February 9, 2010

Rethink What Matters with Bare Escentuals

When Bare Escentuals requested mommy bloggers to review their products, I knew I would be THE BEST mommy blogger spokesperson for their products because I am so willing to bare it all.

 

My love for Bare Minerals began three years ago.   After the birth of my second daughter, my hormones really wreaked havoc on my skin.  Liquid foundation and my surge in hormones were not a good combination and as a result I had huge blemishes and scar marks on my cheeks.    Upon a friend’s recommendation, I switched to the bareMinerals line and after a week, I noticed a huge improvement in my skin.  My awful dark acne scars disappeared and there was wonderful natural glow to my skin.

 

Three years later, I still love the flawless, natural look that only bareMinerals offer and I will never use anything else ever again!  Promise!
Being very into natural and organic products, it seemed only logical to transition towards the mineral products. The products are much lighter on my skin and it feels like I’m not wearing any make-up at all. With bareMinerals, there are no make-up lines, like the mask outlines foundations leave and  I rarely get a greasy, oily look, which is an all too familiar look from liquid foundations.  Plus, the powders don’t cake up in my wrinkles and crow’s feet like liquid foundations.

 

Also, I always found liquid foundations difficult to match to my olive complexion, but with bareMinerals, I no longer need to purchase a “winter” and “summer” foundation.  The minerals just seem to magically match to my skin color and make my skin look flawless.   However, in the summer months, I have a tendency to get a bit darker from all the sun exposure.  So, when the need arises, I simply powder on the Warmth All Over Color, which is included in the starter kit .

 

For frugal moms, Bare Escentuals may seem like a bit of an expense, but the powders last for months. Unless, your little one gets into them!

 

About a year ago, I began using the eye shadows as well.  Some brands will stain your eyelids, but not bareMinerals.  The color lasts all day and no trace of pigments are left behind when you remove the make-up.

 

Since making the switch to Bare Escentuals, I started wearing make-up all the time.  My friends have teased me about wearing make-up when we go camping or “wearing my face” during races, but I know between my camera happy friends and I, someone will snap a picture at some point.  A flawless natural glow always appears in the photograph which is so much more attractive than blotchy skin and dark circles under my eyes.

 

As I’ve already mentioned, I really do wear bareMinerals make-up during all my races.  In fact, my regular readers have commented on how great I look after a race and I believe it’s the bareMinerals to thank for that.  Even with all the sweating during a 5 K, half marathon or even a full marathon, my make-up looked as great as it did before the race.   And, it’s nice feeling to know that my face won’t run faster than me.

 

You’ve read my undying love for testimonial Bare Escentauls, but now is time for women everywhere to join me by leaving the liquid foundation behind and begin baring your natural beauty.   I challenge you to bare it all with Bare Escentuals as they lead the way to a life without liquid foundation and redefine beauty with their Rethink What Matters Campaign.

 

From the Bare Escentuals website…

Rethink what a revolution looks like, from going bare in public to what freedom feels like. Bare Escentuals, the mineral makeup pioneer, invites you to shake up that foundation and sound off on topics that are more than just skin-deep with their new campaign, Rethink What Matters.

 

Bare Escentuals invites you to give rethinking a try, too. Every week atRethinkWhatMatters.com, a new discussion topic will be featured with five questions for you to answer and share with your friends by email, Facebook and Twitter. What’s in it for you? Well, good karma for one. And free products and other fantastic goodies. Plus for a few really lucky ladies, an even bigger reward that will definitely make rethinking worth your while.

 

To kick off this campaign, one lucky reader will win a bareMinerals Tutorials Smoky Eye Kit.

 

 

What is included?

  • bareMinerals Skyline Eyecolor:  Dark gray purple matte
  • bareMinerals Celestine Eyecolor:  Light pewter
  • Double-Ended Smoky Eye Brush: Creates subtle to dramatic intensity
  • Detachable tip card: Step-by-step tutorial guide to create perfect smoky eyes

 

To win, simply bare it all in the comments section below.  How will you rethink what matters in 2010?

 

Contest ends Monday, February 15.

 

For additional entries:

  • Visit Bare Escentuals Rethink What Matters and take the survey.  Add a new comment for every survey you take.  A new topic discussion and quiz is posted each Friday with a chance for every participant to win prizes.
  • Visit the bareescentuals.com and tell me what products you love or would love to try.
  • Follow @denisermt and @bareescentuals on Twitter.
  • Tweet about this giveaway.  Add a new comment for each time you tweet: @denisermt #Rethinking going bare w/ Run DMT & win @bareescentuals smoky eye kit http://tinyurl.com/yegpzmp.
  • Become a fan of Bare Escentuals on Facebook.

 

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February 8, 2010

Musical Monday: Love Songs

When my sister and I were growing up, we fantasized about our wedding days. Even as young girls, we knew only our sister could fill the role of each other’s Maid of Honor. We picked our flowers and changed the color schemes a dozen times over the years, but we always knew what music would move us on our wedding days.

 

Simone wanted to dance with her future husband to Never My Love.

 

 

But, I was more the Supertramp kind of gal.

 

 

Then, Simone and I fell in love with the wedding scene in Love Actually and The Beatles’ All You Need is Love was placed at the top of the list of possibilities for Simone’s wedding day. Like wedding bells, the lyrics ring loud and clear. The wedding is only icing on the cake because love is all you need to go the long haul and survive years of marriage.

 

 

Funny thing though, none of these songs made the final cut on our wedding days. During my college days, I discovered Van Morrison and vowed I would marry the man who knew all the lyrics to Crazy Love.

 

As fate would have it, I did.

 

 

 

So, what love songs move you?


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February 5, 2010

Katie for Haiti

Often times when tragedy strikes others, those with the capability to land a hand feel helpless. With each image of despair and destruction from Haiti, many around the world wonder how to help this poor nation. As buildings continue to crumble, some feel crippled by an inability to offer any assistance whether physically or monetarily. Dropping a few dollars in a collection box doesn’t seem like enough.

 

Then, like a small little light leading the way, a simple solution was found in the heart of a child.

 

 

Last week, I received an e-mail from an old friend which explained how her 7 year old daughter, Katie-Ann, wanted to help the people of Haiti. Katie-Ann, who loves painting and drawing, wanted to host an art show to raise money for Haiti. This mini Monet would sell her art to benefit the people of Haiti.

 

 

 

I was so moved by her thoughtfulness and generosity, not to mention her remarkable talent and so were several of their friends and family members. Katie-Ann raised over $200 in a short Saturday afternoon.  That afternoon, she also offered each guest at her gallery a lesson in art appreciation and compassion.

 

 

 

If you would like to help Katie-Ann raise additional funds for Haiti, please visit Katie-Ann’s on-line gallery.

 

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and Robyn

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February 3, 2010

How Do I Love Thee?

Let me count the ways.

 

 

I stole borrowed this idea from of Tara of Feels Like Home.  For the next 14 13 12 11 days counting down to Valentine’s Day, I will be filling my daughters’ hearts and mini-mailboxes with love.

 

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February 2, 2010

Places I Love

Every week, I visit I Heart Faces and promise to participate in the challenge, but I then I get distracted and forget to submit my photos.  But not this week!  Although this week’s challenge seemed relatively easy, it was difficult to narrow down my favorite places.

 

England
About 5 years ago, we traveled to Chester, England for my friend, Suzie’s, wedding.  During our holiday, we drove to Edinburgh, Scotland (where Allan was born), York (the city where I completed my final teaching internship) and visited Whitby (Allan’s hometown).  Although I had seen many pictures of Whitby, it wasn’t until I physically stepped foot in the town that I understood why Allan gets homesick.  Since my college days, I have always loved England, but I fell in love with little quaint little sleepy seaside town.  Honestly, pictures do not do it justice and simply cannot reflect the beauty of Whitby.  Someday we’ll own a small little cottage summer home there visit again.

 

 

 

New Orleans
Can you believe I spent a weekend in New Orleans and this is the best picture with “faces” I can find?  These cute little Jamie Hayes voodoo dolls were more willing models than my DH.

 

 

This southern city is truly full of soul in more ways than one.  New Orleans has the best food, best music and the best people.  I’m planning a trip back to the Big Easy for my 40th birthday in 2011.

 

 
BTW…Good luck to the Saints in the Super Bowl!  Who dat?!

 

New York City
Last year, we were fortunate to spend two kid-free weekends in New York City.  Our May trip was Allan’s first time in the Big Apple.  He usually doesn’t like having his photo taken, but he willingly posed for this shot.  Look closely at the photo to see why Allan thought he was being so clever.

 

 

The Beach
I love the beach and so do my girls.  Thank heavens we live in a state that is almost surrounded with soft sand and beautiful blue water.  I can’t wait for the warm weather to arrive so we can start packing the beach bags and head for the waves again.

 

 

Disney
Living in Florida, you either take for granted that you live in a state with miles of beautiful beaches and Mickey Mouse or your take full advantage of it.  It’s been a year since our last trip to the Magic Kingdom and I miss the magic. Therefore for Mother’s Day this year, I requested a weekend at Disney.

 

 

 

Camping
Both Allan and I camped as kids, but until our friends, Erika and John, reintroduced us to the idea of camping a few years ago, we had forgotten how much we loved it.  Now, we camp a couple times of year with our friends and it’s something we all look forward to, except when it’s raining.

 

 

North Carolina
We can also thank our friends, Erika and John, for our love for North Carolina.  For the past three years, our two families have enjoyed sharing a cabin and playing in the snow in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  However, last month was probably our final trip to the mountains for awhile.  We’ll have to see if our next little one will be an intrepid traveler, car sleeper or car screamer like his/her sisters were as infants.  Another car screamer would make me head for the hills for sure!   Fingers crossed we can return to North Carolina in 2011.

 

 

 

 

Hooters
So, I cheated a little with this one, because my friend and absolutely FABULOUS photographer, Kelly, took this family photo.  I really love Hooters, however, my pregnancy nose can’t stand the smell of chicken or fried food, so I’m really missing sunsets over the Gulf and hot wings and pitchers of beer at the New Port Richey Hooters these days.  Food aversions really stink.  (No pun intended.)

 

 

 

Home
Dorothy said it best.  There’s no place like home. As much as I love to travel, it feels so good to come back to the comforts of home after any trip.

 

 

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February 1, 2010

Musical Monday: To Sir, With Love

This Friday, my dad turns 70.  It’s hard to comprehend my dad being that old, but I feel blessed to enjoy another year with him.

 

My dad, Horatio Alban Mestanza, loves to share stories about growing up in Washington Heights and the gangs he got involved with there.  Growing up a mutt in Manhattan, he learned to fight after being beaten up by the Irish, Blacks and Hispanics.  He eventually found himself in front of a judge who sentenced my dad with either serving time in jail or serving time in the military.  Without hesitation, he changed his name to Donald, enlisted with the Marines and served two tours in Vietnam.  Rumor has it he can break a man’s neck with one hand, however, years of raising daughters softened this tough guy from the ghetto and he’s become quite the gentle grandpa.

 

 

After the military, he became an apprentice to learn steam fitting.  A couple of years later, he met my mom while repairing the fire sprinklers in her office building.  They soon tied the knot and a few years later, my sister and I came along.

 

Then, in the late 70’s, we moved to Florida, but the jobs for pipe fitters were few and far between in the Tampa Bay area.  Forced with a tough decision, my dad left to find work in Miami and New York to provide for his family.  He became a weekend dad for about 20 years and retired in 1999, the year Allan and I married.

 

During winter and summer breaks, my mom, sister and I would visit my dad in New York.  Year after year, we would suffer through a walking tour of Manhattan as my dad pointed out all buildings where he worked.  I believe my dad scaled the scaffolding of about ¾ of the buildings in New York, including twice in the former Twin Towers.  As a kid, I hated it, but when Allan and I visited New York last year, I found myself giving the same tour.

 

Decades in construction, took a toll on my dad and he has been living with asbestosis for about 15 years now, however, it’s no small miracle that he is can still function without an oxygen tank strapped to him.  I don’t know if it’s the volume of vitamins combined with all the steroids and prayers, but something seems to be working.  Maybe this old gentle grandpa still has some fight left in him after all.

 

Dancing with my dad at my wedding is one of my fondest memories.  He secretly took dance lessons so he could swing me around for our father-daughter dance.  He tossed my around like a rag doll on the dance floor and I loved every minute.

 

 

I pray Dad has a few more moves in him for my mom, my sister, my children and me.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

 

 

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January 31, 2010

Goodbye, Gasparilla Marathon

At last my OB appointment, I asked my doctor for her approval to run the very last ever Gasparilla marathon.  After all, I’ve already ran two marathons and four half marathons and felt my body could handle it.  If I took the full 7 hours to alternate between running and walking, I should be fine.  Right?

 

Wrong. As a runner herself, my OB did not approve.  She felt the strenuous activity would not only deplete my body of the necessary nutrients but deplete the baby’s nutrients as well.  She also told me that such a strenuous physical activity could impact my bladder which would lead to surgery in the near future.

 

She recommended I slow down and shorten my distances and I picked her brain to find out just how short.

 

“Could I do a half marathon or a 15 K?”

 

“You’ll want to really cut back on the miles.”

 

“Like 6?”

 

“Like no more than 3 and even that is pushing it given your history of vaginal births and prolapse surgery in your family history.”

 

Ironically, in the past few weeks, my body seemed to agree with my doctor.  These days, it’s becoming increasing difficult to run 3 miles.  And as much as I really wanted to run in the last Gasparilla marathon, it seems I will have to set my sights on another marathon goal after I deliver this baby.

 

But having a running goal keeps me focused and now I am trying to decide if I should run in the Gasparilla Distance Classic 5K.  I have several  friends registered in the 5K and races are so much more fun with friends, but I worry about the crowds and my adrenaline.  Will my adrenaline kick in and I’ll want to run faster than I should?

 

To avoid late fees, today is the last day to pre-register for Gasparilla Distance Classic 5K, but  I can’t decide if I want to run/walk the 5K with my friends or stay in bed with my bladder.

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January 29, 2010

My Girls at Gasparilla

Since the early 1900’s, Tampa residents have been invaded by the mythical pirate Jose Gaspar and his krewe.  The invasion, now known as Gasparilla, has grown since its beginning days into a variety of parades, numerous festivals and several races.

 

Growing up in the Tampa Bay area, it is understood that residents should participate in the Gasparilla festivities at least once in their lifetime.   I’ve attended my share of parades during my college days, but the memories are a little fuzzy.

 

This year, my family and I attended the Gasparilla Children’s Parade for our first time.  The girls are I dressed in our best pirate outfits, although we were undressed compared to the many Captain Jacks, buccaneers, wenches and other pirates swashbuckling through the streets. I was just happy that my booty could still fit into my Nilla Shields Gasparilla shorts.

 

 

Other than watching the Macy’s Day parade every Thanksgiving on TV, my girls have never seen a parade up-close prior to last weekend.  Seeing the pirate ships and all the fantastic floats was quite a thrill for my girls.

 

We never told Allana and Emmalynn what to expect or about the bountiful of beads that would be thrown into the crowds.  Soon enough, Allana and Emmalynn were blown away by the pirate ships’ cannons firing beads and the people on the floats who pitched beads at all the bystanders.  It was a child’s paradise and my pretty little pirates quickly learned the best ways to catch their treasure.

 

Emmalynn had the best spot to score a lot of beads sitting on Daddy’s shoulders.

 

 

 

Allana preferred a spot pressed up against the parade barricade.

 

 

At the end of the evening, both my pretty pirates had quite the booty.

 

 

 

 

And despite not feeling well and the absence of rum, even Allan really enjoyed himself too.

 

 

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and ???

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January 28, 2010

Mamaste Yoga

Since my running days are few and far between, I thought I would bring back “Five Minutes for Fitness” as a Thursday feature.

 

Running has become very laboring (no pun intended) and increasing difficult, so I have to find alternative ways to stay fit.  Since most aerobic activities causes difficulty breathing for this pregnant mama, yoga is a great way to keep my muscles in shape and ready to run again once the baby arrives.  Plus, it’s a great way to help prepare my body for the delivery.

 

Have I mentioned how much I love yoga? I love the way it conditions and tones my body using my own weight as resistance.  I love feeling my muscles lengthen with each stretch.  And even though my range of flexibility might be slightly restricted these days, yoga help keeps my body just a little more limber, as odd as that might sound for big belly mama-to-be.

 

While searching YouTube for prenatal yoga videos, I found this tutorial which introduces the basics found in the full length video found at www.beYOU.tv.

 

 

If you’re yearning for more mamaste yoga, you can watch the 30 minute Prenatal Yoga Vibe video here.

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January 27, 2010

My Little Gem

Find out how this…

 

 

…became this here.

 

 

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