Search Results for: best of the best

Madeleine

by whoorl

Sweet and spunky Madeleine James was diagnosed with an inoperable, malignant brain tumor called DIPG in January. Without delving into all of the details of this aggressive tumor, Maddie’s prognosis is grim, at best. The median overall survival of children diagnosed with DIPG is approximately 9 months, with the 18-month survival rate being less than 10%. These statistics make it one of the most devastating pediatric malignancies. Maddie’s doctors have given her 6 months.

My family has been absolutely floored by this diagnosis. Shock, disbelief, devastation, and complete anguish are a few words that come to mind. Constant worry over what this is doing to Maddie’s family; how her parents are even able to feign participation in the normal, day-to-day grind that keeps whizzing on around them regardless of their horrific new reality. I can’t imagine what they are going through, I truly can’t. And if I try, I immediately feel like weeping, punching, screaming, hyperventilating and vomiting at the same time. God, the excruciating pain they must be feeling right now. I can’t stop thinking about it.

I think of Maddie’s mom, Kajsa. As a mother, I can’t fathom the grief that has overtaken her heart. To lose a child, her only child. The child that was conceived after years of infertility struggles when it seemed like all hope of becoming pregnant was lost. The child she spent the last 5 and half years holding, raising, comforting, teaching and marveling over. Her only child. Her miracle. Her heart.

I think of my dear cousin and Maddie’s father, Collie. The way his eyes light up every single time he mentions Maddie’s name. The enormous pride and adoration he has for this child. The child he spent the last 5 and half years holding, raising, comforting, teaching and marveling over. His only child. Daddy’s girl. His heart.

I think about the intense grief Collie experienced four years ago when his sister and only sibling, Lauren, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 26. I think about the slow healing of his heart over the past four years, and whether it can withstand this ridiculously unfair and cruel blow. To lose his only sibling and now, his only child? This can’t possibly be happening. Yet, it is. I think about his parents, my aunt Katherine and uncle Collie, who are dealing with the stifling pain of losing a daughter and now, their only grandchild.

I think of Maddie’s cousins. Maddie’s aunt and uncles. Maddie’s grandparents and great-grandparents. Maddie’s neighbors, schoolmates and friends.

Most of all, I think of Maddie. I think of the incredibly bright, beautiful and talented 5-year-old that isn’t getting a chance at a healthy, long life that most children are given. To not be able to blossom into a vivacious and lovely young lady reminiscent of her godmother, Lauren.

I think of Maddie.

At this point in time, it’s so incredibly difficult to find any shred of a silver lining in all of this. Honestly, I’m not sure I ever will, but I do know that if I don’t try to help in any and every way possible, I’ll implode. Although Maddie’s parents have been going through a divorce, they have come together as a team of super powers dedicated to making every single day of Maddie’s life a day worth celebrating.

One of their CaringBridge journal entries says it best,

We have chosen to cherish every moment we have left with our beloved daughter.  And, a little laughter is sometimes the only thing that helps us get through the day.  We have a lifetime to deal with the grief when she is gone.

How can you help celebrate Miss Maddie’s life? Many, many ways. (And I would be remiss if I didn’t include a whoorl-worthy list.)

1. Maddie’s parents have started an amazing foundation to honor Maddie and her immense love of the ocean. You can learn all about The Maddie James Foundation here, as well as Collie and Kajsa’s hopes of creating The Maddie James Seaside Learning Center here. If you feel so inclined, please help them reach their goal by making a tax deductible donation here.

2. Visit Maddie’s CaringBridge page. Read about the special moments she is experiencing and will experience throughout the upcoming months.

3. Send Maddie and her family all of the prayers and positive thoughts you can muster. They need them more than you will ever know.

Over the past 5 years, I have witnessed firsthand the immense support you all have put forth for good friends of mine who were dealing with tragedies and challenges. For that, I am so incredibly humbled and thankful. It’s hard for me to wrap my brain around the sheer love and generosity that you have shown in the past. As you can imagine, this particular tragedy has taken hold of my heart. Watching this happen to a young family member has caused a pain that is, well, indescribable. I hope my attempts of providing you numerous ways to help haven’t come off as excessive, but I just want so desperately to help in any way that I can.

Most importantly, if only for a second, please think of Maddie and her family today. Send all the warm thoughts and prayers you can.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Fave Hair Product

by whoorl

So, APPARENTLY I’m not the only one!!

Gwyneth_Paltrow_dry_shampoo_hairstyles.jpg (400x600)

Photo: © The Image Gate/Getty Images

Gwyneth Paltrow says the secret to her gorgeous hair is dry shampoo.

The Country Strong actress always keeps dry shampoo on hand to mop up excess oil from her roots and scalp, with her favorite being Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk.

Gwyneth wrote in her GOOP newsletter, “This stuff’s great when your hair needs a little spiffing up, especially when it’s starting to get a bit greasy. If you want to maintain a blow dry or don’t have time to do a full wash and blow out, this really does the trick. It gets right to the roots and brings back volume and makes your hair less oily.”

The 38-year-old star–who has children Apple, six, and Moses, four, with husband Chris Martin–is a fan of French beauty products and always makes sure she stocks up on her must-have products when traveling in Europe.

She added, “Many of the absolute best beauty products I’ve found come from regular French pharmacies. I always stock up on these items when I’m in France or ask friends to bring some back when they’re passing through.”

Try_It_On_endofarticle.gif

Try on Gwyneth Paltrow’s hairstyles in the Makeover Studio!

Losing the Baby Weight (The Second Time Around)

by whoorl

Two days before Whoorlita turned 3 months old, the local daily deal on Plum District was a month-long boot camp. I stared at the screen for all of 4 seconds before clicking the purchase button. I knew that if I allowed myself even a minute to stew over it, I would make 1,000 excuses as to why a boot camp would be all wrong for me. (New baby! Bad timing! Waking up at ungodly hours after an already sleepless night! Breastfeeding/pumping issues! The list goes on and on…)

It was too late now. The purchase had been made.

I really had no idea what to expect. After baby #1, I used the C25K program as my baby weight loss program, and it did the job. So why would I subject myself to an exercise program modeled after military conditioning? Had the postpartum hormones caused me to lose my mind? (Probably.)

I started boot camp (3x/week) in mid-October. Honestly, I felt like my lungs were going to implode on the first day. I was OUT O’ SHAPE. The day after was pretty brutal – in fact, I recall spending upwards of 10 minutes trying to walk down my stairs the next morning from muscle soreness. But guess what? I felt completely energized driving home from class (pretty impressive, considering the sun was just coming up), and I didn’t have my usual 2-3pm slump. By the end of week one, I felt pretty damn good. The end of week two? I was a convert. My energy levels were through the roof, and that was saying a lot for a mom of a newborn and a 4-year-old that NEVER STOPS MOVING AND/OR TALKING.

Some of you might be wondering exactly what a boot camp entails. Although every program is different, the gist is exercise through resistance and cardiovascular training. (Such as running short distances, push-ups, sprints, lunges, jumping jacks, jump rope, mat work, weight training, stability ball/medicine ball training, stretching, cone drills, and obstacle courses. Um, not all in the same session. I swear.) What I like best about boot camp is that my trainer completely switches up every class. I never know what she’s planning for us, which keeps it totally fresh. Keeping exercise interesting is a huge motivator for me, and is probably why videos like 30-Day Shred don’t work for me in the long run. I have videos practically memorized by the end of week 2, which bores me right back into indolence.

After completing my first month of boot camp, I had lost several pounds and several inches. My pre-pregnancy jeans that previously screamed for mercy upon reaching my thigh area were all the way up and buttoned. (Although, let’s be honest, not QUITE ready for public viewing.) Suddenly, all of those 4:50am breast pumping sessions in preparation for class (while the rest of my family slept soundly in the pitch dark) were beginning to pay off. I decided to sign up for another month, and after completing that session, I was within two pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight and wearing almost all of my pre-pregnancy clothing again. Two months, you guys. Two months! It was no cake walk, but so worth it.

The best part for me personally is that my body is morphing into a shape that I’ve never had before. (Even pre-babies!) When I was exclusively running after baby #1, I lost the weight, but I was just a smaller me, shape-wise. Now, all of the toning and weight training I’ve completed in boot camp has really changed the overall look and shape of my body. My muscles are leaner, and I actually don’t cringe when I look at my legs, which have ALWAYS been my least favorite body part. (I even busted out a mini-skirt recently, and that’s saying something.)

Before boot camp (this past August):

(Yes, that is cellulite on my upper arm. Oy.)

After completing 2 months of boot camp 3x/week (uh, as well as a 2-week holiday hiatus consisting of cookies, cake and pie…shhhhhhpleasedon’ttellmytrainer):

I still have a fair share of work ahead of me, but I couldn’t be happier about the progress I’ve made in the past two months. I love boot camp. Period. I started my third session this morning, and I couldn’t wait to get going after these past two weeks of food, beer, food, cocktails, and MORE FOOD.

If your New Year’s resolution is to drop some pounds and gain a ton of energy, definitely consider a boot camp. And if you are in the Orange County area, I can’t recommend Total Training by Tammy enough! (It’s really no wonder her program was voted Best Workout Program in Orange County by Citysearch. It is AWESOME. Tammy is Motivation, personified.)

Tammy is offering a free kick-off week (starting today, Jan 3, and going through Friday, Jan 7) of Boot Camp for the new year, so you have no reason not to try it out. Plus, she has 5 locations around the OC and several different times throughout the day that you can mix and match, so don’t be trying to make up excuses over there on your couch. DO IT. (And tell her I sent ya!) It might be the best thing you’ll do for yourself all year.

Tassimo T20 Brewer

by whoorl

The Tassimo T20 and our slightly miffed French press looking on…

When the folks at Tassimo contacted me about sending one of their T20 Brewers my way, I jumped on the chance. Here’s why:

1. I love coffee. (A half cup to full cup at most.)

2. D loves coffee. (Two cups, please.)

3. I do not ingest any form of caffeine.

4. D ingests multiple forms of caffeine.

5. I need decaf. D needs regular. We like to drink coffee at the same time. This means two coffee pots brewing simultaneously. (And cleaning two coffee-making devices afterward. Poopoo to that.)

So anyway, yeah, a brewing machine that makes one cup at a time AND makes lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and tea? YES, PLEASE!

We gave the T20 a test run, and I must admit, it was awesome. You just fill the back reservoir with water (not every time- it holds enough for several drinks), put your drink pod of choice in the slot, press a button and voilá, your drink is ready in a minute. We received the Starbucks cappuccino pods and the Tassimo actually made a cappuccino with foam. (I was super skeptical about the specialty drinks, but was so pleasantly surprised.)

When I initially showed D the brewer, he totally scoffed. “You think THAT thing will replace my French press? Right.” (He’s such a snob.) Well, guess what? A certain someone is enjoying afternoon cappuccinos, made by a certain machine.  Our French press is a tad miffed. It still gets attention in the morning, but I sense some resentment. Can we talk about the best part, though? No clean up. Seriously, NO DAILY CLEAN UP. Just throw the pod away in the trash!!

I truly love the T20.

HOWEVER, I would like to make a plea. The drink choices are plenty (check out all the brands!), BUT the decaffeinated beverage choices could be better. There are several Starbucks pods, but none are decaf. BOO. What about us naturally caffeinated folks who enjoy decaffeinated Starbucks beverages? How about a Starbucks decaffeinated pod, whether it be coffee or espresso? I would love to be able to make a decaf latte in the morning, oh friends at Tassimo. Plus, I’m sure there are plenty of caffeine drinkers who would still like a decaf latte option for afternoons or after dinner…just a suggestion.

All in all, we both love this lil’ machine more than we ever imagined. I think I’ll go treat myself to some hot chocolate, but I think you should try out a T20 for yourself! Leave a comment on this post before Thursday, December 23rd at 6pmPST and you’ll be entered to win one T20 Brewer from Tassimo. I’ll announce the winner on Christmas Eve. Good luck!!

Disclaimer: I received the T20 brewer to review at no cost and all opinions are my own.

Holiday, Holiday, HOLIDAY

by whoorl

(Be sure and vocalize the post title in your best monster truck rally voice before proceeding.)

1. Looking for some holiday style inspiration? Check out my dream holiday outfit (and 9 other beauty and style bloggers’ picks) over at iVillage!

2. We started a new turkey day family tradition this year, the Thanksgiving Day Feather Hunt. You can read all about it at Alphamom.

3. As some of you may know, Secret Agent Josephine recently made some big changes in her life. (Her site is a little wonky right now due to increased traffic…she’s working on it, though!) Well, the wonderful Heather of OMSH just posted about how we can help Brenda have a very merry Christmas…if you’re a big fan of Brenda, head over and take a look!

4. For those of you trying to complete your holiday shopping with a baby and a non-baby, might I suggest using a Tag Along? Wito is just way too big (and uninterested) for a stroller these days, and this INGENIOUS INVENTION has saved me from having to claim him at the Lost and Found at our local mall.

5. Um, Christmas is in 11 days. Hold me.

Tipping Your Hair Stylist

by whoorl

Let’s face it – tipping your hair stylist (and hair stylist’s assistant) can be confusing. Am I tipping enough? Not enough? What about tipping on salon specials and/or discounts, etc? Never fear! A stylist is here to answer all of those questions. Thanks, Tera!

I was recently asked by my pal and client Sarah of Hair Thursday if I would write about properly tipping assistants and stylists in the salon. I’m not sure why it hasn’t dawned on me to write about this because I do get asked the question often when I’m working. So here is a little Q & A about what I know and what I think. If you have any other questions I haven’t answered, please feel free to ask it in the comments below!

What should I tip my stylist?

You stylist is performing a service and should be tipped between 15-20% of the price of the service depending on how you enjoyed the service. If you stylist is running on schedule, really listened to what you had to say about your hair and gave you exactly what you had in mind then tip on the higher end of the scale. In some cases, your service may be discounted for whatever reason; it is then expected that you add gratuity on the original price of the service.

What should I tip the assistant?

This depends on exactly what she did for you. If she only shampoos your hair for a cut then $3-$5 is fair. Again, if it is a shampoo that relaxes you to the point of drooling go for the higher end of that scale. If she applies your tint and then shampoos your hair, $5-$8 is acceptable. Some clients get a double process color that requires more than one shampoo, in this case she would really appreciate $8-$10.

Disclaimer: These rates are based on average stylist pricing in Newport Beach, CA. Depending on where you live, it may be higher or lower!

What is the purpose of the assistant?

It was my dream from the day I set foot into beauty school to have an assistant. All of the top stylists I respected worked with assistants and that was because they were so good and so busy that having help was the only way to manage their client base.

As an assistant, I looked for the stylist that I thought did the best work in my area. He saw approximately 30 clients a day, did amazing hair and with that came a lot of money. And let’s face it, as much as I love what I do, at the end of the day it is about the money!

As a stylist, I love working with an assistant for many reasons. It gives me daily opportunities to teach, which makes me better at what I do. Every client gives me a chance to show my assistant something that will help her be a great stylist in the future; whether is is customer service, terminology, color formulation, cutting techniques or blow drying. She helps by mixing up color, applying tints, cleaning up and doing shampoos. This allows me to see more clients in a day so I have better availability and to let me really focus on a haircut or color technique. My assistant runs my life in the salon and I honestly believe it has freed me up to do my best work.

I pay a lot of money to see my stylist. What if I’m not comfortable having the assistant apply my color?

As a stylist, I would never allow my assistant to apply color if I wasn’t totally confident she would do it properly. She has been fully trained in my technique and must be given the opportunity to use what she has learned. If a client is adamant that I apply her color and I have time, I will happily oblige. I did have to train my clientele that this is the way I work when I first started working with an assistant and most are quite comfortable with the process now.

I believe this topic is covered but again, feel free to ask away if you think of something else I can add to it!