One lucky winner has been selected.
Congratulations to Chrissy of Loving Life! Enjoy your new sexy, smoky eyes. 
I hope you love the Bare Escentuals products as much as I do.
A big THANK YOU to all the ladies who participated in the giveaway! Your support made this giveaway a huge success! Keep following Run DMT and watch for another Bare Escentuals giveaway coming soon. 
When Allan mentioned that he wanted Ray LaMontagne’s album, I bought him all three albums for Valentine’s Day, but I suppose it’s a gift we can both enjoy.
A cross between Van Morrison and Nick Drake, his enchanting tunes remind me of something from another era. This outstanding artist toured through Tampa last spring and I was pretty bummed when we missed his concert at the Tampa Theatre.
Lately, Ray LaMontagne has been frequently featured on Spectacle.
However, Ray’s appearances on Spectacle have become somewhat of a running joke for Allan and me. It’s as if Elvis stores Ray backstage and brings him out at the end of every show to perform and collaborate with some of the classics, like Richard Thompson.
If you haven’t seen Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…, you are really missing out on some of the most remarkable performances.
And if you haven’t heard of Ray LaMontagne, then you are truly missing out on the best thing.
Watching Peyton Manning during the Super Bowl reminded me of an old SNL digital short. I believe that Peyton Manning appeared quite a few times on the field last Sunday.
As the Saints go marching in true Mardi Gras style, I can’t help but feel sorry for the Colts this week. An angry Peyton Manning is probably pelting them in the back of the heads with some fast flying footballs.
But it’s nothing a few beignets and some king cake can’t fix.
Congratulations to the Saints and the city of New Orleans! Who dat creamed the Colts?!
During the winter months, my family and I love to visit the TECO Manatee Viewing Center. Last month, I had the pleasure to visit the center twice in one week with my girls.
With the frequent drops in the temperature this winter season, there are more manatee than ever in the warm waters adjacent to power station in Apollo Beach, FL. On both days, we counted close to 60 manatees…
…and a dozen stingrays.
This free educational viewing center is operated by retired TECO volunteers, who happily educate the public about manatees and conservation.
Recently, the center renovated its hands-on education building with a 12 foot illuminated information panel, a life size skeleton exhibit…
…puzzles, a hurricane simulator and a video game where users pedal to help a manatee swim to safety.
Whether you walk the tidal nature trail or watch from the observation deck, every spot offers a great view…
…unless you happen to stop for a rest along the way.
And if you’re really lucky, you may discover manatees mating, like we witnessed on our second visit.
I have this love-hate relationship with push-ups. I hate doing them, but I love the results. While pregnant, I am a still pushing out the reps.
At first, I was worried about attempting push ups while pregnant, so I modified my push ups with wall push ups, which I thought was so creative and clever until I discovered that wall push ups already exist.
Wall push ups are a great way for beginners to build up to regular floor push-ups and they are a great recovery exercise when you are injured.
Remember, as with floor push ups, form is very important. And, I don’t recommend listening to Rod Stewart while wearing a Flashdance outfit. Now, that’s really bad form!
Is it me or does this guy look like Neal Patrick Harris?
But if you’re feeling brave with your baby bump, you can still perform alternative floor (girlie) push ups while pregnant. Should your belly get in the way, simply spread your arms a little wider than your shoulders.
Whatever your style and comfort level (off the wall or on the floor), push ups are still a great way to keep your upper body tone while pregnant. But like with any fitness program, take cues from your body and know your limits.
Last week, I had a conference with Emmalynn’s preschool teacher during which she informed me that Emmalynn can’t hold her pencil or crayon the correct way.
And that she doesn’t know her letters.
Well, of course, she does…
…but only when she wants to.
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?
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:
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?
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.
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.
