For A Moment Photography

Sunblock You'll Love to Use.

 

For the sake of this post I wish I had a photo of me on the beach.  I'm pretty neurotic when it comes to sun protection.  Part of it is that I live in Arizona where the sun is shining on us almost all 365 days a the year!  When I started having my tattoos removed tan skin would make the removal process longer and harder to do.  Then when I had Presley and now I'm pretty much 24/7 carrier of sun protection.

I use to buy some sunblock online that was all natural, smelled great, safe for babies but left my face greasy looking.  Recently I just found this new sunblock that I am super excited about!  The sunblock is SPF 50 and it's so light I apply it every morning before I put on my base makeup.  The best part is, it's skin tone!  Yes, so even if I don't put on makeup my skin has a nice even tone with out a oily white beach look.  

The other product is a SPF 50 powered.  This is something you would use to reapply through out the day and again, it's not an oily white mess!  I love both of these products and I keep them in my purse at all times...  The sunblock is made by SkinCeuticals and was very reasonable in price.  I wouldn't use this for my entire body if I was going to the beach (that would be $$) but it's a good way to keep your face protected on a daily basis.  The powder is made by SciencePro and also had a good price point.

 I got these from Ashley at Skin Spa in Scottsdale.  She's an aesthetician there and has been so much fun to get to know.  I love seeing her and she always helps me without pushing to "sell me" on something.  Here is the number 480-905-8485.  I'm sure you could just buy the products if thats all you were looking for!      

 

 

 

FINALLY *NO MORE* DAIRY MILK!

This photo stinks.  Ok, so my iPhone has it's limitations.

Since starting to follow the paleo diet (one year ago Aug) I have cut out milk.  I still "cheat" with other dairy products on the weekend but have for the most part cut out milk.  Now my daughter loved milk and I didn't want to take that away from her.  As is she only drank water and milk (no juice or soda).

I've been trying to find an alternative for about three years now.  I don't think soy is good for her (or humans in general) so we don't do soy milk.  And when we tried almond and coconut milk a few years ago Presley would take one sip and then give it back to me.  She would accuse me of watering it down (I use to do that too).  So until lately she drank a glass of milk a day.

Recently we were out running around and I grabbed her some chocolate flavored coconut milk.  It had been awhile since she had tried it and maybe she would like it.  Plus this was chocolate, something I hadn't tried before.  And what do you know, she liked it.  And I love it!  It's a pretty filling and tasty treat.

I did have some reservations about there being too much sugar in the almond milk.  But it's so thick that I add 50% water and she hasn't said a word.  Almond milk also has plenty of calcium so that's not a concern for me.  She has had a few glasses of just the plain almond milk and when she mentioned it tasting funny I explained why it's different and that it's better for her.  So she did drink it but I had some guilt (why? A Mothers curse I think) so she's getting the watered down chocolate flavored coconut or almond milk from now on.  Until I can get over the guilt then we'll move to plain...

I never realized almond milk is a great source for calcium!  We are so conditioned to think that dairy is the only answer out there.  So I always thought I'd have to deny her calcium to get her off the dairy milk.  That was a concern because she is a growing child!  Thank goodness that fear is gone.

I wanted to blog about the almond and coconut milk because we had tried these before.  And not only were they harder to find then but she didn't like them then.  Here we are she's a little older, she likes them now and they are so much easier to find...  I'm really hoping our food industry is moving towards I don't know real food that's safe for human consumption...  Which reminds me of my next post, pink slime- yum! 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Best Books

Like most families we read books every night before bed.  I have a few books that I love and thought I would blog about a few of them.  Plus my computer is freaking out (screen is green), so I haven't been able to edit any photos.  I thought at least taking photos might help me from losing my mind!

This book, Someday by Alison McGee has been one of my favorites since Presley was just an itty bitty baby.  I remember walking into the book store and seeing this book on display.  I picked it up and a few pages later I was crying (I do that a lot now).  Since then I have bought the book for several of my girlfriends who have baby girls.

This book is from a Mom to her daughter about all the things she'll do.  About her growing from being her baby to being her daughter and one becoming a mother herself.  And someday, "your hair will glow silver in the sun.  And when that day comes Love you will remember me"...  I don't know why I'm so attached to this book.  Hmm, I think it's because I want her to have all the life experiences it talks about.  And it reminds me that someday, my little Bug will have a life all her own...  

The illustrations are lovely too.  Since having Presley my drawing skills have been put to the test.  This books illustrations have helped me grasp the concept that pictures are just lines, simple lines.  With that being said, my lines don't look like these!..

So you'll see our little guy Lenny in the photos.  I was setting up the book and he jumped up on the ottoman and posed.  He's such a big part of our life now I guess it is a good idea to start photographing him...    

 

 

Get the most out of your tiny makeup tubes!

Sometimes it's the simplest things that give me great pleasure and this is one of them.  I have to assume I am not alone when I say I spend way too much money on my beauty products.  But when I'm standing in the store feeling this product could make a difference in my skins aging process it's worth the $.  So now my concern becomes how can I get the most out of this product!

The last time I was stocking up on my facial products I asked what they used to squeeze their tester tubes and more importantly do they sell them.  I was in luck, they did sell them!  This product is called a, tube wringer it's the weird blue thing in the photo and it cost me $10.  Supposedly it will help you get 30% more out of your product tubes.  

I love it!  My eye cream is super expensive and I never could get that last little bit.  Or I'd squeeze too hard and I'd end up with my precious eye cream (or what ever) spilling out!  Since using this I have been super happy and slightly obsessed.  I've been wringing everything, toothpaste, eye cream, night cream, A&D ointment, and anything in a tube.

I loe it and I wanted to share!  You can find this product on Amazon and Whole Foods.  I hope this helps you too.

 

   

Shop out of the box!

The cars are smaller then a quarter.

 

It seems that I enjoy the holiday season more and more as the years go by!  I don't know why that is but I hope it continues...  Today I did some Christmas shopping for Presley and for one of her playmates (it's his birthday this weekend).  

I have been looking for toys for Presley's friend and had no idea what to get them.  I thought maybe an art set (no he might write on the walls).  I thought maybe a cap gun (are those even allowed anymore?).  I was drawing a blank...  Then I heard his Mom talk about how she keeps little army guys in her purse.  She said they are a great restaurant toy and no one cries if one or two goes missing.  Aha, I'll get him trucks! 

I decided to go look at a few Antique stores, the old metal ones (trucks) are the best!  After getting lost in a store for over an hour this (toys pictures above) is what I came up with.  The collection of military vehicles on the right are for Presley's playmates gift.  The others are for Presley next time we head to a restaurant or Christmas.  I decided to get the old tins to carry the cars in.

I decided to post this because I liked the idea of the purse full of army men and now the tin of cars...  I imagine soon we all will be looking for gifts and the Antique stores are filled with unique gifts.  The cars were $3.00 a piece and the tins were $10.00.  I thought it was a good price for a fun gift.  Plus!!  I found a pink (metal) Tonka truck and horse trailer!  It's perfect for my lil' One!  How will I keep it from her until Christmas ?!!

 

 

   

Ombre Hair = Summer Love

my subtle color.

 

It's suppose to look very natural, a sun kissed color.  I love this photo!

 

So I've been seeing this "ombre" hair color on so many of the Hollywood stars these days.  If I remember correctly Jennifer Aniston was the pioneer of the style or better said, her stylist...  Just google images "ombre hair" and you'll see tons of stars with it done.  And I'm a pretty big fan of it, low maintenance color- who would be?  

Upon my return from my summer in New York one of my first stops was to see Erica and get my hair done!  Ahh, it was so worth it.  Not only did my hair need a cut after a summer in the sun and water but it went three months without any attention.  So to come back and have Erica try this new color/cut on me, it felt great.  

I haven't done any highlights to my hair for several years now.  I don't have the time to maintain it but I missed the depth highlights gives to my hair.  So this style is a real welcomed change!  Haha, and I'm already wanting to go lighter next time around- the curse of color.  Anyway I loved it so much I wanted to share the love and tell you about Erica and her stylings.  Give her a call at Le Bella Salon and Spa in Scottsdale 480.315.1999.  

 

 

       

 

Summer Changes

Looking at horse books.

We are having such an amazing summer and it's only just begun.  Presley is having so much fun and doing well considering all the changes this trip has made in her life.  That isn't to say we are without problems or better said, worry free...

I knew coming here Presley would not be going to bed at her normal bedtime, the sun is out until 9 at least.  There are so many activities and people it's just hard to stay on a bedtime routine.  Well for all you Moms you know kids thrive in routine!  My sweet baby has adjusted better then I thought , but she has had several enormous meltdowns that are not common for her.

Ugh, they have been awful!  She has thrown herself down screamed at the top of her lungs and she even took her coat off, "I quit!".  Thank goodness for that, it made the whole thing laughable.  Yes, these meltdowns have happened several times, oh and did I mention in public!  Yup, I was one of those Moms other Mom's look at and want to say (or at least I do), "Looks like your turn today, I am so sorry".

 This line from a movie coming out made me laugh, "they (children) are like  living with mini little drug addicts they are laughing one minute crying the next then they are trying to kill themselves in your bathroom for no good reason.  They are very mean and selfish, they burn through your money...  They break stuff..."  It made me laugh, because Presley will be crying over something (more butter) then- literally- giggling the next (if I am successful at redirecting her attention)...   

I have tried to not worried about my ego, "People must think I'm a bad Mom, or I don't know how to handle her"...  Which isn't as hard as wanting to explain to any and everyone that she's really tired and not usually like this and she really is a great kid!  Fighting that urge is harder to do...

So as much fun as we are having this summer it is not without a few bumps in the road.  I'm hoping it's just an adjustment period and we can do eliminate the breakdowns.     

Perception & Permission

 

www.tkf.org

Above is the website for the Tariq Khamisa Foundation.

I hope my post that your about to read makes sense.  I try to keep them short and that sometimes makes for a choppy story...  Ok please watch the clip then continue to read below...

I had a chance to hear Azim Khamisa speak several months ago while in California.  I had planned on blogging about him then but had never sat down to do it...  Today I was watching a show where I heard another Father speak about losing his 11 day old son.  The comment that hit me was, "A bad day?  Try planning your 11 day old son's funeral".

Those words really resonated with me.  So often I get caught up in these silly situations that I allow to control my mood or perception of my day.  When the truth is I have a life to be grateful for...  

Azim's son, Tariq was going to college and working a pizza delivery job on the weekends.  During his shift these gang members called in a fake order and shot/killed Tariq for the pizza when he attempted to deliver it.  The boy that shot him was only 14 years old...

I was like most people surprised by Azim's ability to forgive his sons killer.  I am very thankful to hear his message of forgiveness but another part of his story stuck with me.  Mr. Khamisa is a muslim and I have almost no knowledge of the religion.  What I did learn is that they have a mourning period of 40 days.

This stood out to me because as far as I know no other religion has this type of set mourning period.  And for me when I lost my grandfather I was so hurt that I thought the longer I mourned him the more I showed I loved him.  I remember crying, then I stopped.  It didn't feel it was long enough, I loved him more then just a 10 minute cry.  I didn't want to eat, how could I think of anything else if I really loved him.  I couldn't watch t.v. and live my life uninterrupted...

All these ideas and confusion on how to show my grief was very frustrating and made the process more difficult.  I find comfort in the idea of a time  period to allow yourself to mourn.  I also see the need to end it as well.  My grandfather doesn't want me to stop living, that would not honor him.  And I know that putting a 40 day period did not mean that Azim woke up on the 40th day ready to take the world by storm.  It took him make more days and even years he said.  But the 40 days I see as a way to us all to give ourselves permission to live again. 

I lost my grandfather Andy years ago now.  And I honor him by speaking of him and living a life he would be proud of.  Now if someone could of promised me Presley would not of grown up to be a tall girl with a husky voice her name would of been, Andi (her Daddy is 6'5").

 

 

My Grandparents.

 

 

 

This Mom is Fired Up.

 

 

 

The other night I'm watching a cartoon with my 4 year old and she asked me for some apples.  I go to the kitchen and cut up some apples.  Normally I fast forward all commercials, but while I was downstairs a commercial came on.  I walk back in the room and my sweet Baby Presley says to me, "Mommy I want shape ups".  Just as I see the tail end of a cartoon commercial, "Heidi has shape ups".

I didn't know what to tell her, I said, no those are for (who are those for?- they don't work!).  I was just so bothered that isn't even a conversation I want to have with my still perfect daughter all of 4 years old!..  Next thing I know, the cartoon we were watching came back on- relief...  

She did not however forget.  I was telling the story to two other Moms and Presley's eyes lit up, "Yeah, Heidi has Shape Ups (the chorus in the commercial)".  I almost didn't believe I saw that- how can they be selling these to kids?  WHAT parent would buy into this?!  So I looked it up on YouTube.  

Yup, true.  They come in sizes for PRESCHOOLERS- size 2!  I don't know if I'm more sadden, angered or offended by this.  Everyone has to know how I feel about marketing to kids but this is so hard to believe.  Has society really come to this point that we are selling, "you're not skinny/fit enough" to our two year old girls?

As a women I work very hard to do things to make me stronger and not focus on being "skinny".  I want to encourage my Sweet Baby to be strong and I'm concerned with all these messages saying otherwise.

What are your thoughts?  Repost this too please.  It's bullshit, and it's not ok. 

 

 

 

 

Lovely Notes

This started on notes I put in her lunch box, to save.

Presley and Moses in her car.  Drawn on the inside of her lunch box.

Presley and her friends (she asked me to add a few in particular).  Doing hand stands, yup she watches Mommy closely.

A collaboration.  I drew the horse and Presley drew herself.

When I was in grade school one of my friends Shawna use to get notes from her Mom on her napkin in her lunch.  I noticed it one day and remember Shawna hiding it from me, but telling me what it was.  Years later in high school I reminded her about her the notes, she told me her Mom still put notes in her lunch.  I thought it was very sweet.

I remembered this and had long ago decided I would do this for my Love Bug...  They started out as little notes and I planned on keeping a few.  But one day they disappeared and I started using a dry erase marker on the inside her lunch box.  This was nice too because I didn't have to try to draw so small...

She didn't mention them at all in the beginning.  I had even considered stopping because I didn't get any reaction.  Plus it can be difficult to be creative everyday with my limited ability.  Then finally when I drew The Grinch during the Holidays she came home with how all her friends liked it.

Presley now will want to see what I draw and ask to help sometimes.  I drew her in her ballet tutu doing a plie´and she asked me if I would draw Henry (a friend in her class) watching her practice.  I did, later I asked if she showed him.  She told me it was a secret...

Now she likes to help, or peak (I use to surprise her) and give me recommendations...  It's a fun little sometime for me to do.  I have found that it makes me stop for a minute and make the mundane act of preparing lunch memorable/fun for me...  I have to say it's a little comical that I'm posting this today and I have for the second time of the year- forgot to send her to school with a lunch!  Thank goodness they will provide her with one...  It's my hope she will remember the all the times I have remembered and not these two times.