How to Break Out of Your Mom Rut.

Connie Patterson

Being a stay at home has to be one of the most challenging and often misunderstood jobs of all time as you are expected to be "on" 100% of the time. Are you a stay at home mom gripped in the clutches of doing the same thing day in and day out? Do you feel as though the world is closing in around you? Ladies, you might be in a rut! Being stuck in a rut can be frustrating. Believe me I know! I ended up quitting my job to stay at home with my kids when I realized the cost of daycare along with the cost of my commute was almost the same amount as my monthly income. So here I am three years later and honestly, it's the best decision I could have made.

At first it was irritating. I didn't know what to do. I had the same routine: get up, get the kids ready for school, drop them off, come home, clean the house, shower, make lunch, pick up the kids from school, feed them, help them with their homework/take them to their sports practices, come home, make dinner, clean up/do laundry, sleep and start all over the next day. It almost felt like my day was wasting away. It started off as a couple days, then weeks and then months. I was losing myself and had to do something! Being in a rut is depressing, annoying and can drag you down. It has a way of slowing you down without you even realizing it but thanks to Dee Gallemore here are some ways to overcoming it.

Rut-Buster #1:  If you’re a stay-at-home mom (or dad) then change your routine throughout the day, don’t always do the same chore at the same time, shake up the way you do your housework, prepare meals, what you wear . . .

Rut-Buster #2:  De-clutter your home or work area; it is surprising how being surrounded by clutter can get you down.

Rut-Buster #3:  Shake up meal times by having something different, you can either try a different recipe or order different take out, try foods from different cultures.

Rut-Buster #4:  Make small changes around the home or work area.

Rut-Buster #5:  Take up a new hobby, make sure that you give yourself some times throughout the day to just enjoy something you like doing.

4 Summer Cocktails With Beauty Benefits

Daily Makeover

With all this gorgeous summer weather, it's hard to resist cold cocktails. We all know that alcohol has certain negative effects but here are some delicious recipes with beauty boosting ingredients courtesy of Daily Makeover:

1. The Berry Booster

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that neutralize free radicals to protect the skin from premature aging.

1 ½ oz Berry acai vodka

1 oz fresh blueberry puree

1 oz seltzer

Mix vodka and blueberry puree in a shake with ice. Top with seltzer.

2. Tequila Sunrise Makeover

Vitamin C is found in many of our favorite skincare buys, and for good reason. The antioxidant stimulates collagen production, protects skin from harmful UV rays and even improves texture problems.

1 oz Tequila

1 ½ oz freshly squeezed orange juice

handful of cranberries

Mix all of the ingredients in a blender and serve chilled.

3. Green Tea Mojito

Studies have shown the polyphenols in green tea can decrease inflammation in skin and even help prevent cancer.

1 oz white rum

1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

1 oz simple syrup

4 oz brewed iced green tea

3-4 mint leaves

Muddle mint leaves in the bottom of a glass. Shake rum, lime juice, simple syrup and green tea in a shaker with ice. Pour over mint.

4. Spiked Pear Juice

Pears promote a healthy glow because they are packed with skin-boosting nutrients — copper, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and vitamins C, E, B and K. Mix with a pear-flavored vodka for a light fruity beverage.

1 oz Seltzer

½ oz Fresh lime juice

1 oz Pear vodka

1 pear chopped

Mix lime juice, pear vodka and chopped pear in a blender. Pour over ice and top with seltzer. 

Hope these drinks quench your thirst and keep you cool. Happy Summer!

Beauty Thrills for Less Than $10

Shopping for beauty products can be quite expensive but here are a few that are under $10. 

 

NYC New York Color Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer, $3.99. This is the Spanx of primers: It firms, evens, and is so lightweight you won't even notice that you're wearing it. It minimizes the appearance of lines, imperfections, dark circles and large pores. Loaded with vitamin E, it enhances smoothness, moisture and lasts all day.

Maybelline New York Dream Fresh BB Sunscreen. Five self-adjusting shades, SPF 30—and oh yeah, five shades?! With 4 out of 5 stars and over 300 reviews this is a product that should be in every one's beauty bag!

Dove Hair Therapy Nourishing Oil Care. Even the wimpiest strands can handle this argan-oil-infused serum, which fuses split ends and makes dull hair gleam. With 4.6 out of 5 stars, reviewers have rated this to be better than the Wen Hair Care Treatment. Is this something you would try?

Thanks to Allure, I now know of 20+ products that are available under $10. Go ahead and check it out. 

Naturally Luxurious: Mineralize with Gisel Calvillo - Video Tutorial

This is probably the best and most helpful video MAC has ever made. I loved how Gisel clarified everything so well! Not only is this tutorial fun but it’s also informative. Enjoy! 

Science of Makeup

You can love it or hate it, but women have been wearing makeup for a very long time. Yes, it is a fact that properly applied makeup does make women appear to be more attractive, but have you ever wondered why?

Makeup doesn't just change the way a woman looks but it also changes the personality. Makeup tends to boost self esteem, making women feel better about themselves. Also studies have found that that guys think those makeup wearing girls have distinguished careers and are more intelligent, secure, interesting and organized.

Is this something you agree with or disagree?

Tropical Makeup Tutorial

Every woman is beautiful but sometimes we just don't feel that way. Here is a look that will allow you to embrace your inner island goddess with colorful makeup. I love this look as it gives a gorgeous beachy glow.  Wear it all day or simply at night, it's a look that can you can wear 24/7.

Here are the products used to achieve this look. 

Eyeshadows - Papaya / Topaz / Muse / Luna / Neela

Dual-Ended Eye Liner Pencil - Earth Goddess / Daydream

Liquid Highlighter - Luminesce

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara Ultra Black

Brushes -

Sigma E55 Eye Shading Brush

Sigma E25 Blending Brush

Sigma E30 Pencil Brush

MAC 231 Small Shader Brush

F86 -Tapered Kabuki

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mary-Kate and Ashley!

Who here knows who Mary-Kate and Ashley (better known as the Olsen Twins) are? Well, did you know today is their birthday?! HAPPY 26TH BIRTHDAY to America's favorite set of fraternal twins.

Mary-Kate and Ashley

These actresses and fashion designers have been in well over a dozen films, tv shows, own their own clothing and fragrance line and have been listed as the eleventh richest women in the world (collectively) by Forbes.

Once again, let's wish these fashion and media moguls a very Happy Birthday!

Mary-Kate and Ashley

See and Smell the Rainbow

Thanks to Skittles we were able to taste the rainbow, now thanks to  Crayola we can smell the rainbow.  I like them because not only are they bright, but they smell good enough to eat. DON'T EAT THEM. THEY ARE NOT EDIBLE! 

Here is some of my nail polish collection and you can see the Migi Nail Art collection in there, which comes in very handy to create designs.  I should take another picture and upload my new collection soon.

Here is some random nail art done by me. Hope you like it.