FOR SINGLES ONLY

Hey!  You're not single!  But that's ok...you're welcome to read on....you never know.

Embrace Your Singleness!

On Friday, couples everywhere will be celebrating their love for one another.  That's so sweet, isn't it?  (insert that face you're making here) For those of you who won't be sharing an embrace, opening up a gift, showered with flowers, wined, dined and all that comes with it, it's time to make a change, that is, if you're ready.

Be Ready.

Here's the deal.  No matter if you're over 40 or under it's about putting the best YOU forward.  I was recently asked by a 37 year old woman if I knew of someone I could introduce her to.  She claims she's done online dating for a few months and didn't find anyone she liked. She's cute, athletic, divorced,  no children...sounds like a catch, right?  But then I asked to see her online profile, this is where I realized what went wrong.  She was attracting the wrong kind of guy.  In fact, she wasn't attracting any!

What NOT to Write. 

I decided to do a little spying.  I went online and read a lot of online profiles of both men and women.  What I realized pretty quickly is that most people have NO IDEA WHAT TO SAY!  Here's an example of a recent profile:

(Single Woman) "Iam looking for a good hearted man with a sense of humor.someone who is honest and caring someone who is active and spontaneous a lover of animals the beach I hate couch potatoes lol..."

Ok, first of all, who doesn't want a good hearted, honest, caring man?  Right off the bat, this tells a guy what YOU want, not WHO you are.  I beg of you, plead with you, if you're writing your online profile please use correct grammer, and  remember, you're not texting so lose the "lol's", "omg's'  WTF?

Here's another:
          (Single Woman)   I'm tall, thin with natural long dark red-hair... I modeled for a long time. I believe that's why I look the way I do, always looking my best was instilled in my brain."

Really?  I can here the guys clicking "next" as we speak.  But ladies, don't worry, the Guys are just as bad.  Here you go:

"I'd like to meet someone who has teeth..."   I can't make this stuff up.

"There are a lot of criminals looking for partners in this place. I must admit, this, place, is getting rather, numbing - the "obligatory" either/or selection of faces - the over-all discontinuity of this conceptual "dating".     Whaaaat?

"I'm big on trust and faithfulnes you take good care of me and il take good care or you i want i girl that is into showing me love and trust wants to be a mom and a good stay at home mom..."  Um, does this guy know it's 2014.

WHAT TO WRITE.

Writing an online profile sucks, plain and simple.  There's so much pressure to get it right.  Let's face it, if someone likes your face the next thing they'll look at is your profile.  You want to be witty but not dorky, coy but not cocky, honest but not too honest, but most importantly you should be YOU.

WHERE TO START.

Stay tuned!  Log on tomorrow and I'll show you examples of what works.  Until then, think about what makes you, you!  Don't over think it, don't try to be someone you're not.  Girls and Guys can read through your embellished profiles.  Trust me, I'm speaking from experience. Til tomorrow.XO 

SUN KISSED!

Ok, I've reached that point in the winter where I'm done.  Done, Done Done!  Done with the cold weather, done with feeling white, pasty and dull.  So what's the one thing that makes us feel pretty during the summer?  Sun kissed skin!

So, I had a thought. Why not do a little self-tanning now?  My favorite go-to tanning lotion is Jergen's Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer.  I use the medium tone as opposed to the light.

I have tried them all, trust me!  This Jergen's formula doesn't smell, in fact when I wear it people always compliment me on my "perfume"...well, now you know my little secret!

No streaking, no staining and within minutes I can get dressed!  By the way I never put it on my face, I only use  MAC Bronzer.

 

My Secret...PRODUCTS!

Ok Ladies, I heard from a lot of you asking about the specific products I mentioned in this video so I've made it really easy for you, including links and prices:

This is the order in which I apply each product:

Finacea Gel  (Prescription Needed) $70 co-pay (that's what I pay with my Insurance)


L'Oreal BB Cream (Light) 

 

 

CARGO Blue-Ray Pressed Powder

CARGO Foundation

 The Cargo Foundation I did not apply but I did mention it in my video. This is what I use at work for extra coverage or on the weekends if I'm going out to someplace special.  It provides great coverage, I use a make-up wedge to apply it.

 

My Skin Secret...shhhhh!

Ok Ladies, I'm talking to those of you who have sensitive skin, redness, blemishes (seriously, how unfair!) and are looking for new products to try.  Just FYI, I get nothing from these companies,  this is truly because I have struggled for years to find the perfect "blend" of products, spent thousands and thousands of dollars.  Now, for under $100 I've found my magic formula and I thought you might like to try it!
!

OMG...YOU HAVE WHAT?

What is your worst nightmare?  Ok, maybe not your worst...let me rephrase it, What is your worst nightmare your child can bring home from school?  If you've answered lice then you've hit the nail on the head (sorry, couldn't resist the pun.)

I may be writing this story from experience, and maybe not (can't divulge due to ruining the social lives of my kids, or so they would think!)  But, I wanted to share with you a sure fire way to get RID of these disgusting things once and for all and it's totally easy and you do not have to use chemicals or products made for the removal of all things, lice.

Cetaphil, which is a wonderful product for cleansing and moisturizing is also the solution to rid your kids of lice, one application and treatment and they're gone.  

THE MAGIC SOLUTION? 

 


     All you need is a bottle of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, a medium size plastic bottle with a point, bottles used for eye drop solution is best

1.  Squeeze Cetaphil into the Bottle, fill to the top.
2.  Use the tip of the bottle to make a part in your child's hair, starting from the base of their neck.  Work in a zig zag pattern up the entire head and squeeze the Cetaphil into the part. 
3. USE THE ENTIRE BOTTLE OF CETAPHIL, even if you repeat in the same areas of the head.
4.  Once solution is gone, massage the child's head until the Cetaphil is completely covering every bit of the hair.
5.  Use a hairdryer to completely dry your child's hair. This process seems like it will never end because the Cetaphil is heavy, you need patience but your child's hair WILL DRY.
6. Style your child's hair like normal. 

The Cetaphil suffocates the lice and kills them and the eggs, preventing further outbreaks.    You should do this treatment on the entire family JUST IN CASE. 

You should also wash all your bedding, clothing worn, towels with hot water and dry thoroughly.  I have shared this trick with so many Mom's and they all tell me it worked in one application! 

Good luck friends, I feel your pain.


  

SMALL VICTORY!

One small step for Jack...one big step for Me!  I know this may not seem like a big victory for most, but for those of you (and you know who you are) you will totally understand.

For months I've been trying to get my 9 year old to do things for himself, and yes, I only have myself to blame.  I''ve got that mother martyr syndrome that gives up waiting for my kids to do what I've asked of them, and I end up doing them myself.


 -We could be sitting together on the couch and he asks me to get him ice cream, I get Jack ice cream.
 - I ask him to get dressed, he asks me to pick out his clothes. I pick out his clothes.
 - He wants to play with a friend, I call the friends mother to ask.
 -I wake him up and get him breakfast, regardless if I'm running late.

Today started off like any other day, I woke Jack up, told him I was jumping in the shower and wanted him up by the time I was done...When I got out of the shower, I walked into his room and was ready to begin my ritual of nudging him awake, blaming his sleepiness on getting to bed too late...but instead I was greeted with an empty bed. 

I went downstairs fully ready to find him snuggled under the blanket watching the Disney Channel, waiting for me to make him breakfast, but instead,  there he was, eating the breakfast he had made himself!  VICTORY.

DON'T DO THIS FOR 3 WEEKS!

What can I possibly be talking about?  I'm talking about your credit card(s).  I'm serious.  I want you to try a challenge with me and I know, together we can do this.

I've done it, and I want to share with you how liberating it is and how it can be for you to.  If you don't have credit card debt, then we hate you...I'm just kidding, we actually admire you, and maybe we're kind of jealous.  Being a single mom with 3 children bills rack up.  It's so easy to reach for the credit card and "pay it now" and deal with paying it back later.  But that's where the problems start. 

Whether you have $5000 or $30,000+ in credit card debt it doesn't matter.  

How to Start:  

I'm not asking you to cut up your credit cards, but just put them away, far away, leave them at home, wherever you put them just don't have them on you.  Trust me, it won't work if you carry them around in your wallet, YOU WILL USE THEM.

Once you pay your bills; mortgage, utilities, medical (basically whatever is set each month) calculate what you have left, whether it's $300 for the week or $200 or whatever the amount, use only that in cash.

The Plan:

Ok, so you get your paycheck this week and it's say,  $1500 , you pay what bills are due and you're down to $500 and you aren't getting paid for another 2 weeks!  OMG, panic.  You start asking yourself, can I truly live on $500 until the next pay check?  YES YOU CAN.   Even as a parent with children, you can.  It takes extreme discipline.

It all starts with FOOD.

I'm sure your pantry isn't empty.  You have food so be creative.  As I say to my kids, we're "eating the pantry" this week.  That means whatever is in there it's getting eaten.  Even if it means pasta for 5 nights then 

so what.  Open that freezer and open that bottom drawer, ahhhh!  Well look at that, we have waffles I didn't even know we had!  Or frozen ground beef, a couple of frozen chicken breasts, sausages...you get my point. You've got food, don't waste it.

Live Like a European

In Europe a lot of people buy food daily.  I know this means more trips to the grocery store but this does prevent those Sunday trips to the grocery store where you drop half your mortgage payment and end up with food that you find buried in your freezer months later.  Instead, on Sunday go and buy your milk, orange juice, eggs, whatever perishables you need for the week and dinner for Sunday-Thursday.  Your bill should not be more than $65.    Don't go crazy for dinner.  Whatever I buy for Sunday dinner I make enough for Monday.  If your kids don't like leftovers, tell them to get a job and contribute to the family.  

Take Control

  School lunches are out of control, so as the parent, take control.   I can pretty much guarantee that your pantry is stuffed on Sunday with snacks for the week, and expensive deli items.  While it's nice to make your kids a ham and cheese sandwich it adds up, and DON'T buy pre-made chicken salad, not only is it extremely expensive but it's also loaded with salt and fat.  Buy a whole chicken, cook it on Sunday and then use the meat to make homemade chicken salad and the rest for chicken soup.  I do this every other week and it is so easy!  Now you have enough chicken salad for school lunches AND homemade soup for Monday night dinner, add fresh Italian bread and you're done.

Quick and easy dinners on a credit card free budget

grilled cheese and bacon,  spaghetti and salad, breakfast for dinner (kids love this and it's inexpensive, we do pancakes and eggs) steak sandwich's (a great way to use up veggies that are not fit for a salad) 

Give your Kids an Allowance

Believe it or not I have been saving money by giving my kids an allowance.  Chances are they're not spending it everyday so it adds up.  When they want to go to the movies make them dip into their allowance, if they don't have enough, guess what, say no.

JUST SAY NO

Not just to your kids, but to that stupid voice in your head telling you to buy something you don't need. 

SUCCESS!

After 3 weeks of no credit card use I quickly realized I CAN DO THIS.  I had to literally walk out of stores when I realized I didn't have my credit card.    Even the things I absolutely thought I needed, I didn't.  We were out of bread, so guess what?  In my freezer I had hotdog rolls from the summer.  Kids loved their peanut butter and jelly's on a roll!    I got into line at Starbucks and didn't have cash and drove away.  I got to work and poured a free cup of coffee. My daughter needed money for her dance, she went to her wallet and paid for it herself.  It's not easy, it's humbling in fact.  But when you realize how often we whip out that credit card for things we really don't need, you quickly realize just how much you can live without.

I'M STILL NOT USING MY CREDIT CARD!