The Best Way to Relax...With a Massage!

There are so many things you can do to take care of your body. With the proper care, you can improve your overall physical health, mental health, appearance, and confidence...sounds good to me!

One way to to improve the health in your body is by getting adequate vitamins and minerals. All vitamins have their important functions, but I have a few favorites. Vitamin A is needed for healthy skin and immune system functioning. Vitamin E has so many benefits for your skin, hair, and nails as well. Vitamin B helps your body metabolize energy...if you've been feeling super tired lately, have your levels of Vitamin B checked! I take a multi-vitamin daily to help my body get what it needs. Make sure you talk to your doctor before starting up a vitamin regimen!

Another way to take care of yourself includes skin care. Don't go to bed with make-up on (I usually wash my face twice a day). Make sure you moisturize and wear an SPF of at least 15, even in the winter!

Lastly, my favorite way to relax and keep my body health at an optimum level is by a routine massage. I go to a day spa in Huntington Beach and I always look forward to going. Massage helps increase blood flow, decrease stress, and decrease the amount of toxins in the body.

What are you favorite tips to keeping your mind and body healthy? I'd love to hear from you!

Top 5 Shortest Celeb Weddings

Is it just me or does everyone else think celebrity weddings are kind of a joke? I mean some couples are actually in love and will abide by their marriage but then there are others that last for only a few days, or even hours. Celebrity proposals are always blown out of proportion with hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, spent on ornate wedding rings, only for the marriage to end abruptly. Read on for the top 5 shortest celebrity weddings on record.

1. 9 Days : Cher and Gregg Allman
Wedding date = July 1975 Divorce: July 1975

2. 8 Days : Dennis Hopper and Michelle Phillips
Married= October 1970 Divorced: November 1970

3. 55 Hours : Britney Spears and Jason Alexander
Married: January 3, 2004 Divorced: January 5, 2004

4. Less than 24 Hours: Zsa Zsa Gabor and Felipe DeAlba
Married April 13, 1983 Divorced: April 14, 1983

5. 6 Hours: Rudolph Valentino and Jean Acker
Married and divorced November 1919

**hmmmm if you ask me none of these people should have ever even gotten married, 6 hours? Really! I bet that was worth it

Kristin on Crutches

Kristen Stewart showed up at the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday hobbling along on crutches, telling folks on the red carpet only "I'm an idiot" when asked why she was using the orthopedic aids.

She posed for pics on the carpet unassisted, however, and similarly hopped along with Daniel Radcliffe to present the production design Oscar to "Lincoln," but was photographed using the crutches again as she left the ceremony.

Her makeup artist, Beau Nelson, had more of the story for People. Kristen "cut the ball of her foot, quite severely, on glass two days ago," he said.

Ouch. Not what a person needs before a long night in stiletto heels, even with the healthiest of feet.

Fortunately, a search for appropriate flats to wear with herReem Acra gown was successful, he said, and Stewart suffered through "a little bit of pain" to do her job onstage. As if wearing any sort of shoes through the Oscar marathon weren't painful enough!

The show must go on, we suppose, despite pain inflicted by a wayward piece of glass and possibly by those Razzies the night before.

The Oscars

Well, what did you think of The Oscars this year?  I can honestly say, I didn't watch it.  I hate watching tv to be honest.  For some reason, I can't stand watching tv.  I get fidgety and impatient and feel like I am wasting time.  Even if you do see me in front of a TV, I can guarantee you I will also be on my computer, folding laundry, doing SOMETHING.  I can't just sit and relax.  I am too type a. 

Anyway, I LOVE the internet because I can watch things on my terms.  Little bits, pieces, pictures, etc.  And boy did I check out the Oscars pics online!  I didn't see any of the "best pictures" at all this year (I'll get them when they come on HBO.  

I have to say that my favorite is looking at all the dress pictures.  I have a teenage daughter who is entering "the prom years" so I like to look!  I have to say that overwhelmingly, class was the word of the night!  Just look at this lovely gown from Amanda Seyfried!  Honestly, don't know if she won an award, but just being this classy in this gown is an award in my book!

So Excited for the Engagement Party This Weekend!

This weekend, we have been invited to celebrate the engagement of two of our closest friends: Emily and Rob. We couldn't be more excited for them and we are glad they invited us to share in this great moment in their lives! They made the announcement a couple of weeks ago, and due to our work schedules I have yet to see her ring. She told me all about it on the phone and it sounds amazing. Rob has a knack for having great taste, so when she said that he got her an ornate engagement ring, I can imagine it to look stunning and nothing short of perfect.

They have asked us both to be in the wedding party and I can't wait! We are both so honored. I can't wait to help Emily with her wedding planning and of course celebrate her bridal shower and bachelorette party right by her side. This weekend can't come soon enough, bring on the celebration!

Double DIvas

I keep seeing previews for this show, Double Divas,  and haven't had time to watch it until tonight.  I am pretty sure that I love this show!  The whole concept is that most women wear the wrong bra size, and they fit people correctly for bras.  Excellent concept!

The first episode I sat and watched was the ladies on the show helping a transgender lady.  I was absolutely touched to see the extreme kindness that the shop owners showed her.  I was very impressed and it made me want to watch more of the show.  

The show seems light, funny, and appears to deal with a lot of issues affecting women.  They really highlight that is what on the outside doesn't matter, that it is what is inside that counts.  What a positive image to bring to tv!  

The shop owners themselves are just a hoot!  They are bright, funny and amusing!  If you haven't checked it out yet, you can watch it on Lifetime.  Their motto is "sizing America one bra at a time" and "we know our boobs".  LOVE IT!

Must have for home businesses

I am all about product reviews this week.  I have found THE ultimate home based business owners number one item they should have in their office!  A Dymo Label Maker!  There are several styles and the thing they all have in common?  THEY ARE FABULOUS.  First of all, they are a thermal system, so there are no expensive messy ink cartridges.  Unlike other label makers I have tried, this prints very sharply, very clearly and with no smudging or anything.  It comes out perfect every time. 

Second, the labels come in a variety of sizes to fit all your business needs.  With a free Endicia account, you can even print postage from home!  Now, I don't know about you, but I despise going to the post office. There is never anywhere to park and there is always a line.  YUCK!  

With the different label sizes and an inexpensive at home postal scale, I have mailed regular envelopes with postage, larger manilla envelopes (no going to the post office to get it weighed) and even small to large packages!  With the "xl" version, not only can you print smaller labels (and it's easy to switch them, takes only seconds)you can even print at home those wonderful priority mail labels!  You can print labels to put on products, return address labels, file folders, kids items, drawers, organizing bins, pretty much anything you can think of that you want to label!  

And the best part of all is that you can easily find refills for stamps and all size labels on Ebay for extremely cheap - most with free shipping too!  I LOVE shopping at home!

Scentsy Wickless Candles

I am a big fan of Scentsy Wickless candles.  I will be honest, I LOVE it when things smell good.  Who doesn't, right?  I have a husband, three teenagers, two dogs and four cats, so keeping my house smelling good is a huge challenge!  For years I have purchased air fresheners, sprays, gels, plug ins, candles, carpet powders, tart warmers and anything else you can think of to help combat the various odors my co-inhabitants produce.  Having been through the trama of a devastating house fire when I was only 13 years old, I have always been a little scared of candles.  And honestly?  All the others are extremely ineffective.

About a year ago, I was at a friend's house, and the first thing I noticed upon entering was that it smelled like my grandmother's cinammon apple pie.  I honestly thought she had something in the oven.  I came to find out, it was a Scentsy plug in warmer.  I was amazed at not only how good it smelled, but how even after she turned it off, it still smelled good. If you aren't familiar with Scentsy, it's a very simple system of a warmer and scented wax.  No flame, no soot, no fire.  The wax doesn't evaporate, so it's safe to leave on 24/7 too!

I came home and ordered a few things to try for myself.  I have tried EVERYTHING on the market in my home.  I can honestly say that not only do Scentsy products smell better than anything I have tried, they are very inexpensive and they last longer and are easier to use than anything else too.  Until February 28th, everything on their site is 10% off.  Twice a year they have an inventory clearance sale to make room for their new season.  Stock up and save!  

Rough Week

Sorry I've been quiet this week!  A little bout with food poisoning left me pretty much useless for a couple days.  I've never had this happen to me before, so decided to do a little research about it and share with you!

Food poisoning is a common, yet distressing and sometimes life-threatening problem for millions of people in the U.S., and throughout the world. People infected with foodborne organisms may be symptom-free or may have symptoms ranging from mild intestinal discomfort to severe dehydration and bloody diarrhea. Depending on the type of infection, people can even die as a result of food poisoning.  (Or even feel like they were....ugh)

While there are several different types of bacteria that can cause food poisoning, many of the symptoms are similar:

Make sure to report any
suspected food poisoning
to your local heath
department to help
prevernt other people
from getting sick!

nausea
vomiting
abdominal cramps
body aches
headache

diarrhea

fever

Signs and symptoms may start within hours after eating the contaminated food, or they may begin days or possibly even weeks later. Sickness caused by food poisoning generally lasts from one to 10 days.  Typically though, approximately 8 hours after eating the contaminated food is the norm.  

If you suspect food poisoning, also contact your local health department. Your report can help the health department identify a potential outbreak and may help prevent other people from getting sick. You may need to describe what you ate, where got the food you think is making you sick, when you got sick and your symptoms.

Ornate Wedding Rings

Choosing the perfect ring to pop the question is a huge milestone, not to mention hard work. Several questions will through your mind, "will she like it?" "is it to traditional?" Why not choose from a great selection of Ornate Wedding Rings from Simone & Son. Ornate Wedding Rings are a great way to step outside the traditional wedding ring box and show a little flair. 

The Ornate Wedding Rings at Simone & Son are stunning, all the rings have intricately designed shapes and beautiful complex patterns. The rings are mouth watering, and beautiful in every form.  The look of Ornate Wedding Rings are in there own class of amazing. Remember not to let your wedding ring loose it's sparkle, buy a bottle jewelry cleaner from National Jewelers Supply.

How Heartwarming

As I was trolling the web for interesting news to blog about, I came across this story and it was just so worth repeating about this wonderful couple.  Again, as a mom of teenagers, I look so hard for positive role models for my kids and these two epitomize classy.  It's so wonderful to know that there are good people in the world!  Read on:

How AH-MAYZING is this?!?

Kate Middleton and Prince William are known to give back, but just when we thought they never got too personal with anyone, they proved us wrong!!

Fabian Bates was fighting a battle with Leukemia recently, and while he was doing his medical treatments at the Royal Marsden Hospital, which the Duke and Duchess visited often, the boy met them, and he has since recovered from cancer.

After Kate and William met Bates during their visit, he touched their hearts so much that they decided to stay in contact with him, and now Fabian is revealing how the phone calls helped him through his illness.

He said:

"When I met them, William told me to continue to be brave. I have followed his advice and it has helped me a lot as have the Duchess' letters to me."

And if that's not cool, Fabian's mama Lydia noted that the royal couple calls the "hospital every four to six weeks to find out how all the children they visited are progressing," adding:

"Fabian has received three letters from Kate's office since that visit, in which she talks about her absolute delight that he is in remission. He got a lovely letter back from Kate's office after drawing her a picture of Kensington Palace and another one when my husband let her know about how well Fabian was progressing. The fact they have kept up contact has helped lift not only Fabian's spirits but those of the whole family."

We don't know about you, but we like these lovebirds more and more every single day.

They definitely deserve a lot of praise!!

Graduation is Coming! Gift to Get!

My son is graduating from high school this year.  Don't even want to talk about it because I will start to cry.  How did my little angels grow up and get so big so fast.  Seems like just yesterday I was dashing to Gymboree to see what the newest cutie pie outfits were.  And now, as I walk through the aisles of Walmart, I find myself throwing things in my cart randomly for his dorm room, and then standing in Walmart crying looking like a dork.

As the time ticks down, the time to plan his grad party nears!  I love love LOVE parties and having people over, so even though it's a lot of work, I am very excited about it.  We are having chili peppers for his meal.  (Chili scooped into a bag of Fritos - if you've never tried it, YUMMMMM!)

The real struggle with grad parties is not only planning your own, but attending everyone else's.  Of course for those casual acquaintances there is always the "throw $20 in an envelope with a generic card option" but if you have a grad party or two (maybe a neice, maybe a grand daughter, special friend, etc) that you want to do a little something extra for, check out these charms.  A little something different with more of a personal touch.  I like the idea of giving a gift they will actually keep and remember you by.

No matter what you do, enjoy all the parties and make sure to eat a piece of cake at every single one.  Guilt free.  ;)

Happy Valentines Day

Made these cookies for Vday! Have a great one🌹🌹🌹❤💚💜💙💛

Is V-Day A Big Deal At Your House?

Some people absolutely obsess over Valentine's day.  I ought to know.  I used to be one of them.  I used to think that it all had to be perfect and flowers and magic and blah blah blah.  Now I live in a place called "the real world".  LOL

Many years ago, (more than 20) I fell madly in love with who I was quite sure was the man of my dreams.  We had a magical Valentine's filled with flowers, romance, fancy dinner and all the bells and whistles that women dream about for that romantic day.

And the next day?  He dumped me.  WOW.  Ouch.  Reality sucks.  Lucky for him, he was smart enough after a few days to realize the colossal mistake he had made.  What's he doing now?  Pretty sure snoring in the next room.  Yes, I forgave him, but for many years I was convinced that he had to "make up for it".  I wasted a lot of time on that notion.  

Looking back, he tried.  I was just too dumb at the time to know it.  Back in the early years we had three kids very quickly and didn't have two nickels to rub together.  I was still dreaming of my perfect V-day.  I wanted the flowers, the dinner, the romance.  He didn't have the money.  He is a good, hard working man who works crazy hours to take care of us.  He couldn't afford the dozen roses, so instead, he went and bought me 3 one pound bags of flour.  He got me "flours".  I was FURIOUS.  How dare he make such a mockery of Valentine's day, especially when I felt that he "owed me".  

Looking back years later, I see exactly how sweet and wonderful his gesture was.  His heart was in the right place - and I totally jumped down his throat for it.  It's one of those moments I'd give anything to take back.  He tried so hard with humor to give me a special day and I rejected it because it wasn't my idea of perfect.  

Ladies, there is no "perfect".  Every day life with someone who loves you and cares about you every day, not just on a Hallmark holiday, is much more valuable, romantic and precious than someone giving you a gift on Valentine's day because the calendar says they should.  Take stock of what you have.  Be grateful for it.  And stop obsessing and start enjoying.  

Love you forever, Rico <3

The Grammy Clothes

I don't pay much attention to the Grammy's or any other awards show for that matter, and after Beyonce's stripper routine, I wasn't about to watch any other Hollyweird stars make a spectacle of themselves.  However, I tried to turn on the 10:00 news and of course, the Grammy's were running late, so I just left it on.  It wouldn't kill me to peek a little bit at them, right?

I was absolutely delighted by what I saw.  The first act that came on was Carrie Underwood.  I am not a huge fan of country music (I have been in my life, just not right now.  I bounce around :)  But, I did watch her season of American Idol and absolutely adored her from the first minute I saw her.  The first thing that struck me was that she was just as powerful of a singer as Beyonce.  Her voice is beautiful.  Her hair is just as pretty.  Both of them have gorgeous eyes.  The big difference? She wore the most lady like FLOOR LENGTH gown.  She looked like a fairy princess.  What a beautiful classy role model for young girls.  I would be delighted to have my daughter want to be like her.  

Another absolutely class act was Adele.  My Facebook friends hated her dress with a passion, but quite honestly, with those cheekbones and eyes, and my God, that voice, I don't care what she's wearing.  (Valentino for whoever is counting, and personally, I think it's FANTASTIC)  My whole point in admiring her was that she doesn't need to show her lady parts or have a plunging neckline, or do a stripper routine to be beautiful.  Her voice is enough, and for that, I respect her.  Classy.  You are both doing it right.  Thank you from this mom for being positive, beautiful role models without getting darn near porno on tv :)

Fun Facts About Sex Toys

Basic Essentials Kit for only $119

Vibrating rings, lube and dildos are hardly shocking stuff anymore.  What the heck!  Sexual pleasure products and lubes are sold next to tylenol and vitamins in the drugstore.  Here are some fun facts about our "friends" that reside in the nightstand drawer.

Around 1200, arose the term "dildo." In Renaissance Italy, the Greek olisbo became "dildo," possibly from the Latin dilatare, meaning to open wide, or perhaps from the Italian word diletto, "to delight". Renaissance Italian dildos were first made of wood or leather and required liberal lubrication (emphasis on LIBERAL) with olive oil for comfortable use. 

A doctor first invented vibrators for "crazy" women. The first electrical vibrator (this was a 40-pound contraption that required two people to operate) was used by a British M.D. treating "female hysteria." He used the tool to bring nervous or stressed women to orgasm. Not exactly what we think of when we think "pocket rocket"!

The infamous Rabbit vibe is shaped like an animal for legal reasons.The Rabbit toy originated in Japan, where it was against the law to create a sex toy that resembled a penis so they made it to resemble a cute non-fuzzy version of this adorable animal. Strange but true. The rabbit (both varieties is truly a much loved "animal") 

The sex toy market is totally recession-proof. Women will give up pedicures and spa days but don't touch their sex toys! In fact in less than ideal economic times, the sales actually go up! Kind of gives new meaning to "hard times" doesn't it?

If you don't use one, there's a good chance your best friend or maybe even your mother does. Believe it or not scientists conduct studies on this kind of stuff and their numbers show that one in two women have used vibrators to buzz their way to oblivion.

And women aren't the only ones buzzing about this.Even though it's widely believed that men are either put out by or freaked out by vibrators (possibly even a little threatened) might not actually be true. A whopping 81 percent of women have had a threesome with their man and a vibrator.

Besides being a lot of fun; they also make a great gift. Yes, gift! Maybe it's not something you'd wrap up and give your mother on Mother's Day but for the likes of Valentines Day; it certainly fits the bill. More and more couples are opting for sex toys in lieu of the more ho-hum conventional flowers or chocolates. So instead of flowers that can make your lover sneeze and chocolates that go right to the thighs; get your bedroom buzzing with the lively and colourful variety of play things. Don't forget to get lots of batteries and lube. And speaking of lube. Lubricants and massage oils are THE best selling sex toys on the market. There are varieties for all conoisseurs; from the tasty edibles to the blow-on-it, make it hot variety.

So next time you thing sex toys are just for the kinky; think again. They're hot stuff and showing no sign of buzzing off!

Beyonce and the Illuminati

For someone who isn't even a Beyonce fan, it's pretty ironic that I am blogging about her twice in one week, but I usually just write about whatever crosses my brain.  And this is mind boggling.  Beyonce and the Illuminati?

Rumors are flying that the pop star is involved with the Illuminati, an ancient, clandestine group of rich and powerful people, that once controlled every aspect of society.  Supposedly, she "flashed a sign" during the show that is a symbol of the group.  After last year's Super Bowl halftime show, conspiracy theorists similarly said Madonna's performance was the work of the Illuminati, in part because she was surrounded by male dancers who formed in the shape of a pyramid.

So, what does this mean for an average every day person?  Not a damn thing.  Oh shocker, there is a secret society of rich people.  Pretty sure that's NOT a secret.  There will always be filthy rich people that rule the world, and there will always be people complaining about it.  As for me, I don't think it's anything to lose sleep over!  However, I wish I would have watched Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl instead!  

End of Watch

I don't normally do movie reviews, but I am breaking my rule today!  I don't generally go to movie theaters either.  I had heard wonderful things about the movie, End of Watch, but just from the title, I decided to wait until it came out on dvd.  

Why you ask?  Aren't action movies better on the big screen?  Yes, normally.  However, the title.  End.  Of.  Watch.  To an officer's wife, that only means one thing.  It doesn't mean the end of the day.  It doesn't mean the end of the week.  It doesn't mean the end of the schedule or month or year.  It means that you are attending a funeral.  To a law enforcement family, end of watch means that an officer has died, and his watch has forever ended.  I knew that no matter how good or bad the movie was, I was going to bawl like a baby, and I really prefer not to do that in public.

I won't ruin the movie for those who have not seen it, but it is a wonderful, gritty view of officer's life.  While a little over the top at times, it's much closer to reality than CSI or any other cop show or movie I have ever seen.  Spoiler alert, if the f word offends you, you definitely want to cross this off your watch list.  It's liberally peppered with that word.  However, Anna Kendrick is in this movie, and I adore her, so all the f bombs are worth it!  This movie will touch your heart even if you aren't part of an LEO family.  A must watch!

Beyonce and the Blackout, er Blowout?

Don't blame Beyonce for blowing the lights out at the Super Bowl.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the halftime show was not the cause of the power outage that darkened the Superdome for half an hour during Sunday's broadcast.  However, who was responsible for the blowout of her costume?

Had to edit with the hearts.
Too gross for my blog!

I can't say that I have ever been a huge Beyonce fan, and I have really mixed reviews of her performance on Sunday.  Her dancing was amazing.  Her choreography beautiful.  As the parent of a very talented dancer, I appreciate good choreography.  However, not in love with her costume choice...  When you are going to be doing a dance routine like that (high energy) your costume choice is very important.  Considering your venue is also a must.  Had a little nipple and genitalia been flashed at a concert I wouldn't be upset, but the Superbowl is a sporting event on tv with millions of children watching, and it's just not an appropriate setting for this.  I was pretty disappointed.  Normally the pop star is a little classier than this.

Beyonce's 13-minute set included hits "Crazy in Love," ''Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and a Destiny's Child reunion.  The energetic performance was supposedly sung live days after she admitted she sang to a pre-recorded track at President Barack Obama's inauguration. But parts still seemed pretty lip synced to me. All in all, a very poor choice.  Hoping they opt for something classier next year!

Superbowl Commercials

Can't tell you a thing about the game ( I don't pay attention unless my kids are playing... LOL) , but oh how I love the Superbowl Commercials!  There is always funny ones, odd ones, and ones that don't really do anything for me.   But this year, one made me cry!  The Budweiser Brotherhood commercial absolutely blew me away.  

I've always loved beer commercials.  They are usually hilarious!  This one however, didn't even show a single beer can.  In fact, I think the only beer reference was a semi with the word Budweiser on it.  If you haven't seen it yet, it's a "story" of a man raising a clydesdale horse to become a Budweiser clydesdale, and it is absolutely heartwarming and lovely.  To me, it's a refreshing breath of fresh air.  Commercials don't need to have half naked people and drunken parties to get people's attention.  

I think most people would rather see something like this, cute, funny, touching, etc.  There were a few other commercials of note, like the Tide and the Doritos commercials, but there were some icky ones (cough cough go daddy cough cough).  You can view all the ones you missed online!  

My Daughter's Boots

I am not a fashionista by any means.  My sense of style consists mostly of t-shirts from my children's high school, my favorite pair of silver jeans, and that's about it.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to dress up, but I do it about once a year when I go to Vegas and that's it.  Being a stay at home mom there isn't much of a reason for high fashion.

My daughter however is always up on the latest trends, fashion, and "gotta have it's".  She's not a brat by ANY means- believe me, she is the most wonderful 15 year old I have ever met.  Because she is so level headed and nice, I do love to surprise her just enough to make her smile!

Around Christmas time, she started drooling over some boots.  I looked EVERYWHERE.  No luck.  She was a bit bummed, but not a jerk about it.  So, I never let my search drop.  I looked, high, low, and in between.  Thank you, Internet.  I love you.  LOL!

I eventually found these little beauties on Amazon from a little shop called shoewhatever.  I really hope that whoever runs this little shop has some vague idea of how happy my daughter is with these boots.  She literally SQUEALED!  It was adorable.  She posted this picture on Instagram with a boatload of hearts.  Made my day!