Cupcakes?! I'll Show You Cupcakes!

Each week in my son's Pre-K class they share something special from home that starts with the letter they are working on that week. This week it was the letter 'C'. I've been fighting a head cold so this week sharing wasn't so special...no biggie, they're 4 years old, right. Honey, go pick out a few cars to share. Check. Done.

Off we went, pajamaa pants and all thank you very much, and in the school kitchen with a spotlight shining down (well, maybe I made that part up) is a platter of cupcakes - home made, organic (said in a snotty voice) 'colorful cupcakes with candied cherries'. "Mom! All those words strat with 'C'! Isn't that cool?" Yeah, babe, cool. Kick Mama while she's down.

So my little one and I head home and I start plotting my revenge against Organic Mom. Okay, maybe not revenge, but what am I going to do for 'D' week...a four course dinner for toddlers? A delicious dessert? A bunch of dandelions for the teacher? Kathy Griffin to explain her life on the D-list? It might be 'D' week, but Mama's bringin' her A game baby!

So while I sort all that out I decided to get my boys involved in dinner tonight. We made dinner cupcakes - so there. Macaroni noodles, broccoli, chicken, carrots and cheese baked til adorable in a muffin tin. You want cupcakes? I'll show you cupcakes! Oh, and by the way, some of my ingredients were organic...boo-yaaaaa!

Kids Are Funny ;)

Mama wasn't feelin' great today so the kids watched cartoons and (thankfully!) played nicely together. They were playing with toys they forgot they had - like good ol' Mr. Potato Head.

They were so proud of the completed product and ran (squealing)to me with Mr & Mrs. Potatos and screamed "Mama! Look! It's you and Daddy!".

Well, today I kinda feel like a couch potato so maybe I do resemble Mrs. P, but I swear I don't own any oversized visors! I especially like that my older son packed extra mustaches for Mr. P "just in case". Yeah, just in case that potato needs a disguise he has one right in his back pocket/pouch thing-y. Kids are funny.

 

Emmys!

Best Dressed, Worst Dressed & Clothes That Make You Go, Huh?!?

I'm a sucker for awards shows. I don't care if they are four hours long. I watch it all - and the pre-show and the red carpet. I get sucked in to the glamour, the attempts at humor from each presenter, the  upsets, the insane dress choices - I love it all!

The red carpet this year was all over the place. From classic Hollywood beauty (Malin Akerman & Carrie Underwood from the waist up) and clean lines (Tina Fey I'm impressed!) to sheer skirts and straight up WTF was she thinking. You can click through the pretty dresses online, let's get right to the crazy.                           

Amanda Peete is that you under your goth Halloween costume? Is that a super hero mask over your boobies unknown girl? White pumps? Just no. Wow, is it just me or is Paula Abdul's head like eight sizes too big for her body? And, Lena, come on girl. You're the break through chick that's teaching Hollywood that you don't have to be a twig with a supermodel face to kill it in this business and ...you choose to wear a bedspread to the Emmy's? Come on Girls! Seriously, this is a real question. Did you pay a stylist to put together this look? Run and get your money back...now.

As for the show itself, I love me some Doogie Howser! NPH's hosts of Emmys past skit was brilliant, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were the highlight of the night for me,  Julia Louis-Dreyfus gave the most clever acceptance speech, Bill Hader (AKA Stefon!) was robbed, and Will Ferrell - and kids - were hands down the best presenters of the night!

So, I know, these nights (and maybe my comments, sorry) can be heavy on the superficial side, but honestly the best of the best were the women who exuded confidence and humor. Sofia Vergara and Tina Fey were my two absolute favorites. Both are smart, funny, confident women who absolutely killed it on Emmy night!

                      

All pictures from: http://www.eonline.com/

Beauty: Drug Store vs. Department Store

CoverGirl Fresh Complexion Pocket Powder 
vs.
Chanel Double Perfection Lumiere Powder

                                                         

I have tons of products from both Nordstrom and Target. I thought it would be fun to take a look at my favorite products from each store to see how they compare. From mascara, to face powder, eye makeup remover pads and more I’ll let you know how they stack up. Expensive doesn’t always mean better so lets see what beauty treasures we can find! This week it’s Cover Girl versus Chanel…a face powder show down!

A standard stocking stuffer from my hubby each year is the Chanel Double Perfection powder in Tender Bisque ($52.20), which I’m pretty sure he calls ‘lobster bisque’ when he’s at the Chanel counter at Nordstrom! Hey, he’s at my favorite store buying makeup so I’ll let that slide – the Chanel girl knows what he’s trying to say ;). Anyhow, I LOVE this make-up, but have a hard time spending $50+ on it. Don’t get me wrong I adore the fancy things, but when I know Cover Girl Fresh Complexion powder exists for $6, well Coco has some competition.

The Chanel powder is more than a pressed powder, but not wet like a concealer either. It’s the perfect mix providing amazing coverage (and zero shine!) without feeling heavy or cake-y . I feel like my skin can still breathe! The powder makes my skin tone even and smooth without any additional concealer or foundation. Blemishes vanish and I have never experienced any acne break-outs from using Chanel Double Perfection.

Prior to using either of thee products, I had a problem with my powder making my face seem to ‘glow’ in pictures. I asked the makeup gal about this and she said some powders have reflective qualities that makeup artists say aren’t used for photo shoots or on film. Well, I won’t being doing any photo shoots soon, but I don’t want my face to look like a big, shining moon in pictures either! You won’t have that problem with this luxurious powder. The colors are great, it’s lightweight, and a little powder seems to go a long way. My compact tends to last 4-6 months. Hands down one of my favorite new products in the last couple of years.

So, now, the Cover Girl alternative. First off, the price is awesome! If I’m just running around with my kids, but still want basic makeup on I use my inexpensive Cover Girl Fresh Complexion Pocket Powder in Ivory. It’s lightweight like the other powder, but the coverage isn’t quite as good. Most mornings that’s okay though. I just want a touch of powder to even out my skin tone and take away any shine. If I want to achieve the same finish as the Chanel powder, I just have to use a bit more product. I definitely don't like the application pad as much for this powder and it appears to get sort of oil-y with use. By the time the compact is getting low you're really ready for a new one simply to see a bright white, fresh applicator! This can lead to slight acne issues if you wait too long. Hey, for six bucks just get a new compact. You know you want to go to Target anyway!

So overall, I keep both powders in my makeup bag. Cover Girl for every day (like errands to buy more beauty products) and Chanel for when I'm wearing something nicer than yoga pants and flip flops! The drug store product definitely holds its own in this comparison and is a great alternative to it's department store rival.