Quench Winter-Ridden Skin

With one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record in recent years, my skin has fallen victim to the harsh conditions.

Applying thick creams and luxe lotions usually do the trick, but this Polar Vortex has my skin begging for more moisture. Good thing I discovered Jergens Shea Beauty Oil.

This lightweight oil is my new go-to for tackling dry, winter-ridden skin. It conditions and seals in moisture leaving behind a non-greasy sheen. I put it on immediately after showering and let it soak in before leaving the bathroom. After a minute or two, my skin feels soft and virtually glows with hydration. Plus, the easy spray bottle prevents messy spills and leaks.

If your skin could use some TLC thanks to this woeful winter, then this oil a must-have.

JergensJergens Shea Beauty Oil (5 oz) available here, $9

What products are you using to keep skin hydrated this winter?

Must-See: Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”

This past Saturday, Ava and I had the pleasure of seeing Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” at the New Victory Theater in Times Square.

Thanks to Chic Busy Mom, we were given press passes to the new stage play, as well as the opportunity to attend the exclusive meet-and-greet with the cast after the show.

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Adapted from the late musical legend’s daughter, Cedella Marley’s book of the same title, the vibrant play is inspired by Marley’s soul-stirring music. It tells the story of a young boy named Ziggy (Jobari Parker-Namdar) who is fixated on television and unwilling to go out and explore his rich Jamaican island much to the chagrin of his mother and friends.  In addition, the antagonist Duppy played brilliantly by S. Lewis Feemster covets the young boy’s beautiful locs and tries his best to get them.

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As the story unfolds with the help of upbeat, feel-good songs such as, “Lively Up Yourself,” “Brown Girl In The Ring,” and “One Love,” Ziggy finally comes to the realization that there is more to life than sitting in front of the TV; all while managing to outwit and escape Duppy’s hair-stealing grip.

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The colorful costumes, catchy reggae tunes and cute storyline make it a must-see for kids and adults! Plus, it’s the perfect outing to celebrate Black History Month.

The play opened Feb. 7 , 2014 and runs until Feb. 23, 2014. Visit www.newvictory.org for tickets and more information.

How are you celebrating Black History Month?

GIVEAWAY: Vaseline Wants to Make Your Valentine’s Day Rosy

Whether you’re single, married or dating, Vaseline wants to make your Valentine’s Day rosy and sweet.

The popular household brand is giving away a jar of their Lip Therapy Rosy Lips along with a box of  chocolates in honor of the romantic holiday. The slightly tinted, sheer lip treatment will leave pouts super soft and totally kissable in case Cupid comes calling.

Due to its cute compact size, it easily fits into a purse or clutch much like a small pot of gloss. And after Valentine’s Day, this small wonder will keep lips moisturized all winter long.

VSLVaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips available at food, drug and retailers nationwide, $2.29

Plus, the winner will also receive an array of decadent chocolates from MarieBelle, a boutique chocolatier here in New York City.

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MarieBelle chocolates

Simply visit their Facebook page here to enter for a chance to win. The contest ends February 12th at 3pm EST.

Not only can you have a shot of winning on the Vaseline FB page, one lucky reader (US residents only) will have a chance to win right here on BGG! Just leave a comment telling me if you celebrate Valentine’s Day or simply see it as a Hallmark holiday. The winner will be randomly selected and notified via email by 2/13.

Warner’s and Olga New Bras Banish Side Bulge

Lately, my evenings have been filled with baby feedings and finding new ways to keep my 4-year-old busy before bedtime. But, thanks to Warner’s and Olga I was given the opportunity to take a much-needed mommy break to learn about their latest launch and have my first bra fitting.

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Although I was unfamiliar with the bra brand prior to the event, I was excited to have a professional take my measurements and reveal my true size. To be honest, I have been buying a 34B since high school. While my weight hasn’t fluctuated that much throughout the years, my breasts have changed since having two children.

Since I am nursing, I figured that my size would be much bigger than normal. I was right and wrong. The width I have been purchasing all these years have been off a size (I’m actually a 32) and the cup size was one size larger (due to nursing).

brasWarner’s “No Side Effects” bras are available mid-February at retailers nationwide including Kohls.com, $38

Warner’s new “No Side Effects”  (Olga has the “On Your Side” plus-size offering) bra provides excellent coverage which prevents that unsightly “sleevage” that we women suffer from no matter our size. There’s a swath of extra fabric that smooths the area that tends to bulge while wearing sleeveless tops creating a sleek look. Plus, these bras have cushy padding on the straps for a comfy fit.

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Not only did I learn my actual bra size, I was also able to try out the new bra under two super cute vegan leather Sanctuary tops that were gifted at the end of the event:

warner-6Initially I thought this top was dark brown, but it’s really a deep wine color.

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I love that the sides of this top are stretchy.

Have you ever been professionally bra-fitted? Do you ever suffer from “sleevage?”

The Body Shop Re-Introduces Classic Blueberry Body Butter

With frigid temps sticking around for a couple more months, now’s a good time to bring a bit of summer into your bathroom with the fresh and fruity scent of blueberries.

Thanks to The Body Shop, you can treat your body to the brand’s re-introduction of their  Special-Edition Blueberry Body Butter for an indulgent pampering fix. The bath & body brand has been tantalizing our senses  with their luxe line of rich and creamy body butters (a variety of 20+ flavors/scents) for over  two decades and this decadent, blueberry-infused classic is no different.

TBS-Blueberry

The Body Shop Special-Edition Blueberry Body Butter available here, $20

Packed with moisturizing agents that hydrate and nourish the skin, this body butter contains Shea butter and oil from 500 blueberries! Plus, it’s rich in Vitamin E and other fatty acids that leave skin smooth and silky.

I am totally obsessed with this scent. It makes you want to sniff your hands just to get a whiff of the refreshingly sweet smell.

 

If the reintroduction of the Blueberry Body Butter wasn’t enough, there’s also an entire blueberry collection (Body Lotion, Lip Butter, Jam Scrub and a Blueberry Sponge) to make you long for summer even more. However, don’t wait until summer to purchase this berry good collection, it’s only available for a limited time!

What’s your favorite body butter scent?

New Year, New Workout

Happy New Year, I hope you guys had a wonderful holiday!

Although I didn’t go to Chicago (my hometown) for Christmas or NYE, I had a fantastic time here in New York with my family. And, when I tell you that I took advantage of the season (since Thanksgiving) to indulge in some of my favorite treats, I REALLY did.

From countless bags of gummy bears to bite-size marshmallow bliss, I had my fair share (and then some) of sugary snacks.  Now I’m left with those dreaded, pesky post-holiday pounds. Plus, I still haven’t completely shed my pregnancy weight.

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Needless to say, since mid-December I’ve been hitting the gym harder than ever. Well, I actually really never worked out before, but that’s not the point!  Thanks to Beyoncé’s surprise HOT release, it’s kept me moving and motivated to melt these pounds away by March.

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I’ll keep you guys posted on my progress!

Did you overindulge during the holidays? Did you make a New Year’s resolution? I know it’s been out for nearly a month, but what do you think of Beyoncé‘s new CD/DVD?

Beauty Gifts For The BGs On Your List!

The holidays are in full swing!

Whether you’re shopping for your sister, BFF, mom, aunt, co-worker or cousin, the following stocking stuffers will make all of their Christmases bright and beautiful.

From seasonal lip balms to super cute body wash sets, these gifts prove once again that good things really do come in small packages.

Jane-Iredale-Glamour-Eye-Lip-Palette

jane iredale The Skincare Makeup Glamour Eye & Lip Palette available here, $75

Bliss-Lips

Bliss Merry ‘Kiss’-Mas Lip Balm Duo in Vanilla & Peppermint available here, $18

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Caudalie Hand Cream Trio available here, $25

h20-bath

H20+ ‘All The Pretty Brights’ Bath Basics Set available here, $14.50

Deborah-Lippman-Rock-This-Town

Deborah Lippman ‘Rock This Town’ Nail Polish Set available here, $35

CD-Hair-Milk-Set

Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Starter Set available here, $25

UD-ocho-loco

Urban Decay ‘Ocho Loco 2’ 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Set available here, $60

dvf-cosmetics-set

DVF Lip Print Cosmetics Set Trio available here, $88

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?