Thursday, March 31, 2011

RINSE...WASH...REPEAT!

My hair has always been a huge conversation piece!  Some people love it and some people hate it.  It is funny how someone will just walk up to me and tell me “Your hair is too fried!” OR “I like your hair straight, not curly” OR “Why is your hair so thick, you need to trim it.”  When I was younger, I used to get offended but now I don’t care.  I like that I have BIG, THICK hair.  Yeah there are some days, especially when it is hot out, I want to shave my head because I can’t stand the heat.  And because my hair is super thick it takes FOREVER to blow dry and then I have to separate it into 5 different sections to curl it…my hair has its own life!
I think I have been coloring my hair since junior high!  I have dabbled in other colors…I was once a red head and even a brunette, but in the end, being blonde has always been my thing!  So bleaching my hair takes a huge toll on my hair.  And since I get dark roots, I have to do it quite often. 
So a big question I get is what products do I use?  I love trying new products if I get a good recommendation but right now I am in love with Kerastase.  After a month of using their products, my hair is softer and SO MUCH healthier.  They have a whole line of products that can fit anyone’s needs, but here are the products I use for my hair…
BAIN CHROMA RICHE - Luminous Softening Shampoo for Dry Highlighted or Color-Treated Hair

I am obsessed with this shampoo!  I used to hate taking showers because of the work but I love shampooing my hair with this stuff.  First, it SMELLS amazing!!!  And when I work it into my scalp it instantly feels so soft.
MASQUE CHROMA RICHE - Luminous Softening Treatment Masque for Dry Highlighted or Color-Treated Hair
This hair masque is awesome!  You do have to be careful on how much you use, if you use too much it can leave a waxy feel, but if you use the right amount (about a quarter size) your hair will feel so silky.  And with my hair, that is hard with all the bleach!
Hair is left softer and shimmers with radiance. Intensity and depth of the color are revealed, while hair fiber is protected from external aggressions.
ELIXIR ULTIME

Okay this stuff comes from heaven!  I put it in right before I blow dry my hair and it makes my hair so incredibly soft and shiny!  It is on the pricy side but for those who have hair like me, it is a must!!!

Elixir Ultime delivers a powerful cocktail of emollient and anti-oxidant active ingredients for ultimate shine and suppleness while promoting cellular renewal. The elixir brings shine, nourishment and deep conditioning to the hair while smoothing the hair fiber, resulting in incredible shine. The multi-use elixir also helps restore strength to the hair and protects it from external aggressors.

CIMENT ANTI-USURE - Reinforcing and Refinishing Treatment for Damaged Lengths and Ends
I use this product to protect my roots from the heat!!!  Blow driers, straighteners, curling irons all do major damage to my hair and this really helps my hair stay healthy.

Ciment Anti-Usure strengthens and protects damaged mid-lengths and ends. Helps provide instant detangling and lightweight conditioning.
BED HEAD HARD HEAD HAIRSPRAY
This is the one product I get in the drugstore…I love this hairspray…I need a hair spray that will do a great job of holding the curls since my hair is so heavy.  I love it because it doesn’t spray on wet and it doesn’t harden my hair.  I can still run my hands through my hair and it will hold the curl all day long!  I can even go to sleep with it in my hair and I when I wake up I still have my curls in tack.  Awesome stuff!
So just like my skin care routine, my hair care routine is pretty intense too but I need to protect my hair from all the damage I do.  I refuse to give up being a blonde!
What are your favorite hair products???
I hope you all have a fabulous day!
Hugs…
Annastina

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Need some motivation, inspiration or encouragement???

Do you love the new look of my blog?  My sister-in-law, Kathie, created it for me and I LOVE IT!  Now my website, blog and business cards all have the same feel to them.  THANK YOU KATHIE!
I love motivational quotes!  Sometimes they help me get through a tough day, give me the courage to keep moving forward or just make me smile.  Some of my all time favorite quotes are from icons that have encouraged me to keep doing what I love…Marilyn, Audrey, Coco and Elizabeth to name a few. 
Then there are the quotes or verses that I really hold on too when life feels impossible…some of my favorite bible verses…I say these to myself when I really need to lean on God and understand that my life is in his hands.
I feel everyone needs some inspiration and motivation in life.  These quotes below are some of my favorites…hopefully they can inspire you when you need some encouragement!

"Everyone's a star and deserves the right to twinkle." - Marilyn Monroe (I use this quote on my website because I feel everyone has beauty inside and out and I love seeing women “twinkle”!)

""I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you learn to appreciate them when they're right. You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself...and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.""  - Marilyn Monroe

I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe 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

"I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them." -Elizabeth Taylor

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” – Coco Chanel

"It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else." - Erna Bombeck

Take your time. Do things right. Love as much as you can, as often as you can. Radiate vibrance, speak words of truth, live with joy. Inspire others. Share ideas. Live in peace. Create your art. Be who you want to be, not who someone else thinks you should be. Make others happy and give life all you’ve got, because if you just breathe a little, you’ll see everything is just fine.

Be honest. Work hard. Be choosy. Say “thank you”, “I love you” and “great job” to someone each day. Love your life and what you have been given, it is not accidental – search for your purpose and do it the best you can. Dreaming does matter – it allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Forgive - it frees the soul! Recognize the special people you’ve been blessed to know.  (I found this one in a hotel room I was staying at last October and I fell in love with it!)

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.


Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
What are some of your favorite quotes?  I would love to hear them!
Hugs…
Annastina


Monday, March 21, 2011

Learn from the best...LADY GAGA!!!

I ran across this article recently and posted it on my Facebook, but I decided it has such good information that I would post it in my blog.  I love this article and come back to it quite a bit when I am feeling lost or discouraged when it comes to my business.  This article made me love and respect Gaga even more than I already did before.  Enjoy and I hope you can learn and take something from this article as I did…
By Carol Higgins.
I was never a fan of Lady Gaga. I grew up in the age of Madonna rolling and gyrating all over the stage in her fetish-style costumes and Ozzy Osbourne biting the heads off bats.  Lady Gaga and her outrageous outfits and risqué lyrics didn’t faze me.  She was just another wannabe exorbitant artist that the general public was eating up and I didn’t pay much attention. That is until I saw her on 60 Minutes last night; then I realized what a marketing genius she is and gained a new respect.
She built a brand (Lady Gaga) from scratch and is now, according to Anderson Cooper, “the most talked about entertainer in the world”.  Lady Gaga didn’t get famous by accident. No, she diligently studied “the art of being famous”. This is a woman on a mission – a woman with passion and drive and I gained a whole new respect, if not for the music, but for the business woman and brilliant marketer she is.
Here are 6 things all small business owners can learn from Lady Gaga:
1.  Master the “Art of Fame” - Lady Gaga didn’t become famous by accident.  She knows what it takes to be famous because she invested the time and energy; she studied it.  Nothing she does is by accident. She plans every outfit, every song, every interview, every moment of her life.  Are you a master of what it takes to become famous in your industry? Do you understand what others in your industry have done to make it big? Can you honestly say you KNOW what it takes to make your business as successful as you want it to be and that you plan each and every action with achievement of that goal in mind?
2.  Know your audience and connect– Lady Gaga knows her audience, she has a huge fan base of young and old who feel disconnected and disenfranchised in the world and she speaks to and connects with them in her music, her image and her interviews.  She moves them because she understands them so well.  Who are your “fans”/customers?  What moves them and what do you do to move them? What do you do on every level to connect with them?
3.  Be inspirationalPeople are drawn to positive people, businesses, and outcomes. If you aren’t excited about your business, no one will be. Lady Gaga embraces and uplifts the insecure, outcast, “freak” in us all. Hers is a message of self empowerment and self acceptance- and that has helped her succeed.  What is your message to the world?
4.  Make it personal – Lady Gaga uses her own experience to connect.  She grew up feeling like an outcast; she was different.  But instead of using it to isolate herself she turned it into a way to connect to others.  How can you tell your story to connect with your customers and prospects? What need, problem, or niche do you fill that is lacking in peoples’ lives?  People connect with people – make it personal! 
5.  Be outrageous – No one ever got famous or popular by being timid. Lady Gaga made a truckload of money and became a worldwide phenomenon by taking risks and by standing out from the crowd – by being outrageous. What can you do in your own industry to stand out and be outrageous? Don’t be afraid to take risks- don’t follow the crowd.  
6.  Change it up sometimes – Never be boring! Every time you see Lady Gaga she’s sporting a different look. She’s always outrageous, always edgy and always true to her brand – but she’s always fresh and new and exciting! How can your company and brand keep it fresh and new and exciting so that every time a customer or potential customer comes into contact with you they get a new/fresh look or perspective?  Maybe it’s a new product or service offering. Maybe it’s a new process… find a way to keep it interesting and keep your customers engaged!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Want some LUV HANDLES?!?!?

Want to glam up your kitchenware?  I think these are so fun!  My friend, Tia, started making these and they are selling like crazy.  These are handmade and are so creative! 

They also make awesome gifts…weddings, bridal showers, mother’s day, or any holiday!  Glam up your dinner parties or add some sparkle to your summer picnics.  They are great quality silverware and she uses the best beads and crystals.

Right now they are $20 each and I know she is selling them as a set, but not sure the price on those.  You can purchase ones that are already made in the pictures or you can tell her what colors you want and she will customize them for you! 
These will also be avaliable at the SPRING BLING party on APRIL 1ST!  See invite on Facebook for more information!
These ones are mine and since I am not a huge cook, I am going to use them as kitchen décor and hang them on my wall!  I am so excited to get mine!


If you want to get your hands on some of these Luv Handles, you can contact Tia at tiasongroberts@hotmail.com or contact me for her phone number.
Have a great weekend...I am going to get out to enjoy this SUNSHINE!!!
Hugs...
Annastina


Friday, March 18, 2011

My Skin Care Routine!!!

I love my skin care routine…as much as I love putting my makeup on, I love cleansing my face!  So I decided I am going to do product reviews on all my skin care secrets!

Since I have been getting older, I have been obsessed with what I put on my skin and I am always on the lookout for great natural skin care.  I wish when I was in my 20’s, I listened to my mom (yes mom, I am admitting you were right) about how important skin care is.  Now that I am in my 30’s, I am doing everything possible to fix and stop the damage I have done.  Years ago, I used to tan a couple times a week in those high intensity tanning beds and did not use skin protection.  During the summer, I would never use SPF because I never thought I needed it.  Now, even though I am in my early 30’s, I can already see the damage and I am freaking out!

Below are all the skin care products I use right now and I love them!  Some are more on the expensive side but to me, they are worth it and work wonders.  My skin hasn’t looked this great in years.  NOTE…some of the descriptions are from the products websites.

Clarisonic Plus
I use this in this shower with my Skin Authority Daily Cleaner and the Clarisonic Refining Skin Polish.  www.clarisonic.com.  It softens, smoothes and exfoliates my skin…I love the feel after I am done using it.  It is a must have and worth EVERY penny!

Sonic Skin Cleansing improves skin tone, reduces the appearance of pore size and helps skin care products work their best.  The Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth skin. In just 60 seconds, the micro-massage action removes 6X more makeup and 2X more dirt and oil than cleansing with your hands alone. Removing more dirt and oil from your pores also helps products work more effectively. 

Skin Authority Resurfacing Accelerator
I love this product!  It is like having a little daily glycolic peel.  I use it at night before I put on my night crème.  I used to use in morning and night but I realized that I was getting too much glycolic acid so now I just use it in the evening.

This powerful, exfoliating gel derived from sugar cane accelerates the body’s natural cellular turnover cycle to improve rough, scarred, dry or dull skin caused by aging, acne, or sun damage. Regular use helps smooth rough texture and brightens treated areas. Glycolic Acid 15%, pH 3.69.


Skin Authority Daily Cleanser
This is a great daily cleanser.  This lightweight, fragrance free wash gently removes dirt and oil from the face and body, and loosens dead skin cells, leaving the skin refreshed, soft, and primed for daily regimen. Glycolic Acid 3%, pH 4.0.
I use this in the morning with my Clarisonic Plus.  To see all Skin Authority products and where they are sold, check out www.skinauthority.com.

Skin Authority Dramatic Eye Lift with SGF-4 Technology™
This is an eye-lift in a bottle and it works!!!  It really really works!  Like I mentioned earlier, I used to be addicted to tanning beds and as a result I got major wrinkles around my eyes.  I feel like it made me look 10 years older.  Then I found this product and it has softened my wrinkles.

Protein-rich formula infused with essential fatty acids and anti-inflammatory agents tighten sagging skin and soften fine lines or crow’s feet for a refreshed, younger, and lifted look. This formula harnesses the power of four natural skin nourishing proteins called Skin Growth Factors fortified with complex peptide chains to immediately transform depleted, damaged cells to a restored, vibrantly youthful state.  The skin growth factors used in this formula are completely natural and derived from human skin tissue.

This product has no mineral oil in its composition which makes this Arbonne recover night cream truly hypo allergic. This Arbonne anti-aging skin care rapidly increases skin recovery while you sleep. The Vitamin C produces collagen in the facial cells thus, strengthening the elasticity of your skin.

This is a great night crème!  Arbonne has some amazing skin care and if you are interested in more of their products you can contact my friend, Kathryn Schmidt at http://kathrynschmidt.myarbonne.com/.   She is very knowledgable with all their products and can recommend the right products for your skin care needs.

J.A.S.O.N.’s Revitalizing Moisturizing Crème
5,000 I.U. Vitamin E
My mom discovered this product and since then I have also seen it promoted on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.  This is very affordable and the only place I have found it is in my local grocery store in the organic section.  I use it at night before I go to bed and it does an awesome job at moisturizing my skin and softening my wrinkles.

JASON has developed this 70% Certified Organic Vitamin E Crème (5,000 I.U.) as an antioxidant moisturizer perfect for your face and body. Made with Wheat Germ, Avocado and Almond Oils, as well as Aloe Vera Gel, this all-over moisturizer protects skin and helps prevent premature signs of aging.

Arcona Raspberry Acne Cleanser
I use this cleanser bar at night before bed.  As an adult I still get some acne.  This face wash really cleanses my skin and gently calms and clears my acne with no scarring.  www.arcona.com

Antibacterial cleansing bar clears congested skin and alleviates stubborn breakouts. Reduce inflammation and calm irritated skin with antibacterial raspberry extracts. Clear acne and prevent new ones with salicylic acid. Dissolve skin impurities, gently exfoliate and smooth acne scarring with fruit enzymes.

And of course, one of the best natural ingredients for your skin is WATER!  Every time I stick to my daily water intake my skin starts to glow!  It makes a huge difference and I feel so much better!

I know I use A LOT of different skin care regiments and I do not think everyone has to use as many as I do.  But all these together have really changed my life.  You can use just one of these and it would work wonders. 

I am still on the hunt for a great daily moisturizer, right now I am using Dermalogica Oil Free Matte Block, but I am not in love with it.  I am more on the oily side and the texture feels greasy and heavy.  If you know of any good recommendations, let me know! 

Hope you all have a great weekend and see you in the next blog!

Hugs…

Annastina

Thursday, March 17, 2011

No BABIES for me???

I actually wrote this blog awhile ago, but has been hard to press publish because it is such a sensitive subject in my life at this time.  Some friends thought it would be good for me to blog about it to get my message out there.  I hope this isn’t too depressing but it was something I wanted to share just in case someone else is going through this…to know that you are not alone.
This coming up July, I will be married 6 amazing years!  For those who know my husband, he is the best.  I cannot say enough about him.  We have known each other since middle school and we are totally opposite from each other.  I am crazy, LOUD, unpredictable and sometimes a straight looney bin!  My husband is quiet, gentle, stable and grounded.  But we somehow balance each other out.
About 3 years ago we decided that it was time to start trying to have babies.  We probably tried for a straight year before we contacted the infertility doctor.  I already knew before going to the doctor that I had Endometriosis, a disease which the presence of tissue that normally grows inside the uterus (womb) in an abnormal anatomical location. Endometriosis is very common and it may lead to painful menstruation. It has also been associated with infertility.  I have heard many stories and have known friends who have it and have gotten pregnant. 
We had the idea that going to an infertility doctor would just magically get us pregnant.  I mean they have all the technology in the world, all they had to do is just figure out what was wrong, fix it and that was that.  Boy was I wrong!  It has been 2 years now and I still do not have a baby. 
I have done all the shots and pills and I even tried acupuncture.  The shots are the worst!  Day after day of putting these shots into your stomach your skin starts to build scar tissue which then results in bruises and more pain after each needle.  And then all of the emotions and financial issues that are thrown into the mix.  We took out all my retirement and went through all our savings.  The last IUI we did I really felt that I was pregnant (an IUI is a procedure in which a fine catheter (tube) is inserted through the cervix (the natural opening of the uterus) into the uterus (the womb) to deposit a sperm sample directly into the uterus).  My heart was telling me YES and I was even having symptoms that you get in the beginning of a pregnancy.  When you do an IUI, you have to wait 2 weeks for the results.  And during those 2 weeks, you have to act like you’re pregnant.  No drinking, stay away from certain foods, no coffee…just as if you were baking a baby in the oven.  We went in the morning after the 2 weeks and had the tests done and I literally went home and sat on the couch waiting for the phone to ring.  I was so sure it was YES.  When the phone finally rang, my husband answered and I could tell right away from his voice that the answer I was waiting for, was no.  NO???  I didn’t understand! 
While this was happening, it seemed like one after another all of my friends and family were getting pregnant.  It was starting to seem like torture.  Why was this happening to me?  I started to go into a deep depression and I would never leave my house.  I sat on the couch for hours without doing anything.  Finally, my very understanding husband had to snap me back to life. 
This was actually the time I started researching on how to become a makeup artist.  I needed to refocus my direction back onto what I loved!  MAKEUP!  And I have done a good job at that.  I have put a lot of time and energy into starting to build my career.  And I love it…it brought me back to life. 
But as time went by, I couldn’t ignore that tugging in the back of my heart, that I still want to be a mom.  And I want nothing in this world MORE than to give my husband kids.  That sentence right there makes me cry.  I love him so much that it kills me daily that I cannot give him what he wants.  He has been such a support through all of this and has been so understanding…any other guy would have been out the door after what the drugs did to me.  My hormones went through the roof!
I know people do not understand what I am going through and I do not expect anyone to understand.  I understand that people get nervous to ask me questions because they don’t want to upset me. And when someone tells me they are pregnant, I am honestly so happy for them, being able to have babies is such a blessing.  I’m not going to lie, some days are harder than others.  Some days I still cry not understanding why this is happening to me.  Right now I am so angry at God.   I constantly ask why did He build me this way and why is this a struggle for us? 
It is hard because there is no one I know in my circle that is going through this, so it can be very lonely.  No one to talk to or to understand what is going on inside me.  I did know a few people, but they all got pregnant and now have beautiful, healthy babies, which I have such a joy in my heart for them.  I was just reading through my Tweets and someone tweeted…When you are down to NOTHING…God’s up to SOMETHING.  I want to believe that and I know I have to believe it.  But right now I feel like my HOPE and FAITH are failing me.
We still have some options ahead of us once we raise the funds.  Adoption.  Another IVF.  Who knows? 
AND I love all the babies in my life right now who are not mine.  I have two amazing baby nephews…well one of them just turned 1, so he is now a little man!  My friend’s babies, even though we are not blood, I still feel like I am their Aunt and I would do anything for them. 
I have my close circle of family and friends to thank for sticking by me even though it is hard to comprehend what my husband and I have gone through, you know who you are.  Thank you for letting me vent and cry when I am having a bad day and THANK YOU for sharing your babies with me!  Spending time with them and seeing their smiling faces always makes my day!
I hope that one day I can send out a blog that we are expecting and that my prayers have come true.  And to my husband, you are the best…I know God brought us together for a reason. I know He has a plan even though there are days that I have a hard time believing that.  I love you so much!
And to anyone going through this, it is probably the hardest struggle to comprehend because there are really no answers.  Tons of questions and no answers.  But do know that I do understand and I feel your heartache.  And if you ever need to talk, please email me! 
Hugs…
Annastina