Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Moody Maria!  I am so thankful for my family and good health.  I am also thankful for my readers and for having the opportunity to speak my mind on this little piece of cyberland. 

As a little food eye candy I will present you with the Thanksgiving Dozen from Georgetown Cupcake.  Look at these Thanksgiving inspired cupcakes....yum. 

Here are the flavors in their Thanksgiving Dozen:
Caramel Apple: Fresh Apple Cupcake with a dulce de leche core topped with a vanilla cream cheese frosting and a dulce de leche star drizzle
Maple Chocolate Chip:  Maple cupcake studded with chocolate chips and topped with a maple cream cheese frosting and a fondant maple leaf
Chocolate Squared:  Georgetown Cupcake's Classic Chocolate topped with turkey fondant decorations.
Pumpkin Spice:  Pumpkin Spice cupcake with a maple-infused cream cheese frosting topped with a fondant maple leaf.

Price: $29 per dozen ($55 including nationwide overnight shipping).  You can order them at: http://www.georgetowncupcake.com/

Keep their website as one of your favorites as you know they will have some great new flavors for the upcoming holiday season.  Wouldn't Georgetown Cupcakes be a delightful hostess gift or a hit at an office party?

Save Money by Trimming your Own Bangs

How to Trim Your Bangs at Home

Sick of spending your hard-earned money every month on bang trims? Skip the salon and do them at home with these pro tips

This is a TotalBeauty.com hair care article Sure, you'd love to trim your bangs yourself -- but the risk factor of looking like Courtney Love pre-makeover is high. We feel you, which is why we talked to Giovanni Vaccaro, hair guru at the Frederic Fekkai Salon in New York City. He shares his no-fail DIY bang-trimming tips. See them

Online Shopping Site Review

With so many online websites, it is nice to hear good reviews on experiences.  My friend just recommended this site to find everything for everyone on your list, from alfred dunner jackets for grandma, or alpine design shoes for mom, or amanda clothing for sister, you will find it all at Become.  This site has a search engine that will find any gift you need and bring you right to the website that offers that product.  It will also show you a picture and comparison prices. 

A time saver:  Instead of searching online and finding outdated items that aren't for sale anymore or out of stock, Become finds products that are actually for sale.  If you enter your zip code, they will give you the tax and shipping costs as well.

Just another tip to make your shopping season a little easier.  Good luck and happy shopping!

Ski Season Basics

It's that time of year again!  You better start looking for scarves, hats, gloves, and womens jackets.  Each year when I hit the slopes in Northern Arizona, I regret not looking earlier. 

The Basics:
Helmet:  It's important for all women (not just kids) to start wearing helmets.  Just remember to toss a cute beanie in your inside pocket to throw on while you relax in the lodge with some warm hot cocoa.

Hats:  Try to buy a material that isn't too itchy.  I have seen many hats that have fleece lining and they look so comfy!

Scarves:  Scarves can even be found everywhere - even drugstores.  Try to find a scarf that can double as an accessory for sports games, picking up the kids at school, and holiday light drives.  I personally like plaid and stripes.  Call me classic!

Gloves:  They now have gloves with the finger that is friendly for electronic devices.  At first I thought these were silly until I tried to use mine with a glove.

Jackets:  Puffers filled with down might look funny or make you look like a marshmallow, but they will sure keep you warm!  Also, look for lots of pockets.  As a mom, these come in handy too often. 

Bibs versus Pants:  It's all a matter of preference or your skiing level.  Personally, I like the pants because bathroom trips are easier.  Again, find some with pockets.

Sunscreen:  Don't forget to lather your face, neck, and ears.  Plus, don't forget a lip balm with a high SPF and keep reapplying.  You don't want to pay for these items at the ski shop either so buy ahead! 

Good luck on the ski slopes and remember safety before style!

Summer is Over, Time to Repair

Now that summer is over, it's time to repair or hibernate.  Time to repair your body by getting lots of sleep.  Time to watch movies in front of the fire and sip green tea.  Time to renew old friendships by sending sentiments of joy.  Time to take in all you did this year and resolve to make new changes for 2012.

One of these changes might be to take better care of your skin and also to protect it with sunscreen.  And on the off chance that you did forget to use sunscreen as much as you hoped, or yours failed you, there are second chances. 

There is an incredible product, that can be found at Nordstrom's.  Admit it, you will be there anyway in the next 30 days of so! 

Stop by the cosmetic counter and ask about this product as a sun spot remover.  Luminaze can break down melanin and show improvements of skin tone eveness in as little as 7 days.  It is also Hydroquinone-free.  It is safe for all skin types, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic. 

A great product that might just be on wish list this holiday season!

 

FREEZE IT Hairspray review

I am so happy! I found another hairspray to use and it works.  I was getting frustrated with my standard hairspray because my scalp starting itching every time I used it.  My mom suggested switching brands and seeing if it helped.  Luckily, I had the opportunity to test FREEZE IT hairspray.

The first night I used FREEZE IT was on Halloween.  I decided at the last minute to be a gypsy and I wanted my curls to be a little wild and stand out more.  I started using a little and was amazed to see how far a little went.  I sprayed a little more just to make sure it would hold and my hair stayed in place all night.  It brushes out easily too and doesn't make your hair sticky.

Now I have been using it on a daily basis and it makes my hair stay full.  Another great thing about it is the patented optical brighteners that actually make my hair look a little more glossy.  Oh and the itch I had?  It's gone since I have switched to this hairspray. 

Luckily, it won't be hard to find this hairspray because it is available at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, & CVS.

Another sidenote: The bottle I tested was gold and pink because FREEZE IT partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer.  Actually, they were the only mass-market hair care brand to partner with the charity.  Bravo FREEZE IT!  That is the kind of company I want to support.

http://www.freezeithair.com/


*I received a sample for review.

Boot Envy

I promised myself at the end of last winter that I would buy a really cute pair of boots in Fall 2011 and wear them all winter.  Guess what?  It hasn't happened.  I walk into DSW completely overwhelmed and just walk out.  Then I head over to Famous Footwear with my coupons in hand.  Nothing.  What is wrong with me?  I look online and everything looks great but it is so hard to buy boots online and expect them to fit.  I just hate return items through the mail.

Kate is like the ultimate example of how to wear boots.

Just a little boot vent.  All the moms at our school have cute boots and I am feeling a bit left out.  Let me know if you know of any great deals. 

Contest Winners

I have two contest winners to announce:

The Keri lotion giveaway was Amanda.  Congratulations Amanda!

The Conair You Wrap and Wave Iron was Julie.  Enjoy this awesome prize Julie!

Thank you for entering everyone and for liking me on Facebook.  There is another giveaway in the works and it will make your dry winter lips smooth and sweet.  Can't wait to post it!

Acne and Blue Light Technology

Here I am at 40 years old and I still have acne!  It is driving me crazy and I actually used some benzoyl peroxide the other night.  The smell reminded me of my junior high days and how depressing it was to slather this stuff on my face.  I wish I had know more about skincare back then and used a little less. 

I have been doing research on whether I should start using another product that is gentler on my skin and also address the aging process.  I found this awesome little device made by Tanda, called the ZAP acne spot treatment device.  It uses blue light technology to clear your skin.  It uses sonic vibration to open pores and then the blue light kills bacteria.  This product seems like it would actually work and is clinically proven to work.  Imagine how great it would be to perform anti-aging light treatment in your home and not at a spa.

I am thinking this will be on my Christmas wish list!  They also have a product that is specifically for anti-aging.  Hmmm.  Hard to choose.  Here is an interesting timeline they had listed on there site: 


Via: Tanda Skincare

Visit  http://tandaskincare.com/  for more information on their products.  Do you know anyone who has tried blue light technology?

8 Luxe Hair Care Products Beauty Editors Keep Buying

When it comes to products for our hair, we have a few we just can't live without. See what they are

This is a TotalBeauty.com hair care products article Is there a hair care product you love so much you're willing to plonk down a couple hours' pay for it? We've got a few. Here are the spendy salon products we're willing to go broke for. See them

10 New, Sexy Ways to Wear a Bun

The classic bun got a chic style makeover with these 10 creative new ways to tweak this red carpet go-to. See the looks now

This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article The bun was all the rave this year with the style popping up on the runway and the red carpet. Want to see how to get this celeb-favorite look for yourself? See these expert tips now. Get how-tos