Austenland

(I am not an unbiased reviewer of this film.  I have family ties to this so don't hate me)

Austenland, a movie based on the book similarly titled by Shannon Hale, comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray today!  The film is rated PG-13.

I cannot write a review that will do it justice so go rent it. Actually, go buy it. I know you'll love it.  If you've seen Napoleon Dynamite or Nacho Libre and love them, Austenland screenplay was co-written and directed by Jerusha Hess.  This chick flick is silly, kickin good time fun.  See with your girl friends.  Have a night in with junk food and watch this gem of a film.  Keri Russell plays an Austen fanatic so well.  Jennifer Coolidge is once again a comedic goddess and has fabulous one liners throughout.  Georgia King plays a fabulous part as a comical Austen-era lady.  The 4 leading men, JJ Feild (my personal FAV), Bret McKenzie, James Callis and Ricky Whittle set the screen ablaze with each of the men wooing in their own way.  Brooding, flirtatious, hilariously ridiculous and shirtless respectively.  jane Seymour. What can I say?  Such a lady.

Please support this film.  I promise you will love it.

xoxo,
june

Favorite pregnancy products

(i'm finally getting around to posting this.  9 months later.  but some exciting news of a dear friend, spark the push to get this post done.  2/11/14)

This pregnancy has definitely been different than my other two.  I knew that it wouldn't be exactly like the others but there have some been some definite differences.

With this being for reals my last baby, you'd think I'd just do with what I had.  Well, what I had didn't cut it.  Since I thought that EJune was my last baby, I had gotten rid of most of my maternity clothing with the exception of a few things.  (Robyn, I never did find those jeans.....) So I treated myself.  A lot.  I've complied a list of a few of my favorites and must haves for any pregnant lady.

Maternity Wear:

Asos USA.  Seriously, best clothing ever.  My options here in WTX were limited to Motherhood Maternity (I don't completely HATE this store.  Jessica Simpson designed a line for them and it's pretty good.  At the time, I just couldn't justify an $80 dress with 3 months left in my pregnancy.), Old Navy (their selection is always hit or miss) or a locally owned boutique that has styles I normally love but the prices were out for this pregnancy.  Asos offers free shipping both ways, super easy return process and their styles are in fashion.  Since the sizing is UK sizing, it was tough to get the right size but with free returns it was not a pain to have to send something back.  (Other than my dislike of the post office.  I can never seem to make it out that way....)


Below are some products I loved this time around:

1,  Bliss Naked Body Butter I used this stuff for my hands and feet which got super dry in the WTX winter.  I felt it was too thick for my entire body (plus the price tag.....) but it really moisturized my hands and feet well and I loved it enough to use it on my kids' hands and feet.  

2.  Blanqi Underbust High Performance Belly Support Tank I had always wanted to try a body shaping product like Spanx but have you seen them?!  How do you pee?  So I searched for one to use during this pregnancy, I came across the Blanqi.  What I instantly loved about it was the fact that I didn't have to remove anything to pee or pee through a tiny hole AND the fact that it wore like a long tank top.  I found it online at target.com and ordered 2 because I was unsure of my sizing.  Thanks to my RedCard, I got free shipping and 5% off.  The Blanqi is not restricting in any way nor do I feel like I'm going to burst into flames because I'm burning hot from so many layers.  

3.  Mamma Mio Tummy Rub Butter  This stuff is the creme of the crop!  I was given a jar of this stuff as a gift from a secret admirer (it showed up on my door step one day) and I used it every day and everywhere it recommended. It's a little pricey for a 4.21 oz tube ($36 for a tube on Amazon) but sooo worth every frickin penny.  

4.  Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleaning System   I know that this is the other pricier brand knock-off but I feel for under 20 bucks, it just as great.  My face broke out so bad during this last pregnancy I resorted to get a prescription for topical erythromycin to help stop zits in its tracks.  I also knew exfoliating was super important so I broke out my old friend.  I used the Olay facial brush with my favorite gentle cleanser in the shower in the morning or right before bed.  It says you can use it twice a day but it felt like too much to me.  I followed up with my favorite moisturizer and spf (in the AM).  It helped with the break-outs that attack what is supposed to be a beautiful pregnancy glow.  

I plan on following up this post with my absolute favs and must haves for baby.  

xoxo,

june

Shame on you

There's a new trend in mommyhood and often, it is unintentional: mom shaming.  Moms shaming other moms.
(As I was making lunch for me and Little E, I was thinking about the food I feed myself and my family.  Mostly, the food I feed my kids.  I know my personal eating habits are not the best.  I despise raw carrots and some days go by without my eating a fruit or vegetable in its natural form.  *gasp*  I cave into cravings and often the cravings are bad food: burgers, fries, tacos, etc.  I do love a great salad but it's not as convenient for me.)

Moms often unintentionally shame each other when we see them doing something that is the opposite of how we do things.

*Oh, you don't feed your baby all organic baby food?
*You don't make your baby organic purees at home?
*Your baby can't walk yet and he's 18 months old?
*Your baby isn't forming real words and he's almost 2?
*You feed your kids McDonalds?
*You don't let your kids have sleepovers?
*You don't read to your kids every night?
*You must miss your kids when you're at work all day.
*You must have so much time on your hands being at home.
*I never yell at my kids.
*We don't eat anything processed or pre-made in our house.


And this is just a sampling of the things that have been said to people.  I know the women who have said these things don't say them in a hurtful way but how they are interpreted are.  In my formative years, I grew up in a single parent home where money was tight.  I can empathize with single moms  Most really do work so hard to put good food on the table, making sure their kids are healthy emotionally, and clothed properly. But I also empathize with stay at home moms and working moms.  I am a SAHM and I feel like I work hard to do all the right things.  Keep a clean and orderly home.  Make good, nutritious meals.  Read to my kids.  Not yell at them.  But often, I fail.  Very often.  I have friends who are great at housekeeping or making veggie purees to put in their kids food so they get veggies even though they won't eat the unpureed version.  I have friends who have kids with food allergies and meal times are hard.  I have friends who feed their kids fast food or eat at restaurants for at least one meal a day.  To some extent we all judge each other.  No one is perfect, we are all just doing what we have to.  I know that if I'm too hard on myself, I will fail and then other issues arise:  depression, anxiety.

So I ask you women, mothers.  Before you say something to another mother, woman, please think about what your comment may do them emotionally. Even with your very best friend, you can still hurt with thoughtless words, so  please choose your words wisely. We are in this together - and all our kids will be about the same with their eating habits, social, and physical abilities so why not uplift instead of judge?  Shame on you for shaming others.

Winter rescue

Is anyone else tired of winter?  I am!  On the way to school today my little E asked me, "Momma, when is the sun coming out so that it will be summer?" Oh, my dearest one I wish I knew.  I ask myself this same question every day and have been since the start of this horrible winter. I moved to this part of Texas to avoid most of the winter, meaning SNOW.  If you know me, you know I HATE snow.  I don't use the word 'hate' lightly either.  I use it when I really mean something, without having to use expletives.  We've gotten a ton of snow lately in my part of Texas and I dread it.  For 2 reasons mostly.  1.  Because there are *maybe* only 2 snow plows to feed a community of over 225,000 people, and 2.  Because people here DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IN IT!!!  I lived in 2 places I think are the snowiest: Utah and Syracuse, NY. I did not drive in Utah when I lived there years ago but now I do occasionally when we go up to visit family.  We only lived in Syracuse for 1 year but for the majority of our time there, there was snow on the ground.  It was always plowed, with the exception of the driveway up to the church building. I swore going up that I would slip right down that steep hill and die or slide right down on my way down, right into oncoming traffic and die.  Fortunately, neither of those things happened because I am here today writing this annoying post.  ANYWHO.  I hate snow.  Let it be known, weather gods.  No more snow. EVER!

Onto my reason for blogging. See that crazy picture I just shot on my webcam?  Don't you just love it? 

(don't mind my unmanicured fingernails.  i know it's like showing you my underwear...)

  I first discovered this hand cream while scrolling through my Instagram feed one morning.  I knew I needed that hand cream that minute.  I think I held off a few hours or maybe even a day (as you see, I have patience issues when it comes to buying things.  I'm an impulsive person.  But then sometimes the side of me that is hesitant kicks in and I can momentarily stop the compulsive/impulsive behaviors. and yes, I am long winded today.)  and then I ran (well, drove) to Costco and picked up a box. Costco sells it in a pack of 3-4oz tubes for $19.95.   (I believe Costco is the only place one can purchase this dream in a tube.)  Jenna Hipp Essential Nail and Hand Cream.  It contains 20% shea butter and no parabens, phtalates, PEG, artificial fragrance or synthetic dyes.  It's pure heaven, y'all!  I keep one on my nightstand, one in the kitchen and one in my purse.   It's not sticky and absorbs well into your skin.  The smell is very pleasant, has almost a slight "clean" smell.  My husband, who eschews anything "frufru" or "fancy", loves this hand cream.  His work requires him to constantly wash his hands or use hand sanitizer, so his hands get very dried out..  So, this hand cream is manly enough for your man, minus the fact that the tube comes decorated in three bright, girly prints.  And perfect enough to brighten your handbag and luxurious enough to keep your hands pampered and soft during this damn arctic hell.  

Don't walk, RUN to buy this.  You can thank me later. 

xoxo,
june