♥ Suzan Petersen ♥

"Exfoliate with a Sugary Scrub"

2012-01-24T06:22:00.000-08:00

13 DIY At-Home Spa Tricks: Beauty: glamour.com: "Exfoliate with a sugary scrub

Here’s what you need:

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup raw oatmeal
1 cup olive oil

Mix all the ingredients together and then apply on dry skin, using your hands. You want to perform slow circles—this treatment is to be enjoyed and not rushed. (The real key is standing over a plastic bag or towel to catch the remains.) After scrubbing gently all over, step into the shower and rinse off. Your skin will be like butter.”

Julia Coney, All About the Pretty

Photo: Getty Images
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How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster

2011-11-20T21:30:00.001-08:00

Glamour’s 13 of the Best Beauty Tip: How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster

“Coconut milk helps the hair grow long and thick,” says Indian ayurvedic skincare expert Pratima Raichur. (The kind from a can is fine.) “Rub it onto the scalp, leave it on for an hour or so, then wash it out.”

WHAT ARE THOSE WHITE SPOTS ON MY FACE?

2011-11-05T10:28:00.001-07:00

(Contact Utopia Spa and book a series of Glycolic/Microdermabrasion treatments 925-901-1001 with Suzan)

'Milk spots' or professionally called “Milia” are relatively common and are actually small cysts in the skin, which is why you cannot squeeze them as there is no pore to push them through.

White Bumps on Face??

If you are experiencing small white bumps on your face, then those bumps may be milia. A milium appears as a small white to yellow dome shaped bump that appears on the surface of the skin. It is usually only 1-2 mm.

Milia can be caused by a number of reasons. Most people will have occasional bumps in their lives. Others have a lot of milia. One reason may be due to using heavy skin care products or hair care items. Creams that are comodogenic may keep the dead epidermal skin cells from sloughing off. Also if you have a history of sun damage, you are more at risk. What happens is that aging skin develops a thicker epidermis and makes it harder for skin cells to get out of the glands. This makes it more difficult for exfoliation to occur.

Milia are small fluid filled lesions or cysts that are usually found on the faces of infants and adults.

Milia forms because the skin does not slough off as it normally does, but stays in a pocket on the surface of the skin. Those are primary milia.

Secondary milia are small cysts that are found in areas of the skin that have been affected by another skin condition. This type of milia may be formed on sun-damaged skin or after trauma or blistering of the skin that disrupts and clogs the glandular ducts of adults. Risk factors for secondary milia include burns, blistering injury like poison ivy, blistering skin disorders like porphyria cutanea tarda or bullous pemphigoid, lots of sun damage, and long-term use of topical steroids.

In infants, milia may form because the oil gland, called the sebaceous gland may not yet be fully developed. Milia may occur in up to 50 percent of infants and is considered normal.

Primary milia typically occurs around the eyes in children and adults as well as around the nose, particularly in infants.

Secondary milia may occur anywhere on the body where another skin condition exists, or on the faces of people who have had a lot of chronic sun exposure.

If you have milia, do not remove them because you may end up with a scar.

Primary milia found in infants typically heals within a few weeks, so just leave it alone and it will clear up.

Secondary milia often does not clear up on its own. The doctor may prescribe some treatments. One such treatment is a topical retinoid cream, like adapalene, tazarotene, or tretinoin. You may also go through a series of microdermabrasion procedures or fruit acid peels.

The best advice I can give you is that if you are out in the sun, you need to make sure you are wearing a sunscreen of at least SPF15, and please make sure you apply it at least 20 - 30 minutes before sun exposure and every two hours, especially if exercising or swimming.

How to Exfoliate: Best Exfoliating Tips for the Face & Body

2011-11-02T07:19:00.001-07:00

Plus, get homemade recipes for scrubs for both the face and body.

Article by: By Julyne Derrick, About.com Guide

As we age, cell turnover slows down and dead skin cells can give us a dull complexion. Exfoliating both the face and body weekly helps get rid of the dead top layers of skin. This allows moisturizers and serums to better penetrate the skin and helps your foundation glide on smoothly instead of sitting atop flaky skin (yuuuuck).

The Best Tools for Exfoliation

Forget those fluffy nylon bath things you get with a bottle of body wash. And throw out that bacteria-infested loofah, which is too abrasive on most of your skin, anyway. Instead, consider the basic washcloth your best friend when it comes to exfoliating both your face and your body.

Other great tools for exfoliation: A dry brush and exfoliating gloves.

VIA SUZAN: Below within quotes cracked me up because it’s so true to find this issue in so many showers to this day! People! seriously use the brush prior to getting into the shower

“When I was growing up my family had a brush hanging in the shower for years and no one used it. The long handle was wooden and on the end was a soft brush. Because wood is not meant to be stored in wet places, the brush slowly accumulated mildew, but no one threw it away because it was a gift from our Austrian relatives. It was like a disgusting piece of bathroom art.
Years later I found out the brush is meant to be used before a bath to exfoliate the body. You simply give yourself a good dry-brushing from feet on up and then wash off in the shower. Just be sure to keep it outside the bath or shower.'”

I love the gloves. I use them to scrub my skin in a circular motion. Nothing works better, in my opinion.

Buy: You can get bath brushes at Wal-Mart and some drugstores. The Swissco Deluxe Bath Brush ($15 from Drugstore.com) gets great ratings online. For exfoliating gloves, I swear by Earth Therapeutics Exfoliating Gloves, which I buy at my local organic grocer. They're even cheaper online!

Treat Yourself to an At-home Body Scrub

As a beauty writer, I've had dozens of professional body scrubs. While nothing beats the scrubs done at Korean spas found in big cities, I find professional body scrubs in your average spa to be disappointing. Why spend $150 to do what you can achieve in your own shower for a fraction of the price using a dry brush and a body scrub?
Marcia Kilgore, the founder of Bliss Spas, shared this excellent step-by-step instruction for the perfect weekly body exfoliation in the book, "Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor."

Apply oil to skin
Take a dry brush to skin from the feet up, brushing in short, light strokes
Step in the shower and using a sugar or salt scrub start at the feet again and massage the skin in a circular motion on up the body. I like to do the massage with exfoliating gloves.
Rinse off using lukewarm water, then apply a salicylic acid body wash to skin, paying more attention to heels, elbows and knees. If you have a tendency towards back and butt acne, make sure to apply there as well.
Pat skin dry and apply a moisturizer while skin is slightly damp.

See my list of the best salt and sugar scrubs or make your own scrubs.

My Best Exfoliating Tips for the Face

Chances are if you don't exfoliate daily or weekly, your skin is covered in dead skin cells that are mucking up the surface of your skin and causing your skin to not only look dull, but older. Without proper exfoliation, foundation won't smooth over your skin cleanly and moisturizer won't properly soak in. Here are my best exfoliating tips for the face:

According to Allure Magazine, the best time to exfoliate is in the morning. Apparently, our skin repairs itself at night therefore the morning is the perfect time for scrubbing away those dead skin cells.
Exfoliate with a scrub once or twice a week. Don't over-exfoliate or use a product with granules that can tear at the skin. Rub the product in a circular motion for 30 seconds and then rinse off with lukewarm -- never hot -- water. If you have oily skin, large pores or acne-prone skin, you can try an at-home microdermabrasion system.
To save time, mix in a dime-size amount of your favorite facial scrub into your cleanser and do it all at once.
There are some great scrubs on the market, but a washcloth works (almost) as well and it's more budget-friendly in these recessionary times. Get the full scoop in How to Exfoliate Using a Washcloth.
Clarisonic Skincare Brush is one of those rare products that is beloved by most everyone who tries it. Basically a tool for cleansing the face, you use the Clarisonic with your favorite cleanser to deep clean your pores. A great exfoliator, but with a hefty pricetag (up to $200).

VIA SUZAN: I love and swear by the Clarisonic!

Acids and Retinoids

Take your exfoliating one step further with stronger products. You can exfoliate with microdermabrasion, chemical peels or beta alpha hydroxy pads. Glycolic acid can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Salicylic acids help with facial acne, butt acne and back acne. Retinoids increase cell turnover and also exfoliate the skin

VIA SUZAN: These are the treatments most done during the winter months. Do once month and your skin will feel and look incredible. Contact Utopia and make your appointment today. (925) 901-1001.

Don't Forget Your Lips

Scaly lips are simply not sexy, but there are times in our lives when we all suffer from it. Luckily, getting rid of scaly lips is a relatively easy fix. Find out how in the article,

VIA SUZAN: Visit post “HONEY….Fix my lips please” for an excellent way to help your lips during these drying times.

Exfoliation Tip for Your Elbows

I love this tip I got from "Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor." When elbows get rough, you can soften them up with a sock trick. Cut the toes off a clean pair of thick socks, rub Crisco on your elbows and slip the socks over your arms. Either sleep like that for 8 hours or spend the day inside doing, well, nothing. The shortening works wonders on tough spots. In fact, Allure reports this method is used in hospitals to treat eczema.

VIA SUZAN: Hmmmm Crisco? Well I would prefer Bag Balm. Refer to my post “Bag Balm: Udderly Wonderful!” The sock is an excellent idea! I will be doing this for sure this winter!

Liked this? You'll love this Video: How to Exfoliate.

DO YOU PIN? What is it and why do it?

2011-11-01T06:55:00.001-07:00

Planning parties, weddings, photo-shoots, a trip,? Create a board for your favorite recipes, crafts, bucket list, favorite websites. <---------- These are all reasons you should pin.

Remember that bedding set you loved and saved within your favorites folder? You go and look for it and you have to go through a bunch of different bookmarks spending wasted time figuring out which one it was. With Pinterest, you don’t have that problem. You just go to the board you put it under, find the image you pinned. Easy Peasy!
Are you remodeling a room in your home? Pin different ideas and when you need to refer to it, it’s all on that board. Not to mention the links also with it….. Loving it
I read my favorite blogs everyday and when I find something of interest, I pin it.
Follow people located on Pinterest that have the same interest as you. You just follow the board they have and every time they add something it appears on the front page of your Pinterest as a new pin and you have a choice to repin it to one of your boards. Now you have the pin and the website where that pin is located.
Put the Pin on your browsers toolbar so you can easily pin different sites on the web.
When I see something I want to share on my Facebook or I want to Tweet it, I can easily do that while pinning, just check the box and it automatically embeds to your social network of choice.

I’m addicted. I have over 3,400 pins and it just grows and grows and grows. If you aren’t pinning yet, then get started. I promise you, you will be addicted and it will be your main reference to things you find interest in. HAVE FUN!

My sweet nail art, colorful sneakers nailart click through for...

2011-10-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

Oh I know a lot of you Youngins will have fun with this one! Tutorial is on a Blog that is in Korean. You get the gist of the tutorial by the images. HAVE FUN!

My sweet nail art, colorful sneakers nailart click through for...:

'via Blog this'

My sweet nail art, circle nailart click through for tutorial (in my...

2011-10-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

This is really pretty and creative. When you click on her Korean blog you get the gist of how to do it. Get creative and have fun with this!

My sweet nail art, circle nailart click through for tutorial (in my...:

'via Blog this'

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes!

2011-10-10T06:36:00.001-07:00

Winter is coming and we will all be wearing scarves very soon, if not already. Here is an adorable video tutorial on 25 ways to wear a scarf! Enjoy

YOU ASKED… The Camera that captured my last photos!

2011-08-17T06:58:00.001-07:00

Some of you asked what camera I used to take these photos. I ended up renting one because

My camera had broke awhile back and I’m still trying to save $$ to get a new one this was the day/weekend I HAD to have one.

Thank goodness for borrowlenses.com!
LIKE ---------> Borrow Lenses FB page to keep up on BL info https://www.facebook.com/borrowlenses

Who ever came up with this idea was brilliant! Borrowlenses.com is a company that rents cameras and lenses, etc at a very reasonable cost. BL has locations all over and you can have them ship it or you can pick it up. Thanks to BL, I was able to capture a very special weekend…My husband’s 50^th! (You can see my priceless moments within the albums shown at the links below) ALSO what an awesome idea to try out a camera and/or lens or any equipment prior to spending that large $$ to make sure what you are buying is exactly what you want. Or if you know you are only going to use something once in a blue moon, then rent it!
I had my eye on a CANON EOS 7D SLR DIGITAL CAMERA and at a cost of close to $1500 I just haven’t been able to come anywhere close to reaching that $ amount!! I also only have the need for the one and only lens (Thanks Lynn for introducing me to this one-It rocks!!) for the general photo shoot which is a Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM Autofocus Zoom Lens For Canon Cameras-this will get up close and very far away. Unfortunately BL only had the 18-200mm available but as you can see it did the job and it did it well; however, I can see where the extra 50mm would have come in handy. I wish there was an 18-300mm but so far I haven’t one.

After almost two years living WITHOUT a working camera and the $$ for CANON EOS 7D which is far more then I can afford and the reason why I haven’t been able to buy one yet, thanks to BL and after renting the Canon EOS REBEL T3I DIGITAL SLR, I I decided that at almost ½ the cost I just might have my eye on this one instead. I just can’t handle NOT having a camera. There is so much in life to capture and I’m missing out on way to many memories not having one.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.268026506547487.86970.100000204186843&l=2f9d4d5c75&type=1
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.268622649821206.87086.100000204186843&l=51d30262fd&type=1
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.268182649865206.86997.100000204186843&l=513b087e8b&type=1
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.268572563159548.87076.100000204186843&l=dcef9a3844&type=1

IMPORTANT PLEA – 16YR OLD NEEDS IMMEDIATE HELP

2011-08-13T19:21:00.001-07:00

Please read all the way through.
This is my good friend Holly’s daughter, Carissa. On June 16th, 2011 this beautiful 16-year old was one of the two critically injured. See news link below for details. I’m reaching out to everyone to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help. Below are some posts from her mother Holly who is struggling. I know it’s a long read but well worth it. Once you’ve read it, you will understand in the plea for help. Please share this whether it be on your blog, your Facebook, your twitter a mass email….whatever it be…Make a plea for help.

If there is any WORTHY chain to be made, this would be it.

KTLA: Suspected Drunk Driver Plows into Bicyclists - Dave Mecham reports -- ktla.com
www.ktla.com
Los Angeles and Southern California News from KTLA 5 the CW. The home of the KTLA Morning News with Michaela Pereira, plus Photo Galleries, video and the blogs of Eric Spillman, Frank Buckley and Sam Rubin are all right here.
Holly Bodner THURSDAY AUGUST 9^TH. UPDATE: It’s been a very, long, hard, emotional week for me. I have definitely entered the ANGER stage of this whole process, along with the EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED stage! I’ve never felt so backed into a corner with no way out as I do now.

The GOOD news is Medi-cal accepted Carissa after her paperwork was pending almost 8 weeks. NOW she CAN BE eligible for surgery to remove the wires in her jaw that are causing her a great deal of pain. The BAD news is, in order for Medi-cal to kick in & pay Carissa’s ENTIRE medical bills from June 16th thru now & future rehabilitation, I have to come up with $1038.00 a month to pay our portion of our “shared-cost!” YA, RIGHT!!! A single mother with two kids & NO job, at home FULL time caring for completely dependent, disabled child, unable to work even if I wanted to, and I have to come up with over a thousand dollars each month to pay for that? UNBELIEVABLE!!! If I pay for the last three months, June, July & August, Medi-cal WILL pay the $342,961.69 bill, plus ALL the other bills, which are quickly building toward the ONE MILLION DOLLAR mark!!! That amount is not including future rehabilitation, surgeries, dental, eye care and/or any neuro treatments Carissa WILL require. I am COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED!!!
I am NOT one to complain. Really, I’m not. However, dealing with the medical, financial, paperwork, insurance (or lack thereof) & bills, on top of almost losing your child is HELL!!! They can put the wires on, but they can’t take them off??? Come up with $9,000. IF you want them off or wait until the government approves your paperwork & allow the child to suffer longer than she has to??? TELL ME HOW ANY OF THIS MAKES ANY SENSE???

Tell me WHY Ms. Drunk & Irresponsible, who caused ALL of this, STILL walks FREE!!! OH, YA…I’m angrier than last week! You bet I am!!! She continues to wreak havoc on my family’s personal life while she roams free. I can’t even give my child ALL the attention she deserves because I am busy on the phone & filling out paperwork all day long just to make sure I can keep a roof over her head while trying to eliminate DEBT caused by a DRUNK DRIVER!!! It’s total CRAP!!!

Now, on to the most important part of my post…my sweet girl. Carissa manages to amaze me every day of her life. There isn’t a day that goes by that she isn’t smiling, even when she is in pain. She wants so badly to walk, to get out of her wheelchair, to ride her bike, to play on the beach…her desire to do so will take her far! She had an irritable start to her morning, which was mostly due to her mouth/jaw pain. Heck, I’d be irritable, too if wires were cutting into my gums & cheeks as well as being strung through my jaw bone!!! Yet she never complains. She does tell me it hurts & she can’t wait to get them out, but she never, NEVER complains. That child is SO GRATEFUL to be ALIVE that NOTHING will stop her from smiling!!!

Today we watched the movie, “Soul Surfer.” Carissa compared the story, or parts of it, to much of what her ordeal has been like for us. Of course there were many similarities, the girls doing what they LOVE (surfing/bike riding), the mom gets THE CALL, she drives to her daughter, the ambulance that her daughter is in races up behind & around her, (I don’t think I will ever be able to see or hear another ambulance again without feeling a deep fear in my heart & burning in the pit of my stomach. The sound still makes my eyes water.), the mama seeing her daughter being pulled out of the ambulance, the EMT’s racing the child into the hospital…it was ALL just too much!!! Of course I sobbed the entire movie, I’m a sap anyway…but there were just way too many similarities for me. In the movie, at the scene of the shark attack, there is a guy who has the keys to the truck & is running to get his phone to call the victim’s mother...I could so relate to him in every way. His acting was incredible because how he was shaking & trembling was how it REALLY was that night, for me…

In the movie, which is based on a true story, the victim presses on, has a positive attitude, feeds homeless people & learns a GREAT deal about life, love & true happiness through her ordeal. Even though my daughter is not a cycling competitor, the movie hit home in SO many ways for both of us. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for inspirational, uplifting entertainment!

So, my lil’ beans n’ cheese girl has gone to bed for the night. I just checked in on her and she is sleeping sweetly. I LOVE knowing she is in the next room, or just down the hall…never far from me. I LOVE knowing I can go & peek in on her or quietly move toward her… close enough to hear her soft, rhythmic breathing that tells me she is sleeping peacefully.

Lord, every day I am SO GRATEFUL for my children, my family & my friends. I KNOW you will see us through these dark & trying times, and you will walk with us on our journey, wherever it may lead. I ask that you strengthen me in faith & continue to humble me with these words, “ ‘Vengeance is mine,’ saith the Lord…” I’m not very good at remembering that right now!!

Holly Bodner August 4
UPDATE: Dear Reckless & Drunk Driver, Christine Dahab: Seven weeks ago today, on June 16th, 2011, the choice you made to get behind the wheel of your car almost cost my daughter her life. Do you have ANY idea what it is like to be a mother & literally BEG God to spare your child's life? To receive the kind of call I received at almost 2am? To have to drive in the condition I was in just to get to my daughter? Do you know what it is like to have the ambulance that has your “unresponsive” & “not breathing on her own” child fly by you with sirens blaring as you are waiting at the same light they just flew thru? How bout’ seeing your child come out of the ambulance with all her clothing cut off, body freezing cold, eyes closed, with breathing tubes in her throat just to keep her alive??? Have you ANY idea what it is like to watch your lil' girl suffer the way mine has because of YOUR actions? The little girl I waited ALL my life for, the precious child I carried for nine months, and raised for 16 years...YES, that little girl...her life was almost taken from me because of YOUR selfish choices!!!
Not only did you do insurmountable damage to my daughter's head, brain, eye, mouth, & complete body, you also subjected her to WAYYY more radiation than any person should EVER be subjected to. Do you have ANY idea what radiation does to the reproductive organs of a teenage girl??? Do you have ANY idea the amount of radiation my daughter was forced receive just to save her life??? Do you have ANY idea how damaging radiation is & how it affects DNA & future unborn children??? Nooooo...you didn't think about those things when you decided to get in the driver's seat that night, did you???
Recently I have spoken to other innocent cyclists whose lives were also hanging in the balance because of YOUR choices. Other victims who are also left with brain damage, broken bodies, years of rehabilitation ahead of them, other traumas that haunt them & most likely will for the remainder of their lives. Every one of the 11 members you sent to the hospital in the wee hours of that morning has to live with the decisions YOU made when you CHOSE to drink & drive.

Do you realize the pain & suffering you have caused MANY families? Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends...YOUR careless actions have wreaked much havoc on MANY lives! ELEVEN people you sent to hospitals! ELEVEN people you injured badly! ELEVEN people, three of which hung on for dear life! YOU DID THIS!!! You drank, you drove, you sped, you looked down at your phone, you accelerated, you slammed into a group of over 70 people, and while ELEVEN of those people were in some of America’s most prestigious hospitals literally fighting for their lives, you posted $15,000 bail & walked out FREE!!! SICKENING!!!

YES! I AM ANGRY!!! My lil’ girl sits in her bed or her wheelchair longing to walk again, while you walk free…FOR NOW!!! My lil’ girl can’t see well out of her right eye, slurs her words, forgets what she is saying, stumbles over her sentences, has trouble counting, is delayed in her thinking & speech, is in pain with broken bones, has metal plates & screws throughout her body, has a shaved head, & has scar after scar after scar on her body…because of YOUR CHOICES!!!
I PROMISE you with everything I have in me that I will fight just as hard for justice for my daughter as she fought for her life!!!

Holly Bodner
UPDATE: OMG! FML! $342,961.69!!! YES! Those are the very first thoughts that entered my mind upon seeing the bold print on the bill!!! THREE HUNDRED FORTY~TWO THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED SIXTY~ONE DOLLARS...and lets NOT forget the SIXTY~NINE CENTS!!! Our very first UCLA bill! And that is for her BED in the PICU ONLY!!! B.E.D. O.N.L.Y.!!!
Top of Form
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This bill is NOT including: The ER, ambulance, MRI's, CT's, Brain Scans, Brain Ultrasounds, x-rays, EEG's, EKG's, anesthesiologists, surgeons, surgery, equipment, sutures, casts, wires, machines, tubes, IV’s, medications, food, wheelchair, walker, potty chair, shower bench…nor does this include the two surgeries we KNOW she has to have, her time in the acute neuro-rehabilitation unit & all her therapies in that rehab or the months of therapy still needed after her bones heal. Brain reevaluations, neuro-psychiatric care, mental, emotional & physical therapies, dental, optometry, inpatient care, outpatient care…the list is endless. I have received MANY bills from doctors, surgeons, specialists, anesthesiologists, therapists on top of & in addition to the UCLA bill…it just goes on & on & on.

I am FULLY aware that Carissa’s medical bills will only continue to increase as time goes on. I have collected everything that has come thus far & set it all in its own special basket labeled, “MY LIL’ MIRACLE!!!” Cuz really, she is just that. I could let the medical bills overwhelm me because my mindset is that the people who worked very HARD to save my daughter’s life deserve to be paid. I take that very seriously however, for now I can only deal with what I have set before me.

The police report is STILL not in due to the severity of the accident, so I don’t even know if the driver had insurance yet. Do I stress out? Sure. Do I lose sleep at night? Yes. Do I toss & turn in my sleep? Mmmm Hmmm. Can I hold food down now? Not really.

I KNOW God is guiding every step of the way for us, in that I take refuge. I KNOW Carissa is alive for a reason, in that I have faith. I KNOW God can calm my fears if I allow him, in that I find hope. Every day is difficult, every day here something new, every day we have struggles, but we are trudging thru the rain & the puddles & I KNOW in the end there is going to be the most beautiful, brilliant rainbow imaginable!!! In that I find PURE JOY!!!

Holly Bodner AUGUST 9TH
Unless you REALLY wanna hear how I am doing, today is NOT a good day to ask!!!
Let me just say I completely understand WHY people go POSTAL!!! I AM LIVID!!! OUR GOVERNMENT SUCKS!!! My daughter's wires SHOULD have come out JULY 11th. Today is August 9th...I still have to fax MORE papers for MORE approval before they will set her up for her surgery. SHE IS IN PAIN!!! She has been in UNNECESSARY pain for almost a month!!! WHY must she endure this pain on top of EVERYTHING else???!!! WHY do ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS receive BETTER health care than my AMERICAN BORN CHILD??? I am OUTRAGED!!!
Holly Bodner Thursday August 11^th EIGHT WEEKS INTO THIS JOURNEY...and still there is a part of me that is so calm, KNOWING in the long run that we are going to be okay. Knowing God has a plan for us. Knowing He will lead the way. Then there is another part of me, the part that is LIVING this NIGHTMARE that is so scared of the unknown. My emotions are raw. I am not going to try to hide behind them and pretend every day that I am okay, cuz tonight, I’m not!

My daughter is slowly making positive progress. For that I am eternally grateful. I love seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, listening to her remembering things, watching her eyes light up when she expresses herself, giggling at herself when she slurs or stumbles over her own words…it’s all so beautiful.

And then there is the dark side...the endless paperwork, the phone calls, the faxes, the running around, the future appointments, surgeries, insurance, rehabilitation, post-op appointments, follow up appointments, short term & long term decisions, lawyers…all this is on top of my mediation appointment next week for my very ugly, pending divorce. My kid’s dad walked out in February, after 24 years together and 21 years of marriage. He decided he didn’t want a family anymore. Marriage isn’t what he thought it was, and he didn’t want the kids. He wanted a house of his own & we were a financial burden to him. Having a family was a financial burden. He could have so much more if he didn’t have us. Yes, I heard it on a regular basis. He made it abundantly clear all throughout last year that he did NOT want to pay child support or spousal support, and felt the government should take care of him because by the time he paid us, it would be comparable to what he would receive on SSI anyway, so he quit his job & moved in with his parents. He also willingly gave up all rights to his daughter. She is 100% MINE legally & physically…and I am SOOO happy to have her!!! At the time of our court hearing, the judge ordered him to cover Carissa medically under his SSI…he NEVER did.

In the ER they gave me packets of papers to fill out for CCS and Medi-Cal. Through tears I filled them out as best I could. I am still STRUGGLING to pull together all the paperwork, most of it paperwork HE was asked to complete and never did. Form after form, it’s truly endless. They need this, then want that…why didn’t they just tell me from the beginning to bring my entire file cabinet!?! Apparently, Carissa’s dad received paperwork in the hospital that he told me he filled out, yet didn’t. When push came to shove, he filled out his name & address but refused to do the rest because he “didn’t feel like it!” When the accident happened, he DID come, with his mom. He DID stay, for almost two weeks. Although he has NO job & does NOT go to school, and after they told us in the PICU that Carissa NEEDS someone to be with her 24/7, around the clock…he announced he was going home. Apparently he has “THINGS TO TAKE CARE OF,” things that are far more important than his child! While my daughter lay in the PICU still fighting for her life, he walked out on her, again. As if the first time wasn’t enough. Six weeks later & not ONE call or text to see how Carissa is doing…NOT ONE!!!

These wires in her mouth??? They WOULD be OUT by now IF he did what the judge ordered back in March. HOW CAN I NOT BE ENRAGED??? I heard my child tell her friends, “He just gave me away, he didn’t even fight for me, he didn’t even want me…” That nearly killed me. Then came the day she climbed up on my lap like a small child and put her head down on my chest and cried harder than I’d EVER seen her cry before. Pure, soulful sobs.

He had the nerve to text me a few days ago telling me he wants to see HIS kids. On top of everything else going on, I have to deal with THIS??? REALLY??? THEY don’t want to see him. THEY want NOTHING to do with him. It is their choice & I respect their wishes. I have never felt such animosity toward a person in my entire life! I hear people say, “be strong” or “let your anger toward him go,” that is so much easier said than done. I am reminded DAILY of the pain he has caused my children every time I look at them, especially Carissa in her current condition. Every time I see my daughter in pain and my anger grows toward him. Even though it wouldn’t change the events of the drunk driver who hit her 8 weeks ago this morning, it WOULD have made things easier for Carissa! Her wires WOULD be off. She WOULD have gotten more rehab treatment…treatment she couldn’t get for her occupational, recreational, speech & neurological BECAUSE Medi-Cal was PENDING!!! Yes, they sent her HOME because HE didn’t provide her insurance. They could not do PHSYCIAL THERAPY for her because of her broken body, but they COULD have sent the rest of the therapists to the house for IN-HOME therapy.

The only thing I can share with you is I have seen the face of true EVIL and it is not pretty. I have never been SO humbled in all my life. Carissa and I get SO much JOY out of feeding the homeless. I have never felt SO close to being in that same position as I do now. IN THE END things will be alright, for I have a God who takes care of me, but going thru it, it’s NOT easy. I have a VERY bad back due to an injury a patient caused during the first part of my internship & a tumor on my leg that is growing. HE KNEW this when he quit his job. I pleaded with him to wait until I was through with my internship so I can provide insurance for myself, but he chose to quit his job anyway…said he didn’t care if we ate out of the gutter. Guess that is easy to say when you get to run home to mommy & daddy and have them feed and clothe you.

I PROMISE you, Carissa that I will see you through this! I WILL be your mama AND your daddy. I WILL put aside my pride & seek help wherever I can to be here with you & for you. NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES, SWEET GIRL!!! YOU ARE MINE!!! 100% MINE!!! I CAN NEVER THANK GOD ENOUGH FOR SPARING YOUR LIFE!!! BEING YOUR MAMA IS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING!!!

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OKAY GUYS, here is the REAL COLD HARD TRUTH! Holly needs to come up with $3,000 by Monday noon. She booked Carissa's surgery for Tues and that is the amount from June thru Aug for her Medi-cal. If she doesn't pay, Carissa's mouth will remain wired shut (Crazy they can do this!) and Medi-Cal will NOT kick in. There have been SO many offers asking how to help, NOW is the time!!! PLEASE~PLEASE!!! Together we can do this!!!
I know a lot of us are struggling financially but all I ask is a mere $25. Think about it, if I can get 10 people to put in a minimum of $25 Carissa would be $250 closer to getting her wires out and future care that she needs. If you can donate more, please do. Something is better than nothing. I plea that all that receive this ask of your friends to do the same. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU

-----------------------------------

DONATIONS MADE TO ANY CHASE BANK ACCT#916360472 ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED! Holly needs to come up with $3,000 by Monday noon. She booked Carissa's surgery for Tues and that is the amount from June thru Aug for her Medi-cal. If she doesn't pay, Carissa's mouth will remain wired shut (Crazy they can do this!) and Medi-Cal will NOT kick in. There have been SO many offers asking how to help, NOW is the time!!! PLEASE~PLEASE! Lets make this happen!

Online Payment, Merchant Account - PayPal
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HOW TO USE PAYPAL: once you have entered your amount, click on UPDATE AMOUNT. From there, if you have a Pay Pal account already, simply Log In and follow the instructions. IF YOU DO NOT have a Pay Pal account, not center page, on the left, the "Don't have a pay pal account" and click on CONTINUE. From there simply enter your payment information. YOU DO NOT REQUIRE A PAY PAL ACCOUNT TO USE PAYPAL. Just click where is appropriate for you and follow the directions from there. Thank you all for your generous support!
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Alright $15,000 bail is all? WTH? What is wrong with this picture?
http://bikinginla.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/accused-drunkdistracted-driver-plows-into-group-of-cyclists-11-injured-with-two-critical/

They’re Real! (Mascara I just have to try!)

2011-07-17T10:11:00.001-07:00

In search of a new mascara, I came across Benefit’s new “They’re Real!” mascara. I read all about it, saw the before and afters…..and can you guess where I’m heading today?

Learn more about this mascara CLICK HERE

To purchase go to your local Benefits counter or order HERE
BELOW IS AN IMAGE OF THE LINK YOU WILL BE CLICKING ABOVE.

Smith’s Rosebud Salve

2011-06-02T05:34:00.001-07:00

The Smith’s Rosebud Salve product line is a cult-favorite, multi-purpose lip balm that has been popular for over 100 years. An Old Family Standby Since 1895, this world-famous salve has been re-discovered by Hollywood stars and makeup artists. Rosebud Salve is still a favorite to aid in the relief of chapped and dry skin, blemishes, diaper rash, and detergent burns. Rosebud Salve is also a wonderful lip moisturizer and natural looking lip gloss. It moisturizes dry lips, calms and heals irritation, and soothes the sting of minor burns. Try dabbing on dry elbows or knees to condition, and relieve dryness. Also an excellent remedy for the treatment of diaper rash. The original flagship product, Smith's Rosebud Salve remains our top seller. A glossy, non-sticky, non-waxy, texture makes this balm stand out. Only a dab is necessary, ensuring that one tin lasts a very long time! Mix with lipstick for extra shine. During allergy and cold season, dab on a dry, irritated nose to relieve discomfort.

A low cost ranging from $5-$10 for an item that will last a very long time! Can be found at these stores.

Sephora

Amazon

Estée Lauder 'Bronze Goddess Sun Indulgence

2011-04-30T05:42:00.001-07:00

The Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Collection is just in time for the upcoming sunny days. Give your skin daily sun protection it needs along with a beautiful glow at a very lost of only $22.00.

PRODUCT DETAILS
Super-luxurious sunscreen for face with SPF 30 protection.
Divine Seduction for your Skin

Refreshing lotion goes on silky-smooth.
Seduces skin with an instant heavenly radiance.

Advanced Suncare Technology

SPF 30
Delivers comprehensive, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
Our best UVA defense.

Light Fragrance

Exotic beachy scent transports you to another world.

HOW TO USE

Apply liberally before sun exposure.
Reapply frequently, and after swimming, toweling off or perspiring.
For use on children under 6 months of age, consult your doctor.

ON-THE-GO SUNSCREEN WITH SOME COLOR

2011-03-24T05:50:00.001-07:00

I’m continually telling my clients to use sunscreen ALL the time! This is an awesome product that Bare Minerals came out with giving you the appropriate amount of protection along with adding color to your skin.

PLEASE VISIT HERE FOR DETAILS

Bare Minerals: Our super-portable SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen is sheer and weightless, and it can be used from head to toe without clogging pores. It'll change the way you feel about sunscreen forever.

Protects your skin from sun damage without a heavy, greasy finish
Breakthrough Micronized Titanium Dioxide physically shields against UVA/UVB rays
Blends in beautifully over or under makeup
Patented built-in brush makes it ideal for the whole family — even little kids
Portable size make touchups a breeze
Available in different shades to match (or warm up) your natural complexion
Vitamins A, C & E provide an extra boost of essential nutrients
Aloe Vera Extract and antioxidants nourish and soothe your skin

INGREDIENTS: Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 12%. Inactive Ingredients: Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Lycium Chinensis (Lycii Berry) Extract, Ranunculus Ficaria Root Extract, Silica. May Contain: Mica (CI 77019), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499). Ultramarines (CI 77007). Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163)

Bare Minerals New collections-Looking pretty ‘HOT!’

2011-03-23T06:14:00.001-07:00

☛Visit here for Sweet Siren ☛Visit here for Gold Rush ☛Visit here for Fabulous Eye Color Palette

Beautiful Bare Minerals 3-piece collection for a sun-kissed complexion

2011-03-08T05:43:00.000-08:00

Visit Here for details!

CUSTOM MADE Preserving Memories of Your Loved Ones in Jewelry or Sun Catchers

2011-03-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

My husband showed me this article "Preserving Memories of Your Loved Ones" within jewelry and/or sun catchers printed in the Costco Magazine. I knew it was something I wanted to share with all of you. There have been so many death's recently that this could be a special gift for someone you love or even for yourself.

COPIED FROM ITS WEBSITE

While grief is as individual as the number of people on the earth, one common reaction to the loss of a loved one, be it human or pet, is the wish to have some personal memento to remember the life now gone. Linda Markellis and Krista Johnson, a mother-daughter team in Whitefish, Montana, have been providing just such mementoes across the country through their hand-crafted glass Memorials and “Living Keepsakes.” Each custom Glass Pendent, Sun Catcher, Pyramid, Treasure Box, piece of jewelry, or specially made light can contain a snippet of hair or the ash “cremains” of a loved one – or may contain nothing at all, but simply serve as a personal reminder and celebration of a life which was loved. Each unique item is produced only after close consultation with the client making the order, so that the finished piece is truly representative of the person or pet memorialized.

Over the Rainbow Memorials is an unusual business with an unusual beginning. Linda & Krista had long sold their hand-crafted glass jewelry throughout the country. It may have been pure serendipity when a friend asked if they could put some of the ashes of her beloved, newly deceased dog into some kind of jewelry to wear on her wedding day. After much trial and error in dealing with the vast difference in physical properties between ash and glass and working with the different cooling rates between the two elements, Linda & Krista were able to provide the bride with a delicate glass bead bracelet so that her dog could, in that way, be present at her wedding.

Word of mouth took over from there, and more and more people were asking that their pets be memorialized in this way. It was probably just a matter of time before it occurred to someone that this was also a beautiful, original and personal way to memorialize people who had passed on. To their surprise, Linda & Krista discovered that in 2007 most of their business came from “people” customers rather than “pet” customers.

Both mother and daughter have an unassuming and gentle way of listening closely to each customer, able to discern what is truly important to include in the memorial or keepsake. The ability to listen combined with a compassionate attitude has led to close and long-lasting relationships with their customers, who often write back about the enormous measure of comfort and solace they have found in their custom glass pieces. That, to both Linda & Krista is the true reward of running the business. They are amazed that people will drive three and more hours to their home studio in Whitefish to sit and discuss a proposed piece and to watch the process of creating each piece from scratch; and they are more than gratified over having found such a personal and beautiful way to help people move through the various stages of grief.

READ: Testimonials SEE: Gallery

GIOVANNI Hydrate Body Lotion

2011-03-03T20:13:00.000-08:00

Went to Target today where they had this fabulous lotion tester out on the shelf. I tried it and it instantly made my dry hands feel amazing & smells good too! It's a must buy for a mere $9.99. Just put it on my hands after I got home and OMG...... I can't say enough about it. Other then BUY IT NOW!

ABOUT PRODUCT: Giovanni Hydrate Illuminating Body Lotion offers natural aromatic fragrances and uniquely soothing ingredients that smooth across skin to infuse needed moisture and hydration. This formula is rich in nutrients and also contains the exclusive Giovanni PureOrganic Technology blend, an advanced essential oil complex to soothe, smooth and regenerate skin's lost moisture. Your body is suddenly lost in imagination as you experience true beauty

Anne Hathaway Vogue Magazine Inspired Makeup Tutorial with BHCosmetics

2011-03-02T05:40:00.000-08:00

I apologize for the lack of postings. Twitter had suspended my account and therefore I was to ticked to do any reviews. But no worries, life goes on and I'm back :)

Here is an awesome tutorial to start of march with. If you love eyeshadows, BH Cosmetics has incredible pallets at a very reasonable price. A ton of looks in one with easy to travel cases. Love this tutorial and the shadow combination use is a very good tip.

Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Blusher Brush

2011-02-17T21:57:00.000-08:00

Read Karen's review on this brush. I will be replacing about three brushes within my brush set I take to the gym for this multi-tasking one. I'm off to Target tomorrow for a new brush purchase.

Karen's review of the

Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Blusher Brush: A Budget Friendly Beast

Find Your Fit with Fit Me from Maybelline New York

2011-02-17T20:35:00.000-08:00

Maybelline has made it easy to find your perfect foundation color for your skin tone. Watch and learn! If you've been using this product, let us know your views on this product.

My Review on SuperStay 24 Lipcolor from Maybelline New York

2011-02-11T18:07:00.000-08:00

I purchased this lipstick and here's my review on it.

Positive - Love the application of this stain. The brush that is along with this lipstick is flexible in both ways so when the applications of the lip stain is applied, it is dispersed evenly and in one stroke.
Negative - Doesn't look like there is a lot of product within the tube. One side is the stain and the other side is the moisturizer you apply and reapply throughout the day. Being that I had to apply the moisturizer several times, I can see that this product will not last very long.
Positive - I was able to drink my coffee without the lipstick all over the cup :)
Positive - The color did stay on quite awhile and didn't flake off like some stains do. You did have to apply some sort of a gloss throughout the day to enhance the moisture to your lips.

Negative - Noted 24-hour color that should last that long? As usual with most of the lip stains I've used, it did NOT last as promoted.

τhε сøɾɾεсτ ώαÿ τø ɾεṃøṿε εÿε ṃαќε-υρ

2011-02-10T20:23:00.000-08:00

I see so many people removing their make up incorrectly. I know a lot of us get really lazy when it comes to removing our eye makeup. Just swiping it roughly across their eyes until all the makeup is removed is NOT the way to do it. You do realize the thinnest most delicate skin area on our face is under our eyes, right? It is the one area you should be very gentle with. And being that we usually have a lot of make up on our eyes, we tend to abuse that area which in the end will cause more lines and unwanted saggy skin.

My preference for make-up removal are these Non-woven wipes (shown above) - A smooth blend of fibers, this wipe provides a high degree of absorbency in a lint-free non woven design. Opens from a 4-ply to a 4 x 4 single-ply. 200 per package. They are inexpensive and absorb just enough to where you are NOT wasting product. Cotton squares absorb too much and you end up applying more product to get your make up off; therefore wasting it. You will not find these within any department stores. They are sold for professional use only so if anyone wants some, let me know and I can place an order for you. They are very inexpensive! What I like most about it is that the way they are woven seem to catch the make up much better.

I found a great video demonstrating the best way to remove your eye makeup. What I want you to pay most attention to is how she places the cotton wipe underneath her eyes. The main purpose of this is to avoid additional friction to that very thin area of the eye.

Realize that for the average daily make up application, it shouldn't take as long to remove the eye makeup.

ṃαќε-υρ ƒøɾ τhατ ṡρεсïαl τïṃε ώïτh τhατ ṡρεсïαl ṡøṃεøṉε

2011-02-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

Don't know how to wear your make-up for that special Valentine evening..... Or an upcoming date with that someone special? Adorable Jessica Harlow shows a tutorial that's a must try! You don't have to specifically use the eyeshadow colors that she has picked; however are beautiful. You can pull out your eyeshadow drawer and put together a light, medium and dark combination that you like best. Remember choose a combination that will match your outfit and the color of your eyes.

I especially like the way the white liner is used along the inner corner of the eyes.

Jessica wrote below:

PRODUCTS USED

EYES:

MAC Paintpot in “Painterly” : http://www.maccosmetics.com

88 Shimmer Palette (Original version) : http://lx.im/1akEb

MAC Fluidline in “Blacktrack” : http://www.maccosmetics.com

Maybelline “The Falsies” Mascara (available at drugstores)

Elite False Lashes in “8″ (available at Duane Reade)

CHEEKS:

Illamasqua Bronzer (I don’t think they sell it in the US. Just use whatever bronzer you like.)

Tarina Tarantino Blush in “Carved Rose”

LIPS:

MAC Lipstick in “Hue”

Thanks Jessica for showing us your awesome video!

How To: Curl Your Hair With A Flat Iron

2011-02-09T06:22:00.000-08:00

Beautifully done tutorial by Rosebud. I love the ending styled result! She's clear and straight to the point.