Love your lotion.

I could write for an entire month about moisturizers alone- annnnd I think I just may. In the cold months we tend to forget about our skin since we're not out and about in little summer dresses. Your skin is an organ and it's the most visible one on your body. You need to love love love it because it will show aging before your hair sprouts any grays. Loving it means staying out of the sun just as much as it means PUT LOTION ON ME! Like- twice a day atleast ALL over your body. Make it a routine to do every morning and every night. Don't forget your neck and the top of your hands. These areas have very thin skin and will show your age even if you've had face lift. They are exposed to sunlight more than you may realize so be sure there is some SPF in that lotion. My all time favorite body lotion is St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter. It's delightful and inexpensive.


I'll be in the Carolina's this week for thanksgiving so I may not be able to post at all. In the mean time- LOTION UP ladies. And have a scrumptious thanksgiving ofcourse.

What are you thankful for?

Five thing's I am thankful for:

1. My husband's appreciation for all I do and how often he tells me "thank you."
2. My long distance relationship with my sister. We've grown very close being so far away.
3. No matter how long it's been since we've seen each other, my best friends and I always start off right where we left.
4. The close friendships I have developed in Texas. I seriously never thought I'd have so many friends when we moved here, let alone really great ones.
5. My mom and dad's respect and support for everything I do and treating me like an adult. I love it.

Writing this made me realize that my family and close friends are the most important thing in my life. Of course I knew that but seeing it written gives you another perspective. So here are another five things that make me smile on a daily basis and I am so thankful for them as well:

1. Bella- my precious fat cat. She follows me around whenever I am home and keeps my head nice and warm all night (she literally sleeps on top of my head).
2.  My new dance classes and the constant soreness I am now experiencing.
3.  YOU- my blog readers. Thank you for tuning in when you can! It means a lot to me.
4. Lady Gaga. Countless hours I have spent in traffic rocking out with you. I wonder how many people I have made LOL at the sight of me marking her video dance moves while sitting on 635.
5. Glee. I have recently become a Gleek. Thank you KRod for getting me to watch.

Send me a list of things you are thankful for and I’ll post them!

Oops- I over plucked!

Ever happen to you before? I have a tendency to do so. Nick ALWAYS gets onto me when he see's me with a pair of tweezers in my hands- I love plucking.  I don't wax my eyebrows because I am a control freak. Eyebrows frame your face. The shape of them can really do wonders (or the opposite) for your face. So- in situations such as over plucking I FOUND A SOLUTION!. Anastasia Brow Enhancer This is a gel you put on your eyebrows and within a couple of weeks your hair will grow back. Use daily. It also holds your hairs in place all day and makes your brows look more defined. Anastasia is a line dedicated to the brow. Their products are pricey- but sometimes necessary. 

homemade costumes.

click here for lady gaga instructions.


ey hotties. so here are my halloween creations. I won the prize for best homemade at work in my Lady Gaga costume ( thank you telehat).

Here is my The Little Mermaid crew. 

 

hate that it's blurry but its the only one with all 5 of us!

Peace out sunshine.

Sadly, the season for sun is OVER. Even though it lasts half the year in the South, I still miss it because I love some natural Vitamin D (and I love to be tan). This is the 6 month mark of my ban on tanning beds and I am so proud of myself- but now is when the real challenge comes. To keep some color, I have been using Jergen's Natural Glow, gradual tanning lotion. It's a new formula that smells better and has antioxidants and Vitamin E to make your skin look healthy and keep the color 2 times longer! It's on Allure's Best of Beauty 2010 list! They also sell moisturizer just for your face. I put some on under by main moisturizer since my skin is so dry. LOVE this STUFF! It's worth the purchase.

Vitamin Boooooost

Exactly one month ago I began a vitamin routine. Five days a week I take a prenatal multivitamin (purely for the vitamin use, not trying to be a mommy any time soon), and iron and calcium supplements.  Within two weeks I felt the effects but thought it could just be in my head. Once month later, I have noticed longer and stronger nails. My skin is has been rather clear. I am sleeping really well. I feel completely energized throughout an entire day. My sister, nutrition major at Clemson University (and aspiring Registered Dietitian), can provide technical feedback.

This is my best at explaining things without making it too scientific lol:

First of all, it is always ideal to eat food to recieve your daily amounts of vitamins and minerals rather than take supplements. Unfortunately, most people do not eat enough of the right food to get the amount of vitamins and minerals we need. So in that case, it is a good idea to take supplements. Now, prenatal vitamins were recommended to us by mom because they tend to have higher B vitamins doses (this is to support fetal and brain development in a fetus). Since B vitamins are water soluble we can't overdose so it is not harmful for us to take daily. B vitamins are our energy metabolizing vitamins, meaning they help our bodies use the fuel that gives us our energy. As a side not I also take biotin (B7) supplements as this is the vitamin that will help your hair and nails grow.

I would also highly recommend any vegeterians taking B12 supplements, the only natural source of it is in meats (small amount in dairy), and although you can get enough of it from fortified foods (like cereal). If you don't eat a lot of meat, especially red meat, you may be anemic. Anemia is most commonly cause by deficiency in B12, folate, or iron and can cause fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, and headaches among many other symptoms that can become much more serious.

Most people probably get plenty servings of dairy to be sufficient in calcium (need approximately 3 servings a day). But if you don't get enough you can cause impaired bone development (bones develop till age 26). I would maybe also recommend taking vitamin D supplements because the recommended amounts has increased and studies are showing most people do not get enough (you can find it in fortified foods like orange juice or through sunlight). You need vitamin D to use calcium efficiently.

I would recommend taking the vitamins every day, and it takes about 3 months to get full results.

-Victoria (aka Tori) Hayden

Wow- I feel like I should take notes lol. Thanks sissy!