Cheap and Chic
Looking fabulous doesn't have to cost a fortune.
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Mother's Day, All Wrapped Up
These ready-to-give gifts will fit any budget.
More...May. 03, 2012 | Permalink -
Review: Casa's Annie Jr is magical, mesmerizing
Before the curtain closed, the cast encouraged the audience to sing one last rendition of "Tomorrow." I think my daughter was the loudest one in the theater.
More...Apr. 28, 2012 | Permalink | Jennifer Bolton -
Smooth like butter
I'm a multi-tasking mama. Most days, you'll find me with a baby on one hip while I fold laundry, find missing loveys and Facebook. So I especially appreciate beauty products that do it all and then some. I first found CJ's BUTTer to be an excellent diaper cream. It contains natural ingredients, it isn't gloppy and it glides like buttah onto baby's bums. (Bonus: it's also cloth diaper safe.) Then one day while diapering my little one, I tried a dab on my ragged cuticle. Life hasn't been the ...
More...Apr. 26, 2012 | Permalink -
Sample sale
I'm sure it's pretty obvious by now that I'm a product junkie. I love trying out new brands, looking for that perfect and elusive scent/color. Except often times, it's a big fail. I invest in a full-size something only to discover that I detest it. That's why I love the new sample program from Abe's Market, an amazing marketplace full of natural goodness. Try any three samples for just $2. Yes, $2 - and that includes shipping. And it's not just beauty stuff. You can also peruse selections in...
More...Apr. 12, 2012 | Permalink -
The best stuff for baby (and mom)
I've got babies on the brain. Scouting out cool (and cheap) finds for my 4-month-old occupies quite a bit of my time these days. So I was ecstatic when I discovered the wonder of Bluum. Bluum is a subscription site that delivers deluxe samples for baby - and for mom. Each month, I receive a box brimming with goodies, such as Weleda lotion, tea and chocolate (for me) and a pureed fruit pouch and adorable rattle (for my daughter). You can choose from a monthly plan ($12 a month) or a quarterly...
More...Mar. 29, 2012 | Permalink -
My favorite fall fragrance
Now that the weather has finally taken a delightful dip, it's time to put away the summery scents. My favorite perfumer, LaVanila, has just the thing. Their Vanilla Blackberry fragrance combines blackberries and raspberries with earthy vanilla undertones. It's soft and sensual, not too fruity and perfect for fall. I love LaVanila because their fragrances use pure essential oils - and none of the chemicals that typically give me a perfume headache. Now for the best part...
More...Sep. 22, 2011 | Permalink -
The perfect purple for fall
I'm not sure when it happened. But at some point during the past few years, my infatuation with pink ended. Maybe it was a case of too many pink plastic toys during my daughter's early years that caused me to turn away from the bubblegum hue. Whatever the reason, I am now officially infatuated with purple. Purple is like pink but with a darker, more mysterious and complex side. Thus it's perfect for the transition into fall, when weather and fashion trends dictate that we ditch the shee...
More...Sep. 01, 2011 | Permalink -
Not your daughter's baby oil
In one of my recent Birchbox boxes, I received a tiny bottle of fancy-sounding oil. I was immediately skeptical. My previous experience with oil had been limited to greasy (and not-so-good smelling) baby oil, which I could never bring myself to slather on my daughter's skin. But when I uncapped this bottle, I realized it was decidedly different. Nuxe Huile Prodiegieuse (and no, I still can't pronounce it) is a multi-use dry oil, which means you can use it on your body, face and hair...
More...Aug. 18, 2011 | Permalink -
Beat the heat
I admit that I was skeptical at first. $10 for a mist you spray on your face? Wouldn't a splash of plain ol' tap water work just as well? Now I think it's the best $10 I've spent all summer. Evian Mineral Water Spray is the perfect remedy when you've had oh, say 34 consecutive days of triple-digit temps. And yes, it's just mineral water in a bottle propelled by nitrogen. But it's pure genius. You can use it to cool off, get rid of chlorine or soothe a sunburn. It leaves a subtle s...
More...Aug. 04, 2011 | Permalink -
Soothe that sunburn
All I can say is, "Ouch." Despite our best intentions, my daughter and I are both sporting sunburns at the moment. Even when slathered in sunscreen, our fair skin is apparently no match for the 100+ degree days. So while we take respite in the air conditioning, we're finding solace from this amazing Burt's Bees product. The After Sun Soother is packed with aloe, linden (an antioxidant) and coconut oil. It's so cool and soothing on our parched skin. Plus, it's a light lotion so it's not greas...
More...Jul. 21, 2011 | Permalink | Mom2MomDFW -
Sephora at Parks Mall
I received an email Tuesday that made me ecstatic: Sephora is opening at The Parks Mall on Friday! I've been making the trek to Northeast Mall and Northpark for years to satisfy my Sephora addiction. Now there's one in my own backyard (which could be dangerous). Stop by tomorrow and check it out. Doors open at 10 a.m., and a beauty rep told me there would be prizes and giveaways throughout the day. Beauty Insiders get a free makeup bag with any purchase. What: Sephora grand opening Whe...
More...Jul. 07, 2011 | Permalink -
Review: 'Hobbit' gets a kid-friendly makeover
Theatre Arlington's all-youth production does a wonderful job of simplifying a complex plot for families.
More...Jul. 03, 2011 | Permalink | Jennifer Bolton -
The perfect set for summer travel
Pack light this summer with my current newest obsession: a pint-sized travel kit from Love & Toast. The Happiness Head to Toe kit truly lives up to its name. The set includes everything you need to pamper yourself, from face moisturizer and lip balm to body wash and shampoo. You'll find a mixture of luscious scents, such as Clementine Crush, Strawberry Fields and Mint & Ginseng. If want your products to look pretty on the counter (like me), you'll find the whimsical packagi...
More...Jun. 30, 2011 | Permalink -
Soap + Mickey = Magic
There's a constant, oft-repeated refrain in my house: "Go wash your hands." Now thanks to Mickey and Minnie and Method, the hand-washing routine just became a whole lot easier. Method has introduced two ridiculously cute foaming soaps brought to you by the magic of Disney. The black bottles have the iconic shape of our favorite mouse friends. There are two scents available: Mickey (a tart Lemonade) and Minnie (a fruity Strawberry Fizz). And since it's Method, you can rest easy knowing that y...
More...Jun. 16, 2011 | Permalink -
Summer skin soother
The sun, sand and surf are calling. Which means the inevitable is coming: dry, blotchy, splotchy skin that's staging a revolt against too many UV rays. Here's the elixir: a soothing ultra-moisturizing mask from the Jason line. The creamy mask contains Vitamins A, C and E which fight free radical damage caused by the sun. Smooth it on after a long day outside and your skin will be dewy and glowing. It's a little pricier than drugstore masks, but I promise it's worth it. Order online at the ...
More...Jun. 02, 2011 | Permalink -
Drugstore beauty bargains
I can't resist the siren song of the drugstore beauty bargain, as I stroll through the aisles scooping up inexpensive finds. Sadly, I'm often disappointed and find that many times you get what you pay for. But not with the fabulous new line from eos. Yes, they're trying to be cute and shun capitalization ala e.e. cummings. However, since the name is an acronym I can forgive them. eos stands for "evolution of smooth", as in the products promise to smooth and soothe your skin. I lov...
More...May. 19, 2011 | Permalink -
Bug off
While there are many things I love about summer, bug spray is not one of them. I loathe the heady cloud of fake-woodsy scent that is ubiquitous in the evening hours. Plus, the thought of coating my daughter's skin with all those chemicals also makes me uneasy. But then I'm not a big fan of bug bites either. So what's a mom to do? California Baby has the answer. Unlike many other DEET-free insect repellants, this stuff actually works. It's a blend of citronella, lemongrass and cedar that repe...
More...May. 12, 2011 | Permalink -
Review: 'The Wizard of Oz'
The production hits high notes for its special effects and strong singing.
More...Apr. 30, 2011 | Permalink -
(Safe) Fun in the sun
We all know that sunscreen should be worn year-round, right? But even yours truly sometimes forgets to slather on the stuff during the dead of winter. So this summer, I'm starting off on the right foot with Sephora's annual Sun Safety Kit. Each year, Sephora brings together a sampling of the best sunscreen products around. And this year I think they've outdone themselves. The kit contains amazing brands such as Supergoop, Philosophy, Bare Escentuals and Murad. There are 11 samples in all, si...
More...Apr. 28, 2011 | Permalink -
The best beauty samples ever
I tend to hoard beauty samples. I have a huge stash of Lilliputian-sized products that I've received free with purchase. The problem? The samples never seem to be suited to my skin type. Hence the genius of the new site Birchbox.com . For a small monthly fee of $10, you get a box full o' beauty products delivered to your front door. Every. Single. Month. The packaging is divine - a hot pink box that just screams gorgeous. The samples are generously sized. And the best part - they've ...
More...Apr. 14, 2011 | Permalink
