Getting My Yummy Mummy On: Tone Up for Summer with David Kirsch

I'm making a public declaration: "I'm taking my body back!" I've been pregnant and/or nursing a baby since September 2007 and I'm ready to claim my body for myself and get my "yummy mummy" on. I started by making some adjustments to my diet (drinking more water, cutting out soda, trading in junk food for fruits, veggies, and nuts, and focusing on lean proteins, good fats, and fiber in my meals), and now I'm working on making exercise a regular part of my routine. 

Maybe you are like me and looking to improve your overall wellness and fitness, or maybe the fact that the warm summer months are  ushering in the arrival of bikini season have you motivated to tone up a bit. Either way, celebrity trainer David Kirsch has tips on how to shape up any problem areas you may have, getting you ready for your debut in that teeny-weeny bikini (personally, I just want to be comfortable wearing my one piece suit without a cover-up)!

CGC: Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner

Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner (photo via naturallycurly.com)

Product Description:  This thick conditioner uses shea butter for its moisturizing properties, adding great softness to super dry hair. It also utilizes the beneficial properties of 14 different herbs and spices. Good for daily use for those with thick, dry hair, but might be too heavy for hair that gets weighed down easily. Finer curlies might want to try our Aloeba conditioner. It adds moisture, shine,  and aids in detangling.

Ingredients:  Water infused with Lemongrass, Nettle, Burdock, Kelp, Marshmallow Root, Horsetail, Basil, Bay leaf, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint, Sage and Thyme, Aloe Vera Juice, Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Letchin, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour,Fragrance,Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (the last three are the preservative system.

silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, glycerin free, animal friendly, and available in a  fragrance free option



My Take: The Citrus Lavender scent is pleasant and I like that the product is cruelty free and vegan (though I am not one). The appearance/texture of the conditioner struck me as a bit unusual; at first glance it almost appears paste like. The ingredients list reads like a veritable herb garden; it's full of good for your hair ingredients. It provided enough slip in the shower for me to be able to detangle and while it made my hair look curlier (if that's even possible), I didn't feel like my hair was as soft as I would've liked (even though I left it in for 5 minutes). I do like that it can be used as a traditional conditioner, leave in, or deep conditioner, so perhaps my tresses will like it better as a leave in moisturizer.

PS- Product was provided by NaturallyCurly.com for review. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own. :)

Mini Me Outift of the Week

I'm excited to bring this brand new, regular feature to Mama Fashionista! Weekly (or more often sometimes) I will post an outfit of the day featuring one of my gorgeous daughters. I'll also be discussing ways to keep your little ones looking designer chic on a shoestring budget! So without further adieu, here's London...

I May Be In GA, But My Skin Feels Like It's In a French Rose Garden (Melvita Rose Nectar Collection)

In all honesty, at the core, I am a makeup/cosmetics junkie. But as I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate the importance of taking care of your canvas-your skin. Lately I've become a little obsessed with skin care and fine tuning my routine to take care of my biggest vital organ. So, as you can imagine, I jumped on the chance to try Melvita's new Rose Nectar Collection.

Rose Nectar Collection from Melvita

CGC: Hair Rules Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner

Hair Rules Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner (photo via naturallycurly.com)

Product Description:   This daily, ultra-rich conditioning and softening treatment promotes suppleness, manageability and shine in parched, spongy, frizzy and lackluster hair. 

Formulated with honey and glycerin to enhance moisture penetration, protect against breakage and encourage hair's natural tendency to curl. Super-conditioning shea butter, coconut and olive oils, with extracts of avocado and jojoba, keep kinky, curly and wavy hair healthy and lustrous. Adds moisture, shine, frizz control.

Ingredients:  water, cetyl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, behentrimonium chloride, behentrimonium methosulfate, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, cyclohexasiloxane, honey, hedychium coconarium root extract, cymbopogon schoenanthus extract, humulus lupulus (hops) extract, coix lacryma- jobi seed extract, gardenia tahitensis flower extract, butylene glycol, isopropanol, dimethiconol, dimethicone, polyquaterinum-10, ceteareth-20, hydroxyethylcellulose, fragrance, disodium EDTA, citric acid, DMDM hydantoin, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate

sulfate free, paraben free, glycerin free, contains bee products

My Take:  Oh my goodness! I am obsessed with this conditioner! I only had a little one time use packet. but that one use not only made me want to purchase a full size bottle, I was so impressed I want to try more products in the line. Wish it was a little more budget friendly, but I totally understand that sometimes you get what you pay for. My hair felt like SILK as soon as I applied the conditioner. Detangling while it was wet was a cinch, and it rinsed out so clean! I'm definitely a fan of HAIR RULES. This is by far, the best conditioner I have used in a long time!

PS- A sample of this product was sent for review by NaturallyCurly.com. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and are my own. :)

CO Bigelow Lemon Hand Wash No. 1142

I have 3 children and between cooking, changing, cleaning, and feeding them all, I feel like I am constantly washing my hands! My hands are kind of rough naturally, so all of that time in the water doesn't really help to keep them touchably soft, but I have found a few treasures that help them stay soft and supple (and don't make my hands feel as dry as the Sahara). Here's one of them:

CO Bigelow Lemon Hand Wash No. 1142