4 Dressing and Styling Tips for Moms

With so many responsibilities between the house, kids, and work, being a mom is a busy and often thankless job which will take up the majority of your time and energy. By the time you have got your little ones out of bed, fed, washed, and dressed each morning, finding the time to style your own outfit can seem impossible. Subsequently, most moms find themselves reaching for their sweatpants most days, simply out of convenience. 

However, it is important that you make the effort where you can with your appearance so that you can look and feel great. Taking the time to plan a stylish outfit is going to make a huge difference to how you feel about yourself and will help you be the best mom you can be for your children. So, we have put together 4 dressing and styling tips that are perfect for busy moms.

Accessories Are Your Best Friend 

Even the simplest of outfits can be transformed by adding the right accessories to complement your look. From a pair of statement earrings to a chunky bracelet, you can quickly dress up a look without having to try very hard. When you are a busy mom, it is important that you find quick but effective ways to style your outfits. For example, you may wrap a bold colored scarf around your neck to add a chic look to a dress. 

Add a Designer Shoe

When you become a mom, you find yourself spending less time and money on yourself, and instead spend increasingly more cash on your children. But it is important to remember that you should treat yourself from time to time. So, if you were used to the finer things in life before becoming a mom, it is important that you don’t stop treating yourself once you enter motherhood. 

Adding a designer pair of shoes to your look is the perfect way to add a bit of luxury to your outfit. You can choose from a varied range of different designers, including Gucci shoes from the online luxury fashion store SSENSE. The designer items available via SSENSE are the perfect addition to any mom’s wardrobe. Remember, you deserve the best! 

Go for Dark Denim  

While wearing jeans every day may seem like a distant memory, it is important that you pack the sweatpants away for a lazy day and get yourself a new pair of jeans. Even if you no longer feel comfortable in a pair of skinnies, you can invest in a new pair of boot-cut or pear style jeans that will really flatter your post-birth body shape. 

Invest in the Right Underwear 

A good outfit isn’t complete until you are wearing the right underwear, so it is essential that you get re-fitted once you have entered motherhood. Having children changes every area of your life, especially your bra size, so do yourself a favor and invest in a well fitted bra!

By following these dressing and styling tips, you can transform how you look and feel great, even when you are a busy mom! 

Things to Consider When You Are Buying Hair Extensions

There are many things that you can do to improve your appearance. Perhaps you have not been blessed with the quality of hair that you want. If this is the case, there are a few ways that you can handle this problem. Hair extensions are one of the most commonly used solutions that allow women to make their hair look exactly the way they want it to. You might have heard your friends talking about hair extensions. Now you have finally decided to see what all the fuss is about. Here are just a few of the most important things that you will need to keep in mind before you start spending money on hair extensions.

1. Consider what color you want your hair to be.

You might have once dreamed of seeing what you look like with red hair or silver streaks. However, you did not want to go through the trouble of using hair dye. You are also scared of what the hair dye will do to your hair. This is a legit concern. The good news is that hair extensions are completely harmless. You will be able to buy them in any color you can think of. Give some serious thought regarding what color of hair extensions you want to buy. The color you want to try might be unusual. If so, you might need to special order it from a website that specializes in selling hair extensions. You can shop with Eden Hair Extensions to buy hair extensions Australia online.

2. Find out how to properly install your hair extensions.

Installing hair extensions is not a hard thing to do. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. It will take some practice in order to get it right. This means that you will need to set some time aside in order to learn all of he most basic techniques that will allow you to install your hair extensions quickly and easily. You should never be in a hurry to put in your hair extensions. Doing this will make it more likely that you will make a mistake. Your focus should be on the appearance of your hair extensions, not the speed with which you can put them in. You will be able to find many instructional videos about hair extensions online that you will certainly find informative and helpful.

3. How long do you need the extensions to be?

Another decision you will need to make concerns the length of hair that you desire. One of the greatest things about hair extensions is that they will enable you to choose exactly how long you want your hair to be. You will need to have some idea about your desired length before you start shopping for hair extensions. This will allow you to buy the right type of extensions. You need to be sure that the extensions you buy are actually capable of giving you the length you are looking for. Not all hair extensions are the same. Therefore, it would be in your best interests to carefully read the packaging of the extensions you are looking at. If you are doing your shopping online, read all of the info that is provided on the page of the product.

4. How easy will it be for you to return your hair extensions if you are not satisfied?

There is a chance that you might not be happy with the hair extensions that you buy. You will then need to return them for a refund. This is why you need to be sure you will be able to do this without a big hassle. The store or website you buy your hair extensions from must have a return policy where they will give you a refund with no questions asked. Carefully read the refund policy completely before you make any purchases from the site.

The Best Fitness Move for Any Mom on the Go

Between hauling kids and groceries, picking up after almost everyone in the household and all the million other things moms do, there’s often not much time to focus on fitness. Of course if you can find enough time to do some physical exercise then jump at the chance. From yoga to Tennis Lessons, anything will help. While many of these activities may give our upper-bodies – or at least our biceps – a boost, but what about the rest? There’s one fitness move that provides advantages for the core, balance, hips thighs and buttocks: squats. Read on to find out more about the benefits of squats and how you can easily do them wherever you are and however busy your schedule is.

Benefits of Squats

The simple squat can be done almost anywhere, any time. It doesn’t need any special equipment, and this one little exercise works 200 different muscles. It’s also a great low-impact cardio move. From descent to ascent, the movement is designed to activate the three largest muscle groups in the right order and improve flexibility in the knee, hip and ankle joints. A simple exercise such as squats can do wonders to your torso and lower body strength, so much so that you can feel the benefits of it in all aspects of your life. Moreover, combining it with a few other quick exercises can enhance your endeavors in the bedroom and you can have a long lasting experience that provides much more satisfaction!

This targeted fitness move is so effective, you don’t have to do many to get results in a very short time. Because it’s a weight-bearing exercise, meaning you’re using your own body weight as leverage, it gives you some of the benefits of weight-training. Weight-training is one of the most beneficial workouts, especially as we get older. It helps retain lean muscle mass and strengthens bones to ward off osteoporosis. Some people choose to get custom weight cables made from tkstar.com for machines to help them with weight training, but others find that squats can help you do the same thing without stepping into a gym.

Form is Everything

You may know squats from your fitness video or class, but did you realize how much variety and benefit comes from this one simple move when it’s done right? There are three components to the perfect squat, and all variations start from there:

Center of gravity line (CoGL) – this is the optimal starting position to ensure proper alignment and balance from start to finish. Your knees should never extend beyond your toes at any point during execution, and your back should remain straight, with your head up and face forward.

Hip flexion – refers to the hinge function of the hips and their placement at each point of the movement. With the CoGL in mind, most of the bend should be at the hip, without the pressure on the knees that causes so many problems. To get it done properly, push your bottom back as you bend, using the hip flexion, as if your trying to sit down. There are several exercise videos available to help those trying to improve their hip flexors. This Review of unlock your hip flexors, for example, could help someone choose the best workout products for them.

Proper heel pressure – all of the weight should be in your heels, not on the balls of your feet. With the proper heel pressure and weight distribution, your balance will be better, and you’ll really feel the burn in the places that need it the most.

Squat Variations

The basic squat is just descent/ascent, with arms straight out in front of you. It only takes 30 reps, 4 – 5 days a week, and you can go on about your day. However, if you want to avoid the plateau effect or just change things up once in a while, you can try some variations.

  • instead of just holding your arms straight out in front, hold some weights, either light dumbbells or a disc
  • try placing your hands behind your head, elbows straight out to the side; make sure to retain your form and balance
  • on the descent, slide one leg out to the side, toe pointed; switch legs with each rep

Christmas Gift Ideas: Health and Beauty

I know many moms have now managed to tick off items from their Christmas lists. But if you are one of those who have yet to start shopping for presents, here are a few not so ordinary gift ideas for the health and beauty of your loved ones.

Gifts of Beauty

I know we often say that we shouldn’t judge any person by the way he or she looks. I do believe this. However, that doesn’t mean that we should not care about how WE look at all. I’m not talking spending hours (and a whole ton of cash) on makeup and beauty treatments. I do think that we all should at least have a basic skin regimen to keep our skin healthy. So here are some ideas for giving the Gift of Beauty.

Makeup Sets. If you know someone well enough, you may just know their tastes in makeup nearly as well as they do. You could have a family member who is obsessed with Thin Lizzy’s top 5 tried and tested, as one example, or another who insists on MAC products. If that’s the case you can confidently put together a makeup set, or buy a premade one from their favorite brand, and surprise them with just how well you know their beauty regime!

Gift Certificates. Having said all this, makeup can be a tricky thing to give as a gift. So are bath gels, lotions, and perfume. Let your loved ones be able to choose the right shade or the right scent for themselves by opting to give them gift certificates from their fave beauty shop.

Salon Treat. It is every woman’s wish to be able to have an entire day of pampering (ehem-ehem hubby Jasper!). Treat the ladies you love with a whole day at the spa. Give them a complete package of facial treatment, body scrub and massage, mani-pedi, and hair spa and they won’t ever forget how special you made them feel this Christmas.

Skin Care Packs. Bags, clothes, makeup…these are among the most often gifted items during the Christmas season and you can never go wrong with them. From Synergie Skin care online in Australia to different products in Spain, people all over the world have different skin care products on offer, and women love trying new ones! This year, give them something that would make them look beautiful both inside and out. For women my age (proud almost-40 lady here!), the Celeteque Dermoscience Advance Anti-Aging Line is heaven sent. The entire line works on any skin type, even for sensitive ones, and is very effective in making one’s skin look years younger. Make the beauty regimen complete by adding some Myra-E’s to your gift basket. Especially if you’re gifting to a close friend or relative (who are really into skincare routines), skincare products like city beauty invisicrepe body balm could be a blessing.

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Complete your beauty gift pack with some Myra-E and phCare products.

Gift of Health

We may have a slew of beauty products in our vanity table but if we are not healthy, all these would be for naught. Here are some ideas which may seem unusual for gift-giving but are actually very great gifts to give to your loved ones.

Gym Membership. Get your loved ones a jump start on their fitness resolution next year. A gym membership leaves them with no excuse not to exercise anymore. 😉

Health Kit. Who would ever give a basket full of vitamins and health supplements as a gift? Sounds weird, right? But this kind of gift actually shows just how much you care about someone – and it’ll definitely be appreciated by the recipient. Unilab has come out with the Handy Health Kit which contains medicines that we all often use including Biogesic, Alaxan, Kremil-S, and Diatabs.

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The Unilab Handy Health Kit is something we all must have wherever we go. If your loved ones have tiny tots, throw in some Ceelin and Biogesic Syrups. These are among the medicines we always always always have at home. 🙂

Cetaphil and Aveeno for Mama’s Sensitive Skin

Keratosis pilaris. Another -is to add to my long list. Contact dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, hand osteoarthritis. Then there’s the occasional tamaditis and the seasonal neurosis.

With a long history of dermatitis and other allergies, I paid no special attention to the itchy rash that appeared on my back. I dismissed it as prickly heat which I was prone to suffer from during the hot days of summer. However, when a couple of months had passed without getting any relief or seeing any improvement, I finally decided to see my dermatologist.

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Keratosis Pilaris, Causes, Treatment

The rough patches were mostly on my back so I really could not see them properly. They would often feel itchy when the weather was hot which was why I thought they were prickly heat. But sometimes it was to do with hormonal itchy skin, which I only recently found out. Unlike prickly heat though, the small bumps were not reddish.

When my dermatologist examined the rash, she explained that I had a condition called “chicken skin” or keratosis pilaris. Although this is harmless and could be easily addressed with topical medication, it is, unfortunately, a condition I would have to deal with the rest of my life.

Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition characterized by small hard bumps that are often light-colored, hence, the term chicken skin. They make your skin feel like sandpaper and may appear on your back, upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and face.

Chicken skin is formed when a buildup of keratin blocks the opening of a hair follicle. Those with dry skin are usually more likely to have keratosis pilaris. Those with atopic dermatitis (*raises hands*) are also prone to having this skin condition.

My dermatologist prescribed fluocinolone lotion to be applied to affected area twice a day for no more than 7 days. My skin showed significant improvement on the third day. On the 5th day, my skin was smooth and soft already.

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Aside from fluocinolone, my dermatologist also told me to avoid using fabric conditioners on our clothes. She recommended that I shift to cleansers formulated for sensitive skin. She also stressed the importance of keeping my skin moisturized.

Skin Care for Mama’s Sensitive Skin

Even before going to the dermatologist, I had already tried Cetaphil Restoraderm and stopped using all other soaps at home. When I told her about this, she approved and said that it was a great choice and I should continue using it.

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Cetaphil Restoraderm(~845 pesos at Mercury Drug) is a skin restoring body wash that’s formulated for very dry itchy skin. It’s soap-free, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and is gentle enough even on baby’s skin. It contains Shea Butter (butyrospermum parkii butter) that moisturizes the skin.

Of course, it wasn’t enough to address my skin problems but I love how it moisturizes my skin so that I can do without lotion during the day when summer heat is at its warmest. At night, though, I make sure to slather on Aveeno Creamy Moisturizing Oil.

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Aveeno Active Naturals Creamy Moisturizing Oil (575.75 pesos at SM) is my current favorite! My kids love putting it on my arms and legs (makes me feel so pampered every single time!) and say it smells like Playdoh (which is probably why they love “playing” with it). My hubby loves it scent too. Most importantly, it relieves my itchy and dry skin. This Aveeno variant has skin-soothing natural colloidal oatmeal and skin moisturizing pure oat oil.

Since I fell in love with the moisturizing oil, I decided to try the Aveeno Active Naturals Moisturizing Bar (189.75 pesos at SM) too. This soap-free cleanser also contains natural colloidal oatmeal that gently cleanses and soothes dry skin. It leaves my skin moisturized so I can do without lotion in the morning. It’s fragrance-free but during the first couple of uses had a faint scent that reminded me of a grain store. It takes some getting used to if you love fragrant soaps. Aside from that faint scent of grain, I’m also loving this Aveeno. It costs less than a third of the price of Cetaphil Restoraderm which makes it more budget-friendly. The only downside would have to be its availability. Only select supermarkets and drugstores carry the Aveeno Active Naturals brand. I bought mine from SM Supermarket.

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I grew up with Cetaphil and have been loyal to the brand for years now but I must say that I’m really loving Aveeno Active Naturals. They will certainly now be part of my skincare regimen.