High-Low 10-21-13: Urban Remedy Daycation & Letting Go of What Does Not Serve Me

Posted on October 21, 2013 by BeautyFrosting

HIGH: Urban Remedy Daycation with my fellow bloggers & tastemakers in Malibu

Last Tuesday, I had one of the most amazing days I’ve ever had. And it was all thanks to Urban Remedy and my friend – and fellow blogger – Jamie Stone of Queen Of The Quarter Life Crisis.

Jamie & Urban Remedy invited a host of bloggers and tastemakers to a mecca in Malibu- that was beyond divine – for a “Daycation”.

With my fellow bloggers, Roxy Manning of RedCarpetRoxy, Jamie Stone of Queen of The Quarter Life Crisis, Sydne Summer of SydneStyle and Rachel Dickhute of EverythingHauler

What did our “daycation” consist of?

Well, it started with being picked up at my house at 8:45 am and the ride along the coast – thanks to my driver – was perfection.

8:45 am pickup - courtesy of Urban Remedy - started the day off right!

Champagne-sipping while sitting in a swing chair was next…

Just a swingin'...and a-sippin'....

followed by more swinging…

I couldn't get enough of swinging...it took me right back to my childhood and I felt like I was in NeverNeverLand!

…cohorting with chickens – especially the fuzzy-Yeti-chicken with whom we were all obsessed and…

Sipping some chia with chickens - not your normal LA day...

(my favorite!) sitting in a teepee with my fellow guests, getting to know – and support – one another through an ancient ritual known as “circling”.

Teepee time - I never knew circlng could be filled with healing and self-discovery

We all agreed that the experience profoundly affected us and that we felt forever connected to one another because of this rare, self-celebrating and self-healing day.

With my fellow bloggers & tastemakers in the teepee

It was not your normal blogger event and I could not be more grateful to have been a part of it. So – again – thank you, Urban Remedy & Jamie!

A bonus? The next day, I enjoyed my Urban Remedy juice while baking pumpkin cupcakes. The perfect breakfast to feed my body after feeding my soul the day before.

Urban Remedy Soothe No. 4 juice - with celery, cucumber, apple, ginger, parsley, lemon & more!

LOW: Letting Go – “Let go of anything that’s with you and not serving you.”

LOW: I am ready to let go of...

While this wasn’t a typical low, it qualifies as a low as it brought some pain before it brought some deeper discovery for me. In our circle in the teepee, we were each asked to write down on a piece of paper something we were ready to let go of. In fact the direction was, “Let go of anything that’s with you and not serving you.”

Yikes. This was a doozy. And for me, up came a lot of insecurity and fear that I needed – I should say, NEED – to let go of. So I wrote down all of the things that don’t serve me, tore it up into pieces and let it go to literally be burned. Andrea of The Art of Circling – our circling guide – let us know that there was great power with the full moon that would come a few days later. So letting go of this baggage felt blessed in a way. And I feel a little lighter now as a result. I also promised myself to counter every negative thought I have or say about myself with a positive one. Folks, that one is a bit trickier. But I’m trying. I have been made aware of my weaknesses and I am trying to turn them into strengths every day. It’s really all we can do in this thing called life.

xoxo,

BF Asks: What was your High-Low this week? And what are you ready to let go of? What’s not serving you?

*So what exactly is a High-Low, you ask? High-Low is the BEST & WORST part of your day, week, month, etc. I started this tradition with friends & family after I discovered it through a movie decades ago. Not only is it useful for reflection sake but it is also an excellent way to communicate with your spouse, kids or friends over the dinner table. By introducing this tradition to folks, parents have told me that their kids have opened up more and friends have told me that their spouses have become more communicative. Try it for yourself and let me know what your experience is!

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Beecology Moisturizing Lavender with Bergamot Body Wash

Posted on February 26, 2013 by BeautyFrosting

As you guys know, I looooooove small businesses! The businesses that give it their all and put more love into their products than many people possess in their little fingers are what really inspire me.

Beecology is a new discovery of mine – a line developed by husband and wife beekeepers, Amy and David. They wanted to find a resourceful, innovative way to repurpose their excess beeswax and support their beekeeping family and, thus, Beecology was born.

Beecology Moisturizing Lavender with Bergamot Body Wash ($8.99)

If you have sensitive skin, this is a skin winner! It’s a super gentle cleanser that’s sulfate-and-preservative-free and is made with the aforementioned beeswax as well as virgin hemp oil and aloe. It does the job of cleansing without stripping the skin of vital, nourishing oils.

And while I was expecting an overwhelming scent of honey, lavender and bergamot, I was pleasantly surprised by the delicate scent that it imparted. It was less like tubtime and more like teatime!

I urge you to try this small beauty biz out for yourself. With a broad selection of eco-friendly, natural bath and body products including beeswax lip balm, shampoo, conditioner and body wash, they also manufacture two paraben free honey hand and body creams and moisturizing bar soaps. They can be found in about 150 stores in the US, Canada and online sites including, BeautySage.com

Another reason I’m a big champ of this bee-based beauty brand? They follow the Paul Newman philanthropic principle that I adore so much. They donate 10% of their net profits to their consumer’s charity of choice. Each supported product contains a charity code. After the purchase, consumers can visit Beecology’s charity web site, wwww.sweetyear.org to enter the code and designate to which charity their percentage should be donated.

As sweet as honey, this company is!

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What’s your charity of choice?

p.s. If you have a small business and you would like to considered to be featured on BeautyFrosting’s upcoming Small Business Saturday, please drop us a line to tell us a little about yourself!

Friend Friday: Michael Todd True Organics Intensive Eye Treatment

Posted on October 19, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

161

Recently, my friend Meg could not stop gushing about an eye cream. We’re beauty bloggers so we get plenty of that talk on a daily basis. Must we talk about it while we sip champagne & eat oysters on a Monday night?

Apparently, we must.

Another, non-blogging friend of ours, Sly, said she had the PERFECT eye cream. It fought her dark undereye circles, reduced the appearance of her “lovely little lines” and even seemed to soothe her eyelid eczema. Meg and Sly began to almost violently debate whose was better.

And then…they realized it was the same one.

Michael Todd True Organics Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment

They both won and apparently so did I because I got the name of a new eye cream I had to try: Michael Todd True Organics Intensive Eye Treatment.

While it produces noticeable, dramatic, results when it comes to line reduction, dark circle-correction, de-puffing and overall eye hydration and skin cell regeneration, its price point is totally doable at $38 for .5 fl oz.

Plus the fact that it’s cruelty-free and 85% organic makes me feel good about using it. Add in that celebrity plastic surgeon, Andrew Ordon, M.D., of “The Doctors” fame, says it “Tops my list of best eye cream treatments” and you have a winner in the war on anti-aging skincare.

A personal note? I love that after a particularly champagne-celebratory evening, the soothing, gentle, massage tip applicator helped break up my not-so-perky puffiness.

Within a week, it became a staple on my bedside table and a staple in my heart, as well.

Bedside Love that fights morning baggage!

xoxo,

BF Asks: What do you do to fight morning baggage?

Back-to-School-Backpack Beauty – LAVANILA – Delciously scented, Delightfully lasting, Deeply Memorable

Posted on September 6, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Today’s Back-to-School Backpack Beauty featured product is LAVANILA.

Why LAVANILA? Because they smell delicious enough to drink.

And I am seriously trying to ignore that Pumpkin Spice Latte so rudely calling me from down the street. Stay away, I warn you, you temptress!

And, because, it is the perfect back-to-school gift for your favorite student heading off to college – or high school – or yourself.

I became obsessed with LAVANILA, over a year ago, after a particularly productive (um, expensive) visit to Sephora. LAVANILA was my bargain buy–and my favorite purchase from the visit!

They had me at their precious packaging: dark chocolate and candy pastel damask. I was smitten. But it’s the scent that I fell in love with. It’s like if my grandmother’s kitchen married a french macaron bakery and they summered at a summer camp or the Sowell family lake house in Texas. It’s even named LAVANILA! See? It’s delicious.

I have bought many LAVANILA products but the one that got me first was the deodorant.

LAVANILA Deodorant has a permanent place in my medicine cabinet

Medicine Cabinet Friends

The Vanilla Grapefruit Deodorant. Moisturizing, divine-smelling with its creamy citrus scent and long-lasting, this became my favorite everyday deodorant. I loved the scent that I left a room with while wearing it. It was subtle, sweet-with-a-bit-of-spice, and not the least bit overpowering. I wondered if they sold the fragrance on its own. They did! They do!

Move over Latte temptress: meet my new, calorie-free love!

And oh good golly, the fragrance! SUCH a perfect fragrance for Fall! It’s as if Fall-kissed-summer in a bottle. A mouthwatering blend of summer sparkling grapefruit, fall cedarwood and warm Madagascar vanilla.

And, of course, I couldn’t stop there. I can have a little bit of an addictive personality when it comes to delicious things, did you notice?

So I wanted to get the Body Butter too. I loved it too, darn it! With its quickly-absorbed yet richly-hydrating formula, I knew it would be yet another LAVANILA product I would have to buy.

LAVANILA Body Butter

Lucky for me, all three came in the I love Lavanila gift set for only $49.50. I do love LAVANILA!!

I LOVE LAVANILA!

But the best part about these products (besides the deliciousness mentioned above) is that you can feel good about wearing them.
Deemed “The Healthy Deodorant”, “The Healthy Fragrance” and “The Healthy Body Butter”, you get that the focus of LAVANILA is health.

These all-natural products use REAL ingredients including vitamin-rich essential oils and butters for a naturally luxurious experience. Then, to exemplify their commitment to “natural” products, they make this healthy promise to you.

“We are committed to using only those all-natural and organic ingredients that nurture the soul and nourish the skin. Our luxurious products are vitamin-rich, non-irritating, clinically tested safe and free of harsh chemicals. NO paragons, petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, silicone, synthetic dyes, sulfates or aluminum.”

You read that right. None of that stuff you’ve been warned about recently is in any of these products. Plus, it’s not tested on animals and the packaging in 100% recyclable.

And this girl would like to thank them for that!

THANK YOU!!!!

Because I may have to give up my Pumpkin Spice latte to stay healthy but I’m not about to give up my LAVANILA.

p.s. Um, I’m not really giving up Pumpkin Spice lattes. I’m just trying to have a firm stance as the season begins. Once a week, I promise. A girl has to treat herself every now and then!

New Product I’m Loving: Vani-T 3-Step Sexy & Sweet Nude Lip

Posted on August 10, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

I love being the bearer of good news!
Especially when it’s good news that involves introducing you lovelies to a new brand!
Well, it’s not exactly “new” but it’s new to me and I bet it will be new to some of you too.

I was recently introduced to Vani-T Mineral Cosmetics by a few friends in my office.

Besides my trusted friends, many other “famous friends” love to be vain with Vani-T: Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham, Rhianna, Cameron Diaz, Claudia Schiffer, Denise Richards, Kim Kardashian and a list that’s just too long to mention here!

Usually, I’m a little skeptical of mineral makeup. I think of layering and swirling and blending and brushing and tapping and by the end of the directions, I feel like people are exhausted and look like they have copious amounts of makeup on. Cakey for a cake=Bueno but cakey for a face = No Bueno.

But this is not the kind of mineral makeup that Vani-T bakes up.

It’s eco-glam as it’s cruelty-free (no animal testing), paraben & mineral oil-free and really, free of anything bad for you. In fact it says no to everything except the good, organic stuff our skin and bodies needs. Isn’t that nice for a change?

Imagine my sweet delight when I tried Vani-T for the first time and found myself looking into the mirror thinking, “Whoa! I’ve got Angelina Jolie meets Kim Kardashian lips!!”

Vani-T sweet & sexy lips!

By the way, as a single lady, that’s a GOOD THING. A sexy thing! Whether you like or dislike those ladies, I don’t think anyone can say they’re not sexy.

Especially since those gorgeous ladies are embraced by Brad Pitt and Kanye West.

So I’ll take it!

If you want those gorgeous Kim Kardashian meets Angelina Jolie lips, I highly recommend you try the BeautyFrosting 3-Step Vani-T lip.

Vani-T Lip Swatches

1 ) Vani-T Lip Definer in Nude: I love a good bronzey nude lip liner. And this one defines, is blendable and looks natural. It preps the lip for the sex appeal ahead.

2 ) Vani-T Mineral Lip Color in Frisky Business: The neo-classical nude. A caramely, buttery beige that’s as moisturizing and smoothing as it is sexy. Infused with Vitamin E, Coconut Oil and Aloe Extract, you’re left with smooth, hydrating, longwearing lip color.

3) Vani-T Mineral Lip Glaze in Frisky Business: A kissable, peachy caramel nude that glides on the lips effortlessly. A faint French powder scent makes it even more indulgent. It is so UBER-hydrating – so much so that we were shocked – that your lips actually FEEL BETTER after wearing it!

Another reason I love Vani-T lipstick?

It’s my favorite lipstick packaging ever.

Check out the super glam, girly crystal packaging.
It’s a lipstick fit for Marilyn Monroe! Or for those of us who like to feel a little more like Marilyn when we’re primping.

Fit for Marilyn: Crystal-encased lipstick by Vani-T

Here’s what I’m thinking, girls. This is the PERFECT gift for a bride, bridesmaid, graduate, birthday girl, mom-to-be or favorite glam puss in your life.

Just look how great this tube of Vani-T looks on my vanity:

Vani-T on my vanity

It’s a glam gift that won’t break the bank!

And is there anything more gorgeous than that?

Get your Vani-T lips here: Shop Vani-T

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What’s your favorite lipstick packaging?

Thirsty Thursday: Paleta Pressed Core Detox

Posted on August 9, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

This is no typical Thirsty Thursday.

I am the queen of cupcakes and the sheba of sugar but not today my friends.

Today, I am here to tell you the juicy details of my Paleta juice cleanse…and how it changed my weight, my habits and my life.

Well, the proper name is Paleta Pressed Core Detox Cleanse.

It’s serious folks!
Juice all day long.

Some of my friends had tried it and loved it — and by friends, I don’t mean the hundreds of celebrities who love Paleta such as Mila Kunis, Adrien Grenier, Brooke Bourke, Kaley Cuoco, Lisa Rinna, Giuliana Rancic and more.

I mean friends who had tried it and swore that it changed their eating habits and health.

So what could I lose except a day of having to plan out my meals and excess weight?

Nothing. So I did it.

I only ordered one day (for $54.60 – $64.50/day) and, to be honest, I was dreading it!

So imagine my delight when my cleanse day started with this at the door:

Good Morning Sunshine from Paleta!

“Un fleur? Pour moi?” (That’s “A flower? For me?” in French for you non-francophiles).

“S’il vous plait et Merci” (That’s “Yes please and Thank you”, also in French). I’m tres Paris!

That cheerful gerber daisy got me excited and in the mood! I took out all of my fresh pressed Paleta juices and lined ’em up on my dining room table. They were kind of the ultimate who’s who in healthy juices!

Unusual Suspects: Paleta Pressed Juices & 2 Boxed waters

Here was my Paleta Core Detox menu for the day:

My Paleta Menu

I started the day with the Sonic Tonic.
It was the perfect start to a perfect day!

Paleta Sonic Tonic - a chlorophyll-rich, refreshing drink!

What were my favorites?
The Kale Kooler (AM Snack): A super-powerful, delicious limeade hybrid which removes heavy-metals, stimulates metabolism (YES PLEASE!) and is antioxidant-rich. I want some more of this right now on this hot summer day!

One of my faves: Paleta Kale Kooler

The Carrot Cocktail (PM Snack): Sweet, punchy yet smooth, this vitamin C, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, stomach soothing cocktail was better than any happy hour special. And, better for me, of course!

Made it fun by sipping the Carrot Cocktail with my orange & white paper straw!

AND
The Magic Milkshake (Dinner): a vanilla bean, date-sweetened, protein-rich milkshake with omega-3, protein, and fiber that aids in digestion and is great for skin, hair & nails — which, mind you, I loved so much that I drank it too quickly and, alas, there is no picture. Yes, it was THAT delicious!

One of the pieces of advice that Chef Kelly Boyer gives you in your informative email is that you should sip and CHEW your juice. I did that for every one – HONEST!! But that magic milkshake was just too magical! My will was weak. Have mercy, Chef Kelly.

So what were the results?
A 1-lb loss in one day that has stayed off and a cleanse that inspired me to get healthier.

As many of you know, I have lost over 40 lbs in the past year and I’m really proud of that. But this was kind of a wake up call for me. I’m all about moderation. I love the good things in life but this delicious, uber-nutritious juice cleanse was just what I needed to push me gently, and healthily, towards losing that last 20. Now, nothing can stop me! And with Paleta & Chef Kelly, as my guides, I’ll know I’m on the right path to the healthiest me possible!

Next up?

I can’t wait to try the Paleta Farm to Table meal delivery.

I just hope they will include that magical Magic Milkshake! I’m dreaming of it now…

And, to my utter surprise & delight, I am game for another cleanse because a photo shoot, guest appearance or love of my life may be right around the corner! You just never know…

xoxo,

BF Asks: Have you ever “done” a cleanse? Did you enjoy it? What were your results? And what did you learn from it?

Whatcha’ Wearin’ Wednesday: Lovely Lauren C.

Posted on July 25, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Love it when I make a green beauty discovery!
Especially since I’m a little green when it comes to green beauty.

When I attended Fournier PR’s “Be Parisian For A Day” event at the Sunset Marquis Villas back in June, I had no idea how much French fun I was in for!
I was turned on to soooooo many new products and fell in love with so many of them!

Love it when that happens!

One of the lines new to me was Emani.

And the face of Emani was Lauren.

And what a face it was!

Our WWW Girl: Lauren

I loved the polished look of her eye makeup so you know I had to ask:

BF: Lauren, Whatcha’ Wearin’?

Lauren: Emani!!

Side view of lovely Lauren C.

BF: Would you mind if I feature you as my WWW girl and take a few pics?

Lauren: Go right ahead! But I put it on at 7 am this morning – do I need to retouch?

BF: 7 am!!?? You have got to be kidding. You look beautiful! You don’t need to retouch a thing!

Lauren: No. Seriously. That’s the thing about Emani – it’s amazing. Have you tried it?

BF: No, but I will now. Your makeup looks like you JUST put it on! Please tell me everything you’re wearing so I can get to know this seemingly magical mineral makeup!

Lauren: I can do better than that! I’ll take a pic of my makeup routine and email you the details. Will that work?
BF: Will that work?! Are you kiddin’?! Bless you, darlin’.

I can’t wait to try Emani myself if I can look like her!

As for Emani, this is what I know:

*A professional makeup line that promotes a pretty, healthy complexion. Gotta love that!

*Vegan friendly product – free of the not-so-pretty stuff like Talc, Gluten and Parabens.

*No harsh chemicals, petrochemicals or synthetic fragrances

*Organic,natural pigments

*Lasting mineral makeup that looks polished NOT heavy-handed like some mineral makeup lines

*PETA Certified

*Sustainable, Recycled & Biodegrable Packaging

*Made in the USA

Well, I love ALL of that goodness! And I have a feeling a lot of you will too.

Love it when I make a green beauty discovery!

And, as promised, here is Lauren C’s beauty routine.

Here’s the email from our WWW girl today, the lovely Lauren:

Hi Dawn,

It was so nice to meet you yesterday, you are such a sweetheart and I love this blog of yours!

Below are the products that I used:

Lauren's Emani Eye Makeup

-Emani Magic Sealer Eye Primer: http://www.emani.com/eyes/magic-sealer/44m-magic-sealer/
-Emani Color Dust in Icy: http://www.emani.com/166-icy-dust-specialty/
-Emani Duo Eyeshadow in Volvo Vixen: http://www.emani.com/708-volvo-vixen-eyes/
-Emani Duo Brow Filler & Liner in Coco/Black: http://www.emani.com/eyes/brow-liner/0719-coco-black/
-Emani Color Dust in Twilight: http://www.emani.com/177-twilight-specialty/
-Emani Organic Soy Mascara in Midnight: http://www.emani.com/eyes/organic-soy-mascara/1093-midnight/

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Are you a fan of mineral makeup? Have you tried Emani?

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Seaweed Bath Company’s Wildly Natural Soothing Eucalyptus & Peppermint Body Wash

Posted on May 22, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

When Christine, the green goddess from Eco-Emi, tells me I need to try something. I listen. She sent me this bottle of Seaweed Bath Company’s Wildly Natural Soothing Eucalyptus & Peppermint Body Wash and I looked forward to trying it in my nightly bath. Boy, am I glad I got to try it!

Seaweed Bath Company's Wildly Natural Soothing Bath Wash: Eucalyptus & Peppermint Scent ($16.89)

Seaweed extract, kukui and neem oils soothed my skin in a relaxing, invigorating bath. And the Eucalyptus and Peppermint scent left me feeling clean head to toe and relaxed and ready for bed.

And best of all? It is paraben, sulfate, gluten and dye free. Hooray for all of us with sensitive skin!

Created by a longtime psoriasis sufferer, The Seaweed Bath Co. is dedicated to fighting psoriasis, eczema and dry skin sufferers naturally with their thoughtful recipe of specific species of seaweed with high-quality, all-natural ingredients that help manage severely irritated skin.

So get yours today online at The Seaweed Bath Company!

xoxo,

BF Asks: Do you suffer from dry skin, eczema or psoriasis? How do you treat it?