Happy Wednesday everyone.

My husband just forwarded this video to me and it deserves its own blog post.  I laughed the whole way through.  After being married for a few years, is this how you and your husband discuss having sex?  It strikes a very similar resemblance to conversations in my home.  Seriously, it’s a must see.

Click HERE and you’ll be taken directly to the YouTube video.

Now go get to business!

xoxo,

Jen

ps– If you like my blog, please share it with your friends, “like” me on Facebook and subscribe to my blog.  (Top right hand corner of my website.)  Thanks!!

I haven’t had too much time on the computer this week (also nice for a change), but I did find a few things that were my favorites…

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Jen

1) Favorite Article of the Week!
These Are The Lines Of A Story by Mary Martin Weins

A pic of me pregnant with baby #2, as my own skin stretches & stretches.

My Absolute FAVORITE of the week was discovering this beautiful article titled These Are The Lines Of A Story, written by Mary Martin Weins from The Actual Pastor’s Blog.  It’s such a well written piece on how our body changes after having babies and explaining that to our kids.  Ladies — this is truly a MUST read.  It gave my chills from head to toe!  You can view the article HERE.

2) Favorite List of the Week!
15 Ways to Stay Married for 15 Years by Katie Ostoich

Quincy and I going out for our 14 Year Anniversary. 9-19-2012

I loved this list, titled 15 Ways to Stay Married for 15 Years written by Katie Ostoich on the Girls Guide To blog.  I know that we’ve all read a million of these “how to” lists, but I liked this one because it has real, honest, legit suggestions.  I am coming up on my 15 year anniversary (in September!) and could definitely do a better job on some of these.  (No body is perfect! )

3) Favorite Website Discovery
Sprout Robot at www.sproutrobot.com 

Screenshot of what to plant now for my area!

So I’ve been beginning to kind of, sort of, maybe possibly in the near future thinking about potentially starting to maybe grow my own fruits and veggies.  It seems like a HUGE feat for a gardening virgin like me, but sounds kind of exciting as well.  There is just so much to know!  Anyway, I came across this site that tells you WHAT to plant and WHEN for your particular area, which takes care of the WHERE!  Enter in your own zip code and you’ll see what to plant NOW for your area!

4) Favorite SALE
Kids Uggs Online at Nordstrom – 40% off!

Kids Uggs Currently On Sale at Nordstroms 40% off!

Uggs almost NEVER go on sale, so I was excited to see this 40% off.  My kids love wearing their UGGS in the colder seasons, so I’m thinking about buying them one or two sizes up for next year.  Hmmmm…..

5) Favorite Funny eCard

I thought this was appropriate for my past week of being lazy…

I love hearing your feedback!  Please leave a comment below about what YOU saw this week around the web that YOU loved.  (Please include website link if possible!)

Favorite Funny
Math Clock

Seriously, Kill me now.  I would never be on time.  Like ever.

Favorite Website Find
http://fiverr.com/

This site is so cool.  People will list stuff that they’ll do for you for just $5.00.  You can have Marilyn create a “Happy Birthday To You” video for your husband.  You can have someone Photoshop something onto a picture for you.  You can have someone prank call your best friend for fun.  You can have someone from Taiwan take a picture of him or her in front of a famous site with your branding.(See above pic!)  All for just five bucks!

Favorite Inspiration
22 Things Happy People Do Differently
Click Here to see this article

I loved this article about 22 things happy people do differently.  It’s a great reminder of how we can change our own perspectives.  I even read this to my sometimes “glass is half empty” son and saw him seriously pondering the concepts.  Win!

Favorite TV Show – The Voice
http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/

If you like singing competition shows, you HAVE to watch this one!  I’m watching it with my husband and kids.  I am LOVING the cast – Adam Levine, Blake Sheldon, Usher and Shakira.  They are all so personable, so funny and so fun to watch.  They choose singers to be on their team, solely based on their voices.   (The judges can’t see the contestants as they are choosing them, they can only hear them!)  Then, if they all want the contestant on their team, they will fight for him/her.  There’s some serious talent showing up – its way better than American Idol!  Anyway, my kids and I love this show and each have our favorite judges and contestants.  Check it out!

Best Party Cake
From the Sweet Designs Blog

Um…. Yes.  This is actually a birthday cake.  Amazing, right!!??  Beautiful, right!!??  Although it makes me & my cake decorating skills feel horrifyingly inferior, I had to add this because it’s an amazing work of art and cuteness.  If you click on the link (Sweet Designs Blog), you will see an entire spread for decorating a bubble gum themed party.  Wow.

Favorite Entertaining Idea
Washi Tape Names on Wine Glasses
From the Jentertaining Blog

I thought this idea from the Jentertaining blog was so easy and creative!  Get a cute piece of washi tape (it peels off easily) and write your guest’s name with a Sharpie on the tape.  You can do this on any wine glass.  Cutetape.com  is a great site to buy different types of washi tape for great prices! Thanks for the idea Jentertaining!  Enjoy…

Favorite Wine Tip
The 15 Minute Wine Rule

Apparently, there is a 15 minute rule for serving both white and red wines.  Did you know about this? (I didn’t!)  You can read the article and find the tips HERE on the Real Simple Blog.

Cutest Spring Find
It’s only $36.95!

Loving this color for Spring.  Pair with a little white tank underneath, a pair of jean capris, a long pretty necklace and you are ready to go!  You can purchase this shirt HERE!

Did you see something on the Internet this week that you loved?  If so, please tell us about it (and include the link) in the comments section below.

xoxo,

Jen

ENJOY!

1. Chevron

I have a chevron obsession!  We used plain painters tape and cut long strips into skinny pieces.  We then made a chevron pattern around the plain egg.  Once the pattern was finished, we dropped the egg in the purple dye and left it for about 10 minutes.  After it dried completely, we peeled off the tape and voila!  A gorgeous chevron pattern!

2. Glitter

Glitter Eggs are so pretty and so easy!  First, we dyed the egg a soft yellow color. Once the egg was dry, we took a glue stick and rubbed glue all over the egg.  Then, we poured clear glitter into a paper bowl and coated the egg with the glitter.  We dipped the glitterized egg into the yellow coloring one more time and immediately took it out.  The result?  A feminine and beautiful glitter egg!

3. Funny Faces

These were so fun & easy to make!  First, we dyed the eggs in two different colors.  (Just hold 1/2 of the egg into one dye color, let dry, then flip egg and dip the other half into a different color dye.)  Once the eggs were dry, we used Sharpies to draw faces.  These two masterpieces were done by my 9 1/2 year old son, Drew.

4. Ombre

I am also obsessed with Ombre!  This didn’t turn out quite as “ombre-ish” as I had hoped, but I still think it looks beautiful!  Here’s how I made it — Dip the bottom quarter of the egg into the green dye and hold in place for 1 minute.  After one minute, dip the egg in further, so half of it is now covered in the green dye.  Hold in place for 1 more minute.  Then, go to 3/4 of the egg dipped in the dye and hold for one more minute.  Lastly, I dropped the entire egg into the green dye for 1 minute.  Let dry and you have an ombre egg!

5. Stickers!

It doesn’t get easier than this and they turned out so cute!  Simply color your eggs as you wish, let them dry and then attach cute stickers.  If you want to make sure the stickers don’t peel off, you can coat with a thin layer of modge podge.  I would have done that, but didn’t have any lying around.

6. Tie Dye

This was probably the funnest for my kids to make.  We think they turned out pretty cool and different!  Here’s how we did it!  *(Note, this method is especially cool for older boys.)

Items Needed
Cookie Sheet
Wire Strainer/Colander
Different Colors of Food Coloring
Glitter (Optional)

Directions
Place the egg into the wire strainer, over the cookie sheet.  (The cookie sheet is intended to catch the mess for easy clean up.)  Slowly drop 1-2 drops of dye on the egg.  Twirl around in the strainer to get the first color all over the egg.  Repeat with different colors to desired look.  (We also used a paper towel to blot the food coloring a little bit.)  If you would like, sprinkle with glitter while the egg is still wet for a glitter tie dye effect!

7.  Use Words

We used some letter stickers we had at home to spell out MOM and LOVE onto our plain eggs.  Make sure they are attached very well.  We dropped the eggs (with stickers) into the dye and let them sit for about 10 minutes.  Once they dried, we peeled off the stickers and were thrilled with our results!  My 7 1/2 year old daughter Katie further embellished hers with a heart and a peace sign using a red Sharpie.

8.  Polka Dots

I love polka dots!  Again, this was so easy!  We had some tiny little circle stickers that we randomly placed all over the egg.  Once the stickers were all secured, we dropped the egg into the dye and left it alone for about 10 minutes.  After the egg dried, we peeled off the polka dots and this was our result.  So cute!  Unfortunately our stickers were old and didn’t stick very well in the dye, so we got non-uniform dots. (But we still love our cute polka dot egg!) I’ve heard other people have great success with glue dots so you could also try that.

LASTLY, it’s time to clean up your mess.  Not so bad!!

Please leave a comment below (with directions) if you know of any other fun ways to dye your Easter Eggs!  Also, if you liked this post, please share with your friends!

Happy Easter!
xoxo,

Jen

ps– All this egg dying makes me want a SMOOTHIE!  Enter below to win a $20.00 Jamba Juice Gift Card!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AND, there is also still time to enter for my $50.00 Nordstrom Gift Card Giveaway.  At the bottom of THIS PAGE.

Brussel Sprouts To Die For

Please disregard the fact that the picture is on a cheap paper plate and you see our dirty fork. Unfortunately, I had a few glasses of wine last night and didn’t think to take a better picture.  BUT, regardless of the crappy picture, these are the most delicious, tasty, amazing brussel sprouts you will ever make.  EVEN my anti-all-vegetables son loved these.  This is a dish to convert all the brussel sprout haters of the world.  Seriously, give them a try!

Ingredients
– 12 large brussel sprouts (about 1.5 lbs)
– 1/2 Onion, chopped
– 3 Tblsp. Soy Sauce
– 6 Shakes of Garlic Salt
– 1 Tsp. of Regular Salt
– 1 Tsp. Pepper
– 2 Tblsp. Agave Syrup (Click here to see the kind we use, purchased at Safeway)

Directions
1. Trim brussel sprouts and toss the cores
2. Steam brussel sprouts until just soft, about 5 minutes
3. In a separate frying pan, add onion, soy sauce, garlic salt, salt, pepper and agave syrup.
4. Add brussel sprouts and briefly stir fry until the sugar caramelizes onto the brussel sprouts.  About 5 minutes

ENJOY!!

(Click Here to see the health benefits of Brussel Sprouts)

The next time we make these, I will update with a better picture.  If one of my readers makes these before me, please send me a better picture that I can use!

There is still time to register for my $50.00 Nordstrom Gift Card Giveaway!  Go HERE (and scroll to the bottom) to register!

xoxo,

Jen

ps– If you like my blog, please spread the word with your friends.  :-)

Have you started to notice the birds chirping and the flowers beginning to bud? Spring is coming! The good news is that we have longer days and warmer weather to look forward to. The bad news is that we’re only 3 months away from bathing suit season. Ugh. Time to lose those extra wiggle jiggles.

I’ve asked my incredibly stylish and fashionable sister to come up with the 2013 Spring fashion must haves again!  (See last year’s list here! We still love everything on this list too!) Once again, I seriously want EVERYTHING on our new list.

With this post, I am also giving away another $50 gift card to Nordstrom, the happiest place on earth.  (Sorry Disneyland, you’ve been moved to slot #2.) You can see how to enter at the bottom of this post.

Enjoy!!

xoxo,
Jen

FIRST, we have a lace espadrille obsession right now!!!  Check out these three different styles:

Classic Crochet Lace Toms in Silver
$57.95

We love the feminine crochet look of these silver Toms.  And, for every pair you buy, they donate a pair to a child in need.  Not only are these super comfortable, but they go with everything.  We both already have these in black, but they silver is tempting too!

Valentino Lace Espadrilles
$475.00

Absolutely love, love, love.  These are so girly and feminine.  BUT, you will pay for the Valentino label!!

Lacie Espadrille
$68.00

Look!  We found these at Victoria Secret, just as cute as Valentino and only $68.00!!  We’ll take one in each color please!

Limited Express Tank
$20.00

Super cute chiffon hi-lo hem double scoop neck tank from Express, ONLY $20.00!  We’re not always into Express stuff, but this was so cute we couldn’t pass it up!  Comes in many color variations but we especially loved this silver/grey and pink.

Sunstream Eyelet Dress from Anthropologie
$128.00

We are loving this dress from Anthropologie!  On the hanger, this didn’t look as cute as it did on.  It literally feels like you are wearing pajamas, and we think it’s perfect for casual or dressy.  Pair with flats and an ponytail for the daytime, or heels and a blazer for a girls night out.  Loving the green color the most and loving the open detail in the back.  At only $128.00, we think this is a steal for such a comfy, versatile dress.  (As mommies, we are all about comfort these days!)

Tory Burch Reversible Printed Logo Belt
$185.00

Loving this Abbot C/ivory spring floral reversible print belt!  It’s a little pricey, but this is one you’ll have in your closet for years to come!  We picture this with jeans (or jean cutoffs) and a white tank top.  The belt will make this outfit pop.  Pair with gold hoops and you are ready to go!

AG White Skinnies
$164.00

Don’t you hate how expensive good jeans are these days?  But, if you are going to splurge, these are the ones to get!  These are the stretchiest jeans ever, which make them very comfortable.  Apparently, you have to go down two sizes for these.  (So if you are a size 30 normally, you’d be a size 28.)  White jeans are all over the runways and a huge spring trend this season.  Your wardrobe isn’t complete without a pair of these!

Pearl Jacket from Paper Crown
$275.00  On Sale $192.50

Everybody needs a new cute jacket.  We love this one from Papercrown, currently on sale for $192.50.  Pair this with a cute tank top (animal print , floral print  or a solid blouse) and it’ll look beautiful.

Pace Setter Skirt from LuLu Lemon
$58.00

Get your tennis on!  Even if you don’t play tennis, you could throw this on and pretend like you do.  It’s just so damn cute and we are loving the pink gingham!

St. Martin Beth One Piece Swimsuit from Vix
$204.00

One pieces are making a big comeback, and we thought this one was just so pretty!  We love the colors, the pattern and how cute is the back?  Don’t worry about the tan lines, you should be wearing major sunscreen anyways.

Take Me To The Beach Cover Up
$98.00

Simple, cute, black cover up to throw on while you are chasing after the kids.  It says “Take Me To The Beach”.  We think it should also say 1) Without kids, 2) With good book/good magazines, 3) With preferred cocktail

Pave Station Bangle
$38.00

Simple and sweet bracelet to stack with other gold bangles.  Or, wear this alone for a delicate and dainty look. Pretty!

Zigi Girl Elena Sandal
$68.95

These blue sandals immediately caught Lisa’s eye at Nordstrom – and aren’t too pricey.  We both love the color and the funky style.

Lisa has an amazing eye for fashion and can help you clean out your closet, pair up outfits you wouldn’t have thought of, update your wardrobe or go shopping with you.  If you would like to hire Lisa, she offers a-m-a-z-i-n-g low prices.  Shoot me an email  and I’ll get you set up with her!

AND…. WHO WANTS A $50.00 NORDSTROM GIFT CARD?  There are TONS of ways to enter below!

Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hi Friends!

I’ve been so neglectful of my poor blog lately!  I know you’ve been desperately missing my posts and I’m concerned about how skinny you are all getting.  I have to tell you – I’m shocked and flattered that you take my blog so seriously and that you’ve been so upset (about my lack of posting) that you haven’t been eating.  Well, I’m here to put an end to this madness!  So please, go grab yourself a cupcake & a glass of wine and settle in my loves.

The last few months have been very busy!  Just the normal stuff – kids starting school, scrambling to get ready in the mornings, soccer games, dance practices, birthday parties, working, tae kwon do, keeping my ever-messy house clean, etc. etc.  Blah, blah, blah.  You guys know the drill.  On a more exciting note, I just celebrated my 14-year wedding anniversary.  Sometimes it feels like I’ve been married for forever (plus a few days) and some times it feels like no time has passed at all.  This year, much to my husband’s credit, he did a great job remembering it and actually pre-planned a few surprises to make it special.  Ladies – no -  that was NOT a typo.  I actually just said the word pre-planned.  It’s this very, very complicated & difficult to understand term that most men are seasonally allergic to.  Somehow they can “pre-plan” for presentations and work-related events, but when it comes to birthdays, anniversaries or holidays, the word just doesn’t make sense to them.  My husband has been allergic to pre-planning on many, many occasions but this year was an exception.  No waiting until the last minute, scrambling to make something (anything) happen.  Nope, he actually prepared a few things ahead of time and was pretty awesome.  See, still after 14 years, you can teach old dogs new tricks.   YES!!

Also, my son just turned 9 years old in September.  WTF?  How he suddenly became 9, I have no idea.  It feels like just yesterday I was holding his nervous little hand and walking him into preschool.  Back then, he cuddled and called me “mommy” or “mama”.  Now, it’s just plain old “mom” and his (forced) cuddles are only the result of some candy-filled or stay-up-late bribe.  Sigh.  Next year he will be in the double digits.  Then before I know it, he’ll have smelly, hairy armpits and then he’ll be off to college and then he’ll get married to some bitchy little daughter in law who hates me and doesn’t want my advise and never wants to come around and hates my cooking!!!!  OK.  Breath in, breathe out.  (Can we all briefly pause and say a little prayer that my DIL is amazing and cool and sees me for what I really am – completely freaken AWESOME!!!)  If you have boys, I will say the same prayer for you.  I promise.  If you have daughters, just rejoice in the fact that someday you will have hunky, strong, ass-kissing sons in laws that will happily have you over and serve you cocktails.

Turning 9 comes with a 9 year old birthday party.  My son had recently seen the movie “Ghostbusters” (thanks to my husband) and decided he wanted a Ghostbusters movie birthday party.  As many of you know, I loooove to plan a good party.  Visions of Ghostbuster cakes and sanctums of slime filled my mind.  Originally, I agreed on the party.  It had been decades (or so it seemed) since I had watched Ghostbusters and I remembered it being a cute movie with a great theme song about a couple guys chasing and catching ghosts.  Funny guys, cute ghosts, not too scary.  Perfect.  But, if I was going to show the movie to a room full of 3^rd grade boys, I needed to be sure it was child appropriate.  So, I read a few reviews online.  Well, apparently there’s lots of swearing.  Strike One.  Even more alarming, there’s apparently a scene where Dan Aykroyd gets a blowjob from a blonde ghost.   Strike Two and Three.  You’re OUT!  WTF??  Why don’t I remember that scene???  You don’t actually see “it” happening, but apparently you see the zipper from Dan’s pants being magically pulled down and then you see his head fall back and his eyes roll back.   Hmmmm.  I’m sure as a kid I chalked that all up to him just being “really scared”.  My happy visions of green slime and ghostly party cakes quickly turned into angry visions of furious third grade parents knocking down my front door.  So, I now needed to very slyly change the direction of the party.  Fortunately, my son had also recently started watching the Harry Potter movies (thanks again to my husband).  I’m not sure exactly how I did it, but somehow I convinced my son that a Harry Potter party would be amazingly cool and we could do all kinds of fun “magical spells, tricks and games” instead.  Out with the GB and in with the HP.  Sold!

The party turned out to be really fun, and my son actually told me it was “his favorite party he’s ever had or had ever been to”.  Comments like that just make all my mommy parts feel warm and fuzzy.  I’d love to tell you all about it, but I’m off to go have my own cupcake and glass of wine.

xoxo,

Jen

Ps - Stay tuned for my next post (with pics and details) all about our Harry Potter Party!

Pss—If you like my blog, please subscribe and you will get an email when I post something new.  You have to actually enter your email address into the top right portion of my blog’s homepage that says “Subscribe Here”

Have you ever thought about getting a job where you can work from home?  If you have young kids, fogetaboutit.  Just when you think you have a minute to focus, your kid is hungry or thirsty or neeeeeeeeds you to watch their thirteenth cartwheel.  The show just ended, the popsicle is dripping onto the couch or a bottom needs to be wiped.   BUT… if you have kids in school or at Grandmas, working from home could be an option.  I’ve thought about it.  It sounds dreamy.  I’d love to roll out of bed, make myself a bowl of Lucky Charms, pour some coffee and work in my worn out, but oooh so comfy PJ’s.  No rushing to shower, get out the door, deal with traffic and get a coffee before the first meeting.  No one looking over your shoulder all day.  No strapping on those “work pants”, which are so cute but are also too tight lately so they need to be secretly unbuttoned at your desk.  (Dammit! There just aren’t enough cute clothes with elastic waists!)

From an employer’s standpoint, I get why they want you in the office.  It’s a little word called productivity.  There are distractions and temptations at home that just don’t exist in the office.  However – if you are disciplined, motivated and don’t have kids at home, you really can make it work.

My friend Vickie is a great example of a mommy who found a fun, rewarding work from home job.  As a stylist for Stella and Dot, she’s her own boss, she gets to work with (and wear) gorgeous, fun jewelry and she gets to manage her own schedule.  I first met Vickie when I was invited to a Stella & Dot jewelry party a few years ago.  Full disclosure – I was more excited about drinking wine and having my husband put the kids to bed than I was about the jewelry.  When I walked in though, I was very surprised at how much I liked the jewelry.  (I swear I’m not just saying this to promote Stella and Dot, it’s really honestly true!)  The jewelry was fun, hip, fresh and affordable.  Vickie was the stylist selling the jewelry and she was just so cute, fun and casual about it all.   There was no pressure to buy anything.  She was (of course) wearing all the jewelry she was selling and it made her outfit look so finished and put together.  I seriously neeeeeded everything she had on!  (And a few more pieces, just so I didn’t seem like a complete copycat.)   I left that night spending over $425 and agreeing to have a jewelry party of my own very soon.  Ummm, what just happened??

After only a few years, Vickie is now a Senior Director with Stella and Dot.  She still works from home and still creates her own schedule.  She makes good money.  She’s also a wife and a mommy of three gorgeous boys.  Just give them one quick look and you’ll think, Justin Bieber who??  (I’m still deciding which of the three I’m setting my 7-year-old daughter up with – thoughts?)

I love Vickie’s story about how she got into selling Stella and Dot jewelry and would love to share it with you.  Before the interview though, THREE things!

1) Vickie is offering 10% off and free shipping to ALL of my blog subscribers indefinitely on all Stella and Dot jewelry!  If you see something you seriously need, you can email her directly at vberkowitz@sbcglobal.net for your 10% off and free shipping.  All you have to do is mention Silicon Valley Mommy in your email to her.   (The jewelry is affordable, great for gift giving and comes beautifully wrapped, so keep that in mind!)

2) Vickie has agreed to do occasional Stella and Dot giveaways on my blog, just for you guys.  Woot, Woot!

3) And TODAY, she is giving away this gorgeous bracelet shown below (on the far right)!  Do you feel the love?  You can enter to WIN at the bottom of this post.

The giveaway bracelet is the one on the far right

Here’s the interview -

Me - Hold old are your boys?
Vickie – They are all 2 years apart, my baby Ethan (yes I still call him “the baby”) is 7, Ryan is 9 and Max who is going to enter middle school (I feel very old) is 11.

Me – How long have you been married?
Vickie – I actually had to think…  we just entered the “teen years” 13 years.

Me – How did you get started with Stella and Dot
Vickie - First off, I had NEVER gone to home parties, hosted them or even thought of them.  I thought, yuck, tupperware, no thanks!  Then a friend of mine decided to become a Stella & Dot stylist.  I had never heard of Stella & Dot but knew I had to host a party to support her.  That what friends are for!  So the night of the party, I got the wine and nibbles and my friend came over and started setting up.  I glanced at the jewels and thought ”okay, cute,” but was still apprehensive.  Then, all my friends arrived and the shopping began.  We started playing with the jewels, trying them on and styling each other.  It was so much fun.  At the end of the party she told me I earned $600 in free jewels and my mouth dropped.  Then, she mentioned that she made $750 that night for herself and my mouth dropped even lower.  My first thought was, ”I could buy the pair of boots I wanted AND the Rebecca Taylor top I was obsessed with!”  My second thought was, ”I wonder if I should do this?”  I signed up without thinking any further about it that same night.  That was 3 1/2 years ago!

Me – Why sell jewelry?
Vickie – Initially it was for the extra money and my love of boots, clothes and vanity.  Now that has changed drastically.  I am not only making a significant dent towards my families bottom line, I am also helping other women change their lives with style.  I have built a team of women, some who do this very, very part-time because they love the jewels and others who want to take it up a notch and make it more full-time.  That is my favorite part of the job, helping women!

Me – How much work do you actually (truly) put in weekly?
Vickie – 30 hours.

Me – How much money do you make (take home) monthly?
Vickie – Every month it varies.  What I love about this job is that I can slow down a bit in summer when I am home with my kids.  Some months I make more, some less, but it is always up to me to dial it up or dial it down.  I have stylists on my team that make $500 a month and some that make over $5,000 a month.

Me - What’s the biggest and most exciting splurge you’ve made from your new income?
Vickie – I don’t think I have splurged on one big item, but the best luxury in the world is not to worry about my secret shopping compulsions.  No more paying part cash, part credit so my husband doesn’t catch me.  I feel like I came out of the closet.

Me – What sucks about the job? (Be honest)
Vickie – I would have to say always being “on”.  Sometimes I just don’t want to always be so nice!

Me – Do you think it’s possible for new people to make as much money as you?  You got started so early!
Vickie – Yes!  I am a Senior Director and there is only one other Senior Director between me (Redwood City) and Mexico.  There are a very few stylists in the south peninsula so the potential for growth is crazy.

Me – What’s your most favorite piece of current S&D earrings, ring, bracelet, necklace, accessory?
Vickie - The Rebel Pendant, the Bardot Earrings in gold and the giveaway piece, the Bardot Bracelet in gold.  I am also obsessed with the Waverly 3 Way Bag in Dove, it is amazing.

Me – Not to sound cheesy, but how has this job changed your life?
Vickie – I have met some of my very good friends through this job.  The community itself is worth every minute of hard work.  I have met women that are super inspirational, fun, smart and kind…  they have all impacted my life and made me appreciate how sweet it is.

(Just For Fun)

Me – What’s your favorite TV show?
Vickie – Okay, seriously it is really bad.  Housewives of New Jersey.  Bad, I know, but I also love 20/20 and Greys Anatomy… oh and The View.  One more, I just started Tivo’ing Anderson Cooper, it is good!  I am also watching America’s Got Talent with my kids.

Me – What’s your favorite cocktail?
Vickie – Margarita on a hot day and a good glass of red with dinner (and before, and after).

Me – What’s your worst/funniest habit?
Vickie – Biting my nails.  I just can’t stop!

Me – What’s your dream vacation home spot?
Vickie – On a warm lake (so, not Tahoe) with our boat, 3 boys, our 2 dogs, no makeup, hair in a ponytail and in a bathing suit until the sun goes down.

Me – What’s your biggest vice?
Vickie – Well noted above – reality tv and shopping!

Me – What’s your best mommy tip?
Vickie – Looking them in the eyes when they are talking to you, not being distracted by phone, email… anything, just really listening.  Make sure your face lights up when you see them after school, first thing in the morning, make them feel important and respected.

Me – What’s your worst mommy moment?
Vickie – Getting pulled over by a policeman and getting a ticket for being on the phone, with all 3 boys in the car.  Bad!

Me – What’s “In Your Bag” – (think of US weekly)
Vickie – First off I tend to be a little messy, so there are always grocery receipts floating around and distracting me.  Once those are gone you would find:  Jane Iredale lip gloss in tourmaline (love), a bottle of water, Marc Jacobs wallet and sunglasses, iPhone, Stella & Dot mini-lookbooks, ponytail holders and sunblock for the kids.

Me – What jewelry trend are you loving right now?  (Doesn’t have to be S&D!)
Vickie – Rose gold.  I love our rose gold Rhea Bangles.

Me – What celebrity do you admire for fashion/jewelry?
Vickie - Elizabeth Hasselbeck from The View.  She’s very edgy classic.

Thanks, Vickie!  I loved our interview and especially loved your sweet mommy tip!  Let’s get together soon to discuss the “arranged marriage” between my Katie and one of your boys.  Please start giving that some serious thought.

xoxo,

Jen

To see the entire Stella & Dot line go to Vickie’s website at www.stelladot.com/vickie.  You can contact her directly to get your discount or host a trunk show vberkowitz@sbcglobal.net.

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When I get a massage or a facial, which is 1) NOT ENOUGH and 2) USUALLY WHEN I’M ON VACATION, I want it to be goooood.  Here are some tips for the masseuses and estheticians in the world.  If you follow these tips and give great massages/facials, I guarantee your tips will be awesome!

1)   When you are walking me back to the massage room, please don’t put your hand on my back as we are walking.  I don’t know you.  You are probably just trying to be friendly, but this is just weird.

2)   It really doesn’t take us 5 minutes to hang our robe on the door and get into the bed.  How about if you count slowly to 10 and then come back in to get started?  I am happy for you to spend that extra 4.5 minutes massaging my shoulders or feet.

3)   Please, for the love of God, don’t smoke a cigarette or eat anything with garlic in it before my treatment.  Your stink breath will ruin the entire treatment.  Yes, I can smell it.  You breath should be so minty and yummy that I would consider making out with you.

4)   Don’t be all chatty with me during the treatment.  If I want to be chatty, I’ll start asking you questions.  If I don’t ask questions, pleeeease let me drift off into my happy place.

5)   On that note, I apologize in advance if I start snoring or drooling.

6)   Please.  Don’t try and push your products onto me.  Most of us already have products we like, and don’t want to be harassed about buying your slew of expensive stuff.  Plus, in our minds, we’re already scheming about how we’ll justify the $150 spa charge to our husbands.  Again, if we are interested in the products, we’ll ask.

7)   For masseuses – I like a massage with a good amount of pressure.  Somewhere right in the middle of very hard and medium pressure.  Everyone likes a different amount of pressure though.   Why not ASK about the pressure at the beginning of the treatment, so you can do the right amount of pressure throughout?  Some of us don’t want to hurt your feelings so won’t tell you if your pressure sucks.

8)   Please ask me before you put your oily hands in my hair.  If I have no plans afterward, I loooove a good head massage.  If I don’t have time to shower though, I don’t want oil in my hair!

9)   Please don’t work on me if you are sick.  If you are blowing your nose or coughing, I will just be obsessing about how I’m next.

10)  Everyone adores freebies.  If you throw in a freebie (like an essential oil upgrade or a stronger peel that wasn’t paid for), up, up, up goes your tip.  I will NOT tattle tell on you, I’ll just come back to you again and again.

Did I miss anything?  Leave me a comment below with YOUR facial or massage pet peeves!!  I would love to hear them!

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The other day I came across a picture of me taken about 15 years ago in a bikini.  Oh!  What I would give to have that 20-something, pre-child-baring body back right now!  My boobs were perky, my skin was less wrinkled, everything was thinner and my ass was definitely about 2” higher than it is now.  There wasn’t one gray hair in sight.  I looked good!!  The CRAZY part is that I remember that trip and that bathing suit from 15 years ago and also remember feeling totally self-conscious about my body.  What a WASTE!  If only I knew then what I know now, right?  But, still to this day, I have issues with my body.   Unless you are Jennifer Anniston or Gweneth Paltrow, don’t we all?  My issues are silly little issues I just need to get OVER already.  What’s the point?  Why are we always so hard on ourselves?

As a mom, I find myself falling into the same trap of “judging myself” about raising my kids.  Oh crap, is my son going to turn into the unibomber because I don’t play with him enough?  Is my daughter going to be malnourished because I rushed her out the door this morning with a frozen waffle?  Will my son turn into a pimp because I throw out the F bomb and play my dirty rap music way to often?  Will my kids grow up with terrible hygiene because I haven’t made them take a shower for a week?  Am I terrible because my daughter wanted to cuddle with me tonight but all I could think about was watching Grey’s Anatomy?   Why does everyone else seem to have it sooo together and I’m rushing around like a crazy lady from one commitment to the next?  How does everyone keep their house so clean and their kids so well mannered?  Why can’t I do this better and that quicker and be more patient and have whiter teeth and work out more and cook better and be EVERYTHING to EVERYONE and why, why, why???

(Channeling my inner Oprah)  Maybe its time for us all to s-l-o-w down, sit back and enjoy ourselves for just a minute.  Kick those negative thoughts HARD in the ass and appreciate the amazing things we’ve accomplished and the beauty that makes us unique.  Even those flaws.  Come on ladies.  Don’t demand perfection or even near-perfection.  Demand more sleep, more baths, more laughing, more peaceful walks, more massages and more girl time.  Embrace, forgive, appreciate and love yourself.  What’s the alternative?

Ever since I was little, I’ve kept a journal of funny & inspirational poems that really resonate with me.  I still add to the journal and get it out often when I need a good laugh or a quick pick me up. My all-time-favorite poem in the journal is an old Nike poem that that challenges all those negative thoughts in our minds.  I can’t tell you when or where I found this, only that it’s been in my Poem Journal for decades. The writer(s) of this poem, in my mind, are complete genius.  It’s a long quote, but it’s SO AMAZING.  Take the time to really read it, and you will be inspired to appreciate yourself more.  I PROMISE!  In fact, we should all print it out and tape it to our bathroom mirrors.  I have read this poem zillions of times and I still get the chills every single time.

Enjoy.

Why are we so hard on ourselves and so much easier on others? Did somebody say something once that stuck in our brains and won’t go away? Did we mispronounce something in French, did we trip in front of some guy, did we make some huge mistake that we’ve never gotten over?

What haunts our fine bodies and our fine hearts and makes our heads spin with an image of ourselves we can’t accept? We tell our friends not to be so hard on themselves and we tell our loved ones not to be so hard on themselves and we tell ourselves we’re just not being hard enough.

We are such funny women sometimes. We blame ourselves when blame does not apply (terrible word, that blame). We feel guilty about what we should have done better (terrible word, that should). We are harder on ourselves, harder than we would be on anybody else, anybody. Complete strangers! Big dogs!  People we don’t even like!

And the things we expect are so darn weird, things our mothers once said we should be able to do or our fathers wanted us to achieve or our great Aunt Charlotte wanted us to try and they didn’t know that their words would stick like glue to our hearts with a list of expectations wrapped around it.

Look: all these expectations get old, real old, and only you know when to yell uncle.  Uncle. Uncle. Uncle.  Because for one moment of your life you feel like feeling … perfect. You feel like dashing into those hills or those open roads or right into the air itself and that’s just what you might do so HA!  You feel like that rusty old image you carry is slipping away, right over the edge of a mirror and out of view. You feel like moving and if you trip, you trip, if you fall, you will get up. And the air feels like it will carry you and push you and it’s like nothing you feared it would be.

And of course everything you expected it would.

Just do it.

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