Forever Young

As I sit here looking at my birthday in my rear view mirror, I am struck by how quickly the years are passing. It's all good of course because what is the alternative, especially when you have a little someone following your every move. 

A few days after my birthday Babyhead came up to me as I sat at my desk paying bills. He got in my lap and picked up a card that was one of my favorites. "What does forever young mean?" He asked which were the words on the front. "Well, I guess as we get older we like to think we will be forever young." He stared at me for a long time. "I wish you would turn 30 over and over again!" he said with a little frown. I asked him why and he responded, "So you will always be with me." I wanted to cry because how earnest he was and the sweet way he studied my face. " But Momma, it looks like you ARE 30 every year." 

And that my friends is why you love your little babies, especially your mama's boys because they are so biased, it warms the depth of your heart and ego. But, I don't really want to be 30 every year, but I can cheat it with the amazing Murad Resurgence skincare line.

I got caught 2 years ago watching Joan Lunden sell it but hard on an infomercial at 1:30 in the morning. Being an intimate master of the genre, having worked on SO many throughout the years, I am a serious skeptic, yet I was impressed by the testimonials.

Well...Honey it works!! My skin changed within a month, little lines were less pronounced, and my face was dewy again like years past. So...run don't walk, go get your 30 on and tell them I sent you!

GB ByeBye

I've been laying in bed a lot. Not because I'm lazy or tired but because yes, I had my gallbladder out a few weeks ago. And I must say it was harder than everyone said it would be. 

I had been having problems for quite a while and didn't know it, so when my gallbladder attack happened Christmas Eve and I realized it wasn't the flu, I knew I had to have it checked out. Babyhead has been worried, so much so that we couldn't even speak the word "surgery". We had to refer to said word with the word "blank". He's 7. That is how he copes. 

Anyway, it's best to elect to have surgery than to have the gallbladder burst and risk all sorts of horrible scenarios, so I did just that. I worked everyday up to the dreaded date, losing 10 lbs. in the process (there's a silver lining to everything people- which actually I am using as my springboard to fitness, but that's another post). 

You hear all sorts of things from people when one is confronted with adversity etc. One of the worst for me was that the surgery was "a piece of cake." Huh? In who's world? It's surgery for heavens sake!! They enter your body from 5 different points, I look like a drive by, my body riddled with bullets! Really? I'm still trying to figure out my new options for a bikini! 

Well anyway, when I was told about the surgery prep by my nurse at my pre-op appointment I was worried. I'll tell you now- one of the hardest parts of having surgery was of course the surgery itself, BUT one of the other hardest things that I lamented over was the banning of ALL products! No body lotion, no skin care, no eye cream, no perfumes, and worst of all--- NO HAIR PRODUCT!!! WHAT????

The night before my surgery I was getting ready for bed using the strange sterile shower soap one must use that night and in the AM before you leave for the hospital, when I noticed Babyhead standing staring at me in the bathroom doorway. I was attempting to run a pick (yeah--think 1979) through the twisted storm on my head which was my hair. 

"Momma? What's wrong with your hair? Where are the curls ? It looks like a big dry cotton ball!!" He commenced to giggling and ran off as I stared at my Afro because honey, that's what it was. I use on average 3-4 products daily just to get a handle on it. I can't wear hats unless I use practically a bucket of gel to contain it. But did you know gel especially is flammable in the OR? Who knew? My mom, a retired CCRN knows me so well, even called that night and said "you better not put anything in your hair- it's too dangerous!" 

Huh? I seemed to be saying that lot during this journey. NO hair product ?? I was having nightmares of trying to just fit my hair under the surgery cap when I'd wake up in a cold sweat! My husband would just look at me as I ranted about the unbelievable notion of no products and say "Baby- it's One day!" Look- how can he understand? He shaves his head 2x a week!! 

After Babyhead's outburst I realized the product I missed and needed most of all: MoroccanOil Curl Defining Cream--if you have curly hair this product will change your life! It changed mine!! My hair dresser TT from Vain hipped me to it about 2 years ago and I've never looked back. I leave it in just after shampooing--and it makes every curl look fabulous!! I use the oil too. And it smells devine! I use it on Babyhead and people are constantly asking what do I put in his hair- it smells so yummy!! 

I'm doing so much better after surgery and I have a newfound respect for the role our products play in our lives. And quiet as it's kept, I put just a teeny teeny bit in my hair that night before I secured it in little Afro puffs. Shhh- don't tell.

Run don't walk and pick up this magical bottle-----you're welcome.

Write On!!!

It's been awhile, actually a long while since my last post. I had so much stuff going on the last 6 months, some days I wish I could clone myself 8 times just to stay on top of things. Last night Babyhead said to me: "Momma, how come I haven't seen you writing lately?" I asked why was he asking and he responded: "Well, when you write at your desk you are always smiling, so I think you're happy when you write." Out of the mouths of babes. 

So I step back into the fray in a good way( I've been weirdly rhyming the past week or so, don't know what's up with that). I think going forth I'm just going to sit down and let the words carry me, sometimes giving beauty advice, momma advice, favorite things beauty and beyond, cool girl thoughts or what ever happens to fly through my brain at the moment my fingers hit the not real keys of my iPad. I found an old photo of me sitting at my college typewriter-yes you read that right-typewriter- and Babyhead asked what that machine was. He said it kind of looked like a computer, but where was the screen? Sigh. I'd best pull out some vinyl so he can see what his parents used to seriously jam to. History my friend, goes a long way. 

The three of us sat down this past weekend to do our goals. One of many of mine was to post on my blog more regularly and to expand my blog, so look for that coming up. As I learn to express myself in this medium, and let me tell you, technology is NOT my strong suite, please bear with me since we are all in this together.

Since we last chatted I am on my quest to go lighter with my darn graying head of hair, so that is going great. It's cool feeling like a new and more creative you. It's pushed me to adjust my makeup, but that just keeps you fresh. I think my husband is enjoying the constantly evolving new me, so that also is a plus!

My super cool pick this week via Babyhead's original question from above, is Moleskine notebooks. I first purchased one last year, and have since become addicted. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, lined or unlined. I still am old school-I like to take notes! Wow! I like to actually WRITE down, yep, using a pen, that's right-my thoughts, things to do, lists, ideas-you name it! My sister Kristi gave me this one posted for Christmas and it's become a Fav. 

If Moleskine was good enough for Hemingway, Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh, by gosh, it's good enough for me!!

Run don't walk to your computer, just google them and get a few for yourself!