to top

Pandy’s Puddle

There's an episode of Ni Hao, Kai-Lan which revolves around Tolee's relationship with his stuffed panda bear, Pandy. In this episode, titled "Pandy's Puddle," Tolee the koala bear is utterly devastated when Pandy falls into a muddy puddle, and as a result must be separated from its owner to take a spin in the washing machine. This is the only episode of Ni Hao, Kai-Lan that Claire cannot watch. To further clarify, this is the only episode that is forbidden from being played at our house. Why, do you ask? It's because Claire relates so much to Tolee and his attachment to Pandy (see: Claire's Lovey) that she, too, gets upset when Tolee begins to miss his inanimate friend. I know that as parents, we shouldn't...

Continue reading

My $62 Complexion Perfector [Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation Review]

My husband is not a very observant person.

He hardly takes notice when I rearrange things around the house. He regularly misses stains and tears on the girls’ clothes. And I can’t remember if he’s ever acknowledged a new haircut on me — not even the time I chopped off 5 inches!

So when he told me earlier this week that my face was “glowing,” I knew I had a winning foundation in my hands.

Correction: complexion perfector. Because, according to Linda Cantello, International Make-up Artist for Giorgio Armani Cosmetics,

It’s not a foundation; it’s a complexion perfector. A whole new generation of make-up that feels incredible, looks invisible and makes skin appear luminous every time. Anyone can wear it.

Yes, I am talking about the newest “it” beauty product — one that has had makeup blogs abuzz with anticipation since it was first announced two months ago.

The Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup.

The luxury fashion brand spent eight years researching the formula for this foundation, with the aim of making the Maestro unlike any other makeup on the market today. While most foundations are made up of roughly 20% water and 80% oil (in addition to trace amounts of pigment and powder), this new product uses 60% dry oils and 11% highly-concentrated, “smart” pigments; the patented Fusion Technology enables the foundation to adapt to the wearer’s natural skin tone, rather than adding color on top of it.

Giveaway: Home Décor Items from Bedly!

Who wouldn't want to live in a beautifully-decorated home? While many of us would like to think that we have a good eye for home décor, the truth of the matter is that not all of us do. Or, we may just not have the money, time, or resources to seek out the pieces we'd like adorning our homes. (Personally, I would love to hire an interior designer, but I know that I can't afford one...

Continue reading

Happy Birthday, Claire!

Can you believe my Claire Emmanuelle turns 2 today? Earlier this week, I had a flashback of myself dozing off in the recliner, holding her tiny swaddled body as she slept on my chest — because for about a month or so, this was the only way she would sleep during the night. And now — just last night, in fact — she was dancing and running around the dance floor at a wedding, already chasing after boys. She tests my patience. She annoys me with her "Umma...

Continue reading