Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Grandparents Gift Guide



If you're like me, you enjoy GIVING gifts much more than getting gifts.  I love trying to find something special for everyone in my life and grandparents play such an important role in our lives.
I often find it hard to come up with things that grandparents actually need besides playing with their grand kids or lots of love.

 I've put together a gift guide that has it all.. from the trendy wine-drinking Glam-ma to the incredibly crafty and loves-to-cook Nana.



All are very fair price-points (BONUS) and have really good reviews on Amazon and it doesn't hurt that 2-day shipping is free as well as returns to make it easy for you and your gift recipient.


1.  For the BASEBALL-going Grandma- the ultimate Fan needs this: BASEBALL PURSE

2.  For the traveling Grandparents.. Luggage for Under $25?!:  HIS + HERS Carry On

3.  Ever since I got a lightweight vacuum, I realized definitely was missing out before.. A lightweight vacuum is an absolute necessity for the household (and only $30!).

4.  For the Grandpa that loves to fish and loves backyard games, definitely invest in this fishing accessory as well as an awesome corn-hole set.

5.  Does Grandma like to visit vineyards?  This portable picnic table is a must-have for picnics and day-tripping to vineyards as well as an adorable wine tumbler to bring along.

6.  For the corporate man, this executive organizer for cell phone, watch, etc is super convenient and who doesn't love new dress socks?

For the entire gift guide + more ideas for holiday gift-giving, visit here.

Ever After,
Jamie




Friday, June 21, 2019

Everything You Need to Know About the Vampire Facial


I've always had a fascination with skincare procedures because I love taking care of my skin.  I wear SPF anytime I am in the sun on my face, I wash my makeup off every single night, and I am constantly trying out the newest products if I can. I heard great things about Liquid Aesthetics right in Glastonbury and they were amazing!  You can see some of their before and afters as well on their Facebook page.  

I really wanted to try the Vampire facial because to me, it's the most "Natural procedure" since it's your own blood and not foreign fillers that are entering your body.  I heard great things and I wanted to even out my skin tone so I was very excited to try this out and was very happy with my results.  The more consistent you do them also produces greater results because it is helping stimulate and and encouraging collagen production!


The "Vampire" facial, which is actually micro-needling with PRP is perfect for those that want to tighten skin and allow for better absorption of skincare products.  I had a ton of blackheads and uneven skin tone in my "before" pictures and I noticed that my skin in general was more smooth and I had way less blackheads after my procedure.  I made sure to moisturize HEAVILY after though because it truly tightens your skin to the point where it feeld dehydrated so I wanted to SOAK up as much moisture into my skin as possible!



Who are ideal candidates for Vampire Facials?

Vampire facials/microneedling with PRP are ideal for adults of all ages (18+) male or female who are looking to achieve smoother, younger looking skin.

The procedure is effective at lifting and tightening the skin, improving uneven skin texture and tone, acne scarring, diminishing pore size, decreasing fine lines and it allows for significantly increased absorption of skincare products. 


Who should NOT get a vampire facial?

A vampire facial is not recommended for pregnant women because of the potential risk for infection that can occur with any cosmetic procedure. Additionally, a topical anesthetic agent is used to numb the skin pre-procedure and the components range from pregnancy category B to C. As always, any pregnant woman interested in undergoing a cosmetic procedure should weigh the potential benefits versus the potential risks and discuss with their obstetrician. 




What is the standard downtime?

The standard downtime is 24 to 48 hours of some slight swelling along with redness/pinkness of the skin consistent with a mild to moderate sunburn.  My skin was pretty red the first day but second and third day, I was able to put tinted moisturizer on and be fine with covering up the redness.


What are the major benefits of this procedure?

The major benefits of PRP (platelet rich plasma) as an adjunct to the Microneedling procedure is that PRP contains growth factors that speed up wound healing and improves the regenerative effects of the treatment. 
For those who don’t know, PRP is obtained by drawing the patients own blood in the office and spinning it in a machine called a centrifuge to separate the platelet rich plasma from the other blood components. 

Does it HURT?!

No! They use a numbing cream so you do not feel anything but pressure.  When the procedure is done, your skin feels very tight and may be red/sensitive but I personally did not feel any pain during or after.

What are some other new procedures you would recommend?


One of the latest procedures Liquid Aesthetics are offering is called dermaplaning. This is a mechanical skin peel with no downtime that leaves the clients skin soft and glowing. This procedure used a sterile instrument to remove dead skin and fine facial hair. 


Also, do not forget, this is a MEDICAL procedure so make sure you go to someone who is reputable like Liquid Aesthetics.  An APRN did my procedure and it's like any medical procedure... you need the right person to do it.  Wojtek was super professional and opened the brand new needle right in front of me so I knew I was in good hands.


The best thing you can do for your own skin is to schedule a FREE consultation and someone from Liquid Aesthetics will take a look at your skin and recommend what they think is best for you.  They are awesome and not pushy and really know their skin!! 




First time patients in our office can receive 15% off their first vampire facial or dermaplaning treatment.





Ever After,
Jamie

Sunday, January 13, 2019

The Truth About "The Baby Blues"


There is so much talk about postpartum depression and I am so happy that women are able to be open and honest about their experiences.  However, I feel like not enough is discussed about the "Baby Blues" which is far more common than postpartum depression yet rarely discussed.  Even though short-lived, the Baby Blues are a real thing. Although not as severe as postpartum depression,  it's serious enough for moms to need to open up about so they do not feel alone.



The second night at the hospital is when it began.  My husband decided to spend the night home with our son, Gavin, since he had already been away from us the first night Savannah was born.  Once evening came around, the room felt so dark and sterile.   I looked around and felt so lost.  I felt alone even though I had my perfect daughter in my arms.  I missed my son so much that I was in tears in the hospital bed.  He was home with Daddy while I was recovering the hospital and "bonding" with my baby.  I just wanted to hold him, kiss him.  Somehow I felt I had lost my relationship with him because my daughter was born.  The feeling would not shake and I had so much trouble sleeping that night in the hospital room.  One night felt like a year.

Fast forward to a few days later and I was home with both kids and felt much more like myself than I did in the hospital.  A friend came over to meet Savannah and explained how she spent a lot less time with her first child when her second was born because she was "needed" more.  I started to cry.. actually sob.  I was convinced my relationship with Gavin was tainted forever.  You see, hormones after pregnancy are no joke.  I literally felt no control over my emotions.  As a person that is usually the type to get herself together pretty quickly, it was like I was suddenly this sensitive, delicate soul that people had to walk on eggshells around.

It was not me.

I felt so anxious, like I couldn't shake the feeling.  The best way I could describe it is, "out of sorts."  I noticed when it started to get dark out, I started to have this sense of anxiety and sadness.  Feeling this way also made me feel guilty for not being overjoyed or appreciative of my perfect daughter.

I opened up to my Mom and my husband and told them that my hormones felt so out of wack.  My Mom said she felt the exact same way when I was born and it was the "Baby Blues".  Then I did what every millennial Mom would do:  I googled it.  Dr. Google told me that almost 80% of Moms experience the baby blues.  How could that be?  No one has ever warned me of this or told me that they experienced this.  That is, until I started opening up to other Moms.

  You see, your body has been through a trauma at the birth of your child.  A beautiful, magical trauma but albeit a trauma.  Many women struggle, like myself, to open up because of the guilt you feel for being sad amongst one of the happiest times of your life.  Luckily, after about a week and a half, I started to feel much more like myself.   I was one of the lucky ones.

I realized that motherhood is often times a dichotomy.  Feeling overjoyed yet scared at the same time.  Exhausted but grateful for the reason you are so tired.  The journey feels overwhelming yet so simple and beautiful at the same time.

Ever After,
Jamie