Primped and Pampered

Hello there everyone!

It has been a while since I’ve blogged anything and so I decided it was about time! I’ve been trying to ignore a head cold for the last few days, but this morning it finally got the best of me! I slept until 10am, and then lazed around on the couch pretty much all day. I have a clinic tomorrow, which involves work tonight and I was trying to convince myself to get up off the couch. I didn’t succeed very well until I thought to myself…maybe I should have a bath. Maybe I should pamper myself! And so I did. Aside from splashing hot wax all over the tile in my new bathroom, I did pretty well too! I thought I’d blog about some of the products I used, as I know there are many people who love to try new products or know what others are using!

 

The very first thing that I did was run the water and light some candles. If you’re wondering what I added to make it bubbly, it’s Calgon Milk Bath with Serum Beads – my absolute favourite! Grown-up bubble bath.

 

Once the water was ready, I ran downstairs to grab my Wild Rose Revitalizing Eye Pads out of the freezer (they were only in there about 10 minutes). You just take them out of the package and place them under your eyes. They stick there and feel cool and tingly for about 15min! Felt like heaven with the sinus pain that goes along with this head cold!

 

In the tub I used John Frieda’s Sheer Blonde shampoo and conditioner.

 

I also finished off the last of my bottle of Japanese Cherry Blossom Golden Sugar Scrub from Bath & Body Works. I made a mess of the bottle squeezing the last bits out but you can sort of see it in the first photo above.

 

Once I was out, I wrapped my hair up in a towel and then used this Cucumber & Aloe Vera face mask – felt so nice! This stayed on for 15min.

 

After washing off the mask with a steaming hot facecloth, I used Arbonne’s FC5 Hand Creme on my hands, arms, and shoulders.

 

Finally, I splurged and used my Arbonne Ginger Citrus Body Butter on my legs – I don’t have much left so I use it sparingly, and it’s what I used leading up to my wedding as well.

 

 

So that’s it! The products I used to primp and pamper tonight! I’m going to paint my toes now with Essie’s ‘go overboard’ and ‘set in stones’. Hope you enjoyed this post and if so, maybe I’ll do more similar ones in the future!

barbiedoll…xo

When you decide to name your child, you think about it for quite a long time. Is it a classic name? A rare and exotic name? It’s something that will be with your child for their entire life, and it’s in your hands as a parent to pick one that they’ll love.

Then there was my Mom. When her mother passed away, her and my Dad decided to name me after her. And so little baby Barbara was born. Wait a second, baby Barbara?! How is that even cute? Imagine gushing over a little baby girl with such an old name! So (and you can see it coming…) I was called ‘Barbie’.

I have blue eyes and blonde hair but other than that I have never resembled a Barbie. It would be nice to look like one, but then again, who actually looks like a Barbie doll? Having the same name doesn’t make me any closer. She only stands on her tippy toes, has a teeny tiny waist, a perfect face and long flowing blonde locks that you [hardly] need to brush. She is society’s perfect, not mine. When I was little I wanted to look like her. I thought it would make having the name Barbie easier if I looked like one. Some things change as you grow up, eh?

So why am I writing about this perfect Barbie doll beauty? Because it’s not. I have never explained why my blog or my Twitter accounts are under Barbiedollxo and Barbiedollxxo, and so I though it might be time to address it. I’m not promoting that fake beauty, the ideal that society tries to fit all women into, the one that doesn’t allow the occasional dessert, a few extra pounds, or heck – a stomach full of rolls! I want to say that HEALTHY is BEAUTIFUL. If you are healthy and you have a muffin top or if you’re healthy and you look like a Barbie doll then that is great. Don’t starve yourself and don’t eat fast food everyday. Just be healthy.

Barbie has the perfect life. She’s beautiful, in her own way, and seems to be able to do anything! She has a perfect family (although I’m still waiting to see lesbian Barbie and gay Ken). She’s had a hundred or more careers and always wears a smile on her face. There are some things about Barbie to admire and wish to accomplish but her looks – definately not. I will let my kids play with Barbie dolls and Ken dolls, and I will probably get Barbie brand things for my kids. Maybe a Barbie birthday party. But I will not name my daughter Barbara, and she will never be called ‘Barbie’ for short. She will not wish to look like a Barbie because I will teach her that she is equally beautiful.

So when you see that there is a new blog post on barbiedollxo.wordpress.com, it’s not some snotty gorgeous girl who thinks she looks like a Barbie. It’s a woman who spent her childhood coming up with creative retorts for “Hey Barbie, where’s Ken?!” or “Too bad you don’t actually look like a Barbie!”. Newsflash: no one does, and no one should want to. Look like your beautiful self, be original and love your body the way it is. Do things for your own self and forget society’s picture. If you want to wear something, wear it. If you want to cut or dye your hair, do it! When you look into the mirror, smile. Smile big. Because you’re beautiful. <3

*NOTE: While I never met or knew my grandmother, Barbara, I have heard that she was an amazing woman. She was kind to everyone and raised a wonderful family that I love with all of my heart. I have occasionally wished to have my own name, however these were times that I am not proud of and I do really love my name. Thank you, Nanny, I love you.*