Dee Dee: A Makeover Story

Every high school year ended with the same tune in my head...next year is gonna be different. I'll have a cute haircut (which of course is going to be perfectly styled everyday); I'll muster up the courage to wear my vintage clothes; I'll stay on top of my skincare so that I never have a break out; I'll learn how to do different makeup looks; I'll lose a few pounds; I'll write every assignment down so that I can stay organized. Oh yeah, next year is gonna be perfect!

But alas, next year came and everything was the same. Money was tight so haircuts, skincare and makeup were few and far between; I was the typical self-conscience teenager too shy to wear anything out of the norm; I had poor eating habits that prevented any weight-loss (which in hindsight was really not necessary); I got distracted (or lazy) and forgot to write down assignments which started to pile up. When will I stop singing this tune in my head and start singing my makeover song loud and proud?

Well I know of at least one person that did. In high school I distinctly remember chatting it up with my classmate Aphrodite, Dee Dee for short.

"Next year I'm gonna be super girly and just wear cute dresses all the time. My hair's gonna be done, my nails manicured all the time. It's gonna be great!"

Oh yeah, I know that song...never gonna happen.

And I really didn't think she would. I mean she looked kinda' homely, never wore a stitch of makeup, never wore any dresses or skirts...she just looked regular....well maybe just a touch nerdy.

Next year came and lo' and behold there was Dee Dee in a cute dress, hair all smooth and styled, nails manicured with freshly applied makeup. She actually did it. She was the ultimate girly-girl just like how she planned. While her style wasn't of my particular taste, she did look very nice, and I was a little jealous.

The biggest difference though was the huge smile that was plastered on her face whenever I saw her. She was proud of what she had achieved...a makeover.

Do you sing that tune in your head? Ya know, the one that says one day, next year, someday, once the kids are grown...Well if you do then this blog is for you. So pour yourself a glass of the good bubbly stuff 'cuz today is the first day of your makeover!

Got an inspiring makeover story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Most Glorious Bath Ever Part 2

photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

Hello again sweeties! Last week we chatted about how we can create the most awesome, delicious, glorious bath ever. This past week was so busy here in the Poblano home that I was just itching...er, not literally...to relax and take a nice long soak. But I need to be patient and plan this to perfection.

I hope the pictures I posted last week of the lovely bathrooms inspired you to add a special touch to your bathroom (oh how I wish I had my own house so that I could finally create my dream bathroom!). So now on to the good stuff...what to add to the bath! My mouth is just watering over the possibilities!

• Bath Salts- this is probably one of the oldest bathtime goodies used in "water cures". There are many different salts, and because of their different mineral content, each have special properties. Bath salts can improve circulation, ease muscle and joint soreness, help heal wounds, relieve edema, draw out toxins, and bring relief to skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
  

• Bath Tea- I absolutely love bath tea! I know it's silly, but the thought of soaking my whole body in a magical herbal concoction sends me to 7th heaven! Aaaaahhh! Soaking in tea can help reduce swelling, promote skin healing, and can neutralize free radical (those are those nasty atoms that age our skin). The scent is usually divinely subtle leaving your skin softly fragranced.

Bath Tea by earthbody

• Milk- Bathing in milk is truly a lavish ritual fit for a queen! Milk moisturizes and softens (thanks to the lactic acid) skin to perfection. There are many lovely milk baths available, like the one pictured below, but why not try somethings fresh such as organic buttermilk, coconut milk, goat milk or heavy cream. If you can, get it from your local farmers market for an even fresher heavenly treat!
  

• Bubble- To be honest, I'm not a bath bubbly type of gal. I feel like I slip into a tub of bubbly clouds only to see then quickly disappear a few minutes later. Perhaps I haven't found the right bubbly? Or perhaps whats missing is a tall glass of bubbly with my bubble bath!
  

• Bath Bombs- These beauties are a little newer to the bath scene. They come in a variety for whimsical shapes from ice cream scoops to cupcakes. They can fizz, foam or release luscious oils to moisturise. Definitely a tempting treat for tired souls!

Mini Bath Bomb Gift Pack by CandiedBeauty

Okay ladies, the list can go on and on. Bath oils, bath beads, essential oils, bath melts, powdered oatmeal, fresh flower petals, mineral-rich clay...

For my bath, I'm going to try this heavenly Creamy Milk Chocolate Bath Powder with fresh pink rose petals from my farmers market.

What's in your bath?

The Most Glorious Bath Ever Part 1

I once went 3 years without a bath. Oh yes ladies...not one bath. Oh I showered plenty...I just didn't have a bath tub! (tee hee) Now, however, we finally have a bath tub! Oh how I have missed my long soaks listening to my cheesy love songs ("Journey" anyone?). Since it's been so long since my last bath, I decided that my next bath would be so wonderful that it would have been worth waiting 3 long years for just that moment. So this is it ladies...

THE MOST GLORIOUS BATH EVER!

First things first...why take a bath anyway? Besides the obvious purpose of getting clean, immersing your body in water is therapeutic...specifically hydrotherapy. "Water cures" have been around for centuries and were especially popular in Europe (roman baths, Turkish baths, hot springs..). Here are some benefits of bathing:

• relaxes muscles


• brings a sense of peace


• brings blood to body surface (great for those of us with poor circulation on our legs)


• stimulates waste elimination via perspiration and urine


• can help with insomnia

Adding other goodies to your bath can further these benefits (we'll talk more about the endless possibilities of bath goodies later!)

Next...the bath tub and bathroom decor! Well I can't actually change my current tub, but I can change the decor! Here are some beautiful bathrooms for inspiration...

previous photos by: John Coolidge

previous photos by: Keith Scott Morton

Feelin' inspired yet ladies? I know I am! So what's next after redecorating...?

Ambiance- Candles, music and fragrance are what really start to get me in a relaxing soak kinda' mood. There are tons of options out there but I'll share some of my favorites.

Fragrance- When it come to fragrance, it is a very personal choice. Lavender is always popular for relaxing, though some find it to strong for their palate. Rose, Vanilla and Chamomile are also calming and romantic scents. Non-traditional fragrances like Beach, White Linen, Pumpkin Pie and Green Apple would also be lovely bath time scents. Just make sure that the fragrance you choose is in harmony with the scented bath goodies you will be using, otherwise you'll find yourself overwhelmed and perhaps with a headache!

Candles- Using candles are probably the most important item you can use to create a relaxing ambiance in the bathroom. I'm partial to soy candles because they produce very little black soot. Here are some beautifully handcrafted soy candles I found on Etsy...

Del Mar Soy Candles by sydneyhale

Apple Maple Ginger Soy Candles by southernalchemy

Citron Soy Blend Candle by soapsandmore

Chickadee Soy Candles by karingrow

Music- Though I am a spa girl by trade and spa music would fit the mood, I much rather listen to some good old-fashion love songs as I blissfully bathe. Check out PastPerfect.com to find your perfect nostalgic bath time tunes!

Up next...what to add to your bath!

How to Save Money on Skin Care Without Compromise

When it comes to skin care, I might be the worlds most stubborn and inflexible woman. I am, after all, a passionate skin care therapist. Over the course of my career, I've had the luxury of trying some of the worlds finest skin care. So once I find something I love, it is impossible for me to compromise. But money is tight these days in the Poblano household, so how do I manage to pamper my precious skin without going cheap? I get creative!

Toner- Replace the flip cap with a spray or mist top like the Lime Blossom Toner above. You'll find that you only have to mist your skin with 1-2 pumps in the morning instead of saturating a cotton ball with your toner. At night, mist 3-4 sprays of your toner onto a cotton pad (not a cotton ball which absorbs too much product) and wipe your skin clean. Doing these two simple steps has helped my toner to last 6 months!

Mask- I like to mix my facial masks with skin loving items I find in my kitchen. Egg whites for firming, egg yolk or honey for dry skin, olive oil for irritated skin or apple cider vinegar for blemish prone. By adding these less expensive yet nourishing goodies to your masks, you can make one tube or jar of expensive mask last one year!

Treatment Serums- This is where I usually spend the most money, from $50 to over $100 for 1/2 ounce. But trust me ladies, this is the product that is going to do all that lightening n' tightening, renewing n' smoothing. Treatment serums are the muscle in your skin care routine. So how do I save money without compromise? First, I use them only at night, when the skin naturally repairs itself making the most use of my serum. Secondly, though I have several serums, each one that does something different, I use only one serum a night. Thirdly, and most importantly, I gently but firmly press the serum onto toner damp skin (see more info on this below).

Night Moisturizer- I can make my night cream last 4-5 months by following one simple step, I gently and firmly press (not rub!) the product onto toner damp skin. Using this simple method makes a tiny pea-size amount of product cover my entire face, neck and decollete! So here's how you do it: after wiping your skin with your toner, squirt a small amount of serum onto your middle and ring fingers. Lightly rub your fingers together and gently press the product onto your damp face, neck and decollete. Repeat the same method with a small pea-size amount of your night moisturizer. Why does this work? Because you are pressing (not rubbing) and the skin is toner damp, the product sits on the skin longer (rather than soaking in right away) allowing you to move the little bit of product over a larger surface area.

Voila! You just saved yourself a bunch of money and it didn't even hurt! Have any tricks of your own? Please share them in the comments below!

10 Quick Facts About Me

I was reviewing an older post where I introduced myself and I realized it sounded pretty generic. So here are 10 quick facts to help you get to know the voice behind the blog!

1. I played the alto sax in my middle school marching band. North Park Middle School is the only middle school marching band to have played at the Rose Parade! (This clip is not of me playing, I had since graduated of course. It is however the same march I played in middle school which is why I chose this clip!)




2. I started dating my Hunny when I was 14 years old and he was *gasp* 19! I'm 28 in this picture, not 14.




3. My first job was at an auto parts store where I made $5 an hour. Of course I blew all of my paycheck on cosmetics!





4. I was a preschool teacher for 3 years.





5. In college I majored in psychology. I had to drop out of Cal Poly Pomona however due to pregnancy complications.





6. After nearly losing my son early in my pregnancy, I committed myself to the LORD and was baptized when my son was 3 months old.





7. I sold my handmade body scrubs and body butters at my local farmers market. I also sold french soaps and essential oils.





8. I graduated from The Cao Institute of Aesthetics where I met John Paul DiJoria, co-creator of John Paul Mitchell Systems.





9. My first professional skin care position was as the Lead Esthetician at the super cute Cosmetics Luxe in Uptown Whittier. This is the store front for Beauty Encounter. Thank you Jackie and Duke!





10. I love to research, read, write, create and dream!