Summer Beauty Must Haves!

Hot enough for you Reno?! Wow! In light of all this heat, I thought it would be a good time to share some of the hottest new beauty items on the market this year. With 4th of July weekend coming right up, you should stock up on these items to make your weekend as carefree and beautiful as possible. First up...

Model in a Bottle. This product was brought to my attention by a client of mine who bought a bottle on vacation. Caroline is a Reno blogger as well, and takes her job of informing the public about food allergies and asthma on her blog here very seriously. So when she started texting me after her lipstick amazingly lasted through her entire day of events, which included eating and drinking of course, I thought I should take note. Online reviews for the product are great.  Nothing is hotter than lips that are well defined, beautiful and lasting.

The BIO BB and SPF line by Lira Clinical. This product is a must have for all women on the go this summer. The Beauty Balm tint is a comprehensive system that incorporates new advances in anti-aging, camouflage, and sun protection all in one! Three products in one gets you out of the bathroom and out on the beach that much faster. It doesn't get any better than that!

ST TROPEZ sunless tanning system. If you are allergic to the sun like me, and you don't want to have to pass out sunglasses to everyone on the beach before you make your appearance, you will love this product. It gives a sensational tan with no orangy afterglow. You must be meticulous when applying to keep it from streaking, but with a little practice the results are impressive. The reveiws for this product are off the hook from most of my customers and from what I have found online. Available at Sephora at the Summit Mall.

CND Vinylux weekly polish. This nail polish is a fantastic, durable, long lasting polish. It does not require a uv light to cure and it's durablity actually increases with natural light exposure. There is no base coat, so drying time is cut down, and it comes in super cool fun summer shades. The "vinyl" in the color actually makes the polish more flexible. The result, less chipping. Available at fine salons everywhere. Check it out!

Mango Mend Treatment Balm.  This extreme moisturizing and conditioning hand ointment is exactly what you need when you have been out digging in the garden or playing in the sand or surf. I like to apply a thin coat to my hands right before bed to allow the beneficial oils, vitamins and extracts to soak in for a full 7 to 8 hours. And it smells yummy to boot! Available at Image Artistic and other fine salons.

One last must have for summer is the Artown App! Not much makes Reno a more beautiful place to live than Artown. Now there is an app for your phone so that you won't miss a minute of the great events that are happening all over town this month! It even has a calendar on it to invite friends, share on Facebook or Twitter, and it is free! 

That is it for this edition of product reviews. Hope you are able to beat the heat the next couple of weeks and enjoy some cool stuff! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. 

If you come across any cool new products that you would like to share I would love to hear about them! Leave a comment below. 

See you next week. 

Michon :)

Remembering Dad is Beautiful Thing

We all know the saying, "Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy."
Daddy's are special. And fathers are, without a doubt, the hardest working members of the family. At least that is how it is at my house. Not only does mine work 40+hours a week, but on the weekends he is also our gardener, mechanic, plumber, electrician, handyman and the escort, for whichever female is most in need of male attention... (with 3 daughters and my mother living with us, my poor husband is drowning in estrogen). So we tend to spoil Daddy a bit around here. Dads are not only hard working but also equally hard to buy for. So I came up with a few ideas for you, from cheap as can be, to a little more expensive but not over the top. Starting with the more expensive possibilities...

• Soaring NV~ We did this a few years back and totally surprised him! We bought him a glider ride over Tahoe. A glider, or sailplane, is a type of aircraft that does not have an engine. Usually an airplane tows the glider aloft, to pull it into the air. At the desired altitude, the glider pilot releases the towline, and begins to glide. Hence the name "Soaring NV"! He had an amazing ride and was ready to do it again immediately!  Gift certificates are available online and they are a super nice local company, located in Minden. This is a gift sure to keep him on cloud 9 for a while! 
• V& T Railroad or the Nevada State Railroad Museum are both great options that many folks in the area forget about. We loved our trip to Virginia City last year on the V&T line. Plan on having lunch up in VC and plan on bringing an umbrella and extra water. It gets hot. But climbing the hill from Carson to Virginia City feels so nostalgic in that steam locomotive that your "historian dads" are going to feel like they have gone back in time. This is a super fun trip for the whole family if your man is into trains and times of old. 
• Truckee River rafting is a great way for you to pull your dad away from the chores of the weekend and the heat of the day. Have him floating down the river to cool off, with the cares of the world behind him! Make sure you wear cloths and shoes that can get wet when going on this trip. Double, Ziplock all your phones/cameras in baggies if you must have them with you and trust mom to guard them, (she will likely, and mysteriously be the least wet person in the raft). This weekend will be crowded so jump online today if you want to book this! 
• Dash for Dads if your dad's idea of a fun day includes a healthy run, this is the event for you! This is a 5K Walk/Run for Adults and Kids to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer.  This run/walk encourages healthy living for all ages with a special focus on the special men in our lives.  Dash for Dads will be held at the Sparks Marina. Registration is from 7am - 8:30 am. Race starts at 9. Check the link in the title for more details. 
• Massage is the ultimate in relaxation! If your man is one that works hard and plays hard this is a very reasonably priced option for you! Peggy at Image Artistic only charges $40 an hour and she is amazing! Nothing tells you, you are loved, like being massaged from head to toe. Gift certificates are available at the salon Tuesday through Friday. Drop in and get him some relaxation time he can't refuse! 
• Pinterest page for Father's Day!  Okay, I have to admit! Of all the things listed above there are a TON of things on this page that I plan on incorporating into my man's day! From simple to more complex, you need to check out this page! Fun stuff resides!! 
• Do some chores for him. This is my least favorite option but sadly IT IS the one we are all doing this year for him. We have 3 acres of weeds that need tending to and he is only one man, and we of course are super girls so we are going to band together to help make his life a little easier. It is  the cheapest one, but honestly it is also the one that he will value the most. He knows we hate it, so it must mean that we really love him.

Those are my best tips for last minute Father's Day gifts here in the Reno area! I hope you enjoyed them and found them helpful in some way. I would love to hear what you are doing to treat your Daddy-O to some goodness this weekend. Leave me a comment below. Share this post with your friends that are at a loss! ;)

Thanks for stopping by! 

See you next week, 

Michon :)

Raw Beauty

One of my favorite things about this time of year are the Farmer’s Markets that crop up all over! With the plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables abounding it is the perfect time to clean up my diet and start eating healthier. Eating raw is getting more and more popular. I am seeing green smoothies on Pinterest daily now! Besides whittling away at your waistline, eating raw also has some big benefits for your skin that you may not have known about.

• Orange and Yellow fruits are high in beta-carotene an ingredient in Vitamin A which is good for your skin and your eyes. They are also rich in Vitamin C, zeaxanthin, lycopene and other antioxidants that fight the aging process in our skin. 
• Spinach and other green leafy vegetables are rich sources of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium as well as vitamins A, C, E, K and many of the B vitamins. The high fiber content helps the body eliminate toxins and carcinogens. Elimination is by in far one of the most important things for clear skin. 
• Red fruits and vegetables are rich in in lycopene which is a carotene that protects from ovarian and prostate cancer as well as heart disease. Lycopene has also been shown to reduce sun-related skin damage. 
• Purple fruits and vegetables are know for their flavanois which is a class of anti-oxidants. These have a postitive effect on the skin structure and protect against UV rays. Flavanois are also known to improve elasticity by increasing collagen production. 
• Kale if you haven’t heard, is the new wonder veggie. Yes, I know it is green but I am giving it it’s own category as it is being hailed the “new super food”.  This super food helps to detoxify enzymes in the liver that play an important part in neutralizing carcinogenic substances. Another key element in kale is isothiocyanates. These have been linked to inhibit carcinogenesis that cause cancer cells to actually shrink. Kale also ranks highest among all vegetables in its concentration of carotenoids, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Want to read more? Here is a fascinating page I found on all the bennies of kale. 

I know without a doubt when I am being good and I fill my plate with 75% fruits and veggies and leave only 25% or less for the meat and carbs... I lose weight. But now upon further examination, the fact that they all benefit your skin so much is just an added bonus!

Here is a link to the best farmer’s markets here in Reno. I am not sure why they are not including the one at the Summit Mall,  I beleive that one is on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9am to 3pm weekly. I for one, am excited to start eating fresh and enjoying the abundance of my own garden as well as the farmers market. It is nice to see so many joining the gardening movement.  I have a ton to learn but it is a fun process, especially since my kids do most of the work.
haha ;)
And yes we are planting kale!
Please feel free to share any markets that may not be on the list. Or share your favorite, fresh recipe. I will be sharing more recipes this summer as well. So stay tuned!
Thanks for stopping by,
Michon :)

Mini Escapes

Spring break is over and the tax man has been paid, so it seems all that we have to look forward to is longer days (yeah!!), and yard work. Well, all work and no play makes for a sad Jack and a pitiful Jill. There is no time left in the schedule to get away and enjoy long weekends for awhile yet, but you need to think of a way to refresh yourself. Here are some solutions that may help you through a mundane work week, which you can do on your lunch hour. Pampering services done in less than sixty minutes. 

Think of them as little mini escapes...

• Blow out: Letting someone else do the work for you can make you feel valued and special. Especially if you have thick curly hair or you have a meeting later that you would like to look stunning for. 
• Manicure: A basic manicure will take approximately 30 minutes, leaving you time to eat and read a chapter in your novel. Going back to work with pretty patties makes anyone feel pampered.
• Massage: No undressing, no oily mess to deal with. You can get a 10, 15, or 20 minute neck and shoulder massage that will leave you feeling great for the rest of the day. 
• Mini Facial: Get a 30-minute facial. Hydration facials can be done quickly by avoiding the eye area. With a quick application of tinted BB cream and a touch of blusher, you will go back to work glowing.
• Quick Style: Come in with clean dry hair and have your stylist whip up something fun. Try a messy bun or a low swung bun with a braid twisted into it. Here is a link to my favorite quick styles to try.
• Sunless Tan: Weekends of shorts or capris coming up and those legs have not seen daylight in months? Spray tan is the ticket. Pacific Tan even has a coupon out for buy 2 sessions-get one free!  
• Waxing: Get an eyebrow, leg, lip or bikini wax on your lunch hour and save yourself the extra running around on the weekend trying to fit it all in. Now there is an invigorating way to spend your afternoon. 

I hope you find a few ways to give yourself some R&R this month. And while you are doing so, remember that Mother’s Day is on May 12th and any or all of these would make a great gift for that woman who takes care of everyone else all the time!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

Happy Spring!

It is looking like it may stick around this time! 

Michon :)

Bald is Beautiful!

One of my favorite holidays is St Patrick’s Day.  The reason why may surprise you though. I have had the honor over the last 5 years to participate in an amazing event called St. Baldricks. This organization raises money specifically for Childhood Cancer Research. Reno hosts one of the biggest events on record with the organization thanks to the tireless efforts of  board members, volunteers and staff of Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation. Last night the event brought in over $200K! It is very humbling and inspiring to be surround by so many people young and old, male and female that “Brave the Shave” on that evening. Each “shavee" has a story to tell about a friend or a family member that has passed or is still in the fight with Cancer and why they are shaving. I love being able to be a part of it by shaving the heads of these warriors. 

Team Kylee’s Wish was the hardest for me last night. Kylee was diagnosed at 6 years old and lost her fight with cancer when she was 8. This year her big sister Kehli-Anne decided to shave her head in remembrance. My friend Chandra is shaving Kehli-Anne and I am shaving her best friend Ashley here. The girls were crying, shaking and excited all at once. It was so moving to be a part of such a personal journey, as these girls braved the shave. They are my new heros and proof that bald is beautiful!  It is just remarkable to me how brave these women are. Both are attending their senior prom next week! I would never have been brave enough to do this in high school! Heck, I am not brave enough to do it now as a 48 year old woman! 

Brave women and men will be going to school and work on Monday morning wearing their badge of honor shining brightly atop their heads with an opportunity to raise awareness about childhood cancer. Meaningful discussions with hundreds if not thousands of people that had no idea how prevalent this epidemic is among our children will be educated. When I went searching for statistics on this subject I have to say I was more than a little surprised by many of them. Here are just a few of the ones I found:

• Cancer is the second leading cause of death in children younger than 15yrs (after accidents)
• About 1,310 children are expected to die from cancer in 2013
• 36 children a day are diagnosed with some form of cancer. 
• The incidence of invasive pediatric cancers is up 29% in the past 20 years. 
• Because of increased research and treatment advances more than 80% of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more. Overall this is a huge increase since the mid 70’s when the 5-year survival rate was less than 60%.

The St. Baldrick’s organization gives 82% of all the money raised to childhood cancer research. 16% goes to fundraising and an honorable 2% goes to management. That is a financial to be proud of! Anyone can organize an event and the events can be held anytime of year. In fact I have it from a good source, that they would like to spread the love throughout the year a little more. So if you are helping to organize an event or want to sponsor a fundraiser consider them! All you have to do is find a few crazy hairdressers that are clipper happy and set up shop! Before a fun run maybe, along with a sheep shearing contest, hmmmm what else could we pair this event with. Do you have an idea for a fundraiser or an organization that you are passionate about that you would like to share with us? Please leave a link in the comments below so we can check it out an learn about amazing things happening in your area. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog! See you next week! 

Michon :)

Sources:

 JGstats, children in cancer, national cancer institute

Daylight Savings & Beauty Sleep

The only part of this "Spring Forward" thing I like is that we are one step closer to summer and longer days! Yeah! :D
But the lack of sleep that most of us will be suffering this week, trying to catch up with that hour loss can take a toll on your looks. The fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty may not be too far off from the truth when it comes to some of the secrets of beauty. In a recent study done in Sweden, photographs of volunteers after eight hours of sleep and then again after being kept awake for 31 hours where shown to participants that rated them on how they looked. The sleep deprived participants were scored as less healthy looking and less attractive. Upon further research, I also found studies linked to weight gain and sleep depravation. So with all of us trying to get our internal clocks back into step, let’s talk about what you can do to get a more restful nights sleep.

1. Create a ritual. Best practice says we should create a routine to sooth ourselves into an comfort zone right before bed. Whether that includes and warm bath, a good book and nice shower some sleepy time tea or whatever it takes to help you wind-down, try to get in the habit of doing the same wind-down routine every night. 
2. Avoid these things. We all know these things but I can’t complete an article like this without including them. So here is the short list. Avoid, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, spicy foods and exercise right before bed.
3. Stick to a schedule. Going to sleep at different times every night can confuse your brain and make it difficult to go to sleep when you want to. Try and hit the hay at the same time every night. Your body likes having a schedule and sticking to it. You will sleep more peacefully if you can manage this habit.
4. Include exercise. Exercise in any form will help you feel physically more tired allowing you to sleep more restfully. Now that it is staying light a good hour after dinner, consider taking a walk and burn off a few of those extra calories. It will help you crash when your head finally hits the pillow! 
5. Ditch the stress. The last thing you want to do before bed is read or look at the news, have a conflictive, discuss or think about the crap from work. Try to keep your mind clear of anything stressful before bed. Keep it light and uplifting. Keep your thoughts/prayers before bed on the side of gratitude. In other words count your blessings before you sleep. :)
6. Eliminate distractions from sleep. Electrical interference in your bedroom can disrupt your sleep. Charge your phones in a room other than your bedroom.  Also, animals can be very disruptive to a peaceful nights sleep. If there is any way you can possibly arrange it, allowing your animals to sleep in a kennel or in another room and it could help to get those extra Zzzz’s you are needing. 

Let’s try our best to keep the world a more beautiful place by getting our restful regime in place. 

Do you have a trick or tip that always helps you to get to sleep and stay to sleep? We would love to hear all about it. Please leave a note in the space below so we can all learn from your tip. Know a friend that needs to hear this message. Please feel free to share or forward this information to them. 

Thank you for stopping by my blog, 

Hope you have a fantastic week and make the most of your week. 

Take Care, 

Michon :)

Sources:

web-md, help-guide, Mayo clinic, Huffington Post Article, beauty sleep, green guide, science daily

The Red Carpet Facial

Remember watching the Oscars a few weeks ago and thinking how beautiful all of the movie stars looked? With their glowing flawless skin and perfect makeup?  They prep for these events like nothing else. And one the most sought after procedures is the microcurrent facial.  What is a microcurrent facial and how is it different? 

1.   It improves circulation.
2.  Boosts the natural production of collagen and elastin.
3.  Increases the production of amino acids and ATP, accelerating cell repair and renewal.
4. Improves muscle tone, providing lifted facial contours giving a youthful look. 
5.  Detoxifies and improves texture and clarity.
6.  Diminishes lines, wrinkles, and revitalizes skin with increased hydration. 

This technology is probably one of the best leading technologies in the industry of skincare for the 20th century. The current is a low level, completely painless, electrical current that mimics the body’s own electrical current. Unlike the galvanic facials of old with uncomfortable pulses, this current is barely noticeable.  Microcurrent increases the oxygen, blood supply, and the ATP to the skin, which is accomplished by use of metal probes or silver threaded gloves (my preferred method) for a facial massage, so to speak. There are several studies on the technology of microcurrent. This one speaks to the increase of the ATP and the oxygen to the skin and cells. This one gives examples of cutting edge technology involving healing of wounds because of the oxygen that microcurrent delivers to the site of a wound. This is also what it delivers to healthy skin, thus producing well fed skin cells, and smoother, finer, and better looking skin!
So now you know one of their many beauty secrets! And you can say you heard it here! Thanks for stopping by my blog. If you have any questions about microcurrent or any type of facial for that matter, please leave a question or comment in the space below! Have a great week! 
Michon :)



Sources: Jowl Lift, Red carpet, Wound initiative, Cheng report, Clareblend Inc

Behind the Chair

Just sharing hair tonight! 

Cute messy bun on one of my sweet clients! I curl it all over and then add a little back combing, put it in the bun and then next day she can take it down or fix the bun. Sometimes lasts her three days.

Ombre is one of my favorite techniques! This is what was happening in the studio a few weeks ago. Love how it turned out! 

Fun for a night out or a day at the beach or... anytime really. Double braid with a flower tying it all together in the front. Loved this. She had super thick hair. It works best with this type of hair. 

One of my cute little teenagers wanted something special to mix it up with! Fun stuff! Reminds me of Hello Kitty for some reason! haha! 

And finally this beauty! I love doing the underneath hair darker and the contrast it  contributes to the overall look on a simple updo like this. Fun easy and super cute! 

Thanks for dropping by my blog. Leave me a comment if there is something you would like to see me create or post! I am giving away a free sample of shampoo and conditioner to some lucky commenter in the the comments below. Go ahead and leave a comment! You might win! 

Have a great hair day! 

Michon :)