I have been using Retin A for over a year now.  You do have to exfoliate your skin when you use it.  Some one told me about microdermabrasion...and oh my goodness, I am hooked!!  I can tell a big difference in my skin.  Microdermabrasion is a non-chemical, non-invasive procedure that uses a spray of microcrystals to remove the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells and reveal younger, healthier-looking skin.  I find the whole procedure quite relaxing.

I was sent a home microdermabrasion kit to try.  It came in perfect time since I was not able to go to the salon this summer.  With the kids home for the summer and all of the travels, it was tough to make the time.  I really liked it and it was very easy to use.  If you are interested in the product, check them out here http://www.crystalsmooth.com/

If you are local, Enterprise AL or the surrounding areas, I highly recommend Sammy at Spa in the City.  She does an incredible job!  I can see a huge difference in my skin after each visit!  You can find the spa at Spa in the City. You can watch the video to see a little bit of microdermabrasion done at the spa.

Besides skin care and how I stay fit, I have been asked frequently, how do I do my hair.  I just recently switched it up and I will show you all how I get this look.  I am a licensed cosmetologist.  I do not work outside of the home right now, but I have not lost my skills.  I often can look at a style or color and figure it out.  For Cole and Savannah's wedding, I loved how they did my hair.  I was unable to watch, but playing around, I figured it out.

I do not shampoo my hair everyday.  I feel that it dries it out.  So, I do go as long as I can without shampooing it.  I use a dry shampoo and that definitively helps the process  Since I have been eating MSM and Vit C, my hair does get oily faster than usual...but I still wait a few days between shampooing.

I do not use any product before I dry or style my hair.  I have tried many in the past, but at the moment, I have not found one that I really like to style my hair.  When I blow dry my hair, I do use a hot setting for the first minute or so...mostly at the roots.  Then I switch to the medium heat.  I do not use a brush to dry my hair.  I do not like the pulling and tugging, so I just let it blow everywhere and just brush it occasionally during the drying cycle.  Then towards the end, I switch the dryer to cool and cool blast my hair all over.

Moving to the curling iron.  I had a really nice one, but left it at Cole and Savannah's house on one of my visits.  I bought a conair curling iron and I have actually been pleasantly surprised at how nicely it works.  I do not put the ends of my hair in the curling iron and I do constantly move the iron around on my hair.  That keeps the iron from being on one spot of hair for so long and not putting the ends of the curling iron, it gives my hair a really cute look.

Check out the video and let me know what you think.  If you try it..take a picture and tag me in it too!!  I would love to see your results!!

"Mom, I am going to join the Marines" all I heard was, "Mom, I am going to join the Marines and die in war" Obviously that is not what he said, but that is what I heard. It is so scary to think that my son is going to join the military much less the Marines. I can not say that I am shocked...out of all of my sons, Jack would be the one to join the Marines. None the less, I was terrified. What also scared me, I knew that he would do well. The Marines would love him and want to use him even more. I did not know what for, but it all made me fearful that I would lose my son one day. A mother's fear.

Since I have a social media following and my husband is a professor, we were invited to do an educators workshop at Parris Island. I would get to go the place that my son was trained to be a Marine, I would get to experience what he did...so of course, I said YES!! I decided that I would give 110%. I had to represent my son well. I did not want anyone to see my name and be disappointed...I had to go at this like Jack did, focused and doing my best...doing beyond my best.

We arrived very early that morning. It was still dark outside, we were on the bus that they bring in recruits. I watched out the window while they drove us through the base and all I could think about was, what did Jack think as he did this ride. Did he think, what have I done? Was he nervous about what was going to happen? I got a tear in my eye thinking that he did this, and I couldn't have done anything...he was on his own. We arrived and they did give us information about what they do to the new recruits and how they prep them....THEN it got real. We were to line up outside like recruits. I was going to give my all, but I did not understand how serious our Drill Instructor was, she took this seriously...we were her recruits. She barked out orders and told us what we were to do. We did it terribly, we were punished. She explained again....again, we failed and we were punished. I thought she would give up...no, she expected us to do it correctly. I do not have a loud voice, it is soft and sweet. I didn't get why we had to yell so much, but our DI (Drill Instructor) wanted us to, so I did. I did ask my son, Jack, later, why all of the yelling, it hurt my voice. He said they are preparing us for the battle field. It is loud and we have to be able to speak loudly. It made sense now...they were training my boy so he could communicate during a battle. My fellow recruits were not doing as our DI instructed. I was hustling, I was yelling louder thinking if she heard me, she would not punish us...WRONG!! She expected ALL of us to do as she said. We did the formation over and over and over again, until we did it correctly. There was a small part of me that got mad at my recruits. Just do as she says...PLEASE!!!!

We went to their barracks, please excuse me if I do not use the right terms, it was difficult learning their terminology in just a couple of days. We met more Drill Instructors. I will admit, they scared me. They are tough, they look tough and they sound tough. I went between being upset at them knowing the hell they put my son through and loving them because I knew they trained my boy to be a Marine, They trained him to survive war and to save his fellow Marines. We went to the sand pit. The DIs Were watching...what if one of them had been Jacks DI? I made sure I would do my best in the pit. Our DI barked out orders.. When people didn't do it right (and of course we didn't) we had to keep going. Those with heart conditions and other injuries were allowed to not participate...but those of us that did were expected to do it right. I was dying, I was hot, I had sand all over me..my face, hair, body.....and we were still messing up. I started to get angry and I won't lie, I wanted to go to those messing up and tell them to get their sh*t together!! But I knew my DI would not allow that, so I kept doing what she said until we all finished it properly. We were a unit...we can not succeed as one but all of us as one.

We would at times ride the bus to our next destination, but at times, we ran. I'm stubborn....so I kept pace with the men. My body was hurting, but you can push that pain to the back of your head. I have done this with child birth and I did it when I did the Amazing Race....I was tired and I was afraid at times...but to finish first....you push on. So, I did.

They showed us the programs they have for Marines and their families, college opportunities, job opportunities, support system. I'm starting to see the Marines differently....its not about sending my boy to war, but offering him opportunities. The leadership, the honor, the responsiblity, the discipline...I'm wishing I had joined as a young woman. How many of today's youth, how many of us could have used this when we were 18? There is that chance of deployment, but there are so many opportunities too. I will admit..my son went into the Marines as a wild child...he came out a responsible man (still wild) but he knows his limits. He has already been promoted twice, you don't want to mess that up and lose it. The Marines gave him something that I never could and I'm thankful for that.

We watched a water class...they teach our recruits how to survive in water. We went into the gas chamber and the residue alone was enough to make my eyes water and my nose and throat burn. They taught my boy how to use a mask to save his life. We rapelled down the Marine wall!! My goodness, I could have done that all day. Some were scared, but they were my fellow recruits and we encouraged them that they could do it. Every recruit did it!!! We shot live rounds. Ok...I was not the best!! Even tho I live in Alabama, I don't shoot guns. The Marines were nice to me teaching me how to shoot. I felt kinda cool doing it!!

You may hear all of the sayings often, why do you wear makeup you're beautiful with out it. I hate wearing makeup. I do not know how to wear makeup...and so forth.  I do enjoy putting makeup on, but I do not have all morning to paint my face.  Also, when I wear makeup, I like for it to look more natural.  I do not mind it looking like I am wearing it...I just do not want to look over done.  There is defintly a time and a place for bold wild makeup...but everyday...I just like for my face to look fresh.  I also, like to use makeup and apply makeup in such a way that it lasts longer than an hour.  What is the point of putting it on if your face is just going to eat it right off an hour later (my biggest problem)  

I am going to show you all how I do my makeup.  I am not a makeup artist.  I do not have the best skills.  This is just what works on my face, and I think it will work for most of you all too.  Some products are high end while others are drug store.  I have no preference!

When I look for makeup, I like for it to last.  For foundation and powder it can not..let me repeat CAN NOT go into my fine lines and pores.  Also, I do not use a foundation with an spf because of flashback.  I am not going to reapply my makeup at night just in case I take a flash picture.  For lipstick..this has been tought for me.  No matter what I use, eventually my lips have this reaction and they peel.  I am now trying Mac lipstick...for the price, lets hope it works!

Here is my list of make up products that I use and why:

Primer:  elf wish I could tell you more but it is pretty dirty on the outside!  But it is in a yellow container.  It is clear.

Foundation:  ATM I am using two, but I do not think I will repurchase one of them.  I am using it because it was so expensive, but for the price, I prefer the second foundation.
Makeup Forever Mat Velvet.  I like it, but I do not like it more than Revlon Colorstay Whipped.  So, for the price, I will continue using Revlon.  It is heavy, especially at first.  But that is OK.  Blend it in ( I use a brush) and in an hour, it soaks into the skin and looks really nice.  But you will need to find the right amount because it is heavy.

Concealer:  I put on after foundation.  Smashbox High Definition.  A little goes a long way.  So, yes, this one does cost more, but it seriously lasts forever!

Powder:  Airspun loose face powder.  I buy this at Walmart.  I believe in the aisle with the nails, spray stuff for your legs.  It is not expensive and I seriously love it. I bake my face and it never sinks into my wrinkles.  And I think this is the secret for why my makeup stays on so long and gives me a flawless finish!

Cheeks:  Iwas using Merle Norman and Too Faced Bronzer.  I was sent something to try, and I am hooked.  It is more high end, but it lasts all day.  So I do feel like it is worth every penny.  I will be a repeat customer.  It is by B-Glowing and it is their Becca Chrissy palette.  The colors are beautiful and it lasts!

Contour:  Covergirl TruBlend  The best I have used by far!

Hilighter:  Elf Illumination Palette It does not sink into my wrinkles around my eyes and If I am in a hurry, I will use it as eye shadow

Eyeshadow:  I have noticed that when I use drugstore eye shadow, it does not stay.  So, I have been going back and forth between Ulta eye shadows and Merle Norman.  Neither are that expensive, just not as cheap as drugstore.

Eyeliner: Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof liner.  I do not know where to get this.  My sister in law gave it to me, so I am going to assume Ulta!  lol  The color is brown.  I feel at my age, black is too harsh and makes my eyes look older.

Eye brows:  I use a cheap eye pencil.  Brown.  Then I top it off with wunderbrow.  My brows do not look like instagram brows or the Kardashians, But I feel like that look filled it.  My eyebrows are not even, so I do have to adjust for that.

Mascara: It is called Sri Bella.  I belonged to this club and had a lot of points saved up, so I used it on mascara.  I am not that picky now that I wear false lashes.  But when I didn't, I loved Better than Sex mascara.  I also prefer brown mascara...same reason as with the eye liner

Lips:  Right now I am using Mac liner and Mac lipstick.  I will say that I love them.  The lipstick is matte and wow, I love the look.  Sometimes I will add gloss.  I use either Sri Bella gloss or ulta gloss.  

So that is it.  I hope this helps and you can watch my video of me putting all of this on my face!!  Yah...I actually love putting it on!!

False eyelashes can be really tricky.  I have tried to use them so many times.  I decided to give them another shot.  I found a way to apply them underneath my real lashes!  Wow..so incredibly easy!  I started by using individual lashes.  Once I got very confident in that, I moved to strip lashes.  I cut them in half and apply them.  I also do wear them for a few days in row.  Check out my video on How to Apply False Eyelashes Underneath.   I get really close view so you can see how I do it!  

I have been taking 2 supplements, MSM and Vitamin C (actually there is a third, but I did not mention it in this video).   I was looking for a natural way to tighten my loose baby skin after having 6 very large babies.  I do not mind using plastic surgery, but for my tummy, I wanted to find a natural way.  I also felt that the rest of my skin could benefit from whatever I found.

I stumbled across MSM and Vit C.  I read tons of articles and decided to give it a try.  I am doing a few things for my tummy, face, and neck to firm up the skin...and I do feel like they are working.  I will discuss some of the other things that I am doing at a later date.  At the moment, let's focus on MSM and Vitamin C.  I did post about it on Facebook and someone sent me this article.  I felt like it was a great read.  Here is the link :  Methylsulfonylmethane  

Here is my video...Hope you like it!  MSM and Vitamin C    

Welcome to my website.  I have created this webpage along with a YouTube Channel.  I will be talking about all sorts of things.  I will cover crazy things about being a mom, to fitness and diet, and even beauty tips.  I love keeping myself healthy from the inside and out.  These are things that work for me, but they may not work for you.  So, please keep everything I say as a grain of salt and always do a little more research if I suggest something.  

You can check out my YouTube channel.  Please subscribe, if you feel it is a channel you will enjoy!  Tell your friends and spread the word!