This Stuff Made Me Whiter!

I'm already a white girl with skinny chicken legs, I don't need to be whiter!  Geez!  All I want is a little hint of a healthy tan!

Nivea Sun-Kissed Radiant Skin

This Nivea Sun-Kissed Radiant Skin Lotion is terrible!  I swear I am whiter! 

I guess I'll go back to the Jergens Natural Glow Lotion!

Let me know if you've had a better experience with the Nivea stuff!

Jen

Sorry!

Some quick dinners!



When I read my post about motivating you to walk, I thought it was awful! I sounded so condescending (and I had to look up how to spell that word)!  So sorry!

I am oh-so-far-from perfect!  I was just trying to motivate anyone that reads my blog!

When I first attempted to workout, honestly, I could do 8 minutes tops!  When I first attempted to run, I could go may 10 feet, if that!

I'm putting up a few pictures of some of my favorite Lean Cuisines.  I don't eat them all them time, but they're good for a quick meal, and very low in calories!

One of my favorites (I love Indian food)



Another quick idea for dinner is to take a piece of foil, with a bit of olive oil on it, add a chicken breast or piece of fish.  Then top it with some onions, veggies, whatever you like!  Wrap it up tight, put it in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes, and you have a light and delicious meal!  If you like, you can even brown it a bit before doing this!

Again, I am not perfect, but I do love to motivate others!

Good luck!

Jen

More Beauty Products



Thanks for stopping by!  First, I want to know if you're taking my advice and have starting walking!?  I hope so!  The next step will be to get to a gym!

Speaking of the gym, my first product is self tanner.  My advice:  don't use it when it's raining, or you're going to be working out!  I forgot I had applied the self tanner that morning, went to the gym, and of course, I did sweat!  I didn't know, until I got home, that I had these lovely streaks of brown all over my arms!  Funny, huh!!?

My second product is from Philosophy, a shower gel, called "Happy Birthday Beautiful!".  If you sign up for the awards thing at http://www.sephora.com/ or just at the store, on your birthday you get a gift!  This was my gift (in May).  It's so nice to have the smell of cake in the morning!  The cake smell does not stay on your skin, but the fragrance is there while you're showering!  I also have a yummy chocolate version!

My 3rd product is Kerastase Mouse Substantive.  There's a quick story behind this.  My haircolorist used this on  my hair and I loved it, so I was going to buy it while I was there, but they were out of it.  Shortly after I arrived home, the receptionist called me, she had found a bottle of this wonderul mouse.  So I dashed up there, bought it, and to my horror, this bottle cost of $30.00.  I'm embarrassed to even say that!  I should have just said "no thanks", but I didn't.  The other part (that's kind of funny), is the bottle says "for mature hair", oh geez, thanks!

So there ya go!  Good luck with your walking, running, or whatever you're doing to stay active!

If you have a product you'd like to review, I'd love for you to share!

Jen

I'm talking to you

Yes, I'm talking to you!

You're the one that knows you need to loose weight.  You know you need to have a healthier diet.  You know you should start working out.

But your negative side gives you all kinds of reasons not to start.  You're too tired, you don't want to go to a gym, you don't have time to make healthy meals.  Maybe you even have bad knees, but did you know swimming is easy on the joints!?

I'm your positive side, telling you that you CAN do it! 

You're going to start tomorrow.  You're going to take at least a 15 minute walk.  I don't care where.  You can just walk around your house.

The next day you'll take at least a 20 minute walk.  I guarantee, after a week, you will have more energy!

I'm going to add some easy, healthy recipes to this blog soon, so keep watching. 

I will be here for you, and I'll be pushing you more in the future! 

You can do it!

Jen

Two products to tell you about!

Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder and L'Oreal Revitalift Cream Cleanser

I'll start with L'Oreal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser (with revitalizing vitamin C and gentle exfoliating action).  I've gotten into the habit of using an exfoliating cleanser every morning.  This one is my lastest to try, what I don't like is that it's too smooth feeling.  My last exfoliating cleansers had a light "grit" feel, which made me at least think it was exfoliating!  So I'll use this one up and try another one!

Do you have that week or so before your next haircolor when you wish your appointment was sooner!?  I LOVE this product:  Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder (I have brown).  It was produced as a dry shampoo, but a small spray of this on your roots, and "poof!" those little hints of gray are gone!  I bought this months ago, and there's still plenty in, since I only use it a few times a month!  It seemed quite pricey, at about $30, but it's been well worth it!

Smile!  That's the best beauty product!

Jen

Save your Money

Save your money! Do not buy Garnier Ultra Lift Pro Gravity Defying Cream!  I've been using it since June 7th, and have not seen any difference in my skin.  I really didn't expect to, but I thought it was worth a try!

Shame on you Garnier!!

Resculpts cheeks, jawline & neck

Is it right for me?

Over time, collagen breaks down, causing the skin on the face and neck to become thin and less firm, leading to loss of definition.

Ultra-Lift Pro Gravity Defying Cream is right for you if you want a daily moisturizer that actually lifts and resculpts to help restore youthful shape to cheeks, jawline and neck.

• Dermatologist tested for safety

• Non-comedogenic—won’t clog pores

• Gentle to skin

• Allergy tested

• Non-greasy

How do I use it?

Gently apply to face and neck daily.

How do I use Ultra-Lift Pro products together?

Use full Ultra-Lift Pro regimen for optimal deep wrinkle and loss of definition treatment. Apply products in the following order:

TREAT: Deep Wrinkle Roller

MOISTURIZE: Gravity Defying Cream

EYE CARE: Deep Wrinkle Dual Eye

NIGHT: Deep Wrinkle Night Cream. Scroll upScroll down
 
Happy 4th-don't forget your sunscreen!!
 
Jen

Update-Week One

Me before using my new beauty product

I wanted to update you on how my new beauty product is working out!  The above picture was me before using my magic potion.

After only one week I am happy to say my new product has worked miracles!  Check it out for yourself!

It's a miracle!

I can't wait to see what happens by next week!

I'll keep ya posted!

Jen

Marking my calendar!

So I bought this magic potion yesterday!  Just imagine me at the drug store, in my basket I have 1 large Fosters beer, a bottle of Riesling, a measuring tape, and my magic potion "Garnier Ultra-Lift Pro Gravity Defying Cream".  The beer was an anniversary gift for my husband, our anniversary is today, 20 years, and all he gets is a can of beer (I'm not kidding, he loves that)! The wine's for me, I suddenly love Riesling, so I've been trying it different brands! 

Back to the magic potion.  The product claims that in 4 weeks, my neck and jowl will be tighter.  I can't wait!  All I see when I look in the mirror these days is loose skin and it's driving me nuts!  The darn neck and jowl thing!  I can't imagine that this is going to help, but I'm taking the chance!  Cheaper than a face lift!

My other product, actually, my 18 year old daughter, Katherine purchased (okay, so it was with my money!).  Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock Lotion SPF 70.  I'm so happy that she's protecting her skin now!  When I was younger, there was no such thing as sunscreen!  I did hear that even though we may already have sun damage, it's never to late to protect your skin, so I'm using this too!

I'll let you know what miracles happen with the Garnier product!!

Be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside!

Jen

Great Customer Service

My pretty pink nailpolish

I've been getting my nails done every 2-3 weeks with a fantastic manicurist named Juliette.  I've actually been getting the shellac nails, which were working out great, until the last few times, not sure why.

But, Juliette has consistently gone out of her way to make this perfect for me!  I had already emailed the salon about how wonderful she is, and they actually recognized her for my shout out to her!

Anyways, back to the nails.  Juliette decided we should just go back to a regular manicure for awhile, and even lowered the price from their normal charge for a manicure!  Not only that, she gave me the nail polish she used, so I would have it for touch-ups, and I can just bring it back when I come in in 2 weeks!

I could have put this blog on my regular blog, http://www.jensvintage.blogspot.com/ since I'm talking about fantastic customer service, which every business should have!

I expect it, and when I get it, I make sure I give a shout out!  If I don't get good customer service, I will contact the company.

Since I expect it from others, I make sure I also give the very best customer service possible!  In case you don't know about my Etsy shops, here's the links http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ and http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com/ be sure to check it out!

If you have a business, go the extra mile.  If you know someone that's gone the extra mile, give them a little recognition!

Jen

My Beauty Secrets Revealed

Okay, one at a time!

Here's one of my new favorite hair products!  My hair is super dry these days!  I found this great weekly treatment from Kerastase that makes my hair look and feel so much better!

Kerastase Masquintense

Towel dry your hair, add this great product, and leave on for 5-7 minutes, and rinse!  You will see and feel instant results!  You should be able to find this at a beauty salon near you!

Jen

Testing my Artfire

I'm so bad with "techy" stuff-please excuse me while I use my blog to test stuff for my artfire account!

<a href="http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=3272816">Vintage Shabby Chic Floral Trio of Pretty Plates</a>

Katherine Found the Perfect Dress!

My daughter, Katherine, is a senior this year.  I call her the professional formal dance girl!  She goes to so many proms and homecomings!  This is her senior year, and for her prom (the one at her school-she's going to others), she wanted a "poofy" princess dress!

We looked everywhere, but we just couldn't find it!  She finally settled on a non-poofy dress from Nordstroms, which is gorgeous, but not exactly what she wanted it.

We've ordered from http://www.unique-vintage.com/ before and had good luck there!  She found a poofy dress there, and decided to take a chance that it would fit and be perfect.  It just arrived today!

Guess what!? It was made for Katherine!  Absolutely gorgeous, and I'm so happy (so is she)!

This picture was taken in amongst my vintage mess of stuff, so ignore that, and the fact that Katherine had basically just woken up when I took this picture!

I can't wait to show pictures of the big day, with her hair all fixed up!

Her determination paid off!

Jen

Vote!

New Round Brush

I love my new round brush!  I just bought it at one of my favorite stores, Target! 

As I get older, my hair gets thinner, and needs as much lift as it can get!  I've been letting it grow longer.  This brush is great!

It's from Goody and it's called the "Ouchless Curling" Brush with Retractable Bristles.  For me, the retractable button at the top was pretty pointless.  It's hard enough to use just two hands to blow dry your hair with a brush, so to try to press the button at the top, well, that's just crazy!

A tip for keeping the curl/lift in after blow drying a section of your hair with the round brush, let it cool for a few seconds before releasing your hair. 

The one I bought was the medium size.  I also have a teenier size that I bought at my hair salon.  That's great for just taking tiny sections of hair, just in a few spots for lift.  Just make sure to cool it before releasing it, that is the best trick!  Instant lift!

My brush was under $8.00!

Have a great weekend!

Jen

Mascara

I know, I know, you've been waiting forever for an update to this beauty blog! hehe

Here's my favorite thing for this week!

Maybelline's "The Colossal Volume Express" Mascara!

It makes even my old eyelashes look long and thick!

Inexpensive and can be found at your local drug store!

Anyone that would like to contribute a beauty tip, I'd love to hear from you!

Jen

Chanel No. 19

This has to be one of my all time favorite fragrances!  Chanel No. 19!  I had a bottle of this perfume quite a few years ago, and decided recently I had to have it again!

Purchased at http://www.nordstrom.com/ and described on their site as: "A legendary scent from 1971.  A rich blend of green floral wood notes, jasmine, rose, iris, ylang ylang, sandalwood & mosses.  Audacious, Assertive.  Never conventional" 

I love that description!  And they described it quite well!  It's not over-powering (unless you over do it!).

Perfect for any season!

It's a bit pricey, but well worth it!

Try it!

Jen

Check your Feet

Sandal time is almost here!

I love summer time!  I love the clothes and love wearing sandals!

I have a problem with icky cracked heels, especially my right one for some reason!  I just got a pedicure about 3 weeks ago, so I thought that would help, but it was temporary.  The crack is back!

My manicurist, Juliette (love that name) told me to get a foot scraper thingy.  She wasn't trying to sell the one they had there, she actually told me to check out Sally Beauty Supple (love that store!).  She said the ped-egg thing they sell at drug stores isn't good. 

But I was at my salon a few days ago (finally got a french manicure, I've always wanted one!), and they had a deal on their scraper (okay they call it a foot file) and lotion set, so I bought it!

It's a miracle!  My heels are much smoother!!

This one is called "Microplane Personal Care Foot File", for $21.95.  The Microplane Personal Foot Care was usually $9.95, but the deal was $5.00 (woohoo!).

You could probably get something similiar to it at a less expensive price at Sally Beauty Supply, like Juliette said, but it was there and I wanted it so I just bought it!

So check your feet!  I also do yoga, so need my feet to look nice all year round!

Happy Spring!

Jen

White Teeth

First of all, I hate my teeth!  I had braces back in the 60's, but a guy named Dr Stifter!  Should have been warned by that name to stay away!  Whenever I tell a dentist I had braces, they're like "really!?". 

I have teeth envy!  I notice everyone's white, straight teeth!  I recently talked with my dentist about teeth whitening, and was really ready to spend the $300 to get them white!

But, I had recently bought some Crest Whitestrips for my daughter, and saw such an improvement, that I decided to give it a try myself!  I had bought Katherine a cheaper version of the one's I bought.  I went for the $50 3D Whitestrips Advanced Seal.

The box says you'll start seeing results in just 3 days.  They're right!  My daughter said my teeth now look whiter than hers!  I've only noticed a slight senstivity, but nothing bad, and it's temporary.

They're easy to use, and just 30 minutes/per day!

I'm glad I bought these and didn't spend $300 on the dentist's version!

Oh-and if anyone out there is an orthodontist and would like free advertising, please make my teeth pretty and I'll blog about it!

Keep smiling!

Jen

New Year's Resolutions

Yep, that's what I said!  New Year's resolutions!  Because right around now most people who had at least one New Year's resolution, have already given up!

Don't do it-don't give up!  At our local rec center I see so many new faces at the beginning of the year.  So eager and hopeful!  But, right around now, crowds have dwindled.  I wish I could go up to each and everyone one of them and say "keep going-don't give up!", but they probably wouldn't take to kindly to that!

So I'll just blog about it!  Whatever you're New Year's resolution, keep it up!  So what if you fell off the wagon for a bit, get back on and keep going!

You'll be proud of yourself, and when 2012 rolls around, you can start on a new resolution!

Happy 2011!

Jen

Beauty Products I love

"Jen, please tell us your beauty secrets!"

Okay, okay, here's a few of them!

Actually, two of these products will do basically the same thing for you.  Both "The Present" by Philosophy, called Clear Makeup, and Smashbox Photofinish are perfect, in my opinion, for 2 reasons.  The first, is for those that choose to go without makeup, but may need just that bit of evening out of the skintone.  Both of these will work great for that.  It actually makes the skin appear (and feel) smoother, and lines are less noticeable.  The second, is for those that do choose to wear liquid makeup (like I do), it creates a better "palette" for your makeup.  Try one of these products and I guarantee you'll love it!

My 2nd product was given to me as a gift by my sister, Susan.  Yes, she's younger than me, she loves to tell people that.  Isn't it funny how when you're younger, you're so proud to be the older sister, and then suddenly, it's not so cool!?  Anyways, she gave me this jar called F.Y. Eye!  Claims to be the "ultimate eye shadow base", by Benefit.  I love it!  This is another product perfect for both makeup wearers and non-makeup wearers.  It will also even out your skin tone for that "natural" look, and your eyeshadow will stay on longer!

And last but not least, during the winter, my hair is crazy full of static!  Wonder Wax Defining by Davines, is perfect for just such a problem.  It seriously just takes a tiny bit to smooth the hair without flattening it.  It's also good after you've styled your hair just to set everything in.

So there you have it!  I do love beauty products, and I'll share more with you soon.  Or, if you have any products you'd like to tell me about, I'd love to hear from you!

Stay warm,

Jen

Haircolor Saga and More

I just bought this one at express! Bought a pink sweater to match!

Great basic black dress from Ann Taylor

I broke down.  I tried coloring my own hair, but it just didn't work! 

I found that after just 2 weeks, I saw those darn grays shining through!  I'm not a math genius, but it was easy to see that spending what I was on the box color, and having to use it so often, really wasn't saving me that much.

So back I went for the professional color!  Much better now! 

I've decided to break up my hair cut and color into 2 different appointments to ease the shock of the cost!

That being said, I do want to stress that I am grateful that having a bad hair day is the worst of  my problems! 

Now onto a new subject-fashion!  When I worked in an office I took great pride in the fact that I always looked my best!  Now that I work at home, that really hasn't changed!  I still love to look my best!  Dresses are still my favorite outfit, and most days you'll find me in a dress, maybe with some cute leggings, or tights!  Dresses are easy to wear, no need for matching pieces, and if you get the right dresses, they can be quite forgiving when you've eaten a few to many potato chips (my downfall).

I don't shop quite as often as I used to, but once in awhile I'll break down and buy a few new things.  One of my favorite stores is Express!  The store is really geared more for the 20-something women, but there are still quite enough pieces there that won't look ridiculous on us 40+ women!  Just don't go for the short short skirts/dresses or the plunging neckline (cleavage doesn't look so cute after a certain age!).  Their jeans fit me the best, and right now, they're the only ones I wear!  I love that they have longer lengths, since I have trouble finding pants that are long enough for me!

I also love Ann Taylor!  They've recently updated their line to get the attention of the 20-30 year old women.  You'll find plenty of classics there.  I love classics, but love a little flair added. 

Like I've said before, you don't need a bunch of money to look pulled together.  If you can only afford a few pieces, here's what you need:

1 basic black dress
1 piece of statement jewelry (I happen to love pearls-but a chunky bracelet, or hoop earrings, whatever you love)
1 pair of sexy boots or pumps
1 perfect fitting jeans (and comfortable too)
1 classic black blazer
1 white top (button down or even a cute simple t-shirt)
1 other accessory, such as a colorful scarf
1 pair of flats (try a brighter color like red)

Take these pieces and mix and match!  Add a few pieces when you can-and there you have it, a classic collection, but with some flair!

Happy shopping!

Jen

Hair Color update

My last update was about coloring my own hair.  I'm getting better at it! 

I was so afraid the color would turn out weird, that I wasn't leaving it in long enough, and the darn grays would pop out within a week or two!

So this last time I left it on as long as the instructions said to, and I like it, and although it's only been a few days, I think it's going to be better!

But....I went to my hairdresser today, for a haircut, and while she's washing my hair she says "did you just color your hair", and I knew by her tone, she didn't like it (or maybe didn't like the fact that I was spending the million dollars that I was having her do it for me!).  Well, she pointed out that I missed a good area in the front (because I was concentrating so much on the roots where the gray shows up the most).

I have bangs, so you can't really tell (and I hadn't even noticed it until she pointed it out).  She had to make a few more comments about how coloring your own hair just isn't as good as having a professional do it.

And then I had to point out to her that, since my husband's been laid off for over a year, my idea of coloring my own hair right now is a good one!

I'm happy with it.

So there!

Next...I just might try "Best Cuts" for my next haircut!  $50 for a haircut-yikes-!! I'm sure Best Cuts it's a lot cheaper!

Happy New Year!

Jen