Chronicle 52: There's No Place Like Home

I have a zit. It has taken up residence right between my eyes, popping up sometime between unpacking the 867th box of dishware and the intensive process known as shopping for living room furniture. Too busy to "woe is me", I handled it vigorously with my Clarisonic and a healthy swab of Witchhazel.

Witchhazel is an astringent that can be used as a spot treatment.
 It can dry your skin out pretty quickly, so use sparingly.

Then I wake this morning to find that my zit invited an overnight friend, and this zit is not so...friendly. First of all, no introduction or warning was given. Second, it planted itself right on the tip of my nose. It's like a welcoming committee. Which, admittedly, fits in with my current life theme.

Welcome back, mamas & friends (and hopefully readers I don't know yet). Yes, I took a brief hiatus. Ok, make that a LONG hiatus. It was a year; a year full of highs and lows and new experiences. I met some incredible people, and lost one too. I finished my first year of teaching (I. AM. ALIIIVE!) after staying home with baby G. 

The last 3 items in our old home, before we handed over the keys!

But, the biggest and most life changing thing JUST happened. Like a week ago happened. WE (packedupallofourbelongingsand) MOVED!! It was a life changing move. Like a leave a place you've lived for 28 years, family, friends, job, etc. move. It's turning out to be a brand new adventure, can't wait to explore and meet new people move. 

It was quick, but certainly not painless. In fact, I'm sure that if we ever move again I will need a healthy dose of... several things. If you've ever moved, even to the house or apartment next door, you KNOW it's a pain. The logistics and labor alone cause stress: stress on family, friends, kiddos, and marriage. in effect, it's one of those tests that life throws your way to keep you in check. That's how I came to look at it: a way to test my strength.

The best part about a cross state move? It will continue to test me. Finding my way to the grocery store, meeting other young families, keeping up with a bigger home, interviewing for a job in the local district... the list goes on and on. And while I was faced with these tasks at my old home, I was comfortable. I knew my way around. I had my friends. Here? I have to get my Sacajawea on. Wait... am I leading two men? I guess I am! :)

Our kitchen was put together a day after we moved! I can't claim all the credit: my amazing
family friends showed up to help. Love them!

We have most everything unpacked. The next step is organizing EVERYTHING. Luckily we moved into a bigger home, so we didn't have to worry about making things fit. We just have to worry about making them pretty! (That's my newly adopted phrase for organizing. So much better, right?!) 

This is the funny part: I've actually been researching! I've been reading articles, magazines, and books for ideas. It's your turn, mamas! How do you organize your toddler's room? Your pantry? Your playroom? I foresee several trips to the Container Store in my future!

Meanwhile, we're trying hard to stick to our routine and settle in to the new home. As you can see, Baby G is well on his way! 

Can't wait to hear from you again, mamas!

xoxo, 

The Hot Mama

Chronicle 42: BB Cream Review!

I think it's been quite some time since my Sephora haul and girls, do I have some REVIEWS to write. The one thing I was the most excited about was the BB Cream by Clinique. It promised me the world: sunblock, primer, moisturizer AND moderate coverage all in one.

I was convinced it would become a staple in my makeup bag.

Here's the problem: I have fairly sensitive skin and all of those products combined just wreaked havoc with it. It looks absolutely beautiful and flawless whether it's applied with fingers, brush or sponge. It even passed the natural light test with flying colors (aka it looked fresh and natural in broad daylight). However, it made me break out after 8 hours of wear. And I don't break out. Like... ever. 

My chin became a minefield. After only 8 hours! This is why I sadly decided to return to Sephora. Some day. See the thing is, I love it so much that I'm willing to wear it for short periods of time and then wash it off immediately. Crazy? Absolutely. The things we do for love, ladies, I swear.

Photo courtesy of ehowtogetridofpimples.net

I have been experimenting with my morning skin care routine in order to make this relationship work. I feel as if under certain circumstances, BB and I could be friends. We may never reach our full potential, but it's not fair to just cut BB out of my life forever...

Here's what I've tried: washing my face with cleanser & Clarisonic Mia, toning with Clarins Toning Lotion, using my Caudelie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid THEN BB cream. I thought the layer of Vinoperfect would protect my skin from the BB. Not so much. That is just adding one. more. thing.

So I tried it without and still, no dice. I had been using moisturizer, too even though the BB has it. I started skipping that step, too and the results were the same. Pimply chin!!

 I finally decided to put the BB everywhere but my chin and used a cover up for any redness. Voila! The perfect solution. AND I get to keep my BB. 

Xoxo, 

The Hot Mama

Chronicle 7: A Beauty Tutorial

Part 2: Video Vixen

Hey hot mamas! You know, I’ve been looking forward to filming this video for quite some time. Maybe it’s just me, but I have always been curious about other people’s daily routines, as well as the why’s and how’s behind it. Step by step tutorials are how I learn best, and the fact that you see a clear before and after is exciting (Is there such a thing as a beauty nerd?!). 

             Beautiful nerd? 

On the last post I outlined my morning skincare routine, and gave a sneak peek of the Hot Mama Fast Face. A product list can be found here. All of the products I use are for sensitive and/or dry skin, so please take that into account if you are looking to incorporate any of the products I show on the video. Also, I will make suggestions for alternative products when I can. If you have any questions about how/why I use the products, how to apply them, or where to find them, please leave a comment at the end of either Beauty Tutorial post!

Here we go, ladies! (Please forgive my terrible video taking/editing/tech skills...or lack thereof!)

***VIDEO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES***

Beauty Tutorial Breakdown:

My morning routine:

1. Clarisonic Mia for one minute with Clarins Cleansing Milk

2. Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme peel for 1-3 minutes (once a week)

3. Clarins Toning Lotion, applied in circular motion with cotton round

4. ROC Retinol Correxion Eye cream

5. Jack Black Double Duty Moisturizer with SPF 20 (mixed with Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid on the mornings I will be leaving the house)

Hot Mama Fast Face, or the “Welcome Home, Honey” face:

1. Spot touch up with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage 

2.  C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries Mentha Lip Buffer (to smooth lips and freshen breath)

3. Eyeko Strawberry Fat balm as cream blush on lips and cheeks

4. Bobbi Brown Tortoiseshell Sand Eye Palette, with darkest shadow as eyeliner

5. Coat of Millionize mascara if needed

Hot Mama Date face or, “Mom’s watching the kids” face:

1. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation, put on with foundation brush

2. Spot touch-up with Laura Mercier Secret Camoflouge

3. Laura Mercier finishing powder or Mary Kay mineral powder in Ivory

4. Nars Orgasm blush

5. Bobbi Brown eyebrow pencil in Blonde

6. Two coats Millionize mascara

7. Mally black eyeliner

8. Satin Taupe, Bobbi Brown Tortoiseshell eye shadows – smoky eye

9. Clinique Black Honey lip gloss

10. Perfume: Flowerbomb by Victor Rolf, or Violet Blonde by Tom Ford (depending on how sexy I want to feel!) 

Friends, mamas... I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed making it! For someone as     challenged as me in the tech department, I hope that future posts are created much quicker and are not as primitive. Thanks for patiently standing by! I love you all.

Leave any questions you have in the comment section below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Xoxo, 

The Hot Mama

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