Three Haute Mamas

Keeping a Green Face: Alba Botanica

Going green doesn't have to mean washing your face with bar soap and water.  Ohnonono.  Product junkie here recently made the switch from uber expensive facial cleansers back to my green roots-Alba Botanica.  I found that my wrinkles and "freckles" (some may call them age spots, I prefer the term freckles) weren't disappearing, but my hard earned cash certainly was.  I was also having a hard time with all the chemicals involved.  I use Renova, so I felt like I was turning my  face into a chemical waste land.  I beleive in moderation.  Keep the Renova, and supplement with my Alba Botanica. And aside from this lovely pimple that popped up out of nowhere (even my kids can't hide their horror, it's thatbig), my skin feels and looks exactly the same.  Unlike my wallet which is much fuller. 

The Hawaiian Collection.  I feel like I'm giving my skin a tropical vacation, and not stuck in this tundra.

and for those of you suffering through acne (that'd probably be me) they've released a Natural ACNEdote.  

 

Why add all those harmful chemicals to your teens skin when Lord knows they're a raging bucket of hormones anyhow.  Teens are so into the whole saving the earth deal these days, so one up them, and bring home this baby first.  Like totally.. 

And the best part..these products aren't available exclusively at fancy schmancy designer department store.  Try the holy grail..Target.  Or even your local market (Whole Foods, Shaws, etc..).  Your friends will be green with envy when they hear how much you saved. 

Win the "It" bag of the Week in Boston: Ellie Fund Oscar Night Swagbag

Like the Ellie Fund Oscar Night Gala wasn't fun enough?  Then quitting time comes, and oh joy! Swagbag surprise!  You always see the celebs making out hand over fist at these award shows, and now it's our your turn! That's right mamas, we are giving you our swag bag full of amazing items worth mucho dinero if there was a price tag attached (and there isn't because this was complimentary and part of the whole Oscar night experience).   What's inside you ask? Let's pretend, for a moment, that we're high paid actresses, and take a look....

I see gift cards.....and full sized products mamas.  We love ourselves free full sized products.  What else is inside there?

Ohh..is that a fifty dollar gift card to the new Del Friscos steakhouse (opening April 23rd)!? Date night mamas! Bernie and Phyls..quality, comfort and price, another gift card-so nice!

 

You know the celebs don't do their own hair, and neither should you....how about a complimentary blow out courtesty of  Salon Capri (with two locations Newton and the new Legacy Place).  Might need a haircut first? $40 haircut gift card and complimentary manicure from Avanti Salon, located on Newbury Street and South Boston.  We always say beauty doesn't have to cost a lot.  This should further the cause. 

And when you get home, pamper those tresses with full sized Redken hair products.  Did I say full sized? Loves. 

Stars are always hitting the top spas, so why not you, mama?  The most elegant Boston Mandarin Oriental hosted this lavish event, and included in this bag is a gift certificate to the Spa at the MO.  Mamas, I get teary eyed on this one, and you may just have to pry it out of my greedy paws and I wish you nothing but utmost peace and relaxation. Om. 

Lip balms, two All Natural goats milk soap, water bottle from an upcoming movie, teeshirt from "the Last Airbender", a Groupon coupon (Certified Groupon Groupie in the house), free hummus coupon.. Seriously..there's more, but you'll have to pull a Natalie Portman and be a winner to find out what it is.  This gift bag and all it's contents is up for grabs to a randomly chosen winner to be announced next Friday, March 11.  All you have to do is answer the question below, so get your Red Sox* thinking caps on:

We love a good movie as much as you all, tell us your favorite movie of 2011.  

tell us your favorite movie of 2011 in the comment section on the blog,or facebook and for an extra chance (or three) follow us on Facebook, the blog, or Twitter (and let us know about it).  So mamas, up to four chances to win, but whatever you do, don't miss out on this chance to win the "it" bag of the week in Boston.  But get your entry in quick, because like spring training this contest ends soon too.  

 

they are actually jumping for joy over this contest

*The Red Sox cap is merely a suggestion and in no way influences the contest winner decision.  The winner will be chosen randomly using Random.org.  Even if they don a Yankees cap.  

 

Legal schmegal: contest open to residents of the US only (sorry mi amigas and mes amis).  Contest ends at midnight, 3/11/2011.  Shipments cannot be mailed to PO Boxes.  We really do hope the Red Sox win this World Series this year (we just want that noted).  

Longer Lashes for this Haute Mama! This product actually works!!

Hello Mamas,

Okay, so I watched this commercial on TV about a month ago claiming you can have longer lashes in weeks. It is a product called Rimmel London Lash Accelerator. It says it has AVEC Grow-lash complex! Blah Blah Blah.... does it work I thought? 

Days later I was in CVS and I saw the product and it was buy on get one FREE! Hmmm I thought they either want us to see it works or they are trying to unload a bad product. Curious I was, I bought it! 

The package says 117% longer in 30days and 80% longer instantly. Well, I must say it did extend my lashes a bit at first BUT a few weeks later I looked in the mirror after applying my mascara and I was like WOW!!! This actually worked! They were super long!!!

I saw Kate at a school event and I said look at my lashes aren't they crazy long and she said " Wow! did you get extensions?" Thats when I told her about this product. In sync we both said "We need to blog this to our Mamas!!"

Rimmel London Lash Accelerator 8.99 CVS 


 

 
This picture was taken after just one application of mascara. I will note that it does take a minute or two to dry and being a mom on the go I always tend to smudge it as I am rushing out the door! Other than that... I Love this product!!

Rimmel London is officially.......

XO Kimberly

Mamas if you decide to purchase this product we would love to hear if you got the same results! This is only my opinion based on my experience, enjoy!! 

Five under $25 + one of my favorite fives: Happy birthday Alexis!

I remember it like yesterday, although it was four years ago.  I sat on a bench at the school playground when one of my best friends swooped in with a giant Diet Coke and a wide a$$ grin on her face.

Kate...I think I'm pregnant!! I'm going home to take the test right now!!  

With that, she sashayed back into her still running car, and off she drove, presumably to pee on a stick.  Me, on other hand, sat mouth on the cork lined,playground floor, not out of surprise for her announcement, but more out of shock that I'd just suddenly realized my period was...

Kids! Get in the car!!! NOW! We're going to CVS!! 

I must have peed on fourteen sticks that day.  I desperately wanted a third child, but my first two were so close together, and I was planning on waiting a bit.  But like a friend so eloquently described me "Husband coughs, you get knocked up".  Well he had coughed. 

Nine months later, my girlfriend and I were at the hospital, literally next door to each other, snuggling our precious newborns.  My third little girl, Alexis Sumner, was my easiest labor, and shh, don't tell the other girls, my easiest baby.  My baby turns five today-five! She's still my baby, and always will be.  I think she actually likes that fact.  We'll ask her again at 16.  

I love surprises.  This one's the icing on the cake. 

and in honor of my birthday babe, a little online shopping.  Five under $25, here goes:

~Skinny laser cut belt from the Gap.  

 

~Spanish crown ring from Etsy

~print from etsy 

 

~Caviar Day Cream from Mario Badescu

~Peppermint Hot Cocoa from Ghiradelli (Stage an intervention, we have an addict here.)

Happy birthday LexiLou-who! 

Dry skin + chapped lips? Problem salved! Smiths Rosebud Salve

You're not seeing things..that thermometer is correct.  And dropping.  Take care of that pout, and all exposed skin by this wonder balm.  Found for about six dollars in among other places, drugstores, Target, Sephora and Nordstroms, this legendary all purpose lip balm has been around for over a hundred years, making it tried and true. 

I discovered this product years ago as a lip gloss, and but fell in love with it as a mom.  I applied it to my babies faces during the cold winter months to prevent wind burn.  And when a runny nose caused that uncomfortable redness, Smiths to the rescue! Diaper rash? It works.  

Keep it around to apply to hands and cuticles too.  Who isn't washing their hands a hundred times a day during cold and flu season?  A little dab is all you need an this tiny tin will last forever.  

As a certified product junkie, this one is a top of the medicine cabinet shelf award winner.  Multitasking, useful for the entire family, economical at around $6 a tin,  and all natural.  

Winter skin care got you down? Problem salved! 

 

Golden Girls of the Golden Globes, Kates take on the Red Carpet

The Red Carpet was littered with dreamy gowns last night and Kim and I were both emerald green with envy, she over Catherine Zeta-Jones, and I over Angelina Jolie.  Both for her Atelier Versace dress and her date, the hunky Brad Pitt.  Double the eye candy.

~Hautest Mama to be, Natalie Portman in Viktor + Rolf gown should get award simply for wearing those Stells McCartney heels while pregnant.  Can you imagine her ankles by the end of the night? Oy. 

~Carrie Underwood in Bagdley Mischka.  We discussed the line last week, and kudos again for a job well done! 

~Eva Longoria in Zac Posen.  Two words...Tony Who? 

~Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive.  Love the dress, love Anne.  But all I can think of this song.  Still a top three look of the night.  Cha-cha-chainnnnnnnn.... 

~Sandra Bullock in Jenny Packham.  The dress probably wasn't my favorite, but still right up there.  But the hair..the hair..loveeee the hair.  New 'do, new beau.  Braveau;)

~Sofia Vergara my favorite actress on TV in Vera Wang and not afraid of color or curves.  Work it Sofia! And word is, she does..in her Easy Tones by Reebok-the secret to her curves.  Dear God, I promise to sleep in those things....

~and finally, the belle of the ball..Olivia Wilde in Marchesa, the showstopper gown of the evening.  And what I'd imagine she's thinking in this photo:

"I can die now."

Blinded by the white? Tinted moisturizers to the rescue!

How many days 'til summer? I can't be the only New Englander counting down the days.  If snow were shoes I'd be Imelda Marcos and the Barneys shoe department and all of the Kardashian sisters.  You can throw in the Mom and Lamar Odom too.  I'm talking snow. 

All this white has me thinking one thing..self tanner.  Don't get lost in the snow, applied daily self tanners, tinted moisturizers, or even a bronzer can mask that pale January complexion until you're able break out of those layers of wool again. 

~Hit the slopes? Nope.  Macys. 

~St. Barths? Nope.  Barneys.  

~Tanning bed? Uhhh?  Sephora..

 

~ooohh..Exotic spa in the Carribean? Spa CVS.  

~Spray tan! bareMinerals!

 

PSA to our mama friends and family, less is more in application mamas..less is always more.  

 

 

Christina used good ole Jergen's from CVS and I..... $27.00 professional spray tan... next time I'm going with the Jergen's !!!

It's Mama Time

Car maintenance. Check. 

Doctors appointments.  Check.

Furnace cleaned.  Check.

Hair cut. Umm..

Pedicure.  Uhh..

Facial. Huh? 

Oh people... When did we forget about our "maintenance" program?  Remember the days when you wouldn't be caught dead with chipped nails?  Right now I am sporting the 1/4 painted nails look.  As in painted two weeks ago, and all that remains is a 1/4 of the paint.  Lovely.  There was a time when I had a fresh coat every Sunday and Thursday religiously.  Those were the days.  

This week we are focusing on the girls-us.  It doesn't take a lot to slap on a coat of quick dry polish before melting into the couch for a night of CSI.  When you're making your hair appointment, why not make next months, and the following months while you're at it?  Stay tuned for lots of tips, tricks, and the God's honest truth, that we don't always follow our own rules.  But heck! This is the year of forward thinking and we're in this together.  So I'm off to grab my polish remover, and make a list of maintenance items that don't include plumbers, mechanics or anything with the word"jiffy" in the title.  It's Mama time.  

New Years Snow Queen

Holiday joy continues for this mama! Bowling, Childrens museum, movie nights, trips to my hometown.  I'd just posted ice skating photos on Facebook when I got a wall post reminding me of a certain little blog commitment.  "I wondered where you'd gone"-Kimberly.  Oopsie. sorry Kim!!xoxohehe

Thanks for holding down the fort Kim, but even she knows, I can't help it.  I am a sucker for good holiday fun, and New Years Eve is no different.  Last year was the first year my girls were allowed to stay up and watch the ball drop in Times Square.  My neighbors joined us and we had a fabulous, yet low key time.  This year, I'll be shipping the girls off to the grandparents and heading out to a casual soiree myself, hence a little more formality is called for.  Just what the stylist ordered. 

I am in love with these Heritage fit satin trim pants from Talbots on major clearance right now.  And given the fact that I have eaten nearly every carb that's crossed my path, the wool/poly/lycra blend will hopefully help to hide that little glitch. 

Shine throughout the night in this gold sequin tank from  New York & Co. 

And Sam Edelman Simone ankle boots to protect those little footsies from all this snow! 

 

This is New Years eve after all mamas, so pile on every piece of gold, glass and glittery jewelry you own.  Think big, think Times Square big.  

 

The same holds true for hair and makeup.  The higher the hair, the closer to God.  And he didn't create false eyelashes for trannies and Mac makeup artists only mamas.  Branch out.  Try something new.  A new eyeshadow color, or even a sparkly hair accessory.  You always want to look good when meeting someone new for the first time, why should meeting a New Year be any different? 

 

 

 

On the Fourteenth Day of Holiday Mr. Ups Gave to me.......

Hello Mamas,

Okay this is a good one. After having your first baby the Hospital along with handing you some baby supplies should hand you a welcome to motherhood survival kit. This item being one of them.....

A friend of mine pulled me over recently at a party and said " You need to let your Mamas know about this product! It's a miracle!"  

Indeed it is!! What mom hasn't experienced as soon as she gives birth the transition from the slow paced pampered life to life in the express lane. You shower in under 2 minutes, eat an entire meal in under 5 minutes and now you can paint your nails again because this product dries them fast , like Superman in the phone booth kinda fast. Waahoo!!!

For $14 OPI for Sephora is about to change our lives!! Haute Painted Nails here we come!!

 
XO Kimberly