New Years Eve

As many of you are planning your outfits and arranging transportation to your fabulous New Years Eve Parties, I am arranging a party of my own. As a mom of 2 little ones I am not able to join the masses. So at Noon today I will be having a Noon Years Eve party with my little guys. Break out the Martinelli's Apple Cider! Because it's about to get crazy up in here...

Drive Safe

For the rest of you going out to ring in the new year, stay safe. AAA will tow you and your car home, up to 10 miles. Just call  800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP)

If you are in Sacramento:
Be My DD
Phone: 1-877-823-6933
Hours: 24/7
Details: A driver takes you home in your own vehicle
http://www.bemydd.com/our_services

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Keep that hair looking and feeling better!

Everyday everyone has their "getting ready" routine. Whether it is like Speedy Gonzales or the Glaminista one, two, or even three hour event. We all do what we can to keep ourselves looking and feeling a certain way. Your hair may or may not be a big part of this time of day. No matter how long or little you spend actually doing your hair these things are something EVERYONE should take time to do to help keep their locks looking and feeling nice. 

                                                        Now for the "MANE" event!

bad hair

We use our heaters to warm us up but not only does it warm us up, it warms up our hair. Going from such cold air outside to warm air in our homes, it's somewhat of a shock to the hair. With such dramatic changes of temperatures, we need to add some moisture to your locks so that it keeps it soft and manageable. Using a deep conditioner once a week is a great at-home treatment! 

Deep Conditioner

deep conditioner

Is your hair frizzy and puffy? Does it take forever to get straight? Here are a couple tips to help with that when you get done shampooing your hair. Absolutely 100% DO NOT rub a towel though your hair roughly to get it dry. Gently squeeze the water out in the towel through the hair until most of the moisture is out. What happens is the rough towel is rubbing around breaking your hair up and causing static, damage, and major frizz. Your hair is at its WEAKEST point when wet, so take care of that wet hair.

One product I absolutely love for smoothing, as well as a heat protector, is Thermafuse F450.

Heat protector

Or the Kenra Hot Spray works great too. These will protect from the heat of our irons and helps to maintain a smooth, soft look. 

Heat protector 

When you are getting ready and your hair is feeling a bit dry, avoid using hair products with alcohol in them, as that dries the hair out even more. If some of your favorite ones do contain alcohol, try not to use them everyday. 

When brushing through wet hair use a wide toothed comb and start at the bottom and work your away up. It avoids ripping through any tangles and causing more damage. 

A leave-in-conditioner can work wonders! Its great for us mommies and if the kiddos have knots spray some in and work those babies out before busting out the kitchen shears. My favorite is the UNITE 7 Seconds.

This product seriously works wonders getting the toughest knots out! 

Leave in conditioner

Another great one is called  It's a 10!

Leave in conditioner

Another tip: Your hair never gets "USED" to a certain product. If it isn't reacting the way it did when you first got it, try a sulfate free shampoo. Over time your hair will get a thin layer of buildup from other products we use. Sulfate free shampoo will help to strip that layer of buildup and make your hair react normal to your most valued products again. 

Sulfate free shampoo

Last and this is VERY important. If you feel as though you are using all the right products and nothing seems to be working, go over this very short checklist to see if maybe your hair is having a different reaction. These are the top reasons why people have problems with their hair.

• Diet- If your not getting the right nutrients or vitamins in your system your hair could be effected by that. That includes alcohol and smoking. Remember what you put in or don't put in your bodies will take part in the change of your hair skin and nails. Drink lots of water!  
• Stress- Sometimes stress is a huge factor in how our hair acts up. Do whatever you can to kick stress in the butt. 
• Chemicals/Heat- Anytime we over use chemicals or heat on our hair there will be damage. Avoid over doing anything to the point of no return. No color is worth losing your hair over no matter how blonde you would like to be :)
• Medication- Have you checked your prescriptions? Medicine is absolutely something that can change the way your hair behaves. If you notice anything odd after you have been on a new medication, please consult a doctor. 
• Hormones! Yes, as if they don't give us hell enough! May it be new birth control, pregnancy, menopause, etc. These are all MAJOR changes to our bodies and have extreme effects on our hair.

Hopefully some of these tips help. If anyone ever has any questions, concerns or comments about your hair, I would love to help you to the best of my abilities. Being a professional in the industry for 6+ years I have seen a lot. Be good to your lovely locks and they will be good to you! 

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Out with the Old and In with the New! How to Store All of Those New Toys

On Christmas morning, as I watched Zane open up what seemed to be an endless pile of Christmas presents, I began to wonder where and how are we going to fit all of these new toys into his already-crowded bedroom.  The firetrucks, the matchbox cars, race tracks, footballs, play doh, art supplies, magna doodle, tool box with tools and other small pieces, play barbeque (that you can't have without the play food, of course), toy lawn mower, drum set, guitar, books, trains, puzzles, legos.....where are we going to put these things?

As Joe opened up and assembled the toys (which is not an easy task since the packages that some of these things come in can take a chain saw just to open), it was my job to go through Zane's room and decide what old toys could get boxed up and either stored in the garage for the new baby or donated to others.  When I came to a tough decision, I just held up the toy and asked Zane "Save this for baby or give away?" Since he's not even two yet, he had no problem answering "give away."  I think in the future I may have to perform a solo top secret mission to avoid any protests.  I was easily able to clear out a bunch of space and even found some containers laying around the house that made for great storage bins.

One item that really helped organize the new stuff was this toy box. The thing I love about this one is that the lid is super easy to open and close and it's lightweight so there are no smashed fingers.  The lid actually lifts up and slides back under the book shelf so there's easy access to toys.  The inside is super spacious that I think I could actually fit in it!

I also found some of these storage totes laying around that worked really well for holding books, balls, small cars, and other miscellaneous items. They can be stacked on the top shelves of the toy box, the dresser, under the bed, or in the closet.

Got tupperware?  These large, clear containers work great for storing race track pieces, puzzles, magnets, blocks, Legos, play tools, food, and other toys that you want to keep together. 

Still need more space?  These three-drawer storage units are awesome for holding art supplies, finger paints, play doh, and anything else you might need to store.  We also use these for clothes too!

So now that you've organized the toys and put everything in its place, what do you do with the toys that you don't want to keep?  You can have a yard sale or try to sell them to stores that buy gently used items, such as Once Upon A Child and put some cash back into your wallet.  Or if you just want to donate them, check out these options that will, in most cases, happily take them off of your hands:

1. Charities
2. Hospitals
3. Doctor's Offices
4. Daycares
5. Shelters
6. Children's Homes
7. Military Families
8. Churches
9. Social Services
10. Police and Fire Departments

If you need more ideas on household organization, check out this post from Lesley!  Remember: Less clutter means less stress and I think we can all use some of that!  :)



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Merry Christmas!

As some of our kids are still nestled in their beds, we dream of their excitement as they lift up their heads. Presents for all and goodwill to man. And dreams of those sugarplums and of course the holiday ham.

May your holidays be happy and bright from the whole Eight by Five crew!

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Homemade & Healthy Chicken Salad

This is a recipe that I've come up with, played with over the years, and I think it's finally perfected!  And the best part is that it's pretty healthy with the addition of the greek yogurt instead of fully leaded mayo.  And by the way, definitely substitute the green onions for the peppers - I needed something to combat the sweetness and live with a husband who literally HATES onions.  Who hates onions??

• 4 cooked/boiled chicken breasts (or 2 large canned/white meat chicken) -both are fine but cooking them yourself is much cheaper
• 1 stalk of celery
• 1/4 cup yellow bell pepper (about 3 slices) - or substitute green onions
• 1 granny smith apple
• 1/2 cup red, seedless grapes
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup plain, greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1 Tbs lemon juice
• 1 tsp dill seasoning
• S & P (to taste)

Dice up chicken, celery, pepper, apple and grapes.  Add all ingredients into a bowl and lightly mix.  Don't over mix and crush up all your fruits and veggies.  Pour into a tupperware and refrigerate overnight.  Mix up the next day and see if it needs a little more salt and pepper.

This makes a great lunch - just add a scoop to your favorite bread.  I also like to add pickles to mine.

And to make it super healthy - grab a leaf of butter lettuce and add a small scoop inside like a little lettuce wrap.

Yum!

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Favorite NYE Sparkly Shoes!

It's all about the shoes this New Years Eve Party Season.  I love wearing a simple dress with some amazing shoes, it's a fun surprise to look down and see some sparkle.  Not sure what my plans are just yet... check out the shoes at the end for 'staying in' - that might be me with my husband and one-year old daughter (which I'm perfectly happy with by the way - but I can still dream of glittery heels!).

Shiny heels for that NYE dress

Truth or Dare by Madonna Nirana from Zappos
$87.99 with free shipping


















Sparkle An Interest Heel from Mod Cloth
$39.99 plus tax and shipping

Jessica Simpson Devin from Zappos
$98 with free shipping

Flounce Sparkle Slingback from Nordstrom
$89.95 with free shipping

Vince Camuto 'Latese' Sandal from Nordstrom

$128.95

Glint Radiance Pump from Nordstrom

$119.95

Daytrip Glitter Heel from Buckle

$40

RACHEL Rachel Roy Shoes, Keedan Platform Pumps from Macys

$69 with an extra 10% off plus tax and shipping

Comfy (but still festive) flats for the night in or casual pj party

Silver Glitters from Toms

$54 plus tax and shipping

Can't forget my little girl!

Girls Glitter Ballet Flats from J Crew

$59.50

Toddler Glitter Ballet Shoes from Target
$16.00 plus tax and shipping

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Nine by Five???

Ultrasound of our little peanut!

Zane excited about the news he's going to be a big brother!

Although our blog name will remain the same, there is one more little kiddo that will be added to the bunch, making that the ninth child between me and my fellow mommy-bloggers.  I am excited to announce that my husband and I will be welcoming our second child into our little family in late June!  We are very excited for Zane to have a sibling, as you can see we come from a big family, so having another person for him to grow up with and make memories with will be lots of fun!

Our little family of 3 will be 4 very soon!

 Be sure to mark February 5th on your calendars, as that's when we'll find out if we're team blue or pink!  My husband has a very strong feeling that it's a girl and although many expectant mothers have that maternal intuition, I am clueless.  Either way, we will be truly delighted!  I'm just excited that the terrible morning sickness that I've been experiencing for the last three months seems to finally be subsiding (knock on wood!) right before Christmas.

Now you can be sure to expect some future posts from me about maternity fashion, foods I'm craving at the moment, how to guilt your husband into giving you a foot massage, and lots more!  ;)

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How to clean your shower doors naturally

 OK, I am aware that my shower doors are super gross. I have been having a battle with my husband about getting rid of our shower doors. Purely based on the fact that they are a pain to keep clean. So I went on shower door cleaning strike. I lost this battle when I realized I had to clean them for a party we were hosting. I can live with gross to prove a point, but not in front of company ;)

I have use harsh chemical cleaners to clean my shower in the past, and never have I been impressed. I end up having a hard time breathing and get a headache from the fumes. I figured that could not be good for my health. So I searched for a natural solution, and this is what I found.

So natural that even my son got in on the deep cleaning action!

What you need:

Bowl

Baking Soda

Castile Soap

Gloves

Sponge or rag

Elbow grease

*Optional would be to add an essential oil or tea tree oil

Directions:

Make a paste with the baking soda and vinegar. Apply to soap scum area. Let sit for about 30 minutes (so it gets dry ish) Then remove with a dry cloth or sponge. Rinse and enjoy the beauty of your natural cleaner :) 

 This is a great cleaner for any deep cleaning job!

Before...barf

After...yay!

For more cleaning tips, check out Kelley's secret to shining up your stainless steel sink!  

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Coffee Filter Snowflake Tutorial

Paper snowflakes are a quick and easy craft that's fun for both kids and adults alike. This simple method uses coffee filters to eliminate any prep work, and their thin nature make cutting easy enough for little hands.

Fold the coffee filter into eighths. Cut the outside edge first followed by the two folded edges. Be sure to leave space intact between your cut out shapes on the folded edges. Unfold and marvel at your masterpiece!

These were all made by my five and six year olds. If desired you can dye the coffee filters before cutting by giving them a quick dunk in a mixture of hot water, food coloring and a splash of white vinegar.

Happy holidays!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDITED TO ADD THIS NEW INFO I JUST FOUND: 

When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to the Connecticut PTSA at:

Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

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A Day of Rememberance and Giving Back

It's not a day for getting down to business, it's a day to remember, to give your babies an extra squeeze and if you can, giving back.  While today we would normally be providing you a great recipe or a new DIY, we didn't think it was appropriate after Friday's events.  Today we are joining all the other bloggers in this community to show our support. I think this image and it's words says it all.  We will also be giving what we can and have found a few legitimate places you can go to online: Sandy Hook Support Fund, Sandy Hook Victims Relief Fund, and Newton Youth and Family Services.  There's a whole list more, here.

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Holiday Party Hair Tutorial

In need of a holiday party hairstyle with lots of body and bounce?  Here is my go-to trick for adding a little oomph to your do!  

Items you'll need:

• Large barrel curling iron
• Hairspray (my fave is L'oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray!)
• Alligator clips
• Rat tail comb

 

 

 Section off the front of your hair using your rat tail comb and spray with a light mist of flexible hairspray.

 

 Using your curling iron, roll the front of your hair upwards and back.

After holding in place for about 30 seconds, carefully slide the curling iron out of your hair, 

keeping the curl intact.

Holding the curl in place, pin using an alligator clip (or two depending on the thickness of your hair).

 Now working your way to the back of your head, take a second section of hair and hairspray.

Just like the first piece, curl the second section of your hair back.

 Pin in place. 

 Repeat the same steps: Section off, spray, curl back and pin.

Once the top is done (I can usually do mine in three large sections), section off the sides 

and do two more curls.

Now that the top and sides are curled and pinned, take the remainder of your hair (the lower half) and separate into two sections.

Curl the last two sections. Keeping the curls rolled, pin in place, spray one last time all over with hairspray,  and then let hair sit until all curls are cool.  This is a great time to do your makeup while you wait.

 Once hair is cooled, carefully remove all of the clips in the order that you put them in (starting with your bangs/front piece first).  Gently shake out the curls and style as desired.  You might have to take your curling iron and touch up a few pieces (I tend to flip a few sections out around my face).  Add in a pretty headband or clip to spice up your look! 

 BEFORE

 AFTER

A special shout-out to my dear husband who "happily" documented my hair styling session and to my son who sat quietly on the bathroom floor while we went to work.  I guess the endless supply of makeup brushes and clips kept him occupied!  :)

 

 

 

 

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