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Mom's Day Off

Pretty, quick How to look great in no time at all. by angela bishopPublished: August, 2010

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With school starting again, most of us are finding ourselves with less time on our hands. For moms, that usually means sacrificing “me time” to make sure everybody else gets to where they need to go.     Getting ready quickly doesn't mean you have to just throw your hair in a ponytail, pull on your sweats and giant sunglasses, and go. Use these tips to help you get the most of out your mornings:     Let your hair do itself. For gorgeous curls and waves in no time at all, wrap a small damp section of hair around your finger, and then pin it in place. Repeat until all of your hair is up.     Leave your hair up while you make lunches. Then get the kids dressed, put on a little makeup, straighten up the house and do anything else that needs to be done. Right before leaving, just take all of the clips out of your hair, shake your head and spray lightly with a movable hold hairspray.     Streamline your makeup. Find a tinted moisturizer with a high SPF rating, and you have two products in one. The tint helps even out your skin tone, eliminating the need for a foundation. If you use an oil-free or matte formula, you'll be able to skip the powder, as well. For the rest of the face, a splash of blush, a small bit of light sparkly eye shadow and a dab of lip gloss are perfect for a fresh summery look in just seconds.     Keep your wardrobe simple with basic patterns and solid colors, and you'll have more variety with fewer pieces – no more searching the laundry room for the only top that matches your skirt. When you tone down the outfit, you can be a little more creative with your accessories. Angela Bishop is a mom blogger at ocfamily.com. Read her other great tips at Beauty Store Dropout. •> GET SERENE Who needs TLC more than Mom? You can win a day of indulgence and beauty at Serenity Spa and Salon in Seal Beach (see our July issue for a review).     Serenity Day Spa and Salon’s experts will treat you to a blissful facial, a manicure and pedicure, and a shampoo and blow-dry.     The friendly technicians, estheticians and stylists will be glad to consult with you about hair and skin care, and give tips on how you can maximize your look. Go HERE to enter. Congratulations to last month’s winner: Donna Claxton of Aliso Viejo. •> BLINDING PAIN Get the story on migraines By Tamirra Stewart A few years ago, a popular news program ran an episode about migraines. The video showed people on their hands and knees, gently pressing their heads against a wall. For those of us who suffer from migraines, this actually makes sense; the pressure slightly relieves the pain. For those who don’t, we merely look insane.     While symptoms vary from person to person, migraines generally begin as a “moderate to severe pain on one or both sides of the head that has a pulsing or throbbing quality,” according to the Mayo Clinic. It just gets better as time passes: Nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, usually follow.     It probably isn’t breaking news that more women than men suffer from migraines. According to the U.S. Department of Health, three out of four people who get migraines are women. What might come as a surprise is that kids get migraines, too. Dr. Andrew McIntosh, a pediatric neurologist in Laguna Hills, says that almost one-third of his patients are kids suffering from headaches.     “Recurrent headaches can be disabling for children,” he says. “Headaches are the third most common cause of school absenteeism and often result in limitations in sports and other extracurricular activities.”     Although modern medicine has come a long way to help relieve migraines, McIntosh recommends trying alternative methods, such as setting up a comprehensive program that includes identifying and changing migraine triggers. Unfortunately, chocolate is often included.     But when push comes to shove, pharmacological treatments provide a light at the end of a very painful tunnel. Medicines that treat migraines were introduced in the early 1990s and demonstrate 60 percent to 80 percent effectiveness for sufferers. mcintoshneurology.com. Tamirra Stewart is a regular contributor to OC Family magazine. •> PACIFIC WATERS PREGNANCY PACKAGE By Kara-Noel Lawson As soon as your pregnancy test reads positive, you naturally begin to anticipate the new member of your family. What you may not anticipate is bloated feet, achy muscles and hormonal acne. I should know – I’m on baby number three! Luckily, with this pregnancy, I was also given the opportunity to enjoy the Bundle of Joy package at Pacific Waters Spa at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach.     I arrived late (of course) at the beachside hotel, and after taking advantage of the complimentary valet parking, I was whisked away to the spa, nestled in the heart of the elegant hotel. From the moment you step into Pacific Waters, you feel relaxed. The staff is all smiles, you can hear fountains bubbling, and it smells like, well, a spa!     After tucking my things away in the women’s lounge, I waddled to my first scheduled treatment, a Moisture Surge Facial, in my white fluffy robe. My friendly esthetician was Yen. She promised me that her 23 years of experience would not disappoint, and she was right. My skin felt clean and fresh, and I know I left the room with a “pregnancy glow” I did not have upon arrival.     I had just enough time after the facial for a quick snack before my Baby Love massage. Debbie, my masseuse, knew all the tricks for easing the aches in my growing body.     Let me tell you, after those 60 minutes in heaven, I was feelin‘ the love. Then it was off to my Swell Hand and Foot Treatment. As my belly gets bigger (and bigger and bigger) it becomes impossible to see my toes, let alone paint and pamper them.     My foot technician gave me the works: a warm soak, a perfect paint job and a silky smooth rubdown. Even though my day of pampering was technically at a close, the spa lets you stay as long as you want, to enjoy their many amenities. I chose to relax on the outdoor patio and read Time magazine (okay … People) while my toenail polish dried.     I left Pacific Waters Spa feeling like a new woman, and I can honestly say these are three must-have spa treatments every pregnant gal needs before “labor day.”     Enjoy them all at once for a complete spa day (did I mention that you also get a complimentary lunch?) or spread out the indulgence, as each one is featured on the spa menu. Pacific Waters Spa in Hyatt Huntington Beach 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach 714.698.1234 huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com

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