Category :Uncategorized

Tuesday in Review: Annmarie Gianni Skincare

Being a natural and organic cosmetic nut, when Annmarie Gianni Skincare  asked if I would take a look at their products.  I agreed because I’m always happy to try something out and give feedback and to share my thoughts with you guys.

I suggested I pick one or two products, but had been told there was something they had already chosen. I was a little disappointed when what arrived was a tiny sample pack of their entire selection of products.  It disappoints me because I can’t really try them out. I would have preferred to have received one or two  full size product to really test it’s effects over a longer period of time.  I have about two uses of the product and that’s not enough to really tell you how it works. All I can give you is first impressions.

Several of them I won’t even use because they just don’t fit my skin type, but I gave their aloe-herb cleanser a chance the very first evening, as well as their anti-aging serum and anti-aging oil.  I have to say I really didn’t like it.  Everything had such a potent fragrance to it that I was quite turned-off the whole thing.  I dislike strong fragrances in products, and had to wash it all off with my regular cleanser within minutes.  Plus, the anti-aging oil felt very heavy on my skin, and this is coming from a girl who uses organic rosehip, jojoba, argan, and other oils on a daily bases.  So I’m not stranger to the feeling of oil on my skin.

A few nights later I tried the Deep Sea Facial Scrub.  That I quite enjoyed.  It had rough grit to it, and it felt like a mini microdermabrasion.  Again, I can’t tell you how it works because I only got two uses out of it.  Overall, I like what the company stands for, but I can’t really tell you whether their products are effective.  First impressions are that the fragrance is way too powerful for my tastes and sensitive skin and that one product – the Deep Sea Facial Scrub – seemed pretty cool from the two times I used it.

If you’ve tried these products, I’d love to know what you think.

Life Is Good

Hat – Ruche
Sunnies – Lace Affair
Belt – F21
Shirt – Lucca Couture
Cardi – Old Navy
Skirt – F21 dress I sewed into a skirt

Sitting in the backyard, the golden setting sun warm on my shoulder and my legs tucked up underneath me,  I sip my cold, crisp white wine.  My husband is mowing the lawn while my baby girl squeals as she chases the dog who’s running for his dear life in fear of sticky fingers clutching his ears. Right now, right here life is good.

p.s. have you entered the giveaway?  There’s still two days left!
p.p.s.  I’m talking photoshoots today on Mom 2 MemphisAnd Ruby.  Check it out.

Quote of Today:
“Can we get that poo out of you caboose?”

Random Sundays: Not Now

Top & Jeans – Gap
Scarf – c/o Imagine Gnats

 After the crazy busy week I’ve had, I’m glad to be able to relax all morning and afternoon today.  True, there’s a rehearsal this evening, but that’s this evening….not now. 

Talking with TED

Top – H&M
Flower Necklace & Tights – F21
Charm necklace – Lulus. com *have you entered the giveaway?*
Shirt – Ruche
Shoes – Payless
I love TED talks.  I’m a little late getting on the bandwagon, but I’m so glad that I got there eventually.  I just recently watched the one with J.J. Abrams on the Mystery Box in story telling.  I’m a huge J.J. Abrams fan.  Some guys, like him and Joss Whedon, just get a pass with me on almost everything.  I loved his energy and his enthusiasm talking about the mystery box.  Have you seen TED talks?  Which ones do you recommend?  
True Story:
Andrew told Baby, “It’s nap time.”  
She grabbed her blankie and headed upstairs.  
Once there, she saw that the blinds were down and the room was dark.  
So she walked up to the crib, grabbed on, and started bouncing saying, “Up, Up” to signal that she wanted to go inside.   
I guess she was ready for sleep.  
She kills me with her cuteness!

Krikee!!

Cardi – Jacob
Scarf – Thrifted
Tee – F21
Pants – Esprit
Shoes – Threadsence

Drake and I are wracking our brains.  When Baby gets upset or frustrated she says/yells a word that sounds exactly like, “Kirkee!”  *She’s never seen the Crocodile Hunter*  I’m Polish, Andrew is Canadian/British, how did we end up with an Aussie baby?  So confused….

SuperHero Giveaway!

Lulus.com

It’s time for another giveaway!  If you’ve been following me on twitter/FB you know that I’ve recently become jaded with giveaways on blogs *I’m not going into that diatribe right now* . I feel I’m not the only one and I want to bring the fun back!  On that note, I’ve decided to change it all up.  Now we’re going to get creative, maybe funny, and maybe downright inappropriate. *which is funny in itself* 

So here’s how to enter.

You have to be a follower – sorry but that’s only fair to my readers.  But otherwise, you’re going to help me come up with a superhero story.  Why?  Because I’m a nerd, and it’s my blog and…that’s why.

Leave your answers to these questions as one comment on this post:

1.  You have become a SuperHero.  What is your superhero name?
2. What’s your SuperPower?
3. Of course you need an arch nemesis and that’s me.  So what’s my Arch Nemesis name and superpower?
4. How do you vanquish me in the end?
4. Naturally there’s a screen adaptation and I’m playing me, but which celebrity is playing you?
5. Who plays your love interest?
6. A set isn’t a set without a good scandal.  So what’s the scandal and gossip going around in the press about this set?
7. I’d like to thank the Academy!  And I’m wearing…  What dress/tux are you wearing?  Describe it or paste a link. 
8.  Say how you follow and your username for that.

Entries accepted until May 10th, 2012 at 11:59pm Toronto time. 

I and one other impartial person (either my husband or a friend) will select the winner.  Yes, this will be totally biased and partial in that the coolest, funniest, raunchiest or most creative entry in our opinion will win.  No, it will not be partial in that a blog friend or something like that will win. I have no conspiracies…yet *insert evil laugh here*  Do you see why I’m the villain?

You don’t have to, but if you are so willing as to tweet and Fb this giveaway, I’d appreciate it a bunch!

That’s it.  Let’s have some fun!

*Lulus.com, Facebook or Twitter are in no way affiliated with this giveaway.  I reserve the right to refuse an entry due to explicit or severely inappropriate content*

She’s Funny That One!

 

Earrings – somewhere in Europe
Necklace & Bangles – F21
Sweater & Sunnies – thrifted
Top – H&M
Skirt – Ruche
Boots – Threadsence
It’s still cold outside, and the sun rarely makes an appearance, but I’m certainly energetic and productive and alive lately.  Not only have all my sites been spruced up or re-designed *check out the acting and the photo sites* but I’ve been running from audition, to callback, to wardrobe fitting, to shoot for weeks now.  It’s a wonderful feeling to be so busy and in demand you have to start getting people to re-schedule in order to accommodate a meeting. I need to share this joy with you!
On top of that I’ve been enjoying the company of my baby girl to no end.  She’s funny that one!  I thought I would really miss the baby stage, and though I do miss it, I love this stage much, much more.  The one where she’s company, has thoughts to share, and loves to play jokes on us is so entertaining.  It’s like hanging out with a friend now, albeit a poopy and demanding one.  
True Story:
Walking to playgroup one day we stop and see a snail in the middle of the sidewalk.  
She bends down and pets it like she pets Drake the Dog.  
When it’s time to go, she waves goodbye to the snail and continues walking.  
Then five steps later, she turns back to the snail and waves again.  
She does this every five steps until the snail is nothing but a tiny speck.  
Though he doesn’t have good ears or eyesight, I’m pretty sure he felt a lot of love sent his way that day.

Rebel Head-to-Toe

Cardi – Banana Republic
Top – Gap
Skirt & Necklace – Ruche
Tights – gift from my Babcia
Boots – Feet First

I have a few pet peeves.  One being the inappropriate use of the colon and the semi-colon.  They’re not just one half of an emoticon people! But I also have this personal clothing pet peeve.  I won’t wear one label, or store, head to toe.  I can’t do it.  Something inside me rebels at the very notion. Even if the items are from different labels, but are from the same store, I can’t wear them together in one outfit.   Maybe it’s a silly notion of non-conformity and by wearing one store/label head to toe I’m somehow relinquishing my creativity.  I really don’t know why that is, but it is.  Do you have any weird quirks like that? 
Quote of Today:
“I’ll wear my fancy cologne.”

Random Sunday: Little Drummer Girl

I think we’ve got a drummer on our hands.
There go my ears…
….and my sanity.

5 Power Things

Want a power trip?  Become a parent.

As parents we have the ultimate power in our hands, that of shaping another human being’s entire being.  It’s a great power, but also a scary one.  I often wonder about how to help my Baby Girl become the most full woman she can possibly be, without the hangups that I seem to carry with me.  This article was good to read about the 5 Powerful things you can say to your child.  Here’s the Coles Notes:

1. “I like you” – ‘I love you’ is unconditional,  ‘I like you’ means I like who your are.
2. “Tell Me More” – Don’t settle for a ‘fine’ ask for more.  Show interest and that you’re listening.
3. “You’re a Fast Learner” – “Smart” equates intelligence, “fast learner” implies the willingness to work hard.  It’s about the effort when faced with a challenge, not the result.
4. “We All Make Mistakes” –  Our children fear not living up to our expectations, share your own mistakes and help them relax about theirs.
5. “Let’s Read” – A good alternative to “let’s play catch” et al. that emphasizes learning and intelligence.

Things to think about as we all go through our days.
What this makes me really think about is how good a job I do leading by example.  Do I show interest, do I work hard, and do I emphasize learning in myself?  We are our children’s primary role models after all. so what am I showing her?

Follow on Instagram