Bumble and bumble. Styling Creme

I first picked up a trial size of the Styling Creme after reading over and over again about Bumble and bumble.'s cult following and decided I needed to try something myself.  As it turns out, the Styling Creme is amazing!  It's not a gel or a mousse but more like the love-child of the two! My hair is pretty thick already so I work in just a little at the roots before blow drying for added oomph. If you have fine hair, I imagine this would give all over body. When I want to go curly, I apply it by "scrunching" it into wet hair for soft but defined curls without that "crunchy" feeling like you too often get with mousse.

Sephora recently started carrying B&b products or you can get it straight from the B&b website. Both offer free shipping and free samples on orders over $50. Target carries some of the B&b line but not sure if they carry the Styling Creme.

If anything, go check out the B&b website for great styling tips and the entire product lineup. Their "surf spray" is a fan fave. I have yet to try. Let me know if you have!

My first beauty product review goes to....

St. Ives Apricot Scrub! 

I've probably been using this product since my early teens so probably longer than any other beauty product.  I recently recommended it to my sister who claimed to have some white bumps on her face and asked what might help.  I told her she needed to exfoliate and to get St. Ives.   It's so affordable and available at any drug store.  I keep it in my shower and use it a few times a week for my face, neck and décolleté. You don't need to dig it into your skin, the grain of the grit (crushed walnut shell) is large enough to just lightly exfoliate.  You may have read cautionary tales about this stuff "scratching" your skin but I can't imagine that happening unless you are digging it in with ridiculous effort!  In addition to their original formula, that also have a sensitive skin version and blemish fighting formula with salicylic acid.

After my sister used the St. Ives scrub, she texted me and said her skin cleared right up.  Because I had been talking forever about my blog idea for beauty product reviews, she told me to get on it!   Naturally (no pun intended), I felt compelled to make the St. Ives scrub my first review.  XXOO

Finding my "Joie de Vivre"

2012. It's a new year. 2011 was a tough year. In fact, I would say it was the worst year of my life. My beautiful, smart, funny and loving mother past away in May. Typing that is hard for me. I hate saying it. I think of her every day but avoid saying it because saying it makes it that much more real. When I talk about her with friends and family, they just know. But, I don't bring "it" up with new people because again, I hate saying it and I try to avoid the emotions. I know talking about it is good for me but actually saying it out loud, that she is gone, is more than I can handle because I still can't believe it's real. Grief is by far the most raw and consuming emotion that I've experienced. But, as my mother believed, our emotions are what make us human and experiencing human emotions allows us to learn about ourselves, who we are and who we want to be.

I have continued to allow myself happiness, despite the grieving and sorrow, because I know my mom would have wanted me to continue living my life. To her, living is more than just breathing, living is being. I don't think I'm through with grieving, nor do I think I ever will be, but I am ready to continue living my life, to simply "be" and appreciate this time I have been given on earth. I intend on finding my "joie de vivre".

Starting this blog was something I've wanted to do for a while. I'm hoping it will be an outlet to express my thoughts and opinions and a way to document my interests, hobbies and passions of the moment.

I dedicate my blog in loving memory of my mother, Robyn Ayn Strayer.

My beautiful mother