mouth, and this baby locks down like a pit bull. Do you know what all that tugging and pulling is doing to my breast? Can I just speak my mind for a moment? My nipples are so sore I feel like dunking them in an ice bath right about now. I’m cringing at the thought of Mademoiselle’s next feeding.

What really scares me is the fact that she won’t eat food. I had such high hopes when she ate a small portion of food at five months, but since then absolutely nothing. And did I tell you she’s allergic to eggs, dairy, and nuts. Yeah, my diet is pretty much vegan. I’ll save that story for another post. In spite of all of this, I’m determined to hang in there because I know that ultimately it’s the best thing for Mademoiselle.

Just don’t forget to send up a couple prayers for me before you go to bed at night.