Free Salma Hayek Birchbox Review

Just when I was about to cancel my Birchbox subscription due to this month's poor selection of items, I got a free Birchbox in the mail! That's two boxes, one for free, in one month. The free Birchbox was curated by Salma Hayek and includes items from her new beauty line, Nuance, which is available at CVS pharmacies.

The box included full-size products of Super Moisturizing Body Cream and Lights Camera Action Eye Trio (shadow, liner and highlighter), as well as travel-sized AM/PM Anti-Aging Supercream, and volumizing shampoo and conditioner. 

Everything is supposedly derived from Mayan/Mexican extracts. The body cream smells amazing, like tea and the hair products have a light citrus scent. I have a feeling I'm really going to like them. I will put the Supercream to good use, and I'm excited about trying out the liner and highlighter of the eye product.

I'm not sure how Birchbox decided who would get the extra boxes, but if you'd like to sign up for Birchbox, please use my link! I'll get 10 points which = $1 to spend on their website.

Since I was thinking of resigning from Birchbox, what do you think about your Ipsy box?
Will you be trying any of the Salma Hayek products?

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HMM: Free 30 Day Butt / Squat Challenge Workout Routine

Swimsuit season is here and we have a beach vacation planned! To literally get my rear in gear, I found this 30 day butt squat challenge routine on Pinterest.

Now, I'm not sure that I even want to think about working up to 250 squats in only one month. But on Day 1, I didn't think I'd be able to get through 50. I just turned on some Fergie and was finished in one song!

I'm on Day 3 now and it's not so bad. I have been doing them too quickly, I think, because I'm not sore at all. I do make sure to check myself in the mirror and keep good form, though. I guess 60 in imperfect form is better than sitting on my butt, right?

Have you started any workout challenges since swimsuit season is here? Want to join me on the squat challenge?

Calendar Photo credit: Boss Chicks
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Georgia Is Two

How did we go from this

to this

in the blink of an eye?

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Spoiler Alert: May 2013 Birchbox Contents

My first thought when opening my May 2013 Birchbox was "Oh my goodness - who signed me up for the hippie mama box?" The contents seemed to be all natural and included toothpaste and green tea for goodness sakes!

I carried it home disappointed and even more disappointed because last month I received an email telling me I would be getting a special box curated by Salma Hayek.

Once I took the little card out and reviewed my Birchbox contents, though, I was a little more excited. Here's what I got:

• amika Obilphica Nourishing Hair Mask - haven't used yet but plan on trying today to start protecting from split ends since I just got a haircut yesterday
• COOLA Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer for Face - this sunblock also has anti-aging ingredients & I do use SPF daily, so I know I'll use this one
• Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste - really Birchbox? I know it's Italian and the best-tasting toothpaste I've ever had, but seriously. Toothpaste? In a beauty box? It doesn't have added fluoride or whitening ingredients and it's $, so I'll just enjoy this tasty sample.
• Smita Color Contrast Eyeliner - tried this out on my hand last night and liked it. It's very smooth and goes on dark. Seems to be better than my favorite YSL pencil, too.
• Runa Guayusa Tea - I rolled my eyes at this but this morning I'm drinking the Ginger Lemongrass flavor and it's pretty good. Of course I iced it and put some Splenda in (the way I always drink green tea). There were four flavors included and all of them sound nice.

What did you get in your beauty box this month?


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Spring 2013 Influenster VoxBox Contents Vlog

I got selected this month for Influenster's Spring VoxBox and made a video to show you the contents.

After my friend Sarah got the last VoxBox, I signed up on Influenster and got put on the wait list for a box. Unlike Birchbox, Ipsy, etc., VoxBox is free but you have to be chosen for it. I think it's pretty random - you don't have to have a blog, you just need to be on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or the like.

Here is my video of the VoxBox contents. If you'd like to sign up with no waitlist, leave your email in the comments. I get to invite five people. Otherwise, if you're interested just go to Influenster.com and sign up.

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Tips for Potty Training & When to Start Potty Training

At the beginning of the year in Georgia's previous Mother's Day Out program, all parents were given a fantastic little booklet with tips for potty training and when to start potty training - basically a discussion of signs to tell if your child is ready yet.

Now that we are nearing Georgia's second birthday (oh my gosh how did this go by so quickly?) and she's become more and more interested in "paw-yee" I got the booklet out to brush up on readiness signs and decide when we should start potty training.

After reviewing tons of online advice and reading a couple of books, I found this little booklet to be the most helpful. And, as they pointed out, the school has helped train thousands of kids over the years. I initially wanted to do the three day potty training that I've heard so much about but we decided that putting the ball in Georgia's court was what would work best for our family.

I'll share the gist of the booklet here in hopes that it gives some good tips for potty training and helps another mommy out. If you have more specific questions let me know and I'll look them up!

Is Your Child Interested in Potty Training?

There are several signs of interest in potty training that children start showing, usually between 18-30 months although all children are different. These signs do not mean that your child is ready for potty training yet, only that they are interested.

Imitates behavior - mommy/daddy going potty

Starting to have an awareness of having a wet or dirty diaper

Says she needs to go potty but rarely does

Tells you when she needs to go after the fact

Goes potty before nighttime bath

Your job right now is to encourage interest but know it could be months before your child is actually ready for full-on potty training. Don't start asking if they have to go potty now, leave it up to them to decide when. The more patience you have now will make a huge difference in the time to come. According to the booklet, long term problems with potty training stem from parents confusing the Interest Stage with the Readiness Stage.

When To Start Potty Training

Finally! You get out of the interest stage and into the readiness stage. Here are the signs that your child is ready to start potty training.

Able to stay dry for 2+ hours

Wakes up dry in the morning or after a nap

Able to anticipate bowel movements

Asks to go potty and more times than not actually does

Uses words to tell you when she needs to go potty

Can pull pants up and down on her own

If your child says "no" that he she doesn't want to potty train now, you must respect that decision. When your child is ready he or she will do well.

This post is getting long, so I'll follow up next week to get into how the heck we are going to start training once she is ready.

Other recommended reading - Toilet Training the Brazelton Way

Happy Mother's Day From Georgia!