I love visiting my hairdresser June for a good ‘ol flat iron run-through. She has always smoothed it out with the greatest of ease, and never fails to be amused by me afterwards. Hello – don’t you like to flip your hair over your shoulders in slow motion like those Pantene commercials? OK, well maybe that’s just me.

( “Me with rocker hair — wild and without the use of my flat iron!”)

Really though, for years I just couldn’t straighten my hair myself, nor would I even dare try to do so in the Southern California summertime heat. My mom and I have different hair texture (my mother is Caucasian), so using her cute curling iron back then barely did the trick. Had I known that having the right type of flat iron actually matters, I could have saved nearly $2,500!!! That is the amount I spent on my hair for two years wearing long braids, which was basically my way out of not having to truly put time into doing my hair. More »

Having a problem being a chic mom? Feel down, frumpy, unappreciated? Well I suggest you pick up a book called “The Chic Mom’s Guide to Feeling Fabulous” by Nina Sutton. While reading this book, a few friends with children came to mind. So I thought I’d pose a question: As a mom, how do you stay chic on your personal budget?

Here are some of the great answers I received:

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I met Erin at the Total Beauty Summit…I know, how many fabulous people did I meet there? A lot. But Erin, and the company she works for, really stood out amongst the crowd. You see, Erin works for this AMAZING company called Belli. Belli is dedicated to specialty skin care focused on making sure that mom, baby, and unborn baby are safe and healthy.

How, you ask? Well, Belli products are specifically designed for expecting and new mothers. It is geared to help aid them in a time of uncertainty, when their bodies are changing and they are experiencing unique skin care issues — a time when their concern for safety is heightened. The brand supports the expectant mother and provides her with choices in skin care, for both herself and baby.

Belli specialty skin care comes in three lines: More »

Beauty Chat resident foot snob here, with yet another fabulous foot find! I recently tried the best foot scrub ever. You all know I am a huge pedi-snob, and I will do anything to make my feet happier and prettier. So, I found this whipped peppermint foot scrub from Gwendolyn’s Gate.

Whipped peppermint foot scrub, you ask? YES, and it is awesome. With the summer months here, my feet really take a beating between my pedicures. From the beach to the pool, they are subjected to some harsh elements and they show it! My poor feet become so dry and worn out and I needed to find an affordable fix to treat my tootsies. According to her Web site, the foot scrub is: “A delicious delectable blend of cleansers with sea salt and peppermint essential oil. After using this blend, you will want to ‘Dance the Night Away’ as your feet are cooled and refreshed.” More »

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been fascinated with everything Barbie ®. From dolls, to dresses, to tiaras I always loved to be adorned with the latest Barbie apparel.

Yet, as I grew older, Barbie apparel and accessories have seemed to become less available and in style for women my age. Of course, there are still the classic Barbie dolls available, which I love to collect, but there wasn’t anything readily available to brighten up my wardrobe the way that Barbie did.

Almost into my mid twenties, I still longed for the Barbie style to come back into fashion, and thanks to Tarina Tarantino ™, it has!

Founded in 1995 by Tarina Tarantino and Alfonso Campos, the Tarina Tarantino jewelry line has breathed life into traditional jewelry design. Looking to make things sparkle in her own way, Tarina, along with then boyfriend and now husband Alfonso, created jewelry that was fun, beautiful, and expressed their creativity.
Starting off in small boutiques, Tarina Tarantino now has her own boutiques in California, New York, and even Italy where her line has flourished.

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