Skinny Jeans Mom

Weekly Wrap Up

2011-10-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

(Seriously craving these booties from Payless! Yes, Payless!)

Ending things off this week with links to my current blog post at IE Family.com and my latest column for IE Family magazine in print. For the IE Family article I wrote about some great masks and facial treatments you can do at home, and I want it noted it was thanks to some great skin care recipes adapted from about.com's beauty section. Such a great site for finding info! Please check out my IE Family blog and column for the latest on fashion and beauty for this week!

Coffee Break

2011-10-03T23:28:00.000-07:00

What to wear for the start of many cool-weathered fall afternoons at a coffee shop.....

Coffee Break by julie-ordonez featuring flat shoes

Michael Stars white tank top
$50 - stylebop.com

Splendid cardigan
$72 - net-a-porter.com

Abercrombie & Fitch vintage jeans
$54 - abercrombie.com

Halogen flat shoes
$100 - nordstrom.com

TopShop wooden bangle bracelet
$28 - topshop.com

Wet Seal beaded earrings
$1.99 - wetseal.com

Green shawl
$78 - coggles.com

Diane von Furstenberg oval sunglasses
$65 - couture.zappos.com

MACARONS Pierre Hermé
€31 - colette.fr

HACHETTE BOOK GROUP The Little Dictionary Of Fashion
$20 - calypsostbarth.com

Weekly Wrap Up

2011-09-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

In trying to get back into the swing of things, I'm starting up my weekly wrap up, kind of a recap of what went on this week or what was on my mind.

Enjoy...

Magazines

I only need to pick up an issue of Glamour, InStyle, IE Family, really most any magazine.....to remember my dream and why I began blogging/writing in the first place.

Love

My 3 year wedding anniversary recently took place, in which I cooked a lovely dinner at home for my husband (and if you know my lack of domestic prowess, you know that's not an easy feat), and I was reminded why he is, and always will be, the one person I love more than anything.

Fall

Blazers, Cardigans, Boots.....signs of fall are popping up all over, and I couldn't be happier.

Target

This retail giant just keeps getting better. Adding better and better fashion finds to their stores and bringing in designs by the likes of Missoni keep this retailer as one of my mainstays.

Downtown

While attending 2011's Fashion's Night Out in Downtown Riverside I began to realize I was missing out on not only a great area for local design and fantastic style finds, but also a great "downtown" experience, complete with small boutiques, tucked away restaurants, and art galleries.

Fashion's Night Out 2011 in Downtown Riverside

2011-09-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

On Thursday September 8th, the world of fashion came out in full force to celebrate style, design, and local designers. Cities all over the world ranging from Paris, Milan, London, and New York (where the idea of Fashion’s Night Out originated) celebrated this international shopping extravaganza. And this year, the list of cities included our very own Downtown Riverside.

Put on by the Riverside Downtown Partnership and with help from the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, the event was a great time and made me swoon over and over with all the great fashion finds I scoped out. If you’ve never checked out some of the great shopping and food Downtown Riverside has to offer, I highly recommend it!

The event itself kicked off with a special Red Carpet VIP reception and Press Conference that I was kindly invited to attend, featuring great food provided by Phood On Main restaurant.

I met 99.1 KGGI Radio DJ Evelyn Erives, and she was beyond sweet…..we even shared potty training stories, and how if your kid doesn’t get it on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 58th try, you are NOT a failure…..phew!

Then came the highlight of the event, the Main Street Fashion Show in the Civic Plaza. I. LOVED. IT! Beautiful clothes, music, a real runway……what wasn’t to love? With looks from designers like Boyd’s on Main, MP Couture, Toni Moore Clothing, Purple Tiger Couture, House of Flames, and students from the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, and many others, the models showed off gorgeous look after gorgeous look. Here, a quick look back at FNO 2011, IE style:

With tons of great looks, shopping, and more, be sure to check out Downtown Riverside to satisfy your inner fashionista.

Here's hoping I'll attend next year too!

MIA......Part 2

2011-09-20T22:45:00.001-07:00

Ok....so I took a brief vacation of sorts again on from this blog, even after the post right before this one where I talked about how I wanted to come back and make this blog all about me and what I love, and how I promised to devote more time to it.

Truth is, I got incredibly busy and blogging somehow became more of a "job" almost; instead of looking forward to the time I'd spend pounding away at the keyboard with my headphones plugged in and everything from Michael Buble to Jay Z blaring in my ears as I happily poured out my thoughts, I began to feel the dread of having to "get to work" on my blog, and I actually tried to find ways to avoid doing it.

I realized, after I gave myself an entire 4 days of blogging/social media celibacy, that I was blogging for the wrong reasons. I was thinking way too much about coming up with posts that other people would want to see, and in the process I forgot why I began blogging in the first place. So I had to step back and think:

Why do I want to be a blogger anyway?

1. Because I get to express my thoughts on whatever I want, from the frustrations of being a working mom of a toddler and all that comes with it, to my intense love of fashion, beauty, shoes, and everything girly.

2. Because when I write, when I truly write for me, the words just flow out of me like a faucet that I can't/don't want to stop.

3. Because blogging got me my awesome gig as a columnist at IE Family magazine, and I hope it can take me even further someday.

4. Because I get to connect with some other really cool people.

5. Because it's just fun. Period. And the moment it isn't fun anymore, that's when you need to reevaluate who your blogging for.

I'm a 27 year old working mom of an almost three year old who loves fashion, makeup, hair, pop culture, shoes, soy vanilla lattes, chocolate, and loves/dislikes her post-baby body. I want to show other moms out there that even though I'm a mom, even though my tummy isn't back where I'd like it to be and the last party I went to I only stayed awake until the wee hour of 12 midnight, I still think I kick ass because I'm a great mom, I think I write pretty well, and I still want to look good and rock my skinny jeans like no one's business.

So from now on I'm blogging for me, for the things I love and that make me who I am....and I'm hoping you'll be along for the ride.

MIA

2011-08-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

Well now THAT was a long break wasn't it? Sheesh! I honestly never meant to let it go that long...but, well, there it is. Just busy with blogging, columning (word? probably not, but it sounds good), and life in general. Determined to get back on to it all, though, but in the meantime, some of what I've been up to....

Working on some new work looks. (See post here.)

Trail Blazer by julie-ordonez featuring a cropped blazer<

Creating New Looks

It's All Black And White by julie-ordonez featuring a knee length pencil skirt

And getting through it all with my go-to drink

E.L.F. Cosmetics

2011-08-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought Target couldn't get any more awesome, I recently discovered the E.L.F. Cosmetics line there, a makeup line that aims to bring quality beauty products to the masses at an astoundingly affordable cost. An independently owned and operated line around since 2004, it features products a wide variety of pocket-friendly, hypoallergenic cosmetics . Click for more information about E.L.F. Cosmetics here. Best of all, however, is the price! While browsing the aisles of Target on one of many occasions, I came across the products and immediately the prices caught my eye: $3 for blushes and bronzers? $5 for an entire eyeshadow kit? $1 for eyeliner and lip gloss? I thought it was too good to be true, that products that cheap would turn out to be, well, cheap, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try it, so I decided to sample some products to see if the value met with the quality.

The first product I tried was the Powder Brush, priced at $1. I wear powder daily, and so the right brush with which to apply it is essential. Brushes need to distribute powder evenly, must run easily over the face, and must feel soft against the face but also have strong enough fibers not to shed. I was pleasantly surprised with the brush; the bristles were soft, it distributed powder smoothly over my face, and did not shed, even after washing it, although it takes a day or so for the bristles of the brush to completely dry.

Lip Gloss is another essential. Whether on the run or heading out, the right shade of gloss can add that final touch to any girl’s look; I always carry some in my bag! E.L.F.’s Super Glossy Lip Shine with SPF 15 also costs $1, and comes in a variety of shades. I tried “Watermelon”, a sweet, medium pink shade. The gloss delivered a demure, flush of pink shade, and was more of a stain than a gloss, with the consistency being slightly thicker. The amount of color was just right, not overbearing, although those looking for a glossier finish should swipe a clear, more fluid-like gloss over the shade.

Liquid eyeliner is a must for me; a lightly lined upper lid is a signature look of mine, and so stumbling upon E.L.F.’s liquid eyeliner for only $1 was definitely tempting. I’ve been faithful to Maybelline’s Ultra Liner in Black for years, so I had my reservations but gave it a try. The liner comes in a paint-brush-and-pot type set-up, with a small felt brush with which to dip into the liner. The liner glided on easily, although the formula is not as thick as Maybelline’s, and so two applications of liner across the eyelid was required to avoid a streaky effect or too light of a line. The liner can hold it’s own with longevity however; it lasted an entire day and even through a workout. Definitely a keeper should I not be able to find Maybelline’s Ultra Liner.

For $5, you can buy E.L.F.’s “Beauty Eye Manual: Smoky Eye Edition”, a collection of shadows ranging from light bases to deeper contouring shades in a small “book”. Twelve different shades are included, as well as a step-by-step guide with pictures and labeling on how to create a smoky eye. The instructions were a bit vague as far as what to apply, as the labeling on the
pictures uses letters, and the shadows are numbered. However, the pictures do help as you can see which shade was applied where on the lid and brow bone. The kit also comes with a double-tipped application sponge and a pencil eyeliner in black. Although I did create a beautiful mix of navy and lighter blues with a charcoal shade, beginners may find the instructions a bit difficult to follow and may not get the look desired unless you experiment a bit with blending the shades.

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E.L.F. has definitely made beauty just a bit more affordable by offering an impressive array of cosmetics at a pocket-friendly price. While not quite to the caliber of its more expensive competitors like Nars, M.A.C., and Lancome, it can definitely hold it’s own against some drugstore brands like CoverGirl and Wet N’ Wild. And hey, beauty at a better price? I’m all for it!

*Be sure to check out Skinny Jeans Mom's new beauty and fashion column "Mom Time", in every edition of IE Family magazine and at iefamily.com*

First Image found here.

The Undomestic Diva

2011-08-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a girly girl. I love makeup, shopping, shoes, hair, all of it. LOVE. I like pretty things, shiny things, and sparkly things. I wear dresses, I hate getting dirty, I like a clean house, and I get my you-know-whats in a bunch when I see a anything that crawls.

And so I was quite frustrated when there I sat, surrounded by my lovely mommy friends whom I adore, trying to make what should have been a simple hair bow: fold ribbon, pinch the middle with some twine (I think that’s what it’s called??) fluff it out a bit, then hot-glue-gun that sucker to the metal barrette thing. (Bow-making is something we get together to do every once in a while for their daughters and I gladly join in). Simple enough, right?

As feminine as I am then, why, for the life I me, could I not make this stupid bow come together?? It looked more like a disgruntled shoelace than a pretty bow suited to sit atop a little girl’s head. Or why, now, since we were on the subject, did I not know how to hem a pair of pants? Bake cookies from scratch? Make a floral arrangement? Have any interest in watching Top Chef or DVR-ing Oprah unless it was a really good episode?

Let me back up a bit. See, before I had my son, I was always the girl who never thought too much about being a wife or having kids. Sure, I liked them. I’d even worked with them as a part of my former job on a regular basis. But I was never the girl who dreamed of having a house, husband, and/or 2.5 kids. And forget the dog. I never wanted to learn to sew, my teddy bear from 6th grade Home Ec class always leaned a bit to the right, I’m not patient enough to be crafty, and when my grandma tried to teach me how to hand-make a traditional Salvadorean dish called “pupusas” (they’re much yummier than they sound, trust me), she could only shake her head at my sad- looking ball of masa. Oy.

So when I unexpectedly got pregnant, married, began living with someone other than my parents, and became a mom all in 2008, I needless to say had a hard time adjusting. I learned quickly that I had some shortcomings and that domesticity would take adjusting-to. A typical conversation and my then-new husband would go as follows:

He calls to me. “Hon!”

“Yes?”

“Why does my Ramen soup look weird?”

“What do you mean?”

“Look.” (I peer in at the soup. Looks pale.)

“I dunno. Taste it.”

Husband takes a sip from spoon.

“Baaaaaaabe! Did you add the seasoning packet??”

“What seasoning packet?”

Once I mastered the art of spousehood, I moved on to motherhood. A land where women knew exactly how to keep a spotless house, spotless kids, had fit bodies, and still managed to pull together nutritiously-organic meals by 6 p.m. A land where velour Juicy Couture suits went well with UGG boots and Sippy cups. A land where everything somehow always came together perfectly well, no matter how time-constrained the day seemed.

I’ll never forget the first time I went to a Mommy and Me-type exercise class, 4 months post-partum.

“We NEED a jogger that plays the Wiggles!!” I announced to my husband that evening, running up to him like a crazed woman.

This proclamation came after I was the only mom in class without a jogging stroller, without educational music blasting through the speakers of the iPod adapter built into said stroller, without form- fitting Nike women’s workout clothes, and without Baby Mum-Mum snacks at hand. Nope. I was the one with the run-down sweats, not a stitch of makeup, and most of my post-baby belly pooch to match.

Over time I’ve made great mom friends and have come to embrace my mommy-ness and wifely duties. I make playdates. I look up recipes. I’ve watched enough Elmo to let you know his backstory and tell you how he came to be a three-year-old puppet-monster living on his own in New York City. But even now I still don’t quite have a knack for the craftiness or desire to cook like some of the other moms that I know do. I’ve questioned myself on this before: would my son be at a disadvantage because I can’t stay at home and take him to weekday 10 a.m. “Mommy and Me” classes? When he grows up and someone asks him what his favorite meal mom made was, will he answer “nuggets and fries!”? Will I be known as the mom on the committee who brought in store-bought cupcakes? Am I a bad mom because I don’t stay at home, or because I don’t know how to make random crafts from egg cartons, or because I would rather be entertained at someone else’s house than do the entertaining?

Sitting back and listening to my two-year-old ask me to read him yet another bedtime story because he loves reading so much, I had my answer. That is the part of me I’ve instilled in him. I’ve craved books, magazines, and libraries since I was a little girl. I may not know how to make, well, anything from scratch ( and I certainly have a lot of respect for the moms that do!), but that doesn’t make them or I any better or worse of a mom. Each mom is great in her own way, whether stay at home, work at home, work out of home, whether she has serious Martha-esque skills or is domestically challenged like me.

Images: jenniferkuhsephotography.com; Vintage cartoons: photobucket.com.

On Marriage and Things We Take For Granted

2011-08-03T22:10:00.001-07:00

So here I sit, stewing my own anger over yet another ridiculous, meaningless argument hubby and I had. Over something small. Something insignificant. Something that I probably won't even remember next week. Or even tomorrow.

Why is it that the people we love the most are the easiest to take for granted?

Is it because we know that, even after those people see our ugly side, that we know they'll love us just the same? So that gives us leeway to say things maybe we wouldn't say to others?

Is it because the longer you're with someone, the longer you go with seeing them every single day, the more time you spend together, the easier it is to annoy each other?

Or is it that the people we love so much and take for granted so often are the ones who are usually the most like us, so we clash with a personality that's ironically alot like our own?

Maybe. I think it's all of them.

Whatever the case, I know silly arguments with your spouse are just that. Silly, meaningless arguments. And I can think of 100 reasons why I love him and how blessed I am to have him.

So thank you, hubby, for putting up with me and all my flaws. I love you beyond words.

Color Me Bad

2011-08-01T22:40:00.000-07:00

One thing that Summer 2011 will be known for is this beautiful, vibrant thing called color. Blues, greens, tangerines, corals, lilacs…..ahhh, yes! I have to admit, I used to be a monochromatic neutral tones-type of girl, gravitating to beiges, greys, and blacks, because, let’s face it, they’re pretty safe and look good on most anyone. And while a staple pair of dark-wash jeans or white tank should be a part of everyone’s wardrobe, some of the best looks in makeup and fashion come when we add a dash of color to the palette. It’s all about knowing how to wear the color.

Inspired by celebrity looks, here are some shades you may want to try these last few weeks of Summer.

Blue Lagoon

To avoid looking too 70’s disco makeup-themed, go easy on the blue shadow as a little goes a long way, keep application to the crease and never to the brow bone, and blend blend blend!

Tools of the trade: Maybelline New York’s “Sapphire Smokes”; use white and silver shadows along lid and to brow bone, and apply some of the white shadow to the inner corners of the eye to highlight the white of the eye. Apply deeper shades of blue and aqua to eyelid crease, and blend outward. Top off with a thin line of black liquid liner on the top lid for a more dramatic effect. Skip the blush and use a nude lipstick or gloss like L’Oreal’s Colour Riche in “Fairest Nude”.

Photo Credits: lipstickalley.com, realbeauty.com, jenniferkuhsephotography.com.

Pretty In Pink

Completely inspired by this Louis Vuitton Cruise Collection 2011 ad, the beautiful Natalie Portman Dior Ad and of course, the black-and-pink combo perfected by Miss Holly Golightly, a.k.a. Audrey Hepburn, pink=femininity at its best in my book. Highlight that sweet innocence with an eyeshadow like L’Oreal’s HIP Studio Secrets Crystal Shadow in “Romantic”.

Sweep the pink, shimmery shade all over eyelid, heavier nearest the lid itself and easing up when nearing the brow bone. I blended a bit of white shadow into the pink and applied this to the inner corners of the eye as well. Apply the silver shade in the “Romantic” duo to the crease and blend outward, and apply to underneath bottom lash line near the inner corner of the eye, as shown in the Christy Turlington look.

Photo Credits: eoline.com, absinthrill.blogspot.com, domerry.com, jenniferkuhsephotography.com.

Plum Passion

Purple is the color of royalty, and no doubt when done well this shade can make you feel like such. You can use deep purple shades like MAC cosmetic’s “Plum Dressing” to blend in at the crease, and apply a lighter lavendar shade like “Crème de Violet”. Blending in a silver or white shadow at the crease and white at the brow bone adds highlight; top with black liner at on top of lid and finish with mascara. Top with a touch of blush and a light pink lipstick, like Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pearl “Blushed”.

Photo Credit: jenniferkuhsephotography.com.

Green with Envy

Think wearing green is only for St. Patty’s Day? Not so! Deep mossy greens bring out the best in hazel and brown eyes, and shades like the ones in Maybelline Expert Wear’s “Enchanted Forest” blend in to look like a dream. Apply creamy base color all over eyelid, base to lid, and blend mossy green shade and brown at crease and outer corner. Blend in cream shade at inner eye corners again to highlight the whites of the eyes.

Photo Credit: jenniferkuhsephotography.com.

Bronze and Golds

I’m loving all things metallic right now, and bronze/gold shades are among my favorites! Maybelline’s Expert Wear trio in “Bronze Haze” makes it easy for anyone to get that golden-goddess look. Apply the gold base all over lids to brow bone, blend the rustic orange in on the lid and apply the darkest brown shade at the creases and along top lash-line. Finish with black kohl liner on top and bottom at lash line to create a more smokey effect.

Photo credits: elle.com, jenniferkuhsephotography.com.

My beauty arsenal:

"I believe in pink. I believe in manicures. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." -Audrey Hepburn

Weekend Wrap Up

2011-07-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

Image here

Image credit here.

All of these images represent things that I love, adore, and make me who I am. This week I learned a really important lesson about loving myself and appreciating what I have and who I am.

Everyone at some point in their lives questions who they are, what they're about, and tries to be someone they're not. Whether it's in your teens or in your twenties, everyone goes through this awkward stage where they're trying to figure out who the person they are is, and sometimes in the process you get lost. I got lost a bit on my own journey, and that was because I was truly trying to be someone I'm not. I was trying to impress people I thought I needed to impress, in ways I thought would impress them, and in the process I was wearing myself thin, both emotionally and physically. I started becoming very stressed and finally had to stop and think about what I was doing, and who I was doing it for.

If I'm always trying to be someone else's ideal to be accepted by others, then I will never be happy. And being happy with who you are, counting the blessings in your life, and being able to say to hell with what everyone else thinks and just go for it and live life makes your life worth living.

I am grateful for so many things. My faith in God, my husband and son, and my family are my reasons for being. Without them I would be nothing. I have so much life to live, so much to be thankful for, and so I'm going to truly live and enjoy my life without regard to what anyone thinks.

I am:

Loving, sincere, and genuine. I love people, I give my heart to those I love, and vow to always be true to myself.

I'm a proud Mommy, wife, sister, daughter, and Christian.

I love style, beauty, music, fitness, the 80's, Molly Ringwald, watching movies with my husband, drinking wine, dancing like no one's looking, coffee, chocolate, food, reading anything and everything (especially magazines and blogs), I'm almost never serious, I love making people laugh and smile, and genuinely appreciate the time anyone takes to read this blog.

With all that said, I plan on pursuing my dreams, and soaking life in.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Top 10 Beauty Finds Under $10

2011-07-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

Think you’ve got to break the bank to look like a million bucks? Not so! While department stores typically sell higher-end brands like NARS, M.A.C., Lancome, and Dior that definitely deliver, stores like Target and CVS are stocking their shelves with better and better quality beauty finds that stand to compete with their pricier predecessors. Here, my top 10 beauty products under $10.

1. OPI Nail Lacquer

I’ve put OPI on multiple “best of” lists before, because with their impressive array of shades and names for their shades like “I’m Not Really A Waitress”, “Paint My Moji-toes Red”, “I Think in Pink”, and “You Don’t Know Jacques!”, there’s a tongue-in-cheek shade for whatever suits your mood.
$9.50, Sephora.com for Sephora store locations.

Photo credit: thehairrazor.

2.Suave Dry Shampoo

Need to take a break in between shampoos? Running short on time? Dry shampoo is the latest bit of magic in every woman’s haircare arsenal, as this product can extend the time in between washing your hair and can be used after the gym, when natural hair oils begin to drag it down, or to extend the life of your blowout. Made with mineral clay, this spray gets rid of grease and moisture, and also helps hold style and height, all while leaving a clean, airy scent.
$2.74, Target.com for Target locations.

Photo Credit: amazon.com.

3.L’Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser

The best makeup can’t work properly if the canvas on which it sits isn’t up to par….that said, keeping skin clean and fresh is a must! L’Oreal’s new facial cleansers are designed to leave skin clean, silky, and refreshed while eliminating dirt, oil, and makeup. Each bottle comes with an exfoliating scrub with greater ease. Says Angela L. from the IE, “ It left my skin SO smooth and clean, I’d definitely recommend it!”
$6.99, Target, Wal-Mart, various drug stores.

Photo Credit here.

4.Maybelline Volum’ Express Mascara Collection

I’ve been a fan of this collection of mascaras by Maybelline for years, with good reason. The fat, round brushes practically guarantee long, beautiful lashes with minimal to no clumping. Why hello, beautiful!
$5-6, Target.com.
Photo credit here.

5.Rosebud Salve by Rosebud Perfume Co.

A cult favorite for it’s light, non-sticky yet moisturizing effect on dry lips, Rosebud Salve can do no wrong, and can even be applied to other areas where dry skin is noted. And who can resist the quaint vintage looking tin it comes in? Lovely!
$6, Sephora.com.
Photo credit here.

6.L’Oreal Paris Feria Haircolor

My favorite at-home hair color, this easy to apply hair color is one I’ve trusted for years. This product delivers intense color and shine that truly lasts beyond multiple shampoos.
Target, $7.99.

7.Garnier Fructis Sleek ‘N Shine Serum

Frizzies got you down? This little greenish bottle holds my secret weapon against umtameable hair woes. Apply just a pump to distribute throughout hair and watch as this lightweight, fruity scented serum tames those bad boys down.
$5, target and various durg stores.
Photo credit here.

8.Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quads

Now applying eye makeup has never been easier with the help of these eyeshadow trios. The shades are labeled by which color goes on the base, lid, liner, and crease, and each include a specific trio of shades that blend together beautifully.
$4.94 Target.
Photo credit here.

9.Goody Bobby Pins

A staple in every woman’s haircare arsenal. Keep those flyaways and stray hairs at bay or create an elegant updo with these hairstyling essentials.
$3.29 for a pack of 50, Target.
Photo credit here.

10.Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towlettes

One of the biggest skin faux pas is not taking your makeup off before bed. These facial wipes work to take off the dirt and oil trapped by makeup worn for the day, and while you still need to follow up with a cleanser to really clean your skin, this is a great way to make sure you get all the dirt and oil off your face.
$7.49 at Ulta.com.
Photo credit here.

RE-Launch of Skinny Jeans Mom!

2011-07-27T22:22:00.001-07:00

It's time I made a comeback!

I've been absent for quite some time due to blogging over on my blog for Inland Empire Family Magazine's website (check that out here)and also due to my new role of also being IE Family Magazine's beauty/lifestyle columinst for the "Mom Time" section (yeah!!). Oh yes, and working full-time, being a wife, and mom to my toddler keeps me fairly busy as well.

Despite all I have to balance I realized how much I missed blogging on my personal site, and having been incredibly inspired by so many things to blog about I realized it was time for me to return to blogging here.

So here I am, blogging to my heart's content again, and I'm so looking forward to bringing more of the things I love to you again.

If this is your first time here, welcome. I truly truly am grateful for anyone who should happen to stop by my litle blog, it means the world to me to be able to write about my passions, and more than that, have people share them with me.

I'm a 27 year old mom and wife, I work full-time, and just like any other mom I try to balance it all. I'm passionate about style, beauty, food, and fitness, and so from these many sides of me Skinny Jeans Mom was born. I wanted a place where I could blend fashion, beauty, and lifestyle with being a mother into one. I'm passionate about living life fully; and I believe every and any woman, mom or not, size 2 or 22, is beautiful. Read more about me here.

I'm truly looking forward to sharing more with all of you.

MIA

2011-03-21T23:20:00.000-07:00

Ok....so I've been a little MIA lately....

Apparently working full time, being a wife and mama, and running two blogs has taken more of my time than I thought....

So while this skinny jeans mom takes some time to figure things out please check out my main blog at HERE at IE Family.com.

Thanks everyone! =)

How Fitness Has Changed My Body and Life

2011-02-20T22:19:00.000-08:00

I just don't have the time.....I just can't find the motivation or energy.....I just hate going to the gym!
These were all reasons I used to give myself whenever I started an exercise program and failed to stick to it. For a lot of people exercise is something we know we need more of, it's the other half of the fitness equation, and yet despite making the best of New Year's resolutions, by about mid-January the Nike’s tend to end up right back into the overlooked corner of the closet, and the resolution is long forgotten. Until we make the exact same resolution again about a year later.

When I was in college before I had my son, I used to go to the gym 4-5 times a week, but would often stop for a donut and full-fat Starbucks Frappuccino afterwards. After having my son in 2008 and having gained 50+ pounds, (yes, 50!), I immediately joined Stroller Strides, a workout group for moms with (what else) kiddos in strollers. Although a good workout, I couldn't stick to the meeting times since I eventually went back to work, and I also found that I wanted my workouts to be more of a "me" time.

Then in July 2010 my husband purchased Insanity, an intense cardio/plyometric-infused workout series by Beachbody, the fitness company behind wildly popular programs like P90X,and Turbofire.

If you watch any of Beachbody’s infomercials you honestly get hooked; you can practically hear "Eye of the Tiger" in your head while watching how these programs have changed people’s lives,telling yourself you can do the same. I instantly loved Insanity for its ability to deliver a calorie-torching, intense workout in only 40-60 minutes per workout session. Insanity even ranked on SHAPE magazine’s “Best Fitness Trends of 2010”, along with P90X.

I hadn't yet truly committed to fitness even after starting Insanity, however, because once life got too busy again my workouts became derailed and I went back to old habits. And the holidays? Psshh! I did more damage than I care to recall.

So, after wavering off my regimen quite a bit during the holidays, I enlisted the help of friend and Beachbody coach Molly Richards. I began my "Fitness Challenge" on IEFamily.com this year, a year-long challenge for me to become fit and healthy for good. Molly is also a fitness instructor and mom of two. Her positive outlook, go get 'em attitude and passion for helping others is infectious!

Here, Molly shares some fitness tips to help you succeed.

Lack of time has to be the #1 obstacle for fitting in working out for busy moms; too many things to do, never enough time! I get up early and workout before my son wakes up because it’s easier and once it’s done I know I’m done for the day. Some moms find it’s easier to workout at night, when the kids are asleep. Whichever times work best for you are fine, because the time of day you workout doesn’t matter.
You can also break your workout routine throughout the day: for example, do 10 minutes in the morning, 10-15 at lunch, 10-15 in the evening. Turbofire also has workouts as short as 20 minutes. Hate the treadmill? Do something else, something you enjoy! This way, you’re more likely to stick with it.

Don’t forget to fuel your body well too; if you fuel your body with junk, it’ll run like it too. Eat balanced meals with complex carbs like whole grains, whole wheats, load up on veggies, and lean proteins. NEVER meal skip, it slows down your metabolism and makes you cranky and less fun to be around in general. For more info on healthy eating, check out the American Dietetic Association’s website.

Make exercise a priority in your daily life. Remember, more activity=more calories burned=a better shape. But more importantly, more energy and health over all, and a happier Skinny Jeans Mom.

**All images and video in this post property of skinnyjeansmom.com. Advice given within this and all posts regarding exercise and/or diet are opinions only, and are NOT to be taken as medical advice. Always speak to your physician before beginning a diet and/or exercise program.**

Nothing But a Number

2011-02-15T22:55:00.000-08:00

As far back as we can all remember women have been defined by a number. Whether it’s age (27), shoe size (7 ½), jean size (4), height (5’2”), or weight (120’s), we constantly define ourselves by the numbers that we see. We have it ingrained in our minds that if we are to be desirable we must be a certain weight, look, size, or set of measurements, and if we are not then we always strive to be that.

As part of my fitness challenge (read more on that on my other blog here) I address this issue quite a bit. My focus as part of my challenge was not to lose a dramatic amount of weight or even fit into a certain size; it was to make my lifestyle healthier, and learn to love and accept my body for what it is. And though I’ve come a long way on that path (I’ve now become a fitness lover and eat healthier than I ever have), I still have the “UGH! Why am I SOOO huge??” moments. We all do, unfortunately, no matter what our size. We all lament those extra desserts when we find that the hook takes just a biiiiiit more effort to reach the clasp.

Today was one of those days. I started discussing this with a friend of mine and I told her how frustrated I was that I exercise, frequent Trader Joe’s for healthy fare, and pay attention to weight matters more than ever, and I still weigh more than I did when I was in college. When I was in college, I ate what I wanted (albeit the portions were still within reason) and I never exercised. So frustrating!

My friend then mentioned that maybe I weighed less then because I didn’t fixate on it so much then. And I started thinking that she was probably right.

Think about it: when you’re not so fixated on the number, when you actually allow yourself to enjoy food and don’t make any foods “forbidden”, you tend to not over-indulge because you know the chocolate, cupcakes, the whatever will be there tomorrow, and you remove that urgency to have it. When you allow yourself some treats and wiggle room, and know as long as your diet is mostly healthy and you keep exercising that the one donut or pastry won’t completely derail your efforts, you remove your fear of it, and eating becomes what it should be: joyful, you eat only until you’re satisfied, and it’s not something you have to fight against all the time. You finally develop a healthy relationship with it.

So that’s my new game plan. I eat mostly healthy yet I refuse to diet, count calories, carbs, points, or fat grams, and I will enjoy and savor my food. I’ll aim to be healthy because I know my body needs the nutrition, but I will definitely allow myself my guilty pleasures, because they just make life that much sweeter. Wine, chocolate, and coffee? They’re my weaknesses! Perfectly okay in moderation.

So with that……

Chocolate, anyone?

Photo credits: thehairazor.com, umass.edu

Monster Jam in LA and the OC!

2011-02-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

Monster Trucks. High Energy. An all-out amazing show. Need I say more?

Monster Jam is coming to SoCal this and next weekend, and it is not to be missed! For anyone who’s not sure what it’s all about, picture this: a live, intense speed, motorsport event where monster trucks like GRAVE DIGGER, SUPERMAN, AVENGER, AND GRAVE DIGGER LEGEND take over the arena and put on an adrenaline-pumping racing and free-style competition show!

The show comes to Orange County’s Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Saturday, February 12th, and to Los Angeles for the first time ever at Dodger Stadium, Saturday, February 19th. Tickets are on sale NOW at ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. You can also log on to monsterjam.com for more details.

Not only can you get the chance to take the family to a world-class racing and freestyle competition event, you can also get in on the action early to enjoy the Party in the Pits pre-show experience-an opportunity for fans to view their favorite trucks up-close, meet the drivers and take pictures! Don’t miss the chance to enjoy an action-packed night with the family, this weekend, February 12th at Angel Stadium or next weekend February 19th at Dodger Stadium!

*Parents! Don't forget to use the password "MOMMY" when purchasing tickets to get a discount*(Not valid day of event).

Anaheim – Angel Stadium
2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806
 Saturday, February 12th at 7:00pm

Los Angeles – Dodger Stadium
1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
 Saturday, February 19th at 7:00pm

You can't knock me down!

2011-02-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

When January rolled around I made the usual requisite New Year’s resolution to myself. I vowed, among many other things, to become comfortable with my body and strive to make it the best it can be. I’ve come to the realization that I don’t want to starve myself and obsess over being thin to be someone else’s ideal; chasing what everyone else thinks is beautiful and acceptable is what had me not being happy with what I look like for years; In high school, the epitome of self-doubt and insecurity, I was always too short, my nose too big, my eyes too round, too Hispanic, hair too wavy, and too many other things that didn’t fit into what the “ideal” was at the time.

Flash forward several years, a marriage, a child, and becoming an adult, and I’ve learned to embrace who I am. I’m petite, at 5’2”; thus I will never be a model (unless I model for petites!), I have naturally wavy hair so it requires extra effort to tame it, I have brown eyes so I’ll never get the “you have such pretty eyes!” compliment, and I tend to carry my weight around my mid-section (ugh!), so I have to work hard at keeping that under control as well. Every so often I see another girl whom I think is gorgeous and I think wow, what if I had her eyes/hair/lips/butt/boobs/personality? Then I have to say to myself that I am who I am; I am me, no one else, and so I must love and accept that, and strive for the best that I can be. I want to be the best version of myself, not a so-so version of someone else.

Hence, my fit challenge began; beginning in January I decided to embark on a year-long journey of me learning to follow a healthier lifestyle. (If you’d like to read about the “Skinny Jeans Mom Fit Challenge” from the beginning, check out my other blog at IE Family.com) This is a journey I started because I realized that I do love myself, I do accept my body, but that I also want to push it to make it look its best, and I want feel my best as well. Let’s face it, as much as I was enjoying eating whatever I wanted before, I never felt good on the inside physically from all the junk I was putting into my body. I wanted to walk with more confidence, and more assurance that yes, this is my body, this is who I am, and I’m proud of it. I now know that I am fully capable of anything, Lord willing; that I’m the one who stops myself from doing anything, I put up my own roadblocks, and that if I don’t push myself to be what I want to be, I’ll never tear them down.

I contacted my friend and Beachbody coach Molly Richards about this, and she agreed to help me on my challenge by providing me with tips and some workouts to try. She sent me her copy of Turbofire, an intense cardio conditioning program made by Beachbody, the company behind P90X, Insanity, and TurboFire. I had already tried Insanity last year, another intense conditioning program and LOVED it. It kicked my butt and worked me harder in 40 minutes than I ever had on my own at any gym. Still, come January my weight stayed.

And I knew why; it wasn’t the workout. Insanity brought it hard, and I definitely felt it. No, the numbers didn’t budge because of my two downfalls: diet and consistency. I skipped workouts when I was too busy or stressed, and I’m a girl who loves to eat. My husband and I are always busy and we’re very social, with lots of dinners out and get-togethers, etc. Thus making the effort to change my ways and stick with a routine has always been a struggle.
Once I began the Fit Challenge and Turbofire however, my attitude totally changed. I became hooked and my outlook on fitness completely changed. Turbofire kicked my butt, totally worked me, and has addictive, energizing music to work to. Seeing how my body was changing, I became motivated to start eating healthier and dropped a few pounds. I never felt better.
Then I hit one of my roadblocks. This last week life got really busy, hubs and I had a great anniversary dinner, Thursday we had a great office potluck, Friday and Saturday were busy on-the-go days, and Sunday was this thing called the Super Bowl, and all the goodies that go along with that. Buh-bye skinny jeans, hello comfy pants.

Oh, was I mad. Mad at myself for gaining back the few pounds that I’d worked so hard for. But more than that, it was anger over watching myself over-indulge in foods not even because I want them so much, but because they were just there. No one was forcing me to over-indulge, I chose to. Anyone who knows me knows I’ll never turn down a party or some yummy food or wine; it’s doing it in excess and over-indulgence that leave me reeling and kicking myself in the pants.

Normally at this point I’d get so fed up at myself for having such a downfall that I’d probably give up altogether, figuring what’s the point; I’d lick my wounds until I was set back in my own ways.

Not. This. Time.

So what if I had a setback? So I indulged a bit more than I should have…..big deal! I enjoyed it, I’ll do it in more moderation next time, and I’m moving on! Life is not about deprivation or being perfect; it’s about striving to make the most of it, which means making fitness a part of my life because I’ve come to love it, eating healthy because it makes me feel better, and enjoying indulgences every so often. So if you’ve had a setback, get up, brush yourself off, and keep moving.

How are you going to push yourself to get up and move on?

Monster Jam Comes to So Cal!

2011-02-02T22:44:00.000-08:00

I'll admit I'm a girlie girl. As girlie as you can get, really. I don't enjoy getting dirty, creepy animals, and my idea of lounging is by a pool with a drink with an umbrella in it.

Once I had my son, however, I had to learn to embrace my inner tomboy (wherever that is in me).
So when I got the opportunity to attend and spread the word about Monster Jam (http://www.monsterjam.com/) I had to jump on it! Monster Jam is a live motorsport event featuring racing and freestyle competitions by monster trucks. And they are coming to a venue in So Cal near you!

Monster Jam is coming to So Cal on the following dates:

Saturday, February 12th at Angel Stadium.
2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806
Buy tickets here.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER:

Saturday, February 19th, at Dodger Stadium!
1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Buy tickets here.

You can also purchase tickets by going to ticketmaster.com, going to the Angel Stadium Box Office or Dodger Stadium Box Office, or call 1800-745-3000.

**Adults, save on tickets! Use the password MOMMY to save $5 off select ticket prices!** (offer not valid day of show)

It’s a great family event, and with names for the trucks like “Screamin’ Demon”, “Destroyer”, and “Iron Man”, it’s sure to get everyone pumped up!

I’ll see you at the stadium!

Welcome to Skinny Jeans Mom.com!

2011-01-22T00:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome! I hope you enjoy my site and that I get to see you here more often.

So you get to know this Skinny Jeans Mom at little better, check out my "25 things to know about Skinny Jeans Mom":

1. I'm a dedicated mom to a two-year-old boy. He's my love, my life, my reason for being.

2. I married my best friend, my rock, my soul mate. Also known as hubs, viejo, babe, baby, "hey, you!", and four-letter words on occasion.

3. I am a proud Christian woman. I am genuine and respectful of others, and I don't b.s. What you see is what you get with me.

4. I LOVE being a girl. Makeup, heels, skirts, dresses, jewelry, mani's, pedi's, you name it. Love it all!

5. I blog for Inland Empire Family Magazine on their site at iefamily.com. I'm so proud to blog for this mag! You should check it out. No really. Go.

6. I also write for thesmartlysocal.com. A great site with essays published by amazing writers. It's AWESOME.

7. I dream of being a writer for a mag one day. Oh yes. It WILL happen.

8. Most relaxing sound in the world: ocean waves.....but....

9. I never learned how to swim.

10. I LOVE coffee. And chocolate. And wine. And ice cream. And IN-N-OUT burgers. All these make me a happy girl.

11. I love working out. Which works well with the fact that I also love to eat (see #10).

12. I am passionate, genuine, opinionated, stubborn, impatient, organized, never take things too seriously yet think too much, and live life fully.

13. I am extremely social, love meeting people, and can probably talk your head off.

14. I hate horror movies.

15. I love everything from Jay-Z and Michael Buble' to The Eagles, U2, and CCR.

16. I'm mildly twitter and FB addicted and okay with it.

17. My beauty icons are Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, and this 85 year-old woman I met who still wore skinny jeans and heels with her zebra-striped cane. I mean, that's how you age well!

18. I love vintage looks and love when women dressed to the nines: hair, makeup, dress, heels, the works.

19. I hiked the highest point of Macchu Picchu, rode horseback sans saddle with no experience, and stayed in a treehouse-like hotel with no hot water or electricity in the Amazon. And reinforced to myself that I am NOT a nature girl.

20. I love romantic comedies, no matter how much the story never changes. It all started with the Molly Ringwalds of the 80's.

21. I'm Cali girl through and through. I put on a sweater when it's below 65.

22. My favorite movie is Anne of Green Gables.

23. I dream of traveling the world.

24. I dream of being able to provide my parents with the life they've always dreamed of.

25. I really, really hope you love my blog. =)