YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Groggy. Exhausted. Bummed, it's that time again.  

What time is it anyways?  6:38am! Are you kidding me!?!  UGH.

As the duo of baby monitors hum their peaceful melodies, I try to remember those lovely Saturday mornings when life would gently wake me sometime before noon and slap a big, fat, greasy, two hour brunch in my lap to get me going. Just for a moment, I can smell the coffee dancing in perfect harmony with bacon and hear the symphony of spatulas flipping eggs and hash browns.  Please, Calgon take me away!!  Desperately trying to hold onto this opera like memory, I am shot in the gut with reality as I hear my babes wake from their slumber.  One at a time, one after the next, like some kind of weird and cruel competition.   

Are you up? 

Yeah, I am up! 

It's your turn.

Seriously! I got up last Saturday.

Come on. I am SO tired!

Join the club!

And as we embarked on our weekly who should get up at the butt crack of dawn dialogue, we heard our three year old happily skip over to our 1 year old's room, who was still deciding if sleep or food was more important.  Panic sunk in! NO, don't do it! Don't even think about it!  Please Lord, let him come into our room instead! Like a slow motion movie, I raised my hand in horror and yelped a grumpy, old man sounding "Noooooo!".  But it was too late. At that exact moment, the door knob turned and creaked loud enough to wake up the slumbering baby. Mission accomplished!  Older brother had joined forces with little brother. Instantly, baby shrieked "Hiiiii" and all of our hopes for twenty more minutes of fake sleep evaporated into thin air. 

Do this together?

Fine.

But something happened we hadn't expected.  As we laid there like one of us had just been shot, our boys decided to partake in a self motivation seminar.  After a few minutes of jumping, playing with toys, getting more hyper by the minute, our baby decided to throw a leg over the side of his crib.  Totally impressed by this move, older brother started cheering him on with our latest family slogan: You CAN do it!  So all of a sudden through our creaky baby monitor we heard: 

You can do it!  You can do it Kai!  You CAN do it!  YOU CAN DO IT!!!  You DID it!!!  YEAH!!!  High Five!!! Knuckles!

Did that really happen? Did we just hear our 19 month old crawl out of his crib for the first time through a baby monitor?  Did our baby just fold under an extreme case of big brother peer pressure or was this just the right time and place? Wait a second, does this mean we have to move him to a big boy bed and start that whole bag of tricks?  All these questions, startled me to third cup of coffee awake as our two happy, cheerful, proud, energetic boys ran into our room and tackled us in our bed.  

Guess what Momma? Kai crawled out of his crib all by himself!!! 

I heard!

Rise and shine Momma!  

I'm up!  I'm up!  

Momma!

I know, I CAN do it!!!

Beauty Buzz: Budget Battle #1

In the middle of The Great Recession, what's a lady to do when she needs to buy a face lotion? Not just any lotion, but a magic in a bottle, change my life, skin enhancing potion that costs more than your newborn child or at least the stroller baby will ride in.  I love-Love-Love La Mer face creme. Especially, this time of year! It's decadent, it really does affect the skin, and even though I know there are healthier products on the market, it has that revolutionary, burn healing, yummy "Miracle Broth" that makes my skin glow like a teenager! Plus, my husband noticed a difference in my skin after just one day of using this delicious creme! Isn't that enough? Shouldn't that be enough?

Well, it's not.  Priorities. Priorities. And unfortunately uber expensive beauty products aren't on the top of that list.  So, instead of sulking at the beauty counters hoping someone will throw a sample at me, I have decided to seek out cost effective equals or at least runner ups!  These beauty on a budget buys have been tested, compared, and reviewed with surprising results! So wipe those budget blues away and step up to my No Need to Sell Your Baby Beauty Bar!!!

BUDGET BATTLE #1: 

La Mer: Creme de La Mer; $130 for 1 oz  VS   

Origins: Make a Difference Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream; $36 for 1.7 oz

While visiting Denver Diva, I was in the process of healing myself from the Bottom of the Bottle Breakout so lotion was of topic.  Luckily, I was reintroduced to Origins via the beautiful new global store and Pekoe Sip House.  I had used Origins years and years ago and it was fun to partake in a full circle beauty product journey!  I was instantly reminded of all that I loved of Origins: "natural and certified organic ingredients, 100% natural essential oils, free of: parabens, phtalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, PABA, Paraffin, DEA, animal ingredients, and animal testing", and to boot products that work!!!  I was overjoyed by the reminder of this company's commitment to health, beauty, and our environment!  So, of course, I went home with a product or two, including the Make A Difference Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream.  

All I can say is: WOW!!! This new Ultra-Rich version of Make a Difference is amazing!!!  Instantly, it's incredibly soothing, hydrating, healing and yet, so luscious, and light!! A lot of super emollient creams are heavy and after a few hours can start to "melt" off your face.  This cream feels like a night cream designed for the daytime!  It seems to really be healing my skin as much as it's hydrating it!  Plus, at this price I feel like I can apply a nice coat without feeling anxious!  Though you don't really need it!

This product, is completely able to hold it's own against the Creme de La Mer! It seems lighter, spreads with ease: so a little goes a long way, has an equally pleasant aroma, has no nasty preservatives, and has a MUCH better price point. It makes my skin feel and appear smoother, plumper, dare I say younger, and overall healthier.  With this cream my skin feels protected against the elements and even more so layered on top of Origins: A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian.  Even though I will always accept gifts of La Mer, Origins Make a Difference Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream will from here on out be my day cream of choice!!! 

With all that said, I can gladly announce the Budget Battle #1 Winner is Origins Make A Difference Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream!!! Yeah for beauty on a budget! Who says you can't have it all?

MY FIRST GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

Hi Friends! My first Giveaway for a lovely bottle of David Babaii Hydrating Shampoo and Hydrating Conditioner has come to a close. I am super excited to announce the winner! Drum Roll Please!!    

The winner is Janette! Janette! Janette! Where are you? I have your crown and roses! 

Congratulations!  I hope you will love these products as much as I do!!!  Please email me at: thewholemomma@gmail.com to claim your prizes!!!  

To everyone else, stay tuned! This was too much fun!  I am concocting a new giveaway tonight in my sleep!!!