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For Fabulous Finds Friday, I choose: Truly Mom Planners! This isn’t a new find for me. I have been a very happy and satisfied customer of TrulyMom.com since 2007. Three years today actually! I figured we women have BUSY lives and need a good planner. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been searching for the PERFECT planner, a catchall for addresses, shopping lists, to-do lists, calendar, scheduling, and more.

Well, ladies, it exists.

SHOP TRULY MOM

There are many choices to choose from for different price points:

1. Majilite Leather Planner in Susie Style

2. NEW Truly Tiny in Bon Bon

3. Pebble Lite in Kiwi

What it looks like on the inside:

A company started by moms for all women! There’s customizations for those of you who don’t have kids. [I use the student day planner version even though I have kids!] You won’t be disappointed with this company. The customer service is stellar, the products are quality, and the selection wonderful!

I have cut down on waste using this product. I was throwing out planners YEARLY before TrulyMom. Now all I have to do is reorder my calendar, which includes space for  weekly and monthly planning.  The cost is cheaper than buying a new planner!!! And more importantly you’ll help The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation at UCLA by purchasing one! One of the creators of TrulyMom battled Cancer. She is a remarkable & strong woman! God Bless her! Start the new year off right by getting organized with the most amazing planner ever INVENTED!

THANK YOU TRULY MOM!

ENJOY!

xoxo,

Natasha

Today’s Topic is: Thérapie Choice Thursday, and I chose FreeRice. If you haven’t heard of FreeRice.com yet, then you are really missing out! In just a few minutes of your time, you can change someone’s life! It’s a simple game that can be so addictive! And when the outcome is feeding a person or a family, you really can’t refute it. I’ve been known to play this game and completely lose track of time.

The idea is simple:
1. pick a category [Art, Language Learning, Math, Chemistry, English, or Geography]and they’re SIMPLE questions…they can get harder as you progress, but the questions you missed come back around so you have a chance to answer it correctly.
2. EVERY correct answer donates 10 grains of rice to feed the hungry.

Sound like it’s too small a donation? Why would my playing make any bit of difference?

Check out the numbers: [since site opened in 2007]:

YEAR 2007 12,255,121,230 grains of rice donated
YEAR 2008 43,942,622,700 grains of rice donated
TOTAL TO DATE [of THIS publication] 72,953,034,840 [yes. that's BILLIONS]

It’s fed MILLIONS in countries around the WORLD!!! What an impact!

Every donation makes a difference. It’s everyone’s little step to help that bans us together to fight world hunger. We have so many niceties in our lives. Even in bad conditions, the majority of us have a way to GET food [shelter, family, etc]. But not everyone in the world does. Rice. Just simple rice. Changes whether someone eats and lives or starves and dies.

No excuse about not having any money to donate. Just playing a FUN and SIMPLE [I promise] game for a few minutes of your time!

From FreeRice.com:

“About FreeRice:
FreeRice is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program. Our partner is the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide education to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

This is made possible by the generosity of the sponsors who advertise on this site.

Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your education can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.

Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide. Thank you.”

“So…What did you do today?” Let your response be, “I fed the hungry.”

BIBLE NUGGET:

“Happy is the generous man, the one who feeds the poor.”
-Proverbs 22:9

Ok Ladies! It’s What I Wore Today Wednesday!!!

Here’s what I’m wearing today!!!

*Polka Dot Sheer Top is from Goodies, but here’s something that works from Forever 21
*Lacy Tunic Tank Top is from Wet Seal. Comes down to hip with a wide lace trim. Adds layer and beautiful detail!
*Skinny Jeans in a dark wash, the Diva Style from Old Navy
*Pearl-Like Bracelets are from various stores. Goodies, Claires & Wal Mart. I wore them together for a more dramatic look. Here’s something that will work beautifully from Forever 21
*Grey Slouchy Boots from Target. I love these over skinny jeans! [also featured in my ultimate boot buying guide]
*A headband I have no IDEA how I accumulated! But here’s one at Forever 21 [a 3pc set]

ok my lovelies! today’s topic for talk-it-out-tuesday [see calendar of weekly events] is HAIR CARE PRODUCTS!!!

ever heard that “your hair is your crowning glory”??? you have to take care of it. whether your deal is oily hair or dry hair or dandruff or a crazy mixture of them all! you need to cater to your hair’s needs. during the winter this is especially true! if your hair tends to get dry in the winter it is more than necessary to be DEEP CONDITIONING your hair at least once/twice per week…it depends on the dryness of your hair and all the stuff you put in it. If your hair is normally dry regardless of season, this is an especially important step. There are a few products that i love love and use! so i’m going to share a couple of brands to start with [so i don't overwhelm you] and then go into a couple of post shampoo/condition ideas!!!ENJOY!!!

First Up is Organix brand: [this can be found in grocery stores, target & drugstores]

SHOP ORGANIX

1. TeaTree Mint Conditioner & Shampoo [LOVE this]

2. Lavender Soymilk Conditioner & Shampoo

3. Coconut Milk Conditioner & Shampoo

4. Mandarin Olive Oil

They have LOTS of scents & you’ll find something you love!

Next up is Burt’s Bees! [You will hear me RAVE about Burt alot!]

SHOP BURT’S BEES

1. Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment

2. Color Keeper: Green Tea & Fennel Seed Conditioner

3. More Moisture: Raspberry & Hazel Nut Shampoo

4. Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo

5. Hair Repair Shea & Grapefruit Deep Conditioner

6. Commitment Phobe? Try a Travel Kit First

And Finally a Leave-In Conditioner to LOCK-IN that moisture! My favorite that I’ve been using since I was 12 years old is:

Infusium 23 Leave-In:

SHOP INFUSIUM23

There are tons of products here for all of your leave-in conditioning needs! ALL TYPES! I personally use (Repair}ologie step 3 and (Moisture)ologie step 3. [i don't joke about moisturizing lol].

HOPE THIS HELPED!!!  xoxo, natasha

“for this day and my life, i owe God an attitude of gratitude”

One of the MANY lessons the Lord has taught me this year is to be grateful right where i am. i can tend to want what i want right now. A career, finishing school, a good salary, stuff for the kids, clothes, just whatever really. But when i take a step back, and look at my life from the outside, my life is pretty amazing. It’s the little things. It’s my children when they learn something new [Lorelai just learned that licking an envelope keeps it sealed and was AMAZED by this!] It’s my husband when he does something so selfless as to clean the house SPOTLESS after Christmas took over our living room. i worked so hard last week keeping this house spotless and ran out of steam and energy. He cleaned it while he told me to relax [after i got up early with the kids and let him sleep in lol]. When i woke up, the house was spotless! He’s a real gem. A compassionate, caring soul who puts others first ALWAYS. i have alot to learn from my husband. [fyi: i am not capitalizing "i" for a reason. It's not a typo]

The poll is not meant to be judging. Who am I to judge?!? i have been in all of those places and worse! right now i am so SO grateful for the blessings. Good and the hidden good. Hidden good is what people normally would call bad, but i have come to see that bad, isn’t always what it at first seems. i can’t think of one bad thing that has happened to me [and there have been ALOT] that didn’t in SOME way end up being good, or used to help someone else who went through the same thing.


Bible Nuggets:

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations

-Psalm 100:4-5

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

-Colossians 3:15-17


so a key to looking like one classy lassie, [uh. not the dog...] is wearing makeup like you’re not. looking like you just had a “MAC attack
” is no good. seriously. you don’t want to look like a clown. and your friends should tell you if you are. take a look in the mirror and be honest. if it dates back to 1992 or 1982, it shouldn’t come NEAR your face. ever. toss that crap out. RIGHT now.
i’ll wait…..

OK, mineral makeup is everywhere. lots of them making claims of being “natural”. the only one [so far] that TRULY holds that claim is:

AFTERGLOW COSMETICS.

imitators beware. this stuff rocks! it is, however, pricey. BUT since i don’t wear makeup very often and with DAILY use this stuff will last from 6-12 months, it’s actually a deal. PLUS the money you’ll save on skin care products being that you won’t be gunking up your pores with junky-junk makeup buildup. it’s natural. it glows naturally on your skin…it’s freaking amazing!

The products are ORGANIC. yes. ORGANIC. free of the synthetic preservatives, bismuth oxychloride, petro-chemicals, synthetic dyes and fillers found in traditional cosmetics. that’s right ladies. makeup that’s good for you. c’mon, you can’t argue that!!! 100% cruelty free means: NO animal testing. NO animal products! Anyways, they have these awesome specialists that will help you find the exact shades you’re looking for. they can look up the makeup you’re currently using and match them to your new mineral shade!


Here are some of their AMAZING products!!!


1.Organic Mineral Foundation [mine is in camel]

2.Organic Mineral Blush in tickle [matte finish]

3.Organic Lip Love Lipstick in Lovely

4.Organic Triple Eye Treatment in Praline [NEW ITEM]

5.Eye Spa Trio in Relax [also sold separately. colors are: Lyric, Cocoa & Halo]

6.Kabuki Brush [ALL brushes are cruelty free organic]

7.Organic Color Lock [unparalleled product that holds color all day & washes with water!]

8.Organic Aloe Vera Concealer [a concealer that HEALS your skin/blemishes!]


Ok everyone can see how popular boots have gotten, so I’m going to walk you through the many types and styles! Boots can pull together any ho-hum outfit and make you look pretty chic. They make me feel a little bit more confident too! So consider this your ULTIMATE BOOT BUYING GUIDE! [you do not need to go out and buy all of the boots recommended, this is meant to be a guide into the plethora of boots that are available by breaking them into categories. SO that when you DO need to buy some new boots you are armed with what to look for and why!


The first boot is: The Slouchy Boot.
Why It's Essential: It's versatile

. This boot should be comfy because it is a great go-to boot. It slips on or zips up and goes with almost anything. This boot is the Kameke boot from www.target.com [I personally bought them in cognac and gray] Another good place to find slouchy boots is www.overstock.com for more affordable prices!

KEY: fashionable & comfy!




Next up: The Rain Boot
Why It’s Essential: It’s the All-terrain

Whether you live in place that snows or just rains alot, this boot is durable to last through the elements! Best for when you want to wear boots on a yucky weather day while still looking cute and fashionable but the boots you have won’t work well. For example: for the longest time I only had moccasin boots. You CANNOT wear them in the rain. They can’t get wet. That’s why the rain boot is so important! The boots pictured on the right are also from www.target.com . I chose these because they are affordable PLUS durable. Affordability is only worth it if the QUALITY holds up! ALWAYS read reviews when you buy something & then form your own opinion!

KEY: cute, durable, weather resistant!





Next on the list is: The Flat Boot.
Why It’s Essential: Quick Errand Boot

This would be a great boot for running errands for it’s comfort-ability. Think of it like a tall outdoor slipper! For me the boot that fits the bill are the Minnetonkas. These can be a little pricey so I would check www.amazon.com and www.ebay.com [that's where i get mine ahha] I think this should be a slip on boot. So if you’re into UGGS or Airwalks that would work, or any other flat, slip on boot.

KEY: quick to put on and comfortable!






Next: The Ankle boot!

Why It’s Essential: Pizazz for Dresses & Skirts
For arguments sake you can totally rock these with skinny jeans! But it’s just a SPIFFY boot for dresses and skirts [especially skirts that are knee length or longer] Think about color, pattern, buttons, snaps…anything to make them stand out a bit. The one’s pictured are from www.target.com

Key: think trendy/snazzy/pizazzy!




This is The Pointy Toe Boot.
Why It’s Essential: Elongates The Leg

When wearing a wide leg trouser, the pointy toe gives the illusion that you have longer legs, not to mention it looks amazing. When wearing with tights or leggings make sure they color match. Black boots = Black tights/leggings. Purple boots = Purple tights/leggings. This rule only applies when you want to wear SOLID leggings or tights. if you’re wearing a print [like a floral] MIX IT UP without fear!

KEY: create long lines with a pointy toe!



Next in the lineup: The Bootie
Why It’s Essential: Spices Up Dull.

This shoe is usually a cross between a boot and a heel. Though there are some pretty cool ones at target that are flat! This boot falls below the ankle [the difference between the ankle boot and the bootie. These can be found on overstock.com for around $30 or less! Just search "booties". This can take your usual daily office wear and give it a little sass and kick! Helps you transition from

work to a night out with a loved one with ease. Find one that's comfortable or add gel inserts to cushion [that goes for any shoe really].

KEY: Find a comfy shoe that works for office and a night out on the town!




Finally: The Statement Boot.
Why It’s Essential: It’s Good Fun!

This boot can be anything that you consider wild. This can be a vintage boot, a funky print [zebra], a flashy color [red, purple], a cowboy boot, sweater material boot or just something incredibly unique. Usually gets alot of attention/compliments! For me, I chose [and love to wear] my Frye Villager Boots in brown. They look worn and vintage-y which I absolutely love. They are comfortable and look GREAT with dresses, skirts and jeans of all types! I am thinking about getting some of those sweater material boots though!

KEY: Let your personal style really shine here!


For all of these boots, with the exception of the bootie and the ankle boot, they can be of any length: mid-calf, knee high, over-the-knee, etc. This is just a guideline!

Winter needs for you and all of your loved ones!!!
Etsy.com is an addiction! There are so many amazing stores it’s UNREAL!
you can click to expand all of the photos!

Classy & Warm! Antique white cable knit legwarmers. LOVE THESE!
Where to Buy: Uniquely Chic For You
A completely unique idea that I am in LOVE with!!! I would love these in every color! Made from 100% organic cotton and comes in a few colors!
Where to Buy: Laine Designs
Fell in LOVE with this as soon as i saw it! The Camille I Neck Cuff by EfiaFair is simply put: STUNNING. Guaranteed to be a show stopper.
Where to Buy: EfiaFair

How awesome are these!? I would wear these to extend dresses into winter! Throw on a cute dress, these scrunchie leg stockings [with cute bow detail] and throw on some boots = insta-cute outfit! Great quality and dozens of prints!
Where to Buy: Dimensional Vision
Lacy Lady Victorian Legwarmers! These are too FAB! I am a longtime fan of this seller for her unique items. Her legwarmers are my fav, but she has some other amazing products so check those out as well!
Where to Buy: Mademoiselle Mermaid

Knotty Tots Custom Legwarmers. For kids aged 0-10years old. These are so cute! My daughters will LOVE these! They come in DOZENS of colors!
Where to Buy: Knotty Tots
Beautiful neckwarmer/capelette. Colors remind me of cherry chocolate! This seller offers FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING! yeah. Great deal and TONS of great products! [listing a few of her products]
Where to buy: Crochet Butterfly

As promised another product by the previous seller that provides FREE WORLDwide shipping! Beautiful scarf with gorgeous coloring!
Where to Buy: Crochet Butterfly

A final product my Crochet Butterfly: this beautiful shrug! FREE worldwide shipping! Can turn any outfit into something classy!
Where to Buy: Crochet Butterfly

Beautiful Autumn/Winter colors used here in this Hippie Scarf! SUPER price!
Where to Buy: Greg Bucher-Artist

Getting some for my daughters! CANNOT beat the price! Child sized.
Where to Buy: Cutesy Crochet

Bamboo Arm Warmers/Fingerless Gloves! Hot this season!
Where to buy: LeArmoire

A fabulously Fabulous Cowl/Scarf!
Where to Buy: Palace of Darning

For all the moms out there: lots of sizes and styles available!
Where to buy: Baruch’s Lullaby

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These are the Lazy Daisy Flats from ModCloth.com for $32.99. This type of flat is cute and adds an awesome POP of color to a monochromatic outfit! As well as a feminine flare with the flower detail. Try them with jeans [skinny's or trouser cut]

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These are the Nobel Style Prize Flats in Gold for $29.99 at ModCloth.com. Metallic colored shoes add flare to any old outfit! They’re just so much fun to wear![also available: Nobel Style Prize Flats in Silver.]

The Ballet Flat is classic and timeless. It’s not going to go out of style. These come in an array of colors. Ballet flats are typically classified by the tiny bow found on beginner ballet shoes. This pair is by Zoe & Zac and can be found at payless.com this particular pair, The Lily Ballet Flat , comes in two colors for $24.99

Here are some of my favorites:

EBAY:
Never ever pass off ebay! It’s my favorite because you can get nice stuff for cheap! It’s the modern consignment store & great for those who live in small towns [like yours truly] and don’t have ANY awesome vintage/thrift stores.
Shop EBAY

FANCY TREEHOUSE:
case & point: Fancy Treehouse is one of my FAVORITE online vintage stores! It’s through ebay and is Amazing! Cute stuff always!
Shop Fancy Treehouse

DELIAS:
It’s been around for quite awhile [used to shop here as a teen] & I get the catalogs sent to me for free.
Shop Delias

CHARLOTTE RUSSE:
Awesome variety for ladies with style of all types. My sister and I have VERY different styles but can both shop at this store! The best thing is the clearance racks in the back where you can get stuff for as low as $2!
Shop Charlotte Russe

ANTHROPOLOGIE:
I shop the sales, but they have some AWESOME stuff here!
Shop Anthropologie

ALLOY:
Pretty good deals here! I buy their purses, tops and accessories! & have the catalog mailed to me.
Shop Alloy

OLD NAVY:
Best place to buy the basics. I get all of my long sleeve, short sleeve and tanks here. TIP: I buy them online in TALL even though I’m 5.5 3/4 [yes the 3/4" matters..lol] So that the tops come down longer! you can find nice bags and shoes here also!
Shop Old Navy

MODCLOTH:
Probably my favorite online store to just LOOK at stuff! Everything sold on this site is so quirky, it totally “gets” my personality! AWESOME prices on accessories!
Shop ModCloth

H&M:
Unfortunately still no USA store online for those of us here, but there are stores in a few US cities. I buy my H&M stuff on ebay. Sizes run weird [ie: i'm a size 8 but wear their size 10/12 in a blazer]. VERY CUTE STUFF!
Shop H&M


FREE PEOPLE:
One of my top FIVE favorites! I shop free people alot. My favorite line is the We The Free! So unique and classy at the same time!
Shop Free People

FOREVER 21:
This is to encompass all things F21. I am a fan of the Heritage 1981 line [H81]. GREAT accessories and prices!
Shop Forever 21

WET SEAL:
Has changed alot since my teen days but has some REALLY cute stuff!
Shop Wet Seal

URBAN OUTFITTERS:
Get the catalog. You won’t wanna miss anything. I LOVE THIS STORE! everything on it and they run GREAT sales too!
Shop Urban Outfitters

TOP SHOP:
Super awesome trendy stuff!
Shop Top Shop

TARGET:
if you’ve already read my blogs on shoes you can tell that i LOVE this store! great prices, great sales and AWESOME shoes!
Shop Target

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