pampering

Valentine’s Day is a week away and we still have time to consider a gift for our Little Sweethearts. I have always had a passion for hearts, and this is the time of year when we are able to discover an abundance of unique keepsakes not only for ourselves but also for baby. The beauty of buying heart shaped treasures is that they are fashionable year round! The heart is indeed a universal symbol of “Love” and is often used to adorn many elements of clothing and accessories for newborns and infants. If you too hold a passion for hearts, here are a few of my favorites to share!

Yummy, washable cashmere hoodies and blankets by Amber Hagen. These are luxurious to the touch, not to mention how charming your cherub will be wrapped in the cardigan or blanket. The Cardigan is sized 3 month to 24 months and retails for $160.00, well worth the extravagance! The famous tattoo hoodie is the Tinsel Town favorite; celebs such as Julia Roberts, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Garner and Angelina Jolie are all fans! Stylish gift boxes are available for an additional $5.00 if you are sending as a gift.

While shopping, ease your travels with the ultimate stroller accessory by Dante Beatrix. This tote bag is not only beautifully tailored and timeless it is extremely functional. It was designed to compliment any women’s personal style and store diapers, sippy cups and my favorite All of my Heart soap by Noodle & Boo. The bag has clips to fasten to stroller and extends long enough to to wear across the body like a hip handbag. Dante Beatrix is the bag of choice for famous moms like Marcia Cross and former Bachelorette turned mom Trista Renn. The stroller tote retails for $110.00.

Save the permanent tattoos for others and enjoy a bit of fun with the novelty of a temporary tattoo for your little one. Ooh La la Mama offers the hippest onsies that look adorable with jeans or my personal favorite way to sport, bottomless and chubby legs exposed! You have your choice of zen Buddha, animal print punk star or the Heart Tattoo and several more. These onsies retail for $38.00. So whether you are inclined to purchase one of these contemporary items for your little sweetie for Valentine’s Day or just because, your choice will be heartfelt.

Happiness is finding the sweetest heart for you and baby too!

Think of it as a “spa night” for your hands. Noodle & Boo’s Glowology line has two products that when used together offer RELIEF for those painfully dry hands. You will need the Sugar Mama Honey Scrub and The Balm.

Before you go to bed, run warm water over your clean hands for a minute. Take a big scoop of the Sugar Mama Honey Scrub and let it melt in your palms. Gently rub your hands together for two or three minutes making sure to get between your fingers and around your cuticles. When the sugar is gone and your hands feel oily, rinse them with water and pat dry.

When hands are still moist apply The Balm generously to your hands. Go to bed. Wake up with wonderfully soft and supple hands. During the winter months, this is a wonderful bedtime ritual.

Leave a comment on any post this week and receive free samples of both the Sugar Mama Honey Scrub and The Balm. Be sure to e-mail chatterbox@noodleanboo.com your mailing address!

Sweet dreams until tomorrow . . . .

by Sarah Skarda

I am such a sucker for buying and trying the latest thing when it comes to beauty and pampering.

This summer my feet were really sore from standing all the time and running around after my babies. I was flipping through Shape and saw a YogaToes advertisement. They claimed that “it’s like doing yoga for your toes!”

Prompted by my overwhelming curiosity and my achy feet, I jumped online to order a pair. To my pleasant surprise . . . they worked!

YogaToes are wonderful not only for someone working on their feet all day, but for the person with chronic feet problems, the person who has to wear uncomfortable shoes to match their work attire or the mommy who runs after little ones all day. No matter how you get your sore feet, I suggest you try YogaToes.

Start your experience by giving yourself a foot-massage with The Balm by Noodle & Boo then follow by relaxing with YogaToes while you watch TV or read a book. You can even wear them in a warm bath or a hot tub, at work under your desk or in bed at night.

Happiness is happy feet . . .

Glowology’s The Balm is beautynewsnyc’s, beauty editor, Candice Sabatini’s choice for the perfect “hostess gift.” Here is what she had to say:

“While you’re giving thanks for the bounty, don’t forget to thank your hostess for working her fingers to the bone and for creating a fabulous feast. Even if she did only dial-for-dinner, she deserves a prezzy.

The Balm by Glowology smells as sweet as dessert and will soften her hands and feet with its blend of shea butter, sugar maple essence, orange and lemon.

Use your noodle and buy one for yourself also. It’s too delicious to want to give away!”

Available at Neiman Marcus, The Balm $26.00

Happiness is having someone cook (or order) for you . . .

Actually, these are a few of Sarah Skarda’s favorite things! Sarah is a freelance make-up artist (and mother to 2 beautiful little boys) who came up through the ranks at MAC Cosmetics and has always had wonderful suggestions in how to make even the most time-starved woman feel beautiful.

Here is what she had to say:

There are a few make-up staples that I cannot live without. I don’t have very much time but, like most gals, want to look as polished as possible. So, I have a “must have 3 list” for those who don’t have more than 5 minutes to apply make-up in the morning.

Number one! Find the “perfect bronzer” for your skin, not too orange and not too red. Red will give the skin a grayish payoff that will look dirty and the last thing you want is for someone to lick their finger and rub your cheek the way your mother used to in order to get dirt off your face! The bronzer I use for my skin tone and LOVE is Golden Bronzer by MAC. Bronzer gives that wonderful sun-kissed look but won’t make you too blushy or rosy. Apply bronzer with a large powder brush and stroke downward in small strokes towards the jaw on the cheek bone (no more of the 80’s streak line blushed look ladies). Also, apply in the T-zone and on the neck. Bronzer is something that you use to look polished, alive and “natural, not noticeable.”

Number two! Get your favorite mascara. Use a black mascara to thicken your lash-line and to define your lashes . . . personally I never use any other color. My favorite mascara ranges from the typical $8 mascara from the local drugstore to my trusty Lancome Definicil Mascara. ALWAYS replace your mascara every 10 weeks, if you use it daily. Not only can you get an infection, but it dries out and becomes flakey and clumps your lashes together. Having a new mascara makes your application process easier and FASTER! Apply an even layer on your lashes and try to separate the lashes by using very small back and forth movements. If you get mascara on your skin while applying it, let the mascara dry completely, then flake it off with your fingernail. NEVER try to get mascara off when it is wet.

Number three! Find a great gloss that you are comfortable with, both in color and shine. Some of my girlfriends hate gloss because their hair sticks to it or they just don’t like the thicker texture and look. In that case, find a tinted lip moisturizer to substitute for gloss. The reason I say a gloss is a “must have” is because it is one thing you can re-apply without the use of a mirror, there are many colors to choose from, and it dresses up a natural and virtually makeup-less look. I LOVE the juicy tubes by Lancome or Lip Glass by MAC. Try a reddish hue for the holidays and your friends will think you took forever to get ready! Apply directly on or use your fingertip to smear it on. Usually brands will sell wonderful sets for the holidays at reduced prices.

Now is the time to “buy and try” for your new years, “new look” resolution.

All recommended products available at Nordstrom.

Glowology, according to The Daily Obsession, offers the perfect gift for “The Yummy Mummy” on your list. The Daily Obsession covers fashion, beauty, shopping and lifestyle, and has a wonderful holiday gift guide. Our Simply Divine gift-set was included as a must-have along with our Essential Care Kit for the little ones in your life. Here is what they had to say:

holiday gift-guide 07: yummy mummy

Even the yummiest of moms may not look so divine after a sleepless night waiting up with her child for Santa. Gift her with the Simply Divine set ($45) from Noodle & Boo’s glowology line. She can re-charge by lathering up with the Heavenly Honey Wash, a rich cloud of milk and honey meant to refresh and relax. Afterward, she’ll turn to the Lovely Body Lotion to hydrate and smooth skin (not to mention, will leave her smelling SO good). And since we know that these mommies just adore their children…add the Essential Care Kit ($15) so that her kid can join in on the fun, too. The result is baby soft skin - for both mother and child!

Noodle & Boo products available at Neiman Marcus.

Glowology’s Simply Divine makes the “top 12″ list on the STYLELIST. Here is what they had to say:

Bath Beautiful

Need the perfect present for a girlfriend, neighbor, or co-worker? This indulgent Glowology gift set, featuring body wash and lotion made from milk and honey, is formulated for even the most sensitive skin. Simply Divine Gift Set, $45, www.noodleandboo.com.

To view The Stylelist’s complete list of BEST: Last-Minute Holiday Gifts, click here.

Senior writer for Celebrity Baby Blog and Mommies With Style, Nancy Johnson Horn was 30 weeks pregnant when she requested Glowology products to review. She was a perfect candidate to review our line as they are developed to be 100% safe for pregnant and nursing moms.

Here’s what she had to say, “Heading into my 30th week of pregnancy, my ankles are getting more swollen every minute. And my feet are getting so dry! What can I do to fix this?

Well, Noodle & Boo, very well known for taking care of the sensitive skin for the playground set (also a celeb fave for their kids) recently started a line for expecting mamas called Glowology. They sent me two products to review, The Balm and the Elasticity Oil. Both are organic and I’m in love with them!

The Balm ($24 for 6.5 oz) actually moisturizes my feet and feels wonderful. You can also use it on your hands. Made with oh-so-rich organic shea butter, sunflower oil and with a blend of billberry, lemon, orange, sugar cane and sugar maple extracts, it smells amazing (but I like that it works!) It also kept the moisture in for hours (something the other lotions I’ve used just don’t do). Treat your feet to this, whether you’re pregnant or not! I do not let it out of my sight!

I’m also using their Elasticity Oil ($42 for a 4 oz bottle) to nourish my itchy belly and bust. You can also add it to your bath. This heavenly oil contains sunflower and jojoba seed oil, with a little honey, calendula (to calm the skin) and grape seed oil (to soothe). Also smells delicious and works well!

Noodle & Boo also have some other great products in their new line, I’d love to try. Check out the Perfecting Creme ($62) - to reduce stretch marks and the Afterglow Gel - to firm and slim the skin.”

Glowology products are availabe at Neiman Marcus.

Happiness is being so close to meeting the little person of your dreams . . .

Juli B - San Francisco is a lifestyle and luxury blog . . . a new fav of Harper’s Bazaar . . . has this to say about Glowology’s Perfecting Creme for stretch mark control:

glow on.
proclaim your radiance. the noodle and boo glowology perfecting crème ($62) is the prod to keep you feeling like your old self. or young self, for that matter. this 3.5-ounce tube squeezes out nothing but goodness. collagen synthesizers and fibronectin (we don’t know what it is but sounds good) helps to reduce stretch marks. also great for the pregger ones. available at neiman marcus.

A nice review from beauty expert Mickey Williams at BeautyBakery. Mickey says: “This lotion is considered a luxury in the body beauty world and it’s not just for its super smooth texture and flirty smell.

Glowology glimmers with other benefits like being solely created with the sensitive flesh in mind. I recommend Glowology Lovely Body Lotion as a fall to winter product. It’s a nice complement when the nights get colder and your honey gets closer.

Nourishing milk protein, almond oil and clover honey leave skin sweetly soft.”

Available at Neiman Marcus, Lovely Body Lotion, $26.00

Happiness is having someone to cuddle with . . .

A review from BeautyNewsLA. We are glad that Glowology is a new fav!!! Here’s what beauty expert Courtney Kretchman had to say:

This month, the educated editors at BeautyNewsLA have found love in studying Glowology. Positively defined as “the art of celebrating the beauty in every woman,” Glowology is a luxury line of skincare by Noodle & Boo dedicated to women who are “expecting” or have sensitive skin.

Whether brought on by stress, hormones, weather or any handful of reasons, skin can become more sensitive with age. Glowology products have been developed with natural ingredients that are moisturizing and regenerating, to relieve, calm and reduce symptoms of easily irritated skin. Specially selected ingredients improve skin’s tolerance level, while also helping to reinforce its barrier to outside influences.

The Sugar Mama Honey Scrub was a unanimous favorite amongst the BNLA women. Even those of us who didn’t claim any skin sensitivity issues couldn’t seem to get enough of the honey and shea butter whipped body scrub. It’s even sold as a boxed duo called Honey Child, packaged with the Sugar Mama Honey Bar. Gentle enough for little ones too, the moisturizing bath bar smells amazing and is said to balance skin’s natural pH level.

We also couldn’t wait to pick up the Repair Kit for our pregnant pals. The bow-tied embossed box set includes Glowology’s Perfecting Crème, a formula to control and prevent stretch marks, and Afterglow Gel to firm and tone the skin.

From packaging to product, we can’t say enough about Glowology. We only wish we’d studied it sooner…

Available at Neiman Marcus, Beverly Hills.

Happiness is healthy skin . . .