This guest post was written by Kristy Ramirez, a freelance personal finance writer for Life Insurance Finder, where she helps people to compare and select the best life insurance policy to meet their needs.

It is often said that women don’t measure success in the same way as men, the difference being that many of them put family, love and happiness first and foremost. However, entrepreneurs, whether they be male or female, generally have one thing in common, and that is to single-mindedly strive to reach their goal.

Hillary Clinton was within a whisker of getting the nod as the Democrat’s presidential candidate not all that long ago and in Australia women currently hold the posts of Governor General, Prime Minister and are premiers of two state governments.

Women are out there stamping their equal rights in the business world as well. Here are just five of the many who have made it to the top:

1 – Anita Roddick

Everybody will be aware of the flourishing global business ‘The Body Shop,’ but you may not know that it is Anita who has been behind the over 2,000 Body Shop stores scattered around the world. Anita Roddick’s stores have some of the retail world’s strongest purchasing power. The Body Shop has more than 2,000 suppliers, all guaranteeing consumers that no ingredients used in their manufacturing have been tested on any animals. In fact, all materials used are fully renewable and no human rights issues anywhere in the world have been compromised.

2 – Natalie Massenet

This lady is the founder of the British based web store Net-a-Porter.com. It is an e-trader in luxury fashion. Before becoming a successful internet entrepreneur, Natalie was the editor of U.S. women’s magazine, Women’s Wear Daily. She left the United States in 1986 to join Tatler in Britain. After leaving Tatler in 1998 she started her own e-store, Net-a-Porter, and by 2007 had 300,000 happy customers growing by 1,500 every month. At that time very few fashion brands were offered online except for a few American sites, but they would not ship outside the U.S. She founded Net-a-Porter.com to fill this void which existed offline as well as online and has never looked back since.

3 – Maha Al-Ghunaim

Where an obvious obstacle of raising a family whilst founding a business as an entrepreneur is said by some to be insurmountable, it did not stop Maha Al-Ghunaim. She took these challenges head on and successfully brought up her four children as well as grew one of the most successful investment companies in Kuwait. Her business Global Investment House was founded in 1998 and it is now regarded as one of the best financial institutions in Kuwait. In fact, she has enjoyed so much success that she has been named as being one of the 100 most powerful women in the world in Forbes Magazine.

4 – Diane von Furstenberg

For Dianne von Furstenberg it all started with a little wrap dress in the 1970s. From there her career as an entrepreneur took off and her business flourished. The fact of her having a title of a princess didn’t do her any harm either. But she put in the hard yards and made herself an international celebrity at the same time. On eventually selling off her companies she licensed her name, claiming she didn’t enjoy managing her empire.

5 – Jan Cameron
This media shy woman was born in New Zealand in 1963. She came to Australia and started the outdoor camping and clothing company of Kathmandu. In 2006 she sold 51 percent of Kathmandu for $277 million. This made her the fourth wealthiest woman in Australia. Jan Cameron has since brought up many other chain stores in Australia, particularly in Tasmania where she now lives. Her latest purchase was a wood chip mill in Triabunna, eastern Tasmania, for the purposes of eventually shutting it down to preserve Tasmanian old growth timber. She is also a well-known supporter of animal rights.

The advent of the internet has made it easier for people to start their own businesses in that they can now use social media to advertise what they are offering and the ‘old boys club’ attitude in business is no more. Women have been quick to take advantage of these new entrepreneurial opportunities as in many cases it allows them to remain at home with their growing children whilst building their business.

Good morning!  It’s 4 am here in Alaska and I get up this early for a good reason.  No, not because I’m crazy or have bad sleeping habits!  In Alaska we’re way behind the other time zones, so I have to start my day very early to communicate with businesses on the East Coast during business hours.

Even more important than that, though, is the fact that what’s important has to come first.  On New Years do you look back and wonder why you didn’t accomplish those big life goals in the past year?  I’ve been there, I’ve wondered with you, I’ve vowed to do a better job in the upcoming year, and I’ve failed again.  More than once. So let’s get a jump on New Year’s resolutions together by doing something about it!

That’s me in my office in that picture. I don’t always look that cheerful at 4 in the morning, trust me! You can see all the pretty pink things that decorate my office and make me happy in my work surroundings.

Assignment 1

Today, before you do anything else, make a list on a piece of paper of those 5 major things you wanted to do with your life so far (get a college degree, write a book, open a cupcake bakery, build a greenhouse).

Just list them out in no particular order.  There – step 1 is the hardest part and it’s already done!

Assignment 2

Step 2 is your other assignment (should you choose to accept it!) for today.  Pick just one thing on your list of five you just made.  This is the “badge” you’re going to work on for the upcoming year.  What is 1 step you can take today to start making it a reality?  Brainstorm long and hard and write down that 1 first step.

It’s important to make time for what we hold dear.Let’s use our time to accomplish the things we want to be proud of!

One of my favorite trainers, Kim Lyons, shows us 2 specific types of assisted squats.  This means you can get a nice rear view to keep your figure in shape through the cold months and ready for next summer!

(Subscribers will need to click through to this article to watch the video.)

Want more? We’ve got lots of How To videos and instructions!

During the first cycle I lost 8 pounds and 11.5”, and I only completed 3 out of the 4 weeks in the program.

So many people have commented, emailed, YouTube commented, and found me on social media asking for the results of my Firm Express weight loss experiment and if I was happy with it.

In case you want to get up to speed, here are my Firm Express week 3 results for where I left off. 

I am going to start the program over again as a brand new 30 day cycle, and this time I’m going to do the initial Firm Express 4-day kick Start too. 

In the photo, you can see me and my son and I still look pregnant.  However, this photo was taken in October – just a month and a half ago, when my new baby was already 8 months old!

Most of the inches I lost during the Firm Express first experiment were from my waist, hips, and chest.  I am hopeful that this second round of Firm Express Get Fit in 30 will take off the rest of the baby weight (30 more pounds) and the rest of the baby tummy (so people stop asking if I’m pregnant!).

Stay tuned for the photos, updates, and weigh ins during the Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment month 2.

I just finished the third week of my Firm Express Fit in 30 Days workouts.  The third week I lost 2 pounds and 1.125” on the Firm Express! 

So far in 3 weeks I’ve lost 8 pounds and, while I know that’s a good start, I was really hoping for more significant weight loss during my first 30 day cycle on the program.  We’ll have to wait and see if week 4 delivers better results; the rumor is that week 4 uses the heaviest weights and has the most hardcore trainer.  I hope so!

Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment

Before starting the workouts I had 45 more pounds of pregnancy weight to lose to get back to my regular body size. Did you miss the other posts and need to catch up? Here they are.

• Introduction – Firm Express Fit in 30 Days Weight Loss Experiment
• Starting – Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment – Ready to Start (with before pics)
• Week 1 – Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment – Week 1 Results (with pictures)
• Week 2 – Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment – Week 2 Results (with Pictures)

Week 3 Weigh In and Measurements

Nutrition Plan:    I’m trying to stay close to their recommended calories number for the day, which for me is 1370 calories.  (Take your weight and multiply by 10.) I didn’t do the best with my clean eating this week since we had ice cream in the house left over from my son’s birthday party.  I didn’t have very much, but on me the tiniest bit of food makes an impact with my weight loss.

Week 3 Weigh-in: 137.2 This week I lost 2 pounds. I’m hoping I do better than this next week, since it’s the final week of the Fit in 30 Days program.

Week 3 Measurements: This week I lost  1.125” on the Firm Express! The measurements are taken from the worksheet in the back of the Firm Express Fitness Plan.

Exercise Schedule This Week: The Firm Express calendar only has 3 workouts scheduled for this week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  For week 4 I’ll be doing Cycle 4.

Weight Loss Stories of the Week

Stay tuned next Sunday for my weekly weigh in and update on my Firm Express weight loss! Are you on a similar weight loss program? Let us know about your progress in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I received no fees for conducting this experiment and there are no material connections. I am not advocating this weight loss challenge as advice for anyone. Please contact your physician before undertaking any exercise or diet changes. This article contains affiliate links and HomeEverAfter.com receives compensation when affiliate links are used.

I just finished the 2nd week of my Firm Express Fit in 30 Days workouts.  The first week I lost  5.8 pounds.  This second week I only lost .2 pounds and 5.125” on the Firm Express!  Obviously, the weight loss was not there but the inches came off this week. 

Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment

Before starting the workouts I had 45 more pounds of pregnancy weight to lose to get back to my regular body size. Did you miss the other posts and need to catch up? Here they are.

• Introduction – Firm Express Fit in 30 Days Weight Loss Experiment
• Starting – Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment – Ready to Start (with before pics)
• Week 1 – Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment – Week 1 Results (with pictures)

My goal going into the Firm Express weight loss experiment was to lose the rest of my baby weight and get back to my regular weight of 100 pounds (normal for my 5’1” height). More than that, I wanted to follow the program exactly without modifying it so that people could see exactly how effective the Firm Express system is right out of the box.

All the reviews I found of the Firm Express were by women who had made changes to the system: they had added extra workouts from other systems, doubled Firm Express workouts, or added extra cardio. However, this doesn’t give us an accurate rating of the Firm Express’ effectiveness.

I wanted to know if I could get the same results as the women who appeared on the Firm Express infomercial. So, as much as I may want to at some parts, I am not making changes to the Firm Express plan for the first 30 days.

Week 2 Pictures, Weigh In, and Measurements

Nutrition Plan:  I am not following the Firm Express nutrition plan, but am trying to stay close to their recommended calories.  Since you take your weight and multiply by 10, I’m now supposed to be eating only 1390 calories per day. 

I didn’t do the best with my eating during week 2.  I had a few cheats (an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet and 2 pieces of cake, need I say more?), and my lack of willpower definitely shows in my lack of weight loss this week.

Week 2 Pictures:

Week 2 Weigh-in: 139.2 This week I only lost .2 pounds.  I know I can do better than this next week.

Week 2 Measurements:  This week I lost 5.125” on the Firm Express!  The measurements are taken from the worksheet in the back of the Firm Express Fitness Plan.

What’s the Deal with my Body: My jeans were falling off, so it was finally time this week to get out the box of “too small clothes” and bring in the smaller jeans.  I’m down one jeans size and am very happy about that!

Still, the biggest problem is my baby belly.  Yes, I still look pregnant, although the inches are finally coming off around my waist.  I’m surprised with the Firm Express’ effectiveness on my midsection since nothing else to this point has reduced my post-pregnancy belly.

The Firm Express Workouts

The 2nd week you do workouts from Cycle 2: Accelerate. The instructor is not as obsessed with dance routines as week 1, but her cardio workout is still a little “frilly”.  I missed 1 workout this week: the Cycle 2: Accelerate cardio + sculpt.  The Cycle 2: sculpt workout was effective and is the best one that I’ve completed so far in the Firm Express system. 

Exercise Schedule This Week: The Firm Express calendar only has 3 workouts scheduled for this week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  For week 3 I’ll be doing Cycle 3: TurboCharge with 5-10 pound weights.

Stay tuned next Sunday for my weekly weigh in and update on my Firm Express weight loss! Are you on a similar weight loss program? Let us know about your progress in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I received no fees for conducting this experiment and there are no material connections. I am not advocating this weight loss challenge as advice for anyone. Please contact your physician before undertaking any exercise or diet changes. This article contains affiliate links and HomeEverAfter.com receives compensation when affiliate links are used.

I just finished the first week of my Firm Express Fit in 30 Days workouts.  This first week I lost 5.8 pounds and 4.25” on the Firm Express!

Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment

Before starting the workouts I had 45 more pounds of pregnancy weight to lose to get back to my regular body size. Did you miss the other posts and need to catch up? Here they are.

• Introduction – Firm Express Fit in 30 Days Weight Loss Experiment
• Starting – Firm Express Weight Loss Experiment – Ready to Start (with before pics)

Week 1 Pictures, Weigh In, and Measurements

After the first full week of the Firm Express workouts, I’ve got results to share!  You probably remember that I didn’t get to complete the 4 day kick-start before starting the program, so my results are strictly from the week 1 Firm Express workouts.

Nutrition Plan: Several readers have already asked if I am following the Firm Express nutrition plan.  The short answer is no.  I am still eating the normal foods from my regular plan, just in smaller portions.  I’m trying to stay close to their recommended calories number for the day, which for me is 1450 calories.  (Take your weight and multiply by 10; it’s a pretty easy formula to remember.)

Week 1 Pics:

Starting Weight: 145.2 pounds

Week 1 Weigh-in: 139.4 pounds. Yes folks, that means I lost a whopping 5.8 pounds this week on the Firm Express without dieting!

Shirt size: 1x (no change)

Jeans size: 13 (no change)

Week 1 Measurements: This week I lost 4.25” on the Firm Express! The measurements are taken from the worksheet in the back of the Firm Express Fitness Plan. Black = before, Red = week 1

• Upper chest: 37.5”   37.25”
• Bust: 40” 39”
• Upper arm: 12.5” 12”
• Waist (smallest measurement): 40”  39”
• Upper hip: 40.25” 38.5”
• Lower hip: 38.75”  38.5”
• Mid thigh: 24.75” 24.25”
• Calf: 15”  15”
• Dress size: 1x  1x

What’s the Deal with my Body: I’m still wearing size 1x clothes and I don’t notice any change in how my clothes fit yet.  From my measurements, I can tell that a little bit is coming off from everywhere all at the same time.  I hope to notice my clothes fitting looser next week.

The Firm Express Workouts

The first week you do workouts from Cycle 1: Ignite.  The instructor is simply terrible, and I can say this with confidence since I’m a former performance athlete and have been working out for most of my life.  The instructor for the first 3 workouts, Emily Welsh, is simply terrible.  She doesn’t explain or even tell you what moves you’ll be doing before you start the 8-second bursts.

She is so hopelessly focused on creating “routines”, as if we’re assumed to have a background in dance, that her workout is all over the place- literally.  You never know what move to do next and spend a lot of time pausing and rewinding to see what she’s doing and then go back and do it yourself.

My husband was also frustrated with her instructing, so much that he refused to do the rest of the Cardio + Sculpt DVD.  This is telling coming from him, since his favorite workouts are the extremely challenging P90X workouts.

Emily’s bursts were of exercises that did not make sense to be in a burst.  Her plyometrics (jump exercises) feature moves that are dangerous to be done quickly since they are too fast to focus on good form.  I was apprehensive about doing plyometrics as quickly as she does them on the DVD.  However, I tried it anyway and indeed injured my right knee on a bad landing during a burst.  On the same workout, my husband injured both of his knees on a bad landing during a burst.  I’m hoping my knee has healed enough with rest over the weekend that I can continue the exercise calendar on Monday.

The first DVD (sculpt) had a really effective lower ab move that caused me a lot of muscle soreness for 2 days afterward.  I wish I knew which exercise it was that worked so well!

The trainer, Jennifer, that does the 2 bonus workouts does safe plyometrics that didn’t injure me and were effective.  I will never do these cardio workouts led by Emily Walsh again.  If I was doing this 30 day Firm Express system over again later in the year, I would completely skip the DVDs led by Emily Walsh and replace them with one of the other instructors.

Exercise Schedule This Week: The Firm Express calendar only has 3 workouts scheduled for this week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  For week 2 I’ll be doing Cycle 2: Accelerate.

Weight Loss Stories of the Week

I saw a friend in the store who had a baby 1 month after I did (5 months ago for her).  She kept staring at my stomach the whole time we talked and could hardly look in my eyes.  I knew she was dying to ask if I was pregnant again!

Stay tuned next Sunday for my weekly weigh in and update on my Firm Express weight loss! Are you on a similar weight loss program? Let us know about your progress in the comments below.

Disclaimer: ISWM received no fees for participating in this experiment. I am not advocating this weight loss challenge as advice for anyone. Please contact your physician before undertaking any exercise or diet changes. This article contains affiliate links and HomeEverAfter.com receives compensation when affiliate links are used.

If you didn’t read the introduction about my Firm Express Fit in 30 Days Weight Loss Experiment, click that link to read it first.  I’m ready to start my Firm Express workouts today.  I’ve got 45 pounds to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

So I Waited… and Waited…

The Firm Express took way too long to ship.  The Firm Express finally arrived in the mail last week, exactly 28 days after I ordered it.  When I called the customer service number to tell them it had not arrived and request that they send me a new one (with shipment tracking on it this time), I was met with a lot of negativity and resistance.

Not only did the rep refuse to send me another one, but he assured me that the only shipping method they have is a standard time of 3-4 weeks.  He told me I shouldn’t be worried about it being lost until after 4 weeks!  I probed deeper and got him to admit that they use a drop-shipper to fill their orders, so not only do they not have the products made when you order them, but they don’t even have the ability to choose how the product is shipped.  A different company is in charge of printing the books/dvds and  mailing them – with 3-4 week shipping.  The 7-10 day shipping talked about on the website is not accurate.

Certainly enough, on day 28 after my order (oddly exactly 4 weeks) the Firm Express was delivered to my mailbox.

What Came in the Firm Express System: In the Firm Express system were 12 DVDs, the 4 Day Kick Start Plan, The Fitness Plan  (including the workout calendar), and a pack of vitamins.

Before Pictures and Measurements

This is the first week of my Firm Express workouts.  I only did the first 2 workouts from the 4-day Kick Start program.  I was down to 138 pounds before I left for BlogHer.  However, I ate so much good food and tons of desserts there that I gained 7 pounds in 1 week!  That said, I’m back up to good ol’ 145 again for my starting weight.  The measurements are taken from the worksheet in the back of the Firm Express Fitness Plan.

Before Pics: Yes, I’ll do the standard front and side before pictures.  However, I wanted to put these 3 in first.  Below (right) is a shot my husband snapped of me at the fair (right before I almost got kicked off the merry-go-round for looking pregnant!).

This is me lying flat on the floor.  You can see that my stomach, even with no baby in there, is much taller than my bust and the rest of me.  I hope that my stomach will lie flat by the end of the Firm Express.

Starting Weight: 145.2 pounds

Shirt size: 1x

Jeans size: 13

Starting Measurements

• Upper chest: 37.5”
• Bust: 40”
• Midriff: 31.75”
• Upper arm: 12.5”
• Waist (smallest measurement): 40”
• Upper hip: 40.25”
• Lower hip: 38.75”
• Mid thigh: 24.75”
• Calf: 15”
• Dress size: 1x

What’s the Deal with my Body: My jeans are very tight size 13s that have to be pushed below my very large belly to zip and button. That being the case, they scrunch up in the “package” area, making them look like boy jeans. Everything’s tight, but I’ve gotten rid of all the maternity clothes and replaced them with size 1x clothes.

Exercise Schedule This Week: The Firm Express calendar only has 3 workouts scheduled for this week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I’m excited to get the workouts started and see what kind of results I start noticing (especially on the scale and in my jeans!).

Weight Loss Stories of the Week

Not many women have a 6 month old baby and still look like they are 6 months pregnant. However, I look so convincingly pregnant – not just a little, but close to birth, that people constantly comment about it.

• While on the plane home from BlogHer, a woman offered to get my suitcase down for me. She asked with a big smile, “Don’t you have a weight limit?!”
• While taking my toddler on the merry-go-round at the state fair, I was standing next to the horse, holding her in place. The ride attendant asked me to get off the ride since pregnant women weren’t allowed. When I told her that I wasn’t pregnant, just fat, she looked shocked and said, “Me too.”
• A woman in a restaurant had seen the host seating me near the bar for breakfast. She said loudly, “Apparently, the bar is the most appropriate place for pregnant women first thing in the morning!”
• A very pregnant woman was waiting in line to have an omelet made at a restaurant in San Diego. She smiled at me and asked, “So, when’s your baby due?”

Stay tuned next Sunday for my weekly weigh in and update on my Firm Express weight loss! Are you on a similar weight loss program? Let us know about your progress in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I received no fees for conducting this experiment and there are no material connections. I am not advocating this weight loss challenge as advice for anyone. Please contact your physician before undertaking any exercise or diet changes. This article contains affiliate links and HomeEverAfter.com receives compensation when affiliate links are used.

These are all real candid fashion don’t scenarios I captured in real life.  Thankfully my phone has a quick camera on it, although sometimes the pictures turn out blurry when I’ve only got time for one shot.

Real Life Fashion Don’ts – The Bra Confusion Edition

Criss-Cross Nonsense.  This fashion don’t was captured at the grocery store.  This woman’s use of her bra and shirt straps (pictured below) just plain confused me.  Somehow, she felt the need to fill the entire open back with a bra.  She must have thought a criss-cross backed bra would be best since she had tied her shirt’s straps in a knot in the middle to form an x. 

The Racerback No-No.  Pictured below is a woman who is clearly confused about which shape of top to use the racerback bra with.  To clarify: the racerback bra goes with the racerback shirt.  The same shape of the garment ensures that your underwear stays private!  Instead, this poor lady has displayed almost the entire back of her bra for the whole deli to see.  (Blurry picture from the camera phone – so sorry.)

Cut-Out Confusion.  Below, this fashion don’t was captured in San Diego on a woman who looked more “Jersey Shore” than Californian.  It was such a shame about her choice of undergarments; the bra doesn’t fit the dress on the top or across the back.  The whole back of the bra exactly lined up with the cut-out in her dress.  Which means – you guessed it – she showed the whole city her bra every time her hair moved, which was every time she took a step.

Don’t let these fashion don’ts happen to you!  Always match the shape of your bra to the shape of your clothing.  Ladies, I beg of you, if you only leave the Real Life Fashion Don’ts with once takeaway, it’s this: always look in the mirror before you leave the house!

Real Life Fashion Don’ts – The Bra Confusion Edition is linked to Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

I’m on the strong push for weight loss of my remaining 45 pounds of baby weight before the BlogHer 2011 conference (in 17 days).  I’ll be trying out the Firm Express Get Fit in 30 Days exercise system which you may have seen on infomercials.  Does it work?  We’ll find out.  I’ve got 45 pounds and 11 inches off of my waist to lose to get back to my regular size and weight.  I tell you the whole story in the video below.

I’ll be giving frequent updates on which Firm Express workouts I did on what days, as well as my measurements, before and after photos, and of course: weigh ins!  Subscribe now so that you don’t miss any of my exciting weight loss journey!

Disclaimer: I received no fees for conducting this experiment and there are no material connections. I am not advocating this weight loss challenge as advice for anyone. Please contact your physician before undertaking any exercise or diet changes. This article contains affiliate links and HomeEverAfter.com receives compensation when affiliate links are used.

As bloggers and women, we all want to look our best when we go to network and meet up in real life with people we’ve only interacted with online.  We’ve developed a countdown to BlogHer conference makeover timeline that you can follow to ensure you’re looking your very best before August 4th! 

What is Included in the Countdown to BlogHer Beauty Makeover?

Things that might need to be addressed in your complete Countdown to BlogHer 2011 Conference Beauty Makeover:

Hair color, cut and style:  Going for a brave new you with a completely different hair cut, color or style is not something you want to jump into the week before the conference.  The hair overhaul should be done at least 6 weeks before you leave for the conference.  That way, if you don’t like the style, it will have time to grow out a bit. 

Also, the 6 week time frame lets you test out a new color without risk.  If you like the new color, you can get your roots touched up a few days before your plane leaves.

Diet and exercise:  Whether you need to lose the last few pounds to fit into a special dress for one of the official BlogHer parties or want to do a complete overhaul and lose a lot of weight, you’ll need to consult your doctor first.  Have your doctor okay the diet and exercise plan you want to use. 

Healthy looking skin: If you haven’t been treating your skin nicely or paying much attention to your skincare regimen, there is still time to get your face into tip-top shape!  Never get a professional facial (which can bring out blemishes, breakouts, and even allergic reactions to the products used) during the final week before the conference. 

If you choose to have a professional give you a facial (Mary Kay consultant or salon), plan it at least a month before the conference.  This will give you an opportunity to use the new facial products the facialist recommends for your skin type and give them a chance to show results.

Healthy nails:  For many of us moms, growing and keeping beautiful nails is a challenge with kid care and frequent hand washing.  A little attention to upkeep and maintenance will give you fabulous nails in time for BlogHer!

White smile:  Teeth whitening is easier and more affordable than ever before!  There’s no reason not to show off a bright white smile in your BlogHer photos.

Choosing the perfect outfits: For many of us, wardrobe is an important part of the BlogHer conference experience!  If you don’t have anything in your closet you’d like to wear, it’s time to start shopping.  Shop early so that you have a chance to look for sales or free shipping deals from your favorite clothing stores. 

If you’re starting a diet and exercise plan also, take into account that you may be a few sizes smaller by the time the BlogHer conference rolls around.  Don’t buy too small of a size, in case you don’t make your weight loss goals.  It’s still easy to have a loose garment taken in with a few quick alterations.

Daily

• Skin care every morning and every night.  Cleanse, tone, and moisturize twice a day.  Use eye cream before bed.
• Drink at least 8 8-oz. glasses of water to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized.
• Massage cuticle cream or oil into your nails before bed.

Weekly

• Give yourself a mini-facial at home by using a facial mask after cleansing.
• Do a foot soak while you shower by filling up the bath tub.  Use a loofah or pumice stone to remove dead skin.  After you get out of the shower, apply a heavy foot moisturizer and socks immediately to lock in the hydration.
• Deep condition your hair to add moisture and shine and help repair split ends or damage.

Every Two Weeks

• Do a quick manicure and pedicure by removing polish, pushing back cuticles, then applying base coat, 1 coat of a light color, and top coat.

3 Months Before

• Start a diet and exercise plan.  Make a doctor appointment to get approval for your new plan.
• Remove the junk food from the house and go shopping for healthy ingredients.
• Make up an exercise schedule, listing which activities you will do on which days of the week.  This could be from 3-5 days per week, depending on your weight loss and fitness goals.

6 Weeks

• Make an appointment with a salon for a hair cut, color, and/or new style.

1 Month Before

• Make an appointment for a facial.  Purchase new facial products (cleanser, toner, mask, moisturizer, eye cream, etc.) for your skin type.
• Try on outfits you’ll be wearing to BlogHer.  Choose all accessories for each outfit, including shoes.
• If you need to purchase outfits or specific pieces, start shopping.
• Break in new shoes by wearing them around the house for 1 hour per day with socks on.

2 Weeks Before

• Make an appointment for any hair removal or hair bleaching you need.  This includes eyebrows, upper lip, legs, and bikini area (if you plan to be sporting a swimsuit at the hotel swimming pool!).
• Do an at-home microdermabrasion treatment on your facial skin or use a facial scrub (such as a natural apricot scrub) to remove the top layers of old skin and reveal new younger looking skin.  Follow this treatment with a heavy moisturizer or night cream.
• Whiten your teeth.  Depending on which teeth whitening product you choose, it could take 2 weeks or 2 hours to complete.  Make sure you start early enough to give your teeth time to recover in case of sensitivity.

1 Week Before

• Make an appointment with the same hairstylist to touch up your roots or give you a trim for your new hairstyle.
• Try on all outfits you’ll be wearing at BlogHer and make note of necessary alterations.  Make the alterations yourself or drop off your clothing at the tailor.

3 Days Before

• Pick up clothing from the tailor.  Make sure you try on the items before you leave the tailor’s to make sure they fit correctly.

1 Day Before

• Have an at-home steam in your bathroom (to add moisture to skin, hair and nails).  Turn the shower onto hot and close the bathroom door.  Allow steam to fill up the room, then sit in the steam for as long as you are comfortable.
• Give yourself a full manicure and pedicure.  Include a hand and foot scrub before doing your nails with 2 coats of color.
• Take a shower and deep condition your hair. 
• Apply scented moisturizer after showering.  Follow up with a body spray of the matching scent.
• Before bed, spritz your hair and pillow case with your favorite perfume.

Have a great trip to BlogHer 2011 in San Diego!

I asked my friend Tanya today on Facebook how Atkins went for her.   Here is what she said:

Tanya Alexander Bourne

I lost 6 lbs in 2 weeks and I could have been a little stricter. The first couple of days are hard but by about the 3rd or 4th day I started feeling really good and not so hungry for carbs. I really think the key is eating lots of greens. I… really want to change my habits of eating so many carbs all the time so I’m back on it again for a week or two here. I think the Atkins diet gets a bad wrap because people don’t really follow it correctly.

Danelle Ice I think you’re right. My husband was reading to me about the later phases (which I’ve never known anyone to get to!).

This seems like a complicated diet to follow for me as a mom with 4 kids to cook for.  I can’t stop cooking regular full-carb meals for them and am not overly excited about the idea of cooking 2 different meals (1 for the kids and me, 1 for my husband).  Plus, I’m still nursing and have to be careful about adjusting my diet too much because of milk supply issues.

However, I have heard that Atkins is a great way to jump start weight loss when you have a lot to lose, especially after having a baby like I just did.

Have you ever done Atkins? How were your results?  Would you recommend this diet? Let us know in the comments below.

This safe weight loss during pregnancy project of mine was a little different since I’m already pregnant.  However, when I spoke to my OB doctor at my last prenatal appointment, she recommended that I monitor my diet and exercise to try to maintain weight instead of losing weight.

I’ve taken that advice and am using MyFoodDiary.com again to track my eating.  I’m having the most trouble keeping sodium levels low in my diet.

Doctor’s orders trump weight loss challenges, I’m afraid.  So I suppose the next weight loss challenge will be on for February after the new baby is born!

This week I didn’t lose weight at all – I gained 4 pounds!  I guess my growing baby is growing a lot right now, plus I had some really bad eating days this week.  What factors probably contributed to the weight gain this week?

• Doughnuts at church, for one.
• I haven’t been getting enough sleep at night.
• You may also notice that my water consumption is nowhere near the gallon per day I’ve been aiming for.

I know I can do a lot better in the coming week to try to take off some of the excess pregnancy fat!

Day by Day Activities

(T) 10/12/10: no exercise
(W)  10/13/10: no exercise
(Th) 10/14/10: Elliptical, 13 minutes, 86 calories
(F) 10/15/10: Elliptical, 20 min, 137 cal
(S) 10/16/10: Elliptical, 17 min, 120 cal
(S) 10/17/10:  no exercise
(M) 10/18/10:  no exercise

Day by Day Water

(T) 10/12/10: 5 glasses, 40 oz.
(W)  10/13/10: 5 glasses, 40 oz.
(Th) 10/14/10: 5 glasses, 40 oz.
(F) 10/15/10: 8 glasses, 64 oz.
(S) 10/16/10:  5 glasses, 40 oz.
(S) 10/17/10:  5 glasses, 40 oz.
(M) 10/18/10: 5 glasses, 40 oz.

Day by Day Weight

(T) 10/12/10: 155.4 pounds
(M) 10/18/10: 159.4 pounds

Stay tuned next Tuesday for my weekly weigh in and update on my safe pregnancy weight loss!  Are you on a similar weight loss program?  Let us know about your progress in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I am not advocating this weight loss challenge as advice for anyone.  Please contact your physician before undertaking any exercise or diet changes, especially when pregnant.

Below you’ll see how my exercise, water consumption, and weigh ins looked for the week.

Day by Day Activities

(T) 10/5/10: Elliptical, 18 minutes
(W)  10/6/10: no exercise
(Th) 10/7/10: Elliptical, 20 minutes, 143 calories
(F) 10/8/10: Elliptical, 30 minutes, 220 calories
(S) 10/9/10: no exercise
(S) 10/10/10: no exercise
(M) 10/11/10: no exercise

Day by Day Water

(T) 10/5/10: forgot to count
(W)  10/6/10: forgot to count
(Th) 10/7/10: 9 glasses, 72 oz.
(F) 10/8/10: 5 glasses, 40 oz.
(S) 10/9/10: 6 glasses, 48 oz.
(S) 10/10/10: 10 glasses, 80 oz.
(M) 10/11/10: 5 glasses, 40 oz.

Day by Day Weight

(T) 10/5/10: 154.8 pounds
(W)  10/6/10: 154.2 pounds
(Th) 10/7/10: 155 pounds
(F) 10/8/10:155.8 pounds
(S) 10/9/10: 155.4 pounds
(S) 10/10/10: 154.4 pounds
(M) 10/11/10: didn’t weigh in

Stay tuned next Tuesday for my weekly weigh in and update on my safe pregnancy weight loss!  Are you on a similar weight loss program?  Let us know about your progress in the comments below.

Disclaimer: I am not advocating this weight loss challenge as advice for anyone.  Please contact your physician before undertaking any exercise or diet changes, especially when pregnant.

According to WebMD, a woman should gain about 25-35 pounds during pregnancy, and overweight women should gain only 15-25 pounds.  I started this pregnancy at 133 pounds and 5 feet 1” tall (I was still in weight loss phase from the last baby), and now weigh 154.8 pounds.  Using the art of subtraction, I can tell I’ve already gained almost all my weight for this pregnancy even though I’m only 6 months along!  You can see my size in the pictures in this post, taken in September 2010 while pregnant with girl baby #3.

I want to maintain a healthy weight, which in my case means still losing a lot of the fat from my last pregnancy during this pregnancy. However, it’s important that I keep my weight loss efforts safe for the sake of my baby.  I still have to be careful with over-exertion during exercise and keep enough calories from balanced meals coming in.

I hate to admit it, but I have been really bad about regular exercise during this pregnancy.  During the last few days, I’ve been exercising on the elliptical more and trying to watch my meals for nutritional value.

How easy is it to lose weight safely while pregnant?  That’s a good question, and one that I’ve been increasingly curious about as my weight skyrockets.  I intend to find out, and hopefully record my progress here with weekly weigh ins.  Do you have any weight loss tips for pregnant moms that worked for you?  If so, please leave them in the comments below.

My Weight Loss While Pregnant Goals

• Exercise regularly as approved by a doctor.  For me, this means cardio on the elliptical or treadmill at least 5 times per week.
• Drink 1 gallon of liquids daily (this is a hard one for me).
• Get enough fiber everyday by taking a fiber supplement.
• Sleep 8 hours per night.
• Make sure foods are healthy and balanced between the food groups.

Lose Weight While Pregnant Weigh In: Day 1

Pre-pregnancy weight: 133 pounds
First weigh-in (10/5/10): 154.8 pounds
Total pregnancy weight gained: 21.8 pounds

There are many items that might be in a typical homemaker’s purse right now, from makeup to pacifiers, but it’s probably missing some of the essentials that will make her invincible!

“Be Prepared. That’s the motto of the Boy Scouts. "Be prepared for what?" someone once asked Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, "Why, for any old thing." said Baden-Powell.”

-Excerpt from the Boy Scout Handbook

First, let’s make sure your purse is organized.  Many handy purse organizers can be moved from purse to purse so that you can stay organized but change purses quickly.  Here are a few to look at:

The list below of 13 Things You Need to Have in Your Purse contains not only emergency tools, but also items to make you more productive and allow you to use your time more effectively.

13 Things You Need in Your Purse

1. Allergy medicine. Allergic reactions – to foods, animals, materials, or anything else – almost always come on unexpectedly and when you are not at home. I have used the Benadryl in my purse on multiple occasions, not only for myself, but for my children also.

2. Swiss army knife (or other multipurpose tool). There is a pink multipurpose tool in my purse which has been used to extract a broken key from a lock, among other things. The multitude of tools packed onto this gadget, such as tweezers, knife, bottle opener, and more, come in handy all the time.

3. Address labels. Never fill out this repetitive information by hand if you don’t have to! Save the time and energy by carrying your preprinted address labels (remember the ones that come unsolicited in the mail?) in your purse. Whenever you need to fill in mailing info (movie store, drawings/giveaways, registrations, etc.) just peel and stick an adhesive address label.

Time for a new purse to freshen up your style?  Here are some hot handbags that won’t break the bank:

4. Traveler’s check. Everyone knows that carrying cash in your purse is not only a security risk, but a spending temptation as well! Many people don’t want to carry credit cards or cash with them, and traveler’s checks are a great alternative. If you really need money for an emergency (not a clearance sale – those are NOT emergencies!), you’ll have a traveler’s check that can be spent like cash. An added security bonus is that traveler’s checks are refundable if lost or stolen.

5. Spare car key and house key. Locking your keys in the house or car is a huge inconvenience, and can be expensive if you have to hire a locksmith. Do yourself a favor and keep an extra set in your purse that is not attached to your keychain. Chances are good that even if you lock your keys in the car, you’ll still have your purse on your shoulder.

Get more checklists like this one with our free updates.

We’d appreciate you voting this article up on StumbleUpon!

6. Pen and paper. You never know when you’ll need to write something down (think directions, address, phone number, insurance information).

7. Cell phone and/or address book. Accident, flat tire, lost… with a multitude of possible circumstances, it’s not practical to be away from home without either your cell phone or at least a mini address book with important phone numbers.

8. Lighter or matches. Anything can happen, and you never know when you’ll need to make fire. If you don’t carry around flint and tinder (aside: I don’t in real life, but in World of Warcraft I do- and it takes up 2 bag slots! Hey- you never know when you’re going to need to cook something!) then it will be nice to have matches or a lighter to make a quick fire. Uses: Burn off a leech, create smoke signal, scare away angry bees, etc.

9. Emergency snacks. Stranded? Hungry? Having food in your purse will protect your finances and health by keeping you from hitting a drive-thru. Having food if you are ever stranded away from businesses/people will keep you from going hungry. Lastly, having snacks in your purse can prevent a serious toddler melt-down in public for a hungry little one!

Maybe you’re tired of your same old boring purse and are ready for a quirky new purse that’s a little more adventurous.  Check out these crazy purses:

10. Tissues. Nose bleeds, runny noses, crying child, liquid spills, oily skin – tissues come in handy all the time.

11. Kindle, book, magazine, or blog posts. How often do you spend time waiting- time that is wasted because you just sit or stand there thinking about the fact that you’re waiting?! You could be doing something productive with that wait-time. Bring along a book or magazine that you haven’t had time to read. I used to print out blog posts from my feed reader in the morning and take them in my purse to read throughout the day while I was waiting.

The time I spend waiting at school to drop off/ pick up my daughter, in the bank drive-thru, at the doctor’s office, at the pharmacy, and in line at the post office could be spent reading on your Kindle!

12. To do list. You’re constantly thinking and usually remember things you need to do while you’re away from home. Sound familiar? Keep your to do list with you, so you can add items to it when you think of them.

13. Safety pins. Buttons fall off, zippers break, seams come apart, hems fall down. Having a spare safety pin in your purse can save you from a wardrobe malfunction when you need it the most!

Purses come in all shapes, colors and sizes, but you can never judge a purse by it’s cover – er, outside! If it’s going to go everywhere with you, it may as well serve you as a storage spot for useful tools. The above list of 13 useful items that probably aren’t in your purse right now should get you started in your purse contents-makeover. Print out this list and get your purse up to speed today!

These purses will definitely break the bank, but will turn heads…

Originally published February 5th, 2010. Disclaimer: HomeEverAfter.com contains affiliate links and readers may assume that HomeEverAfter.com receives compensation when affiliate links are used.

Now that we’ve gone through what a tasteful wardrobe should consist of, and the sparkly things that go with it, now it’s on to the rest- the Fringe accents.

Shoes

My personal obsession- shoes (okay, makeup, but shoes are a VERY close 2nd). I am right there with Carrie Bradshaw and gasping “Hello Lover” whenever I see a cute pair in a window.

They are historically how people judged your lot in life. People with money could afford nicer shoes. Now, with some pretty decent ready to wear mass productions, we have some very cute options to go with our lovely classic wardrobe and tasteful jewelry.

There used to be guidelines for shoes. Kitty heels or flats for the taller girls, and no self respecting woman would dare wear 6” stilettos. Not so much the case anymore. I’m 5’7” and adore wearing heels, because they elongate my stubby legs. Your main focus should be on what makes your outfit look good, and what you’re most comfortable in.

Purses

Next is your bag. This very well may double as your diaper bag. And there are some adorable purse/tote looking diaper bags available. What you’d want to have in your “arsenal” is:

1. Small Clutch. For the times that you’re able to get out, usually with your little black dress. These are barely bigger than a typical billfold/checkbook wallet and should be used to hold your ID, cards, cash, touch up makeup (powder and lipstick) and cell. And nothing more… because, well, there’s no more room.
2. Old Standard. This fits your wallet, cell, possibly a brush- basically all you need while away from home supplies. For moms with older children, we usually find room in there for emergency toy cars or princess accoutrements, the directions to where we’re going, our cell, a small address book, etc. This could also be your diaper bag for smaller children… just remember- if you have to lug this thing around, make it work for you.
3. A Large Tote. This is usually what you’d carry with you when traveling (and is usually the first sign to a native Floridian such as myself of a tourist) But these help when flying- or cutting corners at the movie theater. There’s LOTS of room for ANYTHING you need.

So, now you have your clothing, jewelry, shoes and bag. Add your makeup (and a few hair tips I’ll get to next) and we can all emerge from the Mom Rut and start doing the Mom Strut (and look fabulous doing it!)

Accessories and Jewelry

They can make a simple black dress breathtakingly sophisticated. Think about Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) in that beginning scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s… what would that black dress be without those lovely pearls, the tiara barrette in her perfectly coiffed hair, or those fabulous opera gloves? Just a sheath dress in black. They can instantly take a v-neck tee and khaki capris from backyard to date night with a few lobster clasps.

Accessories. Since Cleopatra’s time women have been adorning themselves with jewels and trinkets to enhance their ensemble. And they change with the tide, but a few key pieces will translate well regardless of what’s coming out of Paris or New York this season.

1.  A simple strand of pearls. They don’t have to be real, just make sure they’re real good looking. Sometimes fake pearls are just plastic beads covered with a pearescent foil… this can chip off quite easily, sometimes with prolonged exposure to the moisture from your skin, body oils or lotions. Simulated pearls are more commonplace and last a bit longer. And good places to get quality costume jewelry is QVC.com, HSN.com, or a big box store.

2.  A nice pair of stud earrings. These don’t go below your earlobe, and you can wear them any time, with anything. The traditional choice- diamond (or nice looking CZ). Don’t take this to rap star level (extra large), it’s not ideal.

3.  A simple pair of hoops. Mayonnaise jar hoops are still gauche, but it’s your choice if you want silver or gold. (See NOTE below about how to choose silver or gold.)

4.  A nice cocktail / “right hand” ring. This is a nice looking ring that might be a tiny bit more flashy than your wedding/engagement ring(s), hence worn on the right hand. Rings are always personal choice. Some people get irritated by wearing them, and they’re not as noticeable as a necklace or earrings, so if you really don’t like them, you can skip wearing them.

5.  Statement jewelry. This is where you’d have a piece or two that states who you are or what your outfit says. For Christians that so choose, it would be their cross. Trends like the toggle style necklace that Tiffany released a couple years ago, the diamond circle pendant, etc.

6.  Trendy pieces. With the 80s making a comeback lately, this is where you’d have your thick bangle bracelets with interesting designs, piles of jelly bracelets, etc. This should be the least amount in your jewelry wardrobe, because what’s in for 2009/2010 may be completely yuck in 2011.

A general rule of thumb- don’t try to pile on your jewels just because it’s what you have. And it’s along the same lines of makeup- big and attention-getting in one area and leave the rest simple. Big earrings, keep the necklace simple.

NOTE: How to choose if you’re a Silver or Gold person- hold something silvery or gray next to your skin (face or neck is usually easiest), and with the other hand, hold something gold or yellow/orange up. Whichever side of you looks more “lit” up, that’s what you are. I look best with silver, as I feel gold makes me look a little jaundice.

Stay tuned for Erin’s new fashion and beauty column next week, Fringe- purses, scarves and shoes. 

Eyebrow Threading

From Marlene Dietrich pencil-thins to Brook Shields’ Au Naturales (and back again), we all have personal preferences as to how we want our brows “done”. The newest way (to the local mall nail shop in your area, at least) to do that is through eyebrow threading.

The way a particular esthetician will set up their threads depends on the method they learned. Some are very ornate and theatrical while the service is being rendered. But the idea is the same.

Regular, cotton (in most cases) thread is made into a rounded rectangle shape, twisted into itself three or four times (forming two triangles), and depending on what your particular hand-dominance, is placed before each hair to be removed, the fingers in one loop opened, causing the wrapped part to literally tangle the hairs into the wraps, pulling them out.

Confused? I used the video below to figure it out for myself, instead of paying $7 or better to have them done by someone else (subscribers will have to click through to this article to watch the video).  Especially if it was supposed to be a particularly painful experience.

How to Thread Eyebrows Video

Personally, the jury is still out for me if I’d use threading or trusty ol’ razor stick from Sally’s. Threading is a cleaner technique… It’s must easier to plot out the shape of your brow, and less margin of error. However- the pain factor is great (more so than tweezers, in my opinion), especially if you accidentally catch some skin in the thread, as I did my first attempt.

A razor stick (most drug stores and Sally Beauty stores carry them) is economical, and to me, the least painful way to do brows. But you have to be much more careful with razors than tweezers or threading, or else you end up with brows a la Vanilla Ice.

The most important part is to do SOMETHING to your brows. If you wear not a smudge of makeup, your eyebrows being properly groomed is a very quick way to look better, and a little more put together. 

Summer Makeup for Moms

Summer’s started, and pretty much anywhere you live, you’re dealing with heat… put on top of that the collective thirty seconds you have to yourself as a mom (hello- two preschoolers!), and summer seems like the season you do without, put your hair in a ponytail (or claw clip) and away you go.

It doesn’t have to be that blah just because you’re a mom. I have five of my favorite, go-to products to keep you looking fresh, revived and with-it, and all within 5 minutes. I do have to say- you will notice I’m a big fan of mark. cosmetics. (I am not a representative, I just like the product). But I’ve given you some drug store alternatives for a get-it-right-now purchase.

5 Must Have Summer Makeup Products

1- mark. Get a Tint (appx $8.00). Truly beautiful for a quick pick me up for your skin without going crazy with coverage! I’d definitely put this on before any concealer you need. (I’ll explain later!)

Option- CG Smoothers. Always a favorite on my mecca website- makeupalley.com. I’d go a shade darker than you think you need on this one… it can make you look ashy if it’s too light.

1 ½ – mark. Good Riddance Hookup Concealer (appx $6.00 meetmark.com). If you have a non-sleeping 2 year old like I do, “Say haloh to my little frien’”. LOVE this stuff. And it’s a pencil that I have “hooked up” to my lip gloss. Can’t go wrong- they wedge right in that skinny little pocket in the diaper bag.

Application tip: if you need a LOT of coverage, ‘draw’ right on your areas and tap/smudge until it disappears into your skin. If you just need a little, draw a little bit on your RING finger and apply that way. The ring finger is the most seldom used finger on the hand, therefore the best for applying to the face- it’s less callused, and tends to be the cleanest.

The drug store favorite for me- Revlon New Complexion concealer.

2- mark. Good Glowing powder blush (appx $6.00 meetmark.com). Golden Glo and After Glo are the ones I use the most… and does well across the board with skin tones. Option- Jane mineral blush- I’ve used this on photoshoots. Colors do well across skin tones too. Also apply blush/bronzer in the crease of your eyelid. Instant eye shadow!

3- Physician’s Formula Lash in a Tube. Has been and always will be my favorite. Bad Gal Lash by Benefit was my favorite until I couldn’t afford it anymore. This product does the SAME thing, without the huge-gantic brush gimmick (yes, Benefit was the first!)… for summer, stick with the waterproof. Sweat or jumping into a pool will have you all Tammy-Fayed out. Not pretty!

4- Lip Gloss. No real recommendation on this one. I wouldn’t go too frosty on it, or you look too 60′s B-Movie Sci-Fi queen… just a little sheen, and stick to whatever looks closest to your bare lips… so you can do your lip gloss without looking in a mirror (especially in traffic!)

Next week- I get my eyebrows Threaded for the first time! It’s supposed to be less painful and longer lasting than plucking. We shall see!

Basic Skin Care: Prep Your Canvas!

The biggest thing about makeup isn’t the actual cosmetic itself- it’s what’s under it. You can put the best foundation on, but if your skin is bad, your makeup will look bad too.

But you don’t have to go to the spa weekly for beautiful skin- a few simple steps twice a day will help keep that canvas ready.

Skin Cleansers

First- get a good cleanser. Good doesn’t always mean strongest. Truly oily skin is not just oily through the t-zone (forehead, nose, sides of nose and chin), but the entire facial surface. Sometimes with foundation, your makeup will take on an orange-y tint or seem to disappear by midday. For this, you need good astringent properties. Proactiv is a popular choice, but I hear good things with Clean and Clear’s new line also. Problem with Proactiv- it dries your skin out the minute you stop taking it.

For Normal/Combo Skin - (shiny/oily in the t-zone, but no real “issues” through the cheeks), this is when things get easy. You pretty much have pick of the litter as far as what you can use.

For Sensitive Skin- things get tricky. It seems like everything you put on yours skin burns or itches. A favorite (of mine and dermatologists alike) is Cetaphyl. It’s a gentle, non-detergent cleanser that I also use at photoshoots to remove makeup between looks. Great at removing waterproof mascara as well.

Exfoliating

No real need to buy an exfoliator – your regular cleanser and a soft washcloth does the trick. Once or twice a week, use the cloth in circles around the face, paying attention to the creases in the nose, along the brow, and on the chin line.

Skin Toner

The jury is still out about toner. Some people, especially with oilier skin will need additional astringent, but the majority of us don’t need it… clean skin is clean skin- why add a step?

Skin Moisturizer

Please please please- if you have any intention of wearing makeup- moisturize! It’s the biggest thing I ask my brides to do when they want makeup on their special day… especially if the bachelorette party entailed many a cosmo!  Makeup will change color, cake and “glop” together if the skin is flaky and dry. You can even put a few drops of your regular foundation into your moisturizer to make your own tinted moisturizer. And a note: night/day creams are a myth. I just wouldn’t recommend wearing an spf moisturizer to bed. But it won’t melt your face off either… so use your own judgment.

Lip and Eye Treatments

And last, but just as important- don’t forget your lips! A good (and cheap) treatment for exfoliation- a dime-sized dollop of Vaseline with 1/8 tsp sugar. Mix together, and apply to the lips in a circular motion. Remove with a damp cloth.

For your eyes, if you don’t have wrinkles unless you’re squinting, a small little dab of Vaseline at the outside corners of your eyes takes care of that. For more pronounced lines, I really like Lacura in the pink tube… or Hope In A Tube by Philosophy (a bit pricey, but SO worth it!). If you have dark, pronounced circles (some of the East Indian heritage, pregnant darker skintones, etc), anything with vitamin K. I like Jason Naturals K Crème Plus. There are also a lot of off-brands at your local health food store… look in the beauty section.

Taking care of your skin will pay for itself in about 8 weeks. It’s where you should invest the most money- drug store makeup will (for the most part) look just as good as the most expensive, if the skin is right.

Next week, Summer Makeup! My favorite time of year (for makeup anyway), because it’s the one that I use the least product…

Some women are lucky enough to be taught all the necessary life skills from their parents.  If I dare to ask all the readers to chime in on that point, I’m going to guess that most of us weren’t in that lucky small group! 

Many of us mothers have to learn how to be a homemaker, parent and a wife from reading books, reading magazines, watching other people, and gaining our own experience that only comes with time.

It gave me great pain to hear the voice of “every woman” and “every mother” coming out through fellow blogger GrudgeMom today.  Here is a snippet of what I read:

“Am I a good enough mom, parent, wife? I’m constantly wondering and in my mind, I’m not.  You know when you were a JR in (highschool) and think the SRs are so smart and cool? That’s how I feel about some moms. I read what these moms have to say, and I feel like I can’t even begin to approach the league they are in.  I feel like I am playing pretend at being a parent when you put me beside one of them. They just know everything, and I can’t hope to have the knowledge even after 50 years of being a mother.”

-Read the rest of Never Good Enough

I feel sad that anyone should ever have to feel this way!  This is not the first blog post I’ve come across voicing these same painful concerns of women doubting their own worthiness to be mothers and wives.  If you read the rest of GrudgeMom’s article, you’ll find her concerns also about being a new mom with relatives that don’t support her parenting choices.  

One good thing about being a parent is that our kids know even less than we do!  They don’t know if we’re doing anything wrong, or if there’s a better or more efficient way to do something.  They only know that we are there for them, take care of them, and make everything okay.  We are their heroes and their role models, their monster-in-the-closet checkers and their boo-boo kissers. 

Having family members that constantly criticize your parenting methods or family choices does not help when you’re already struggling to adjust to your new role in life (as someone’s partner and someone’s parent).  We can NOT control what our extended families do, say, or think about us.  All we can do is realize that what they think is not our problem.

You and your husband are the ones that shape your family life.  You two make decisions together and learn together as you go along. 

It’s okay to ask others for advice when you want information.  As my friend Crystal Paine says, you can always turn to godly older women for advice on parenting and life.  This isn’t because they are better than us younger ladies, or smarter, or cooler, but because they learned in exactly the same way WE will learn – by years of experiencing it for themselves!

Keep in mind that when family members (even in-laws) are criticizing your parenting, they probably feel like they’re being helpful and that their way is the best way.  However, they’re really showing disrespect to both you and your husband, essentially saying that they don’t feel he can make good decisions for your family.  This simply isn’t true.  As a father, husband, and the head of your house, he has to learn as he goes along too. 

It’s normal to have questioning feelings every once in a while, but don’t let them stick around.  Fill your brain with these positive statements enough times that you start to believe them:

• I am a good parent who is learning more every day.
• I am a loving wife who is married to a wonderful man.
• My husband and I make good decisions for our family.
• My children love me and I love them.
• I am the best parent I can be.
• What I think and say is important.
• I am good enough!

Life Tips for Women from Mary Kay Ash has great advice every week for moms, working moms, single moms, married women, and more. The book I’m quoting from is called Mary Kay by Mary Kay Ash, the founder of the legendary cosmetics company.  You can read more about the Life Tips for Women from Mary Kay Ash series.

Plan Your Days & Make Each One Count

“Have you ever had one of those Saturdays  when you got up in the morning and didn’t have a single thing planned for the day?  You drift from one thing to another, and by the end of the day you realize that you haven’t accomplished a thing.  You feel empty and depressed and frustrated; you’ve wasted a day you’ll never get a a chance to relive. 

Well, just as you drifted through an entire day, some people drift through a week, a month, a year – and even a lifetime.”

                                       -Mary Kay, p. 93

Can you relate? I certainly can.  How frustrating to feel like we trudge through our days and look back only to realize that we haven’t accomplished anything.  Even worse- do you feel like you didn’t accomplish anything that mattered? 

Make Your Top Priorities of the Day List

First thing in the morning, I find that making a list of your few most important things to do for the day can keep this from happening.  This list is like your map for the day, and no matter how many unexpected things pop up at the last minute, you can find a way to get your 3 or 4 items done and checked off.

The top priorities list isn’t only about productivity; it’s about accomplishment.  Looking at this list at the end of the day, you can see how you spent your time and feel good about doing what you set out to do. 

Keep the top priorities list short and sweet, and make sure that there aren’t only mundane tasks on the list.

Projects That Matter to Your Life

How many days do you spend any time working on a project that matters to your life?  Dishes and cooking may be everyday necessities, but are these tasks that change and shape the overall course of your life?  Probably not. 

Identify a project right now that is important to you and matters to the bigger picture in your life.  Are you an aspiring author? If so, add a task each day to spend just 10 minutes writing.  Are you a scrapbook lover who longs to preserve your family memories, but never has time to do the huge project of sorting all your photos from the last decade?  Start small and add a task to your priorities list to do one small part of your memory book each day.  Spend 10 short minutes printing out pictures from this week, or find a template to create 1 page for photos from yesterday. 

These small tasks don’t seem like much work and won’t take much time from your day, but planning your days with projects that matter to your life will make a huge difference to your life’s path in the big picture.

Love Your Life Challenge:  

• Identify a project that matters to your life.  Big or small, only choose one project to focus on for now.
• Find a small task you can do several times a week to work on this project.  10 minutes, 1 page, 1 chapter… however it is measured, start small.
• When you look back on your week, appreciate the time you planned and accomplished, and look at how it will change your life over time, week by week.
• Let us know in the comments below if you’re taking this challenge, and what your project is. 

Subscribe to our free updates now so that you don’t miss Life Tips from Mary Kay Ash next week!

For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit We are That Family and Homemaker Mondays.

I read a very profound book when I was just a teenager that formed my thoughts on most of my business practices today.  It’s called Mary Kay by Mary Kay Ash, the founder of the legendary cosmetics company. 

Our new series is called Life Tips for Women from Mary Kay Ash, and will be a weekly ongoing series with great advice for moms, working moms, single moms, married women, you name it.

Throughout my adult life and my career, Mary Kay has been an inspiration to me because of her fierce determination, commitment to putting her family before work, and still being a successful leader who helped women the world over to change their lives for the better.  She’s in my top 5 list of mentors for my life, and has helped shape many of the policies at IS World Media.

Although Mary Kay Ash has written many books, this is the one which has stuck with me, which I’ve read over and over, which has upwards of 100 sticky notes hanging off the edges of the pages!  She built her company out of the sheer desire to give women homemakers the opportunities that didn’t exist in society at that time.  Her ideals of putting God and family first were sometimes laughed at by the business world, but developed into one of the most financially successful companies in the world (run by Mary Kay and her 2 sons!).

Her insights towards life as a mom – a working mom at that – and a single mom can teach us all a little something about how to make the little improvements in our own lives that will really bring us more time for our families, more victories, and more power to be able to accomplish our dreams.

I’m starting a new series here at Home Ever After to showcase some of the best points from Mary Kay’s 1981 book, which is just as helpful today as it was then.    Since it’s an old book, Mary Kay by Mary Kay Ash is available at Amazon for only a few dollars.  You can probably even find it at a bookstore in your town for the list price of $3.95!  If you’ll take my word on this book’s importance in my life, and if you’d like to follow along with this series by reading the book first, I strongly recommend that you spend the $4 and buy this book.

The other day I was going for a walk with my boys and I noticed a woman, about my age, chatting with a friend in her front yard. At 37, I’m no spring chicken, but when I digested what it was she was wearing and how she looked, I thought, gosh, I hope I never let myself look like that! Is that mean?

Listen, I’m not a fashionista, I like a bargain, but I appreciate style too. There is no reason why someone needs to let themselves go to the point of looking frumpy, dirty, dated and older than they should.

Hey, I’m not a size 4 anymore, and I accept this. It’s easy to let yourself fall into a slump when your trying to get into that ideal size again. It’s understandable why someone wouldn’t want to make an effort to update their wardrobe if they know they are losing weight…but you need to have enough respect for yourself to take care of yourself.

Here’s my theory. It’s a vicious circle. You feel fat, so you don’t buy new clothes. Then you look bad, so you feel miserable. Then you decide to have a snack to make yourself feel better. Oh and by the way, you skip working out because you’re too bummed because it’s not having any effect…so you still feel fat.

Break the cycle.

Go to Target or some store that offers trendier apparel at discount prices. Buy a few staples for the new season. A few tops, a couple of pants/shorts, and a dress or skirt. Definitely buy some shoes (no need to go cheap on these…feet don’t lose weight) and maybe a new purse too. H & M is a great place for what I call “disposable” clothes. After a season, they usually are ruined by stains or wear – so you can just get rid of them without the guilt associated with overspending.

Most importantly…buy your size. Buy clothes that fit, because even if they’re a size 14, you will always look better in your real size than if you try to squeeze your size 14 buns into a size 8. You’ll look like a muffin top/sausage…and that’s just not attractive no matter what.

Here’s the deal, you’ll feel better if you try my suggestions above. The funny thing is that when you feel better about yourself, you take better care of yourself. So, you might actually watch what you eat with a little ease and lose a few pounds to boot. Also, people will notice and give you positive reinforcement that in turn which make you feel even better.

One note, get rid of any granny panties and buy something cute as well as a proper fitting cute bra. You need to feel good about yourself all over. Good luck.  Renee

Sweatpants sign by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com. Fashion don’t models photo by I See Modern Britain.

How to look beautiful is a fun subject for moms, especially when you can vamp up your looks without using lots of chemical filled beauty products on your hair and skin.

I’ve been on the lookout for a new natural hair conditioner treatment to try for some time, so I’m anxious to try a honey rinse recipe that they describe in the beauty tips article.

Here is one of the coolest natural beauty tips from the list- a natural way to whiten your teeth:

“Brighten your smile with strawberries & baking soda. First mash a fresh strawberry and add a tsp of baking soda. Spread on toothbrush & rub strawberry mash onto teeth. Leave for a couple minutes then brush teeth clean. Because the fruit is naturally acidic, don’t use this method more than once a week to protect your teeth from damage.” 

Read the rest of the article here: 12 Simple Beauty Hacks From The Kitchen    [Mommy Style]

Photo by BdwayDiva1.

Mandee is holding their StyleStar contest, perfect for your teens (or yourself).  The winner not only gets a $250 shopping spree, but also wins a modeling photo shoot at Mandee this June. 

To Enter:

You simply model your favorite Mandee outfit, and have someone snap a few photos of you.  Submit your photo by email at stylestar(at)Mandee.com, along with a description of how much your outfit cost and why you think it’s the best. 

Hurry to enter, because this contest ends tomorrow, 5/15/09.  Get more details at Mandee.com.