Five Things on Friday

Hey! Hey! Hey! Who else is pumped it's Friday?! Weekends in the summer are the best of the best and I am happy as a clam that I get 2 full days with my man & our baby girl! Jason was out of town the past two weekends and I was in New York prior to that - so some time with my loves is much needed. Beyond that, here are five random things for this lovely Friday morning. 

one. While in NYC my cousin recommended a hair product to help me get my curls to stay. I like my curls more loose and casual and sadly when I style it that way the curls fall flat almost immediately but NOT ANYMORE! Redken's Curvaceous Wave Ahead works and is amazing and I love it! 

two. My Beeb is having another Baby Boy!!! Now that Baby Roe #2's gender has been announced, the Sprinkle planning has officially begun! I can't wait to put together another party and can't wait to have another squishy little baby around!

three. I randomly threw together a salad with stuff I had on hand earlier this week and it has become an all time favorite - baby spinach + cucumber + chickpeas + feta + green olives + annie's organic papaya poppyseed dressing. SO DELICIOUS! 

four. I have officially turned into a Snapchat addict. I definitely over-snap but cannot help myself. It's just too fun! 

five. HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY to my baby sister, Kara! Kara graduated high school last weekend {grad party deets coming on Monday} and that basically put me over the edge but now to say my little sister is EIGHTEEN?! How is this possible? 

I hope you all have fantastic weekends!

takin' care of my hair

My hair has been a hot mess for quite some time as you may recall from my post on postpartum hair loss. The haircut I got at the beginning of September definitely helped the health of my hair and my stylist gave me great tips on how to style my hair to cover up the massive regrowth, but there was a key ingredient I was still missing....

the right hair products. 

You guys, my prayers have been answered! Let me introduce you to the Dove Pure Care Dry Oil collection. 

For starters, the products are infused with pure drops of natural oils {you know how much I love oils} and use unique Dry Oil technology allowing them to absorb deep in to the hair resulting in perfectly silky hair. I kid you not, my hair has not felt this soft since I was pregnant and I noticed the difference after just one use.

Because I have been so focused on getting my hair to grow, I have been doing my best do avoid blow drying, straightening and curling my hair when possible. The last thing I want to do is damage it even more, but now that I have the Nourishing Hair Treatment at my fingertips, I feel much better about actually putting time in to styling my hair because I trust it is protected. I just use a couple of pumps on my wet hair and it protects and nourishes my hair without making it feel heavy or greasy!

The soft hair is great, the wonderful ingredients are awesome but for me, the best part of the Dove Pure Care Dry Oil collection is that is helps my style STAY! My hair is very heavy and thick so no matter how I style it it always seems to fall flat after an hour. I've been so impressed with the staying power of my hair style since starting with this hair care system.

If you don't believe me, try the products for yourself! Dove Hair is challenging all of you to a "Dove Silky Hair Dare" where you can try the Dove Pure Care Dry Oil collection risk free between now and December 31st!

*If you are not completely satisfied with the Dove Advanced Hair Series Pure Care Dry Oil system, Dove will refund your purchase (from 9/21 – 12/31). Visit hairmoneyback.com for details

So what are you waiting for?!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Two Degrees to Martha Stewart

So you know that whole 7 degrees to Kevin Bacon thing? What if I told you I could be 2 degrees to Martha-frickin-Stewart?!

Here's how...

My amazingly talented girlfriend Hannah created {and makes in her lab} her very own cosmetic line called Aromi, I actually told you all about it in this post last year! 

So not only is Aromi amazing {not kidding, I am obsessed with ALL the lip products and the solid perfumes} but Hannah is a FINALIST in the  Martha Stewart American Made Awards!!!!

Winning this award would be SO huge for my sweet friend and her business {not to mention she'd get to MEET Martha!} and she totally deserves it! So I am kindly asking, ok BEGGING, all of you to pleeeeeeeease vote for Hannah & Aromi!

It's so easy, just click the link and then hit VOTE on the right hand side!

http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/88898/style/aromi

Postpartum Hair Loss

Hooray! What a fun topic...NOT!

Approximately 6 months after Kenley was born {also when I stopped breastfeeding} my luscious pregnancy hair started to come out in massive clumps. I have always had a ton of hair and have always been a big time shedder, so while it was gross and annoying I wasn't overly alarmed. Plus, I'd heard of this sort of thing happening, so I just went with it.

And then my sweet little nugget got to the hair grabbing stage and unintentionally ripped out what felt like large amount of hair from the front of my head.

Then at about 11 months postpartum, all these lost hairs started to regrow giving me these fun little fly-aways that just could.not.be.tamed.

I loved getting feedback that I wasn't alone and reading your ideas for how to expedite the regrowth process but I'm going to honest, I didn't do a dang thing. And now I really, really regret that.

Here I am today, 22 months postpartum and my cute little regrowth looks like this:

And that goes ALL THE WAY AROUND MY HEAD!
{also, black bra + white tank = super classy}

I have pretty much been self conscious and insecure about my hair for the past year and a half. I have to very masterfully style it to cover up the crazy regrowth and prevent myself from looking like a mushroom head since the top half of my hair is now twice as thick as the bottom. I also have to wear a thick headband every time I pull my hair in to a pony tail because this regrowth doesn't yet fit all the way back but is long enough that it sticks out weird from my headband.

I feel really shallow even talking about this as I know so many people deal with serious diseases that cause hair loss and this is such a minor problem in the scheme of the world. But, I also know there are a lot of mamas out there who are feeling insecure about A LOT of different things postpartum and hair loss is definitely one of them.

You are not alone mama!

So what do we do? Well, I talked to my Auntie Tina who has been a hair stylist for 36 years and has owned her own premier salon in Arkansas for 15 years. She told me that on average, adults lose 100 hairs a day. Boys included! So next time your man gives you grief for hair in the drain let him know he sheds just as much but his hair is so much shorter it's way less noticeable. Anyways, when we are pregnant, as all us mamas know, the babe sucks every single ounce of everything from us to grow big and strong. Once those hormones level out and you are no longer pregnant {or breastfeeding} all those 100 hairs a day you didn't lose feel the need to make up for lost time and therefore we shed BIG TIME. Unfortunately, there isn't a TON you can do to prevent or help it. You can try supplements, vitamins and products to help speed up hair growth and some may work and help but for the most part you can count on your hair growing 1/2 inch each month.

After consulting with my go-to hair professional, I booked myself an appointment to get a fresh trim to keep my hair healthy and growing and also a new style to help cover up some of this nonsense.

Aromi Makeup Giveaway!!!

Happy Monday my friends. I am here today to brighten up your Monday! 

First a quick back story. When I was a freshman in college I went to a informal recruitment event for the sorority that my best friend had just joined. I wasn't really in to the whole sorority thing but all the stuff she told me sounded really cool and fun so I gave it a shot. I met a bunch of girls from the house, one of which was a super gorgeous, kind of shy, uber girly blonde girl named Hannah. I eventually joined the house and that Hannah girl became one of my closest friends. Hannah actually got me to wear colored clothing and flowers and stuff - something I definitely did not do until meeting her. 

circa 2004

After college Hannah started working for a local company called Illume Candles, there she formulated fragrances and candles as well as products for well-known beauty brands. She started to make and sell her own products and soon it turned into a business called Aromi.

Hannah literally creates her own fragrances, lipsticks, lip glosses, and eye shadows in her very own lab! Is that not the coolest thing EVER? It blows my mind that I have a friend smart enough to know how to do this...and to do an amazing job at it. 

A few of months ago, Hannah left her job at Illume to pursue her dream of creating and selling Aromi products full time. We recently met up for coffee to catch up and she was sweet enough to bring me a goody bag full of her products to try. But the best part is that she also offered to give the same goody bag to one of my readers!!! 

So here's the scoop, all Aromi cosmetics are formulated from scratch, handcrafted in the Aromi Lab {right here in Minneapolis} and are made with the finest ingredients available. All the cosmetics are vegan {no animal derived ingreients}, cruelty-free {no animal testing}, and are all gluten free! Hannah uses a natural preservative in the lipstick and lip gloss which is a healthy alternative to parabens or formaldehyde-based preservatives commonly used in cosmetics. She uses organic raw materials whenever possible and likes to use a lot of plant-based materials whenever possible. As awesome as all of that is...here's what you really need to know - the products are amazing. I am pretty addicted to the lipstick and the solid perfume Hannah gave me. The perfumes smells so clean and fresh without being overpowering. And the lipstick, it's so soft and goes on really smooth. It also lasts forever which I appreciate because I am super bad at remembering to reapply. I have been using the Merlot lipstick with the Pink gloss over it and absolutely LOVE it! 

So here is what one of you lucky readers is going to win:

THREE Aromi Lipsticks in shades Crimson, Merlot and Jacqueminot

TWO Aromi Lip Glosses in shades Pink and Burgundy

-and-

TWO Aromi Fragrances; one Amazing solid perfume and one Very Manly cologne for the boy in your life.

Hannah is also offering ALL of my readers 20% off all of her products! All you need to do is visit www.aromibeauty.com and enter the code "MAMA&MOU" when you check out! Everyone needs a little extra color during the holidays! What a perfect gift OR treat yourself to a little stocking stuffer!
You won't regret it!

ENTER HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Makeup Obsession

A few years ago I popped into Macy's to pick up some new bronzer as mine was all cracked and nearly empty and I can't possibly go a day looking less than bronzed {keep in mind this was-pre motherhood}. I'm walking around like a lost puppy looking for the NARS counter when a lovely lady informs me that Macy's no longer carries NARS. WHAT? She does, however, suggest that I head over to the Smashbox counter. So I do because at this point I just need bronzer and I don't care where it's from. You guys, my life changed that day. 

I became a Smashbox-a-holic that day and I've never looked back. 

Since becoming a mom my daily makeup routine has changed. My mornings are spent relishing my precious sleep or spending time with my babe before heading off to work, so spending tons of time in front of the mirror is just not a priority anymore. 

Enter Adi.

Adi is the face of Smashbox at the Southdale Macy's in Edina. If you live in the Twin Cities you MUST go see her, so she can help find a Smashbox makeup routine perfect for you. She has a heart of gold, knows these products like the back of her hand AND as you can see is a mama herself. Adi has a precious daughter at home with a baby boy due in just a couple of weeks! 

Adi invited me to her Smashbox makeup event this past weekend and I was pumped to let her give me a new mom-friendly makeup routine and introduce me to some of the new Smashbox products. I showed up without a lick of makeup on and actually let them photograph me as such.
BEFORE & AFTER:

I will be completely honest and tell you that these products are not cheap and in truth I spend more money on my makeup than I do my wardrobe. But you know what, your face in the first thing people see {unless you're wearing a low cut shirt} so there's no reason to skimp on your facial products. 

In my opinion, there are 4 Smashbox products that every mom needs to have in her makeup bag.

• Photo Finish Hydrating Primer :: If you aren't using a primer before applying your make up - you're nuts. This primer seals in moisture and makes your face a perfectly hydrated and smooth canvas for your foundation. I actually put this on every morning whether I'm wearing makeup or not because I love how it feels. Plus, it gives my skin a healthy glow without the help from any other products.
• Liquid Halo HD Foundation :: This is a new product and I am OBSESSED. This foundation not only moisturizes your skin but goes on so smooth and light and literally looks like you aren't wearing makeup. It evens out and perfects your skin without feeling heavy. It also lasts FOREVER, I wore it all day and overnight {I'm terrible at washing my face} and my skin was still flawless when I woke up. And if that's not enough it has SPF 15, is oil-free and is sweat/humidity resistant.
• High Definition Liquid Concealer :: I think all of us moms can agree that concealer is a must-have, especially after a sleepless night. This particular concealer is nearly weightless so it doesn't give you that heavy feeling under your eyes or leave clumps on blemishes. Dark circles and imperfections seriously disappear instantly.
• Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder :: This stuff is the BOMB! It's a hydrating powder that reduces fine lines & wrinkles! It's nice and light but provides great coverage. If I'm just running out to the store I'll throw some of this on with my Full Exposure Mascara so I'm not scared to run in to someone I know. 

For those of you who are interested, here are the rest of the Smashbox products you will find in my drawer that I also recommend:

Bronze Lights // Halo Long Wear Blush // Jet Set Eyeliner // Full Exposure Mascara // Brow Tech Trio

and of course Smashbox Brushes

The newest addition to my arsenal is one of the holiday kits, the Wonder Vision Eye Set which is on sale now for only $32! It includes an amazing 6 shadow palette, Limitless Waterproof Eyeliner and Full Exposure Mascara.

I got the "Sparks" set and absolutely love the coral and gold colors! 

What do you think?

Those of you who are Black Friday shoppers, make sure to get your little booty to a Macy's and pop by the Smashbox counter because you can get one of their "Try It" Kits for just $10!

I did not receive any products or compensation for this review. The opinions read here are completely my own.

Leadership Institute

Wednesday! It's seriously Wednesday? Where is this week going? 

I haven't even recapped last weekend! 

I am behind. 

Anyways, this past weekend I was fortunate enough to go to my sorority's Leadership Institute in Nashville, TN. I have been a proud member of Alpha Omicron Pi since my freshman year of college and still volunteer as an advisor for my chapter. 

I flew in on Friday night and was greeted in my hotel room with this super sweet note from my roommate, also an advisor, for her chapter in Michigan. 

Once Amanda came back in the room we chatted for a while but were both pretty exhausted, so we went straight to bed. Have I ever told you how much I love sleeping in hotels? I know it's weird, but I LOVE it. Especially this hotel..I had a giant, super comfy king sized bed all to myself (sorry Jason, I still love you) and it was incredible. I literally slept sprawled across the bed from one corner to the other. 

My alarm went off bright and early on Saturday morning and I got ready in my blogger approved Leadership Institute ensemble. Thanks friends! 

Baby Bump is lookin' large and in charge in this pic! 

I mosied on down to the lobby to grab the essentials....

Iced Soy Chai, Blueberry Bagel, My Name Tag (those who know me know it was a HUGE deal for me to wear this thing--I don't do name tags) and my itinerary for the weekend. 

 After breakfast I had just enough time to pop in to the AOTT Emporium to do a little shopping!

We LOVE our pandas!

I found this adorable little onesie that I just had to get for Nugget, along with a couple little trinkets for myself. 

Then, it was time to get the show on the road. Our day started with a fabulous speaker, Stacy Nadeau. 

Who remembers that big Dove campaign for real beauty?

Stacy, our speaker, is the second girl in from the left. She told her story of growing up with insecurities about her body, her road to finding herself on a billboard in Times Square in her underwear, her appearances on Oprah, Ellen and The Today Show and the amazing life changing responses to the campaign as well as the negative backlash. 

She was an incredible speaker! I enjoyed it so much. She had some great and inspiring advice in regards to self-image, which I think we can all use. One thing she said that really stuck with me was, "You have more to offer than your pant size." And it's SO true, all of us women have something to bring to the table besides our smashing good looks, so why do we beat ourselves up about losing weight, or wearing designer brands or having perfect skin? I could go on and on about her and her inspiring speech, but I won't. I will say thought, if you ever have the opportunity to hear her speak, definitely do it. 

(why that highlighted itself, I have no idea! Blogger must think it's really important. )

After Stacy's speech we all split up in to Power Sessions. Basically, there were several sessions throughout the day that you could choose to attend based on your position and interests in the house. The sessions I attended all had to do with advising, and I found them to be really helpful. I got a lot of really great ideas that I am excited to bring back to the other advisors as well as the chapter. 

Then, it was time for lunch. All of the girls reassembled in the ballroom for lunch and awards...there are a lot of awards that Chapters, Members and Alumnae can win throughout the year and Leadership Institute is where they all get handed out. 

the super cute collegiate members that were with me from my chapter. 

After lunch there were more power sessions, as well as a big update on what AOTT has accomplished as an organization so far this year and what we have planned for the near future. 

And then once again it was time to eat and listen to more awards. 

me and the girls from my chapter after dinner. 

Once dinner was over they had some fun after hours stuff planned for everyone--black jack, dancing and other fun activities but this mama was TIRED. It had been a really long day and I was exhausted, not to mention starving. When you have super high maintenance preggo meal requirements there isn't a whole lot to eat at a convention like this...so I did what any normal mom-to-be would do...

I went back to my room, put on my sweats, watched Pretty Woman on TV and ordered a pizza. 

and then proceeded to eat almost the entire thing. 

Not going to lie. It was amazing! And I was really happy to get some quiet, relaxing time to myself this weekend. 

Sunday morning came much too soon, but it turned out to be a fabulous day. We all met in the ballroom for breakfast and some more programming. They had a panel of members of all ages who shared some of their AOTT experiences. The theme for the weekend was "Why, AOTT?" So they each talked a little bit about why they joined AOTT and why they are still involved today. It was pretty awesome to hear. One of the ladies has been a member for 67 years! She was adorable and hilarious and totally inspiring. After some other general programming and announcements it was time for Leadership Institute to officially come to an end.

After LI was over, me and two of my girls went on a tour of our National Headquarters which is located in Brentwood, TN. Let me start by saying my new life goal is to own a home in Brentwood! Those houses are to-die-for! 

The tour of headquarters was great. It was so fun to see where all the magic happens! It's a beautiful place and I would not mind moving to Brentwood and taking a job at headquarters. 

 GORGEOUS chandelier hanging in the entry way...could I get this for my house please? 

A trunk of things belonging to one of our founders.  

 Our founders. 

 We had to take a belly pic, just in case baby is a little AOTT legacy. 

After the wonderful tour, me and the girls made our way to spend the afternoon in Downtown Nashville. 

We grabbed lunch, walked by the river and bought some souvenirs. I have been to Nashville once before and absolutely LOVED it and this time was no different. If I had the chance to move there, I would take it in a heartbeat. I think my favorite thing about the city is that you can walk by a bar or restaurant any time of the day (in our case 3pm on a Sunday) and hear live country music. Literally every place we walked by had a live band playing. I love that! 

Our trip ended with some DELICIOUS homemade ice cream.

Raspberry Cheesecake ice cream in a homemade waffle cone! Probably the best cone I've ever had. 

It didn't hurt that it was over 10 degrees in Nashville that day. 

The weekend was exhausting but so much fun. I feel so honored that I had the opportunity to attend and I am so grateful for the chance to spend the weekend with over 700 of my sisters. I truly have never been more proud to be an AOTT and I am so excited to continue to be involved and see all the amazing things this organization will do in the future! 

Alpha love,