Santa Message

This is the cutest thing ever!!
 
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/1cpn6eLb99EWZDkg45PTOg

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/55CQLvBktsFLUoakprb-ww

Don't mess with momma bear...

So, have you ever had anybody say something to one of your kids and you just lose it!?  For the most part, I don't mind if another adult corrects my child or maybe even reprimands them.  I think it's good for them sometimes.  On the other hand, sometimes a stranger will say something and I lose it! This happened at the bowling alley the other day.  Some stranger, said something really rude to one of my kids and I lost it sista!! The purse came off the shoulder, the hands started waving around and my mouth went south. I'm only human. 

Someone please tell me I'm not the only one who turns into a bear protecting her cubs when they are crossed!!!

Other than momma bear going on a rampage, life is good!  It's funny because I have my very lonely days where being a mom and working is overwhelming and I want to throw my hands up and say "No More!" "I Surrender!" "I Give Up!" I'm Not Strong Enough to do This!"
Then I have my days where I say "I'm a Super Hero!" "I Can Do Anything!" "Bring it On World!"

Ups and downs, ups and downs, I guess that is what life is all about isn't it.  I can honestly say that the struggles I have been through over the past couple years have made me a stronger, better person.  Over the past year, I have found happiness through my accomplishments and independence as a person and a mother.  I have done things I didn't think I was capable of.  It's such a great feeling!
NOW...if only I could find someone to share this happiness with...life would be complete.  I know, I know, Patience is a Virtue...blah blah blah :)

Cassidy's Christmas performance

Christmas already??

I cannot believe a whole year has gone by again!! Jeesh time flies!! 

Well, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with some great friends and now we are getting all geared up for Christmas!! My favorite holiday!  I have to be perfectly honest though, a part of me is a little sad inside.....this will be the first year I don't get to wake up to kids on Christmas morning :(  The harsh reality of divorce...sharing holidays...it sucks!! But I will be fine, and get through it just like I have gotten through anything else...by crying and pouting all day!!..haha JK!!  I'm sure I will head down to Utah and be with my family and friends! :)

Luvin the Christmas music, luvin the lights, luvin December!

2011.......BRING IT ON!!!

Thanksgiving dinner with friends

Jen and Michele

Gingerbread house!!

This kept Kayleigh busy for 2 hours!

Best hamburgers in Colorado...Cherry Cricket! 

(J dawgs bday dinner)

Dear Santa, 

I need a new door knob...

how about a prince charming to come fix my door knob...

I've lived with this for 4 yrs now! It's unfixable!

Cassidy wearing my pajamas, Jaydan in tie die and plaid shorts, 

me in broncos santa hat...we are total dorks for real!

GO BRONCOS!

SISTERS..best friends are we..my sisters times 3..

I recently took a much needed getaway to Arizona with my sisters! Nicole couldn't come though :(

It was nice to get out of this Colorado cold and go sit at the pool in 80 degree weather!  My sisters are my best friends and no matter what ups and downs each of us go through, we know we can always count on each other.

Love You Sisters....
Chel and Linds

Can't forget my bestest friend and twin...Nikki

Little Miss Pouty Pants!

Do you ever have those days where you are just pouty!! Everything gets to you that day, and you feel like you just want to complain to someone!? I totally had one of those days the other day! I woke up to kids bickering over cereal or something silly, then a client got really mad at me and hurt my feelings, and I just decided that my life was dumb.  I was letting everything affect me that day and I was acting like a total Debbie Downer pouty pants baby!! Luckily I have awesome people in my life who let me vent sometimes, and just patiently listen to me while I grumble, grumble, grrrr, grrrr, & murmur, murmur! (I know we all have these days and it's ok sometimes, as long as it's not everyday!!  Because then it just plain effects your life and who you are)
So on this particular day, my awesome friend told me to watch this video.  It was so great! Really made me feel like I wanted to try to have a better attitude everyday when I wake up! I am so grateful for the little things in my life! The pitter patter of little feet every morning, hearing about who Jaydan thinks is pretty at school, Cassidy skipping around the house all day without a care in the world!! I'm grateful I have friends who know the real me and still love me, and for family who just calls to say we are thinking about you.  For a home and a job, and health and for so, so so so much!! I hope you love this video as much as I do:)  Click on the you tube link below to watch!!

Let's all try a little harder to turn our frowns upside down!! Ok..Bye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAjZ8mfoYw

Winterize your skin..beauty tips for glowing, healthy skin

 As if the skin on our face and body doesn’t have enough problems on a daily basis, the dry, cold climate that comes with the winter season can make it worse!  As the warm summer months leave us, your tan starts to wear off revealing dull, dry skin. Blah!

Try these tips and tricks to make your skin healthy, glowing and beautiful!

For girls and guys!

#1. Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate!!

  The reason we need to exfoliate is because dead skin cells build up, build up and build up causing the skin to look ashy and dull.  We need to manually remove these dead skin cells to expose our fresh, healthy skin underneath.You can do this by getting a gentle facial scrub (do not use apricot scrubs from st. Ives) and using it once or twice a week in the shower.  You can also use an enzyme mask once a week which will eat away dead skin without the harsh scrubbing of a scrub.  You can get a facial cleanser with glycolic acid or a night cream with alpha hydroxy acids in it. (which will also prevent wrinkles)

(if you go to a spa or med office, or me, to receive chemical peels, now is the time to do a series of about 6 peels until spring)

#2 Mosturize!! 

Once you exfoliate and shed those dead skin cells, be sure to apply a hydrating moisturizer to heal dry, itchy, irritated skin. 

#3 Cleanse and Balance
A gentle cleanser will help to revitalize your skin while preventing impurities from clogging pores and causing breakouts. Use a gentle, alcohol-free facial cleanser in the evening. Unless you have persistent problems with acne, avoid ingredients like salicylic acid that may cause excessive drying or irritate the skin.

#4 Don't take hot showers, it dries out your skin. 


#5 Drink plenty of water! Coffee, tea, soda and alcohol dehydrate your body.  (If you drink more soda than you do water a day, you can bet you will have tired dull skin, your skin will age quicker and your teeth are taking a toll as well.) Just drink water!


#6 Protect your skin
everybody, and I mean everybody should be wearing a light sunscreen everyday! I won't even treat a clients skin unless I know they wear a daily sunscreen. It's not so much about wrinkles and leathery skin.  It's about melanoma, the number one cause of death with skin disease. (Don't get me started...)
If you are a sun bather and can't stand to look pale or can't stay away from the tanning salon, try to go a different route and sign up for spray tans instead.  If you still can't stay away, limit your tanning bed usage to once or twice a month.

#7 Home Care Products
Everyone should have one or two good quality home, skin care products on their bathroom counter (not oil of olay or dove) I recommend a good night treatment cream or a good daily moisturizer. The difference between an over the counter product like oil of olay vs a professional or medical grade product such as glymed plus (putting in a plug for my company) is that by law, the over the counter product can only penetrate the skin to a certain depth.  When you use a higher quality, the product penetrates deeper giving you better cell turnover and visible results quicker.  I love using night creams with alpha hydroxy acids or anything with peptides in it.


So, these are just some recommendations! I would love to hear what you all do to winterize your skin and your personal tips and tricks for healthy skin..and hair.  What products do you use and like? Any home remedies you use? Do you like spray tans or tanning beds? Let's get some feedback!
(And if you have any questions for me as an esthetician, regarding your skin, I will do my best to answer!)

Another season come and gone

Today was our last official football game of the season.  The Green Mountain Rams 5th grade team did awesome this year! We made it to the playoffs and the boys fought hard, but in the end that dang Highlands Ranch team took the victory and is heading to the Carnation Bowl. Oh well, there is always next year! Jaydan did amazing this season! He plays running back and outside linebacker and is one of the biggest kids on the team.  I am one proud momma when I see my son out there on that field! We did have one or two injuries this season, but nothing too serious.  Jaydan was in a leg brace for a couple weeks for dislocating his knee, and he was also diagnosed with asthma.  Nothing can stop this kid though.  I'm so proud of him. He is an amazing athlete, a great student and the best son a mom could ask for! 

(I tried to get some video, but missed his touchdowns)