OC Family Vintage Mama

Win a $150 Gift Card to Naturalizer!

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:30:00 GMT

The more I think about it the more excited I get. Autumn is nearly upon us and of course that means a wardrobe change! Pea coats, wool hats...and a new pair of shoes! The kind folks over at Naturalizer invited me to give a pair of shoes from their Fall collection a test run, which of course I was not about to refuse since I've been wearing Naturalizer shoes for like 8 years! And surprise, surprise...I LOVE them!

Would you like a new pair of Naturalizer shoes to love and cherish and call your very own? Well here's your chance to win a $150 gift card to buy your new pair of snazzy shoes!

To enter the giveaway simply sign up for my free newsletter!

Want more chances to win? Join in on the chatter on Facebook, Twitter or leave a comment below.

Winner will be announced on TheVintageMama.com on Saturday, September 25.

Good luck ladies!

Fun Things To Do In September Updated

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:39:00 GMT

Way back in March I did a post called 8 {Little Things} to do in March. I was meaning for it to be a regular monthly feature, but in all the hub-bub of trying to keep up with 2 blogs at the time, it was left ignored. I thought I'd bring it back, kick it up a notch, and see if you ladies like it.

The inspiration for the "Little Things" series came from wanting to do simple things for my boys that reminded them how cherished they are. In the monthly Little Things post you'll find fun idea's to celebrate the season and holidays as well as special local events that are old school fun for the whole family.

10 Little Things To Do & See In September

Treat their tummies and noses to some homemade apple butter. Try this simple crock pot recipe that cooks over night and fills the house with the delicious scent of Fall.
September is National Children's Good Manners Month. Teach the little ones some good ol' fashioned manners with this 1936 reprint of Manners Can Be Fun by Munro Leaf.

Make the most of last long, Summer days by taking a stroll after dinner and getting some ice cream!
Introduce the kids to the wonderful world of marble collecting and games! Not sure how to play Ringer or other retro marble games? See this video from LandOfMarbles.com.
Take your little pirates to the Tall Ship Festival in Dana Point. Crafts, food and tons of maritime history highlighted by beautiful, real working ships. Sept 10-12
See some gorgeous, classic cars while helping a good cause at the Coastline Car Classic in Corona Del Mar. Proceeds go to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Sept 12
Ever taken the kids cruisin'? Cruisin' For A Cure is being held at the Orange County Fair Grounds in Costa Mesa. All proceeds from this classic care event help support the Prostate Cancer Program for the City of Hope. Sept 25
Give the kids a taste of Polish culture at the Dozynki Harvest Festival in Yorba Linda. (Mmmm, I can already taste the sausage). Sept 18-19
Join me at the Great Western Grub Fest and Chili Cook-off in San Juan Capistrano. Make sure you dress in your best John Wayne outfit! They'll be awarding the best western attire! Sept 26
What OC family fun list would be complete without a little Disney? Join me and my family to see Mickey's Magic Show! I just know your little rascals are going to love seeing this wonderful magic show done in dazzling Disney style! How about we make it a little sweeter? Enter the code MOM to receive a discount on tickets just for you my darling mama's! Go to Disney Live for more info. Thousand Oaks Sept 24, Long Beach Sept 25-26.

What are you doing for your family this month to give them a little old school, family fun?

Update: I was going to save this {Little Thing} for October when I realized that opening night was October 1st! So if your little ones are in need of even more Disney (is there such a thing as too much Disney) why not treat them to a Disney on Ice ? Mickey & Minnies Magical Journey takes your kids through an adventure featuring 4 of Disney's classics: The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Lilo & Stitch, and Peter Pan (which is my personal favorite).

I've heard awesome things about the choreography, music and performers in this show so my family is definitely on board to go opening night. Care to join me for this magical show in Ontario? You can buy your discounted tickets here by entering the code MOM (yes another discount for you hot mama's) as well as get more show information

For more from Vintage Mama visit TheVintageMama.com

Lose Weight The Old Fashioned Way With Photos

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:24:00 GMT

23 inches in 2 months. That's right honey, I've lost 23 inches in 9 weeks!Besides the wonderful feeling of fitting into my clothes better (and even getting rid of some that were too big, booyah!) there are many surprising benefits that I noticed about getting fit:

Mommy pooch is shrinking. After rascal #1, I was left with the dreaded mommy pooch. When I lost weight before with pure calorie restriction, it did shrink, but it still felt mushy (yuck). Weight training and cardio though seem to shrink the pooch and help firm up the skin. (Increased blood circulation perhaps?)
Mama has energy! You've probably heard about this before: exercising gives you energy. I didn't think I would have this benefit because my thyriod likes to run on low, which means I'm very .... very.... tired... all... the ... time. But exercising until the sweat stings my eyes actually pumps me up and keeps me up long after the workout has finished.
Increased endurance. Being able to go longer running or doing jumping-jacks is all good, but what I really needed was endurance in daily life. Since I started working out, going to Target or the park with the 3 rascals doesn't drain me. How 'bout more endurance in bed? Uh-huh, got that too!

So here are my most recent before and after pictures. The photo on the right was taken June 2010 on our San Diego vacation. The photo on the left was taken yesterday. I didn't start any exercise or serious meal changes until July 2010.I have the same blouse on, but the jeans are different. The jeans I'm wearing in the after photo are 1 size smaller.

What a difference 9 weeks can make, huh?! Though I still have quite a ways to go before I reach my goal, I am so excited about the results I've attained already!

Want to know more about what I'm doing? In the upcoming weeks I will be showing you exactly what I'm doing, who's helping me do it and how you can join me in getting your bombshell body!

Sign up for the free newsletter and never miss a post!

For more bombshell beauty and style for moms visit The Vintage Mama.

Beach Beauty Essentials For Weary Moms

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:56:00 GMT

Traveling anywhere with kids is pretty tough. Traveling to a local beach resort with 3 boys while trying to look glamorous is darn near impossible, but doable as I learned this past weekend.

The Rascals and I were invited to Newport Dunes, a local waterfront resort and marina here in Orange County, Ca. Only thing was that La Bamba had to work that day which meant that I would be on my own with The Rascals at the beach for at least half the day. Perhaps it was the giant mass of water or the tons of sand waiting to be eaten by my baby, but just the thought of it made me exhausted. But how could I pass up a free day at such a fun place or the challenge that a weary mama can still look fab without a lot of fuss (because those kids will fuss enough!).

So here are my Beach Beauty Essentials For Weary Mama's:

I LOVE this sunscreen. It's a super light wieght lotion that goes on super fast which is especially wonderful because you know how kids hate to put sunscreen on or wait for mama to put on hers. Plus it has organic botanicals to fight that nasty sun damage inflammation. All without that icky, sticky sunscreen feeling!

So officially Jack Black's Intense Therapy Lip Balm is suppose to be for guys, but really I think they made it for moms. The squeeze tube ensures that you won't find it all melted in the bottom of your beach bag . The minty fresh sun protection makes this a beach essential! (Note to self: don't let the baby play with it to keep him quiet because he will bury it in the sand never to be found again.)

A simple white cotton dress is such an easy, fresh look. And when you find such a fab dress 50% off at Kohls, well it's all the more sweeter! I was trying to muster the courage to ask the owner of that boat behind me if I could take a picture in it. Obviously I chickened out.

I love dirty beach hair! Sea water and sand is the easiest way to get that sexy, bed head, Bridget Bardot look. Of course I must have my trusty straw hat too! I'm totally singing "...at the Copa, Copa Cabana..." as I lounge in my cabana here.

So no matter how diligent you are with the sunscreen, sun damage is bound to happen. That's why I'm loving Derma-e Age-Defying Lotion in Orange Blossom. It has 2 powerful antioxidants to fight inflammation (which is how the sun damages your skin) and leaves your skin feeling cool and dewy. Oh yes, mama like this.

So those are my beach beauty essentials that will keep you looking glam even when your absolutely exhausted from taking sand out of your children's crevices.

Here's a some more photos of our day at Newport Dunes:

This place was SO much fun! I'm normally not a beach kinda' gal (I know! What kind of a So. Cal. girl doesn't like the beach?), but Newport Dunes has changed my mind. It's so much better than the usual go to the beach and bake in the sun. There were so many fun things to do that it was like a mini vacation. Great time and wonderful memories.

For more beauty and old school family fun visit TheVintageMama.com.

{Intimacy} The Bra Fit Stylists

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:30:00 GMT

Hey gals! Hope your enjoying the last bit of Summer. I know I am! I've been busily getting my curriculum ready for next year and it looks like it's going to be a busy one! Fun, but very busy.

Well last night my sister and I were invited to sip champagne, eat cupcakes (mmmm...red velvet) and have a proper bra fitting by the specialists at {Intimacy} in the South Coast Plaza

I've mentioned about the importance of getting fitted by an expert and not the sales girl of the lingerie department in a previous post. I cannot stress that enough. Seriously, it'll change your life.

Because breasts can change with weight loss, gain and pregnancy, I knew I was due for another fitting (my last one was about a year and a half ago). What I didn't know was that getting fitted for a bra does not necessarily mean using a measuring tape and complicated calculations.

At {Intimacy} they began the fitting process by having me fill out a simple questionnaire that helped reveal my concerns and needs in a bra. Next I was whisked away (with a glass of bubbly of course) to the fitting room where my specialist went over my questionnaire and examined how my current bra fit.

Apparently my bra band was a bit on the loose side and my cups were a touch too large. I tried on about 10 beautiful, lacy bra's (most of which fit me perfectly) and chose one delicious chocolate bra by Simone Perele.

This bra fitting was SO much better than my last one (which included them touching my bare breasts and a wonderful comment about my breasts being small. Seriously.). {Intimacy} bra specialists are the real deal. Professional, efficient and friendly.

Don't live in the OC. {Intimacy} has shops all over the country. Check out their website to find your nearest one.

Also, when you head on over to {Intimacy} in the South Coast Plaza, make sure you stop and have a glass of wine at the swanky Seasons 52 right next door where my devilishly handsome brother will be the head sommelier when it opens next month.

Have a great weekend dolls!

Ever Feel Like You "Let Yourself Go"?

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:46:00 GMT

I recently asked this question on Facebook. One betty said she didn't feel like she let it happen more so than let everything else get in the way. Another betty said she did let herself go after her son but luckily got herself out of that funk.

As a mama of 3 boys, I totally understand the challenges with keeping up with your personal care, fitness and style. But "letting yourself go" isn't really about not being able to keep it all up, but rather it means just flat out giving up.

I was once there. For about 2 years after my son I had pretty much given up on my skincare, makeup and fashion. I wore the same tired jean skirts everyday. My hair was never styled. I hardly ever wore makeup except for a bit of lip gloss on Sundays.

But it really doesn't matter what I wore or how I combed my hair. It was really about attitude. My attitude was that of "why bother?".

I was feeling pretty depressed at the time (could have been preggo hormones) and I was just self loathing. At the time I told myself that there was not enough time or money (you know how kids seem to suck it all up), but it was just my way of avoiding the fact that I just was not going to try anymore.

Luckily my passion for skincare was rekindled and that started a domino effect. Starting a handcrafted beauty business, going back to school, earning my esthetics license, landing a great job as a lead esthetician all gave me a great sense of pride and accomplishment and as result I started taking care of myself again. Remember it's about attitude.

Of course there are a whole new set of challenges now that I'm a mama of 3, but this whole "letting myself go" attitude is no longer one of them.

So how do you know if you've "let yourself go" or just let life get in the way? Here are some things I noticed when I was in my funk:

Do you wear your comfy clothes most of the time? (Versus wearing it because it's laundry day or house cleaning day)
When you do your makeup or style your hair do you feel uninspired or think of it like a chore? (Versus finding it difficult to do for lack of time or knowledge of how to do it.)
Do you tell yourself someday you'll be fit when in reality your doing almost nothing to achieve that goal? (Versus thoughtfully considering your food choices and doing some exercise yet not achieving your goal.)
Does your skincare routine, if you have one, feel like a burden and boring? (Versus being frustrated over not finding the right products or routine for your skin)

Do you ever feel like you've given up on taking care of yourself?

Have you been in this sort of "funk" and got yourself out?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

For more glam inspiration visit TheVintageMama.com

Pretty, Pretty Lipsticks

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:22:00 GMT

I just love a pretty lipstick, don't you? A beautifully packaged lipstick takes it to another level of fabulousness when you swipe a gorgeous color on your lips, then you tuck the pretty tube in your makeup bag . A cheap thrill, yes, but a thrill none the less.

Here are some pretty lipsticks I found that are just begging to come home with me (or perhaps it's me that is doing the begging). They're so cute it'll make you pout!

Lip Color Sheer in Jo by Stila*

Shine Lip Color in Sarah by Stila*

Read My Lips Lipstick in Wanted by theBalm*

PlantLove Lipstick in Sarah Chalke by Cargo*

Lip of Luxury Lipstick in Sex Kitten by Too Faced*

Lipstick in Sellout by Urban Decay*

Lip Lust in No.1 Naughty Red by POP Beauty*

Enchanting Lipstick in Besame Red by Besame Cosmetics*

Rouge Volupte in Red Taboo by Yves Saint Laurent*

Full-finish Lipstick in La La Land by Benefit*

Painted Love Lipstick in Misfit by Kat Von D*

Which lipsticks are you pouting for? Know of any other lipsticks in a pretty little package? Let me know in the comments below!

* affiliate links

For more vintage fabulousness visit TheVintageMama.com. And don't forget to pour yourself a martini and join the chatter on Twitter and Facebook too!

Bubbles, Elephants, & A Discount

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:04:00 GMT

The Rascals and I were invited to a backstage sneak peak at the Ringling Bros Circus to watch the elephants bathe. You know me, I can't pass up the opportunity to watch pachyderms lather up! Here are some photos from our tour:

(Scroll down to the end for a discount code for the circus)

The Rascals really enjoyed it. I invited my sister and her rascals (yes she has 3 boys as well) and they were thrilled to see the elephants, props and clowns backstage. I highly recommend taking your family to see The Ringling Bros circus. They don't call it The Greatest Show On Earth for nothing!

For an awesome family 4 pack of tickets for only $48, enter the code "MOM" at checkout in Ticketmaster.

To kick it old school with Lydia visit her blog TheVintageMama.com or stop to chat ontwitter and facebook.

I Need A Drink...Of Water

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:43:00 GMT

I'm terrible at remembering to drink my water. Like super bad. I will go a whole day without one sip of life giving water. What makes it even worse is that I'm going to boot camp (we'll have to talk more about that later), so I know my body is incredibly dehydrated after the buckets I sweat during class. No matter how much my hubby nags me, my sister texts me and my classmates brag about how water helped them to lose 2 lbs in a week, I forget to drink my water.

So in order to remind and motivate myself I've come up with these creative ways to drink my water:

Buy the fancy water. Treating myself to the fancy Evian, Figi and Voss water is definitely a motivator to drink more water. Tap water may be cheaper, but the fancy stuff tastes way better.
Flavor it naturally. I love how spa's always have a big glass pitcher filled with cool water and floating lemon slices, cucumber slices or strawberries. Not only does it look lovely, but it flavors the water ever so slightly.
Add some zing on the go. Sometimes plain water can taste blah, especially if it's not the fancy water. Many people swear by Crystal Light, but fake sugar (aka aspertame) is a big no-no for me. So instead I'm going to use True Lemon Crystallized Fruit that will add a zingy lemon flavor and vitamin C without the funky fake sugar and other nasties.
Glam up the water bottle. Cafe Press has a ton of cute already designed Sigg water bottles or I can design my own (which I probably will) on their website.
Drink from a pretty glass. I have these lovely water gobletsthat I hardly ever use. Serving up slightly chilled water in a pretty glass makes drinking water all the better.
Get creative with ice cubes. I was thinking of dressing up my ice cubes by putting some mint leaves in the tray before freezing. Or instead I can use frozen grapes or watermelon wedges as ice cubes.

So those are the ways I'm going to make drinking water a more pleasurable experience.

Do you have any creative ways to turn plain ol' water into something fun or pretty?

My Brother Is In Jail

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:27:00 GMT

I debated on whether to post this or not. My emotions over all of this are still very raw and I'm not sure how my family will react to me sharing something so personal. Writing is very therapeutic for me so I hope you don't mind me sharing.

My brother's in jail. Right now, as I write this, my little brother is sitting in jail with 2 felony charges. He's only 20 years old. He has a court date later this month that will determine whether he stays or gets out. I've been terribly depressed about this. I've cried and cried and have been praying passionately for him. So how the heck did this happen? In my opinion, his dad failed him.

My mom remarried when I was 6 yrs old to an alcoholic. Both my mom and step-dad prayed for a son to add to our family of girls and in October 1989 their prayer was answered with J.

I don't remember J being an especially troublesome kid (wait, he once pee'd on my Barbies and liked to shove things up his nose). He was awfully curious though, often taking apart his toys to see how they worked. He also loved wearing his Superman costume with his cowboy boots. I once tickled him so much, he cried.

He was the only one of us kids to go to a Christian school. He was an average student, very athletic and had many Christian friends. He accepted the Lord as his Savior and was baptized at age 8. He even preached the Gospel to me when I was lost.

Growing up though, he was disciplined differently then us girls. Sometimes his dad was very, very stern with him, but most of the time he pretty much left J without direction. I remember coming home one day from school to find J eating his Flintstones vitamins as if they were candy. Of course I told my step-dad, but instead of taking them away and correcting him, he said he'd be okay.

On the other hand, my step-dad was very strict with us girls. It was a rare occasion that we were allowed to go out with friends or even more rare to have friends over. We were careful to be respectful and knew our place in the family.

But hey, we were teenagers too and we screwed up. If we were caught drinking, it was the first and the last time. J however not only drank in front of my parents, but his dad allowed J to go out knowing that he was going to be drinking!

Us girls had to ask for permission to go out on the weekend., J's dad allowed him to spend the weekend at his girlfriends house. THE WEEKEND!

The moment I was suspected of doing drugs I was in rehab for a month. J however was never even given a stern warning by his dad.

When I was hanging out with the wrong people I was quickly whisked away out of the county to get away from bad influences. J hung out with the wrong crowd and soon there were death threats against him. He was even asked to leave his private school in order to protect the other students, just in case they sought him out there. I think that called for being taken out of the country! But he wasn't.

My mom did the best she could parenting J(basically as a single parent with a dysfunctional, alcoholic spouse) and encouraged him to pursue a career in law enforcement. He did and things did get better for a while. He even went to a Police Cadet Boot Camp. We were all so proud of him. He signed up for the Marines and he was on his way to a career in the military like he always dreamed.

However, without the direction of his dad he started falling into bad habits again. Right before he had left for the Marines, he met a girl and soon after she was pregnant. The stress of becoming a father soon proved to be to much and he was discharged.

Since then it's all been a blur of partying, having another baby, disappearing, living on the street, stealing, lying, constant arguing, an addiction, warrants, violence, more death threats and now an arrest.

And where is his dad? Laying in bed with a beer, depressed that his son is in jail. Pathetic.

We live in a culture that often belittles and even stupefies dads and fatherhood. There's no doubt about it, J's life would have been very different if his dad had taken a more active roll and actually parented J.

I don't know what is going to happen to my brother. All I can do is pray and wait for the perfect Father in Heaven to intervene and for J to be accepting of His guidance. As for my step-dad, I hope this is a wake-up call for him as well.

Update: J was finally allowed some visitors and from what they tell me he is feeling more alone than ever. He is desperate to get out, but the "friends" he was counting on to bail him out seemed to have disappeared (duh!). He'll just have to wait for his court date...which happens to be his sons first birthday. I'm going this weekend to visit him. We'll see how that goes.

Visit Lydia on her blog TheVintageMama.com or stop by to chat on twitter and facebook.

Wish Tantrums Lasted Forever

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:14:00 GMT

I hear it all the time. I even catch myself saying it to new parents..."Enjoy them while they're young because the grow up so fast". After hearing it and saying it so much, it began to lose it's meaning. But last week I was reminded of how precious this time really is.

We took The Rascals to go see Toy Story 3. It was a particularly tough day as Froggy has been in a biting frenzy and Spanky was extra annoyed with everyone. But we made it to the theater all in one piece...only to wait in a line for the movie. Oh great! Let's see what whining, biting, dropping of food mess these boys will get into while we wait.

So I stood there, trying to eat my hot dog while dodging Froggy who was trying to grab the dog and was now screaming in frustration. Spanky was with dad eating the only wheat-free, semi nutritious thing they had in the menu, bon-bons, which were melting in his hands because he insisted on holding one in each hand. Alfalfa wasn't much drama except for his uncanny ability to spill or drop food...which he did...on his lap.

So as I sat there trying to compose myself so as not to get heartburn from the hot dog I just wolfed down, I see a mom and her 3 teenage boys sitting across the way from me. She looked relaxed as she chatted on her cell. She wasn't worrying about nap times, snack times, or chocolate oozing from thier hands and onto their shoes. She just sat and chatted.

The boys were just as calm. No shoving, biting, or throwing of toys at heads. They just sat, and whispered to eachother and....wait....did he just....yes he did!

He just checked out that girl!

Oh, no! So did the brothers!

And they did it again.

And again.

Then I realized that one day those boys would be my boys! My cute, cuddly boys who give me kisses and sing to me Twinkle, Twinkle and whose eyes light up when I give them ice cream and tell me "thank you mama!" when they're all done.

One day I won't be their number one girl.

Suddenly all the frustrations and annoyances from earlier that day just melted away. They may be loud, and whiny and difficult, but it's only for a little bit so I better enjoy them while they're young.

To kick it old school with Lydia visit TheVintageMama.com or chat it up with her on Twitter or Facebook.

Woohoo, It's My Song!

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:16:00 GMT

Have you ever heard a song that just makes you feel like it was written just for you? Perhaps it was a sad love song that strum your broken heart strings or a sweet melody that was already playing in your heart. Maybe it's a song that that just makes you so incredibly happy for no other reason then the beat that makes your head bob and your foot tap (and if your like me you'll bite you're lower lip too 'cause you are so feeling it).

Here are my top 10 songs that I swear were written just for me. If you want to hear them while you read, scroll down to the bottom:

Anything, Anything by Dramarama ~ From the first time I heard this song (I was probably 5 or so) I loved it. It is seriously inappropriate for a child to listen to, but I really didn't hear the words. I was more mesmerized by the ripping guitar and raw drums. This song demands to be blasted whenever I hear it, unless The Rascals are near in which case it gets turned down.
Everlong by Foo Fighters ~ When La Bamba and I were deciding on the song we would dance to for our wedding, this song was our first choice. This is our song. However in the end we decided to keep our song just that, our song. We wanted the emotions that this song stirred inside us to be just for us, and not the wedding. I included both the original and acoustic versions because both are so me and La Bamba. Our most favorite line is "breathe out, so I can breathe you in...hold you in". Makes me melt!
Say It Ain't So by Weezer ~ This song got me through some rough teenage times. I love how it starts so mellow and delicate, and then just explodes.Oh and how the guitar sings!
Dancing In Heaven by Q-Feel ~ If you've ever watched Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, then you know why this song rocks! When I hear this song I can't stop myself from twirling and dancing. I've been trying to convince Alfalfa to dance a routine with me, but he hasn't agreed yet. Think I'll ask Spanky because not only does he love to dance, but he doesn't get embarrassed easily. BTW, this song has the most ridiculous video. It almost ruined it for me...almost.
A Little Less Conversation by Elvis ~ If I were a country, this song would be my national anthem. This song is me in every single way. I just LOVE this song!
Baby, It's You by The Beatles ~ I first heard this song when I was in Kindergarten. Even before I knew what romance was, I felt it with this song. It's so simple yet so passionate. Excuse me...I'm getting misty-eyed...
Living On Video by Tans X~ This song reminds me of 3 things. One, cruising with my super cool aunt in her VW convertible when I was a little girl. Two, going out with my delicious hunk of man La Bamba. And 3 of the ridiculous dance I made up for this song called The Muppet Dance. No I'll not demonstrate.
Latinos by Proyecto Uno ~ Oh this song makes me wanna dance! Whenever my sister and I would be getting ready to go out in our single days, this song was usually playing in the background. I also have a priceless video of Alfalfa dancing to this song in his tighty-whiteys when he was 3 yrs old.
Cheek to Cheek by Fred Astaire ~ This song is so sweet and carefree. Makes put on my silky robe, a feather boa sway and click my heels. Ah, nostalgia...
Amazing Grace ~ This song, particularly when done in bag pipes, stirs something very deep in my soul. I'm just so weak and surrendered when I hear it. I also sing this to my Rascals as their lullaby. Could be the most beautiful song my heart will ever feel.

Surprised by my list? What songs would you swear were written just for you?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! The winner of the $25 gift certificate to Adore Vintage will be announced Thursday July 22nd.

Vintage Crafting in Fullerton

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:44:00 GMT

Hello again! On yesterdays post I shared with you a bit about the place I call home, Fullerton, and what a lovely vintage place it is to be.Today I want to show you one of the many boutiques in Fullerton that specializes in vintage jewelry, crafting, art supplies. Wow...even that description doesn't really begin to describe the awesomeness of this shop. How about we take a commercial break so I can gather my thoughts...

More awesome than words right? In fact Nancy Jamar, the owner of this wonderful store, and I discussed how silly and utterly wonderful something as simple as an old, rusty, Victorian button can make us feel. Well it may be silly to the rest of the world (and to my hubby whom I now call La Bamba), but it is the thread that binds lovers of nostalgia everywhere!

So if your into that whole silly nostalgia thing, then you'll be as giddy as a school boy when you walk into Gilding The Lily!

Nearly everything you see, from the Victorian brass buttons to the out of print paper, are antiques. And those items that are not antiques are carefully crafted reproductions, such as Gilding The Lily's very own line on cast iron replicas and Swarovski rosary chains.

Nancy also has one of the largest collections of authentic Miriam Haskell pearls! I admit I had to be schooled on why Miriam Haskell pearls are such a big to-do. Well I read up on Miriam Haskell jewelry and all I have to say is "hotcha!". I want some pearls too!

Gilding The Lily has many local artists that purchase their supplies from there. Even Disney costume designers come by to shop the hard-to-find treasures. Yes this shop is truly unique and charming, which is probably why is was featured in Romantic Homes Magazine.

Gilding The Lily also hosts several classes and workshops throughout the month, so if your like me feeling overwhelmed by the vintage inspiration, a class might be just the thing.

You can find out about the next class on their class blog GildingTheLilyClasses and more about the shop at GildingTheLilyVintage.

Experience the vintage euphoria by visiting the shop at:

305 N. Harbor Blvd. suite101

Fullerton, 92832

714-680-8893

GildingTheLilyVintage@yahoo.com

Can't shop in person? You can also find many of Nancy's treasures online @ VintageDesignResource.com

Toodle-loo!

For more from Lydia "Vintage Mama" Poblano, visit VintageBeautyBlog or follow her tweets here.

The Perfect Pin Up Red

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:30:00 GMT

Hey dolls! Sorry for the late Saturday post. I got caught up working on a project I have for you ladies and then it took me forever to edit the video (which is long over due). But anyway, here's my first talkie!

Can you tell I love this lip color? In real life it is more of a bright, cherry red with blue under tones. Because it has those blue undertones a wider range of skin colors can wear it and look awesome. You can purchase the Nouba Millebaci Long Lasting Lip Color on Amazon (affiliate link) which just happens to sold by my former employer BeautyEncounter.

So I hope you enjoyed my video. Honestly it took me forever because I get so tongue tied (well, that and my rascals are usually too noisy in the background), but I hope to make more very soon.

Have a lovely weekend!

The Evolution Of The Tantrum

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:50:00 GMT

Seems that my baby has been learning a thing or two from his older brothers. I just wish I had captured the wail...no, shriek, that came out of this sweet baby boy.

My ears nearly bled.

Oh well, next time.

There's always a next time.

For more from Lydia "Vintage Mama" Poblano visit VintageBeautyBlog and TheVintageMama.

Are Home Facials As Effective As Professional Ones?

Mon, 31 May 2010 10:05:00 GMT

Despite what you have read on eHow, you will not get the same results from home facials as you would professional ones. I'm really sorry to bust this myth (okay maybe I'm not) but somebody has tell he truth around here. Here are the reasons why you won't get the same result at home:

We use professional stuff. Many times the products we use are made available only to professionals, so you probably won't be able to get your hands on it. If you did manage to get your hands on some professional-only use stuff you won't know how to safely use it (see number 2)
We know how and when to use it. I know this isn't rocket science, but it is science. Some products can do some serious damage used incorrectly. I remember one customer at the boutique who was desperate to find a heavy duty moisturizer for her parched skin. When I asked her more questions (so I could recommend the right product) she admitted that she had given herself a chemical peel (yikes!). She wanted to save a few bucks so she bought it online. What she didn't know was that the peel she used is a doctor-use-only product that burned the top layer of her skin. Please don't try this at home honey.
We know skin. You may know if your skin is blemish prone, sensitive, or oily, but what you don't know can make all the difference when it comes to facials. For example, often times I would have clients complain that their was dry because they saw flakiness, however I knew that the flakiness was actually layers of dead skin peeling off. Different condition=different treatment.
We have gadgets. Oh yes we have gadgets galore! Ozone steamers, radio frequency, micro-current, galvanic, microderm, oxygen...the list goes on and on. Unless your willing to invest $1000 or 2 and the time to learn how to use this wonderful gadgets, you won't get the same results at home.
We have the magic touch. This is the number one thing that really makes the difference in my opinion. Massage has a profound effect on the overall condition and health of the skin. Although you can give yourself a wonderful facial massage ( I do them on myself all the time) there is something otherworldly that happens when you can completely let yourself go and enjoy the bliss that comes from a luxurious facial massage. Your skin gets rosy, plump and absolutely fabulous.

So does that mean that home facials are pointless? Absolutely not! Home facials are essential to healthy glamorous skin. If you get professional facials, they help to maintain and continue your results. And if you don't do professional treatments, then home facials are are going to be your backbone to your skin care regiment.

Do you treat yourself to some lovely home facials? Tell me more!

Retro Safety Tips For Kids, Right On!

Sat, 22 May 2010 15:07:00 GMT

Lately my Froggy has been waking me up at the unholy hour of 6am (doesn't he realize mama needs all the beauty rest she can get?), but it was actually a very good thing that he did otherwise I would have never found the special presentation on TV featuring Retro Bill.

Retro Bill is a spokesperson, adviser, presenter, advocate and all around great guy that gives kids tools and info on how to stay safe. Sadly it's been shown that the original DARE videos and program that we all saw as kids are pretty ineffective, (I think it even made me more curious to tell you the truth), but Retro Bills videos on drugs are very well done!

In fact Alfalfa and I used the show that I recorded on the TV as part of our studies this week. It opened up tons of conversation between us and answered tons of questions he didn't even realize he had.

Retro Bill has many more great videos like "What to do if your home alone and someone comes to the door" and "What kind of touching is okay?" Check out a few of his uploads on youtube:

Cool, huh?You can purchase the complete dvd series and even an autographed photo on his website for very reasonable price. *Right on!*

"Like" Retro Bill on facebook and follow his tweets to connect and learn more about this great guy!

For more retro fun check out my other blogs VintageBeautyBlog.com and TheVintageMama.com

Wiggle It, Just A Little Bit

Wed, 19 May 2010 09:35:00 GMT

My family called me a wiggle tail because I was a little skinny, wiry kid full of energy ~Diana Ross

{Buxom Perfume Oil by WigglePerfume}

You wiggle to the left, you wiggle to the right, you do the Ooby Dooby with all your might ~Roy Orbison

{Jelly Mold Pocket Mirror by McYarnpants}

The Sun in London ran a front page declaring my bum a national treasure. I really did laugh at that. Its not like it can actually do anything, except wiggle ~ Kylie Minogue

{Wiggle Dress by UnforgettableYou}

Life is not a struggle. It's a wiggle ~ Peter McWilliams

{Wiggle Butt Pet Tag by Poochy Couture}

To 'shake one's booty' means to 'wiggle one's butt', allow me to demonstrate ~Homer Simpson

Now go out and wiggle it!

Eyes Tea For Puffy Eyes {Blissful Saturdays}

Sat, 15 May 2010 10:05:00 GMT

Welcome to the very first Blissful Saturday. Blissful Saturday will feature a post about little things that you can do at home to treat yourself to some blissful beauty. The inspiration?

You know you can take the girl out of the spa but you just can't take the spa out of the girl! Especially when it's the spa at the Four Seasons in Paris! One day, one day...

So this weeks Blissful Saturday is all about the eyes. Lets face it, puffy eyes are ugly. The two super easy ways that I would de-puff my clients eyes during a facial were using chamomile tea bags and chilled eye pillow.

Chamomile tea works just as well as eye gels when it comes to relieving swollen lids. To use simply soak two organic chamomile tea bags in warm water for 2 minutes. Gently squeeze a bit of the excess water and set aside or place them in the fridge for for 10 minutes to cool . Then place the moist, cool tea bags over your eyes, sit back and enjoy the bliss for at least 10 minutes.

Another way you can de-puff your eyes is with a cold eye pillow. Some are filled with flax seed, others with a mixture of herbs. Mine is filled with lavender which I keep in the freezer so it's always ready to use. Just place it over your eyes and viola! Instant bliss. I like to sleep with mine on (especially on hot summer nights) so I can wake up feeling refreshed and de-puffed...

er, de-poufed?

Whatever! My eyes are bright and happy!

Have a great weekend dolls!

For more from Vintage Mama visit VintageBeautyBlog or TheVintageMama.

Barnyard Birthday Party Scrapbook

Sat, 08 May 2010 16:56:00 GMT

Last week my Hunny and I were invited to the cutest little barnyard party you ever did see. With barnyard balloon animals, giant pig pinatas, a petting zoo and pony to ride on, this party was a blast! Check it out...

Thank you Brenda and Nick for inviting us to your awesome party! Happy Birthday Giuliana!

Like my scrapbook? Visit Smilebox.com to get yours free!

For more from Vintage Mama visit VintageBeautyBlog.com or TheVintageMama.com

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Fun Things To Do In September *Updated*

10 Little Things To Do & See In September

Lose Weight The Old Fashioned Way With Photos

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Beach Beauty Essentials For Weary Moms

{Intimacy} The Bra Fit Stylists

Ever Feel Like You "Let Yourself Go"?

Pretty, Pretty Lipsticks

Which lipsticks are you pouting for? Know of any other lipsticks in a pretty little package? Let me know in the comments below!

Bubbles, Elephants, & A Discount

For an awesome family 4 pack of tickets for only $48, enter the code "MOM" at checkout in Ticketmaster.

I Need A Drink...Of Water

My Brother Is In Jail

Wish Tantrums Lasted Forever

Woohoo, It's My Song!

Here are my top 10 songs that I swear were written just for me. If you want to hear them while you read, scroll down to the bottom:

Surprised by my list? What songs would you swear were written just for you?

Vintage Crafting in Fullerton

The Perfect Pin Up Red

The Evolution Of The Tantrum

Are Home Facials As Effective As Professional Ones?

Retro Safety Tips For Kids, Right On!

Wiggle It, Just A Little Bit

Eyes Tea For Puffy Eyes {Blissful Saturdays}

Barnyard Birthday Party Scrapbook

Fun Things To Do In September Updated