An Evening with CHI

What does your day consist of?  A mom's job is never done whether you start with diapers, or drops offs.  We do so much for our kids and family, but what do we do for ourselves? 

Thanks to Farouk for inviting the Houston Latina Bloggers for a special evening of pampering which included make overs with before and after photoshoot.

Our evening started with each of us arriving with no make up and no product in our hair. 

I normally do not wear any make up.  When I do wear make up, my go to items are eye shadow, mascara, a little blush, and lip gloss or lip stick.  Only for special events or date nights, do I get the full face done by me.  Trial and error and watching lots of you tube, lol.  This is, dark circles-no sleep-big bags, ME.  My hair is another story.  I am typically a bun or pony chick.  When I go out and get all dolled up, the hair gets straighten out or curly cued.  It all depends on how I feel or how much time I have.  As a mom, I don't have a lot of time.  I'm always the last one to get ready, after I have gotten everyone else ready first.  So when I received the invitation to come and get a make over, I showed up.  Not just any invitation, Farouk.  In March, I told you about the exclusive behind the scenes at Farouk Systems.  I was happy to come back for a make over thanks to the wonderful Lonestar CHI Cosmetology students and the talented make up artists.

We started out by meeting our Hair Stylists.  Then we were taken to get our before pictures.  We came back to get our make overs.  I got Samantha who is on her last month of school.  She first took me to the wash bar.  She washed my hair and gave me a wonderful much needed massage.  Came back to her chair to work her magic.  I asked her to do wild curls on me.  It seems like that is the style that everyone is currently using.  I recently got my hair cut into a reversed bob with Balayage highlights.  I was ready to show off my new style.  Samantha used the Farouk Royal Treatment products on me.  They smell so good.  This was so fitting because I felt like we were getting the royal treatment by all the CHI staff.  They were so nice and friendly.  Once I got my hair done, I headed to the make up chair where Melissa hooked me up.  Afterwards, we headed back to the studio to take our after shots.  The photographer was so funny.  He told me to channel J Lo.  I told him we shared a birthday, how did he know that was my kinda chick to channel.  Fierce, strong, unstoppable-J Lo, a daughter, a mom, a Superstar!  My lioness came out, check out the pictures from the my day.

We come in all shapes, colors, and sizes but one thing we have in common is that we are Latinas.  This is an awesome group of ladies.  We had a lot of fun.  We usually do not have a glam squad ready to make us over like we did this time.  Thanks again to Farouk Systems it was a wonderful evening.

Giveaway-What's are your makeup Essentials?

***Disclosure-Sponsored post.  The Walmart gift cards and information has been provided by P&G.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

What is in your make up bag?  Do you carry a make up bag in your purse?  I have a whole closet of make up but in my purse I carry the essentials.  I normally don't wear a cake of make up on but just a little bit can do so much.  The first thing people see when you greet them is your face.  I do not want them to see my bags, or tired eyes.   So before any impromptu meetings, I grab my make up bag and grab my:

Powder-The powder helps smooth out my skin.  Hiding all my imperfections.  Not that I have any.  My husband says it helps me look like a porcelain doll.

Eye Shadow-Adds a little color to my face.  I like to use soft colors for a natural look.

Mascara-This is to open my eyes up.  I do not get enough sleep.  I have tired eyes everyday.  Mascara always completes my eyes.

Lip Gloss/Lipstick-I just put enough to give color to my lips.

But what happens when your favorite make up product is out?  You run to the store and beeline to the make up section:

And that is exactly what I did, when I needed to replace some of my favorites.  But I spotted some new items I had not seen before that I just had to try:

-CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara-patented volume-boosting hypoallergenic mascara formula
-CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner pencil combo-self sharpening and includes a smudger tip.
-CoverGirl CG Smoothers Pressed Powder-is a conditioning formula with Chamomile

 Walmart has them in a combo pack.  Each combo is paired perfectly depending what you are looking for.  Remember you should be replacing your mascara and eye liner every three months.

And don't forget to always wash your face and remove all your make up before going to bed.  I am currently using Olay products.

-Olay Ultra Moisture Beauty Bar-made with Shea Butter.  I use to use regular soap for my face but regular soap is not made for your face.  It left it dry.
-Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream-moisturizes and takes care of wrinkles, YES PLEASE!  I love how this cream smells.

 Olay has many products.  I have been using them for years now, remember a couple of years ago I started using the Olay Total Effects line.  Another birthday is coming this week and even though I am turning another year older, I know that I have been helping my skin.

Plus, I hit the jackpot because Walmart had some of my favorites on clearance.  With their low prices, these were steals, that I could not pass up.

What are your favorites?  Is it time for you to replace some of your make up?  How about I help you with a $25 Walmart gift card?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is for US residents only.  1 winner will be randomly selected and will have 24 hours to claim their prize.

Makeover Monday-Miracle Skin Transformer

***Disclosure-Sample product was received to review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

As I get older, I am paying more attention to my skin.  My imperfections, my blotches, and my dark spots seem to be more and more noticeable as time passes.  Not to be vain or anything like that but we need to take care of our skin.  I have taken preventative measure but what about the stuff I didn't catch that is already there.  I tried Vanish for the damage that is already there.

Vanish-A disappearing act for imperfections, Vanish instantly brightens and primes to smooth the appearance of fine lines and pores, while fading dark spots and improving skin’s tone and texture over time. A mix of imperfection blurring optical diffusers makes the skin’s surface appear completely flawless.  Available for $58 at Kohl's.

Vanish is helping my fine lines/aging, sun damage/environmental stresses, dark spots and dullness.  It is reducing pore size, smoothing out my skin's texture, brightening and clarifying my skin tone, and most importantly minimizing the appearance of my fine lines and wrinkles.  I recently was watching a movie where two ladies are trying to stay young and beautiful forever.  The secret is maintenance.  We need to take care of ourselves and our skin.

I also can't wait for the long term benefits:

-Improve elasticity and boost collagen production

-Fade the appearance of dark spots and improve evenness of skin’s  tone

-Reduce surface redness and irritated skin

-Smooth skin’s texture and tone, while protecting against oxidative damage

For more product information, head to miracleskintransformer.com

Birthday Chalkboard Sign

Remember when I redid my kitchen, Kitchen Makeover  in 2012.  Well doing my chalkboard wall has been the best DIY idea.  It has a great purpose.  I use it for everything.  I use it for notes to the family.  I use it to decorate for parties.  I get good use out of my wall.  And it looks like this is the new trend this year to have chalkboard signs at parties.  So this is the sign I did for my daughter's birthday, today!

The great part about it was that if I messed up, I could start all over.  I personalized it with information about my daughter.  I used colors she likes.  It was the perfect backdrop for her party.  I also cut out a picture to add because I was not about to try and draw a princess.  It turned out great and I really had fun coming up with things to fill up the wall.

Happy 3rd Birthday to our little Princess Lil Bit!

Makeover Monday-New Me

This month is my birthday month and normally I do not celebrate for an entire month.  But this year it only seems fitting that I celebrate the triumphs I have been overcoming by doing a makeover.  I really like the song Arianna Grande sings, "I got 99 problems, but you ain't 1 of them"  Basically that is how my life has been feeling lately.  My husband always says that when a woman chops off her hair she is having problems.  I never thought I was having problems when I chopped off my hair.  My hair is thick and it gets to be too much after it is so long.  I wanted a make over for me, not because of my problems.  So i went online and decided to look for a completely differently look that anything I have ever had.  This where my choices after searching for the looks I liked:

Just look at the cut, not the color.  I looked under round faces, thick hair, looks that thin out your face, and etc...and these were the final looks I liked.  I posted it on IG and FB.  #1 got the most votes.  Many told me not to do it.  My son really liked #2.  Eventually I decided I needed all gone and I really liked #3.  Especially the color.  Something different and new is what I was looking for.  So I headed to the salon and they did they work and this is the final product:

The cut is a little different.  My master stylist didn't want me to look like a boy.  She really didn't want to chop it all off but in the end she said it was my decision.  My reasoning is that it will grow out into #1 and #2 eventually.  My hair grows fast, I think?  Anyways the whole point is that this change has really given me a little attitude about myself.  It makes me feel powerful.  Not to many people have the courage to do things out of their comfort zone.  And trust me, this took a lot out of me to go through with it.  Always wanted to do it, but in the end chicken out.  I finally did it and I love it.  Chopping off my hair has set me free!

I really like that my haircut is so playful.  I can style it different ways and if I don't and just wake up, who cares.  It is short and sassy like someone told me the other day.  What do you think?  Would you chop it all off?

My Kitchen Makeover

I am going to share my kitchen makeover with you to show some of you doubters like my husband that it can be done.

6 years ago, I moved in to my brand new house.  It was perfect.  New paint, new doors, new everything.  But over the years, it started getting worn out.  We had parties, and gatherings.  Our walls took a toll.  I told myself I wanted to paint the house.  I even picked the colors but never had the guts to actually do it.  I told myself at year 5, I would actually do it.  Then what happened I was pregnant.  My husband takes a little encouraging, so he was only able to do the nursery and my son's room last year.  So with this year coming to an end I decided we were not waiting one more day.  See a couple of months ago, I visited Karen from Design with Your Dime In Mind.  She opened her doors and showed us how beautiful her home was.  She had done some great ideas.  One of the ideas she had done, I had only thought of doing but was always scared to do.

Chalkboard paint.  I have always liked chalkboard paint and the many uses.  The above picture is her kitchen-yes-chalkboard paint wall.  You know you think of ideas in your head but when you see them come to life, it is awesome, and for me this meant it was do-able.

Here were some of my inpirations, items I already had in my kitchen that made me decide on what to do and what colors to pick:

1st item is a chalkboard/pushpin board that has hooks for keys.
2nd item is the curtains I purchased when I first moved in.  I like the color combination.
3rd item that is not pictured is my EAT sign that was a burgundish color.
So the wall colors picked were red and chalkboard black.  Once we painted, I rearranged items, used items in the kitchen, and/or repurposed.  I do not have a before picture because I wasn't planning on sharing but after the makeover came out so well, I had to share.

I decluttered the area above my kitchen cabinets.  I had so much junk above there.  We also painted my EAT sign black so you could see it on the red walls.  I am very happy with this space now.  I really love the color combination I did.  I think the chalkboard paint on the opposite wall from this picture really goes well.  I do not have a picture of that wall as it is getting prepped for my daughter's 1st birthday.  I will share the pictures then!

What do you think?  Is your kitchen a bold color?  Is there anything you would do different?  Any suggestions?