Gorgeouses………

I NEVER use hair straighteners. EVER. Even when I go to the hairdresser, I have to INSIST that they don’t blow dry my hair — no matter how cold it is outside. I just get so bored and…and…and hot. And, my bangs always end up in my eyes. I hate it. Besides, I pride myself on having healthy, “virgin” hair: organic shampoo, no gel, no hairspray, no mousse, no colouring, no drying, no nothing.

So, when a GORJ reader asked me to review this brand-new hair straightener, I was VERY reluctant. But, I love her. So, I agreed to do it.

A few days later, a BEAUTIFUL box arrived in the mail……

Sweeeeeeet. I love a good box! And, LOOK AT THAT SEXAY STRAIGHTENER!

The straightener is called the Infiniti Nano Silver, by CONAIR. What’s unique about it, among other things, is that it has a steam feature. You fill up this little reservoir with water, and, when the straightener heats up, it releases the steam into your hair — so that your hair doesn’t dry out from the high heat of the plates! Brillers, right!? Also, I didn’t have to brush my hair before I used it because it has a comb-type feature built in. I probably SHOULD have brushed it beforehand to make things a LITTLE easier…, but I didn’t bother.

Anyhoot, I used it. I FIGURED out how to use it, AND I USED IT, in little over 20 minutes! Check my before and after!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Note that the AFTER was taken about HALF AN HOUR AFTER because I had to roll around on the floor with my monkeys, and Rascal had to rub drool in my hair for extra special effect. I’m being totally serious.

Honestly? It was SO easy. And, I’m USELESS with things like this! I didn’t even BURN myself! And, and, AND, I barely managed to take pictures of myself WHILE taming the beast using the straightener! Check it….

As you can see, I have, like, the thickest hair ever — and so much of it. EVERY hairdresser tells me this. I’m grateful for this, of course, but it’s a byotch to style. So, obviously, this straightener’s pretty fabulous if it worked on MY HAIR (for my first time straightening it myself, might I remind you) in 20 minutes. Kudos.

Needless to say, Cheaty HIGHLY RECOMMENDS. And, if you go to the Infiniti Nano Silver website, you’ll see you can get one FREE FOR 30 DAYS! Not bad? They do that so they can HOOK YOU IN, of course! Heh. It’s great. If you do get one, let us know how you like it in the comments!

BUT WAIT! I’m giving away TWO of ‘em over at Goodies. GO AND GET IT, GORGEOUSES!

Love! xo Haley-O

Above: Pure + Simple ALL-Natural Sunscreen and Pure + Simple’s SKIN SOFTENING MOISTURE LOTION (LOVE!). I use the sunscreen in the morning and the Skin Softening Moisture Lotion before bed….

This week, I had the pleasure of opening my door to a nice-sized box from my FAVE store, Pure + Simple. After hugging it, covering it in kisses and shaking it a little, I finally opened it. Inside was a long-awaited PURE + SIMPLE ALL-NATURAL SUNSCREEN. They told me it was on the horizon a while ago, and I waited eagerly. And, and, AND, IT’S FINALLY HERE! I’ve been using it every day since I got it, and I love it.

Unlike other sunscreens, it smells wonderful — that’s the first thing I noticed. The scent is really subtle and just DELICIOUS. This is huge for me because I HATE the smell of ALL sunscreens. Especially all those children’s sunscreens. GAG. Way too strong to be any good for you and such a byotch to get off; when I used to use the regular drugstore screens, monkey would go to bed STILL smelling of it.

Second thing I noticed was that the Pure + Simple’s sunscreen goes on really smoothly. A lot of all-natural sunscreens are tough to rub in. But, this one glides right on, and it absorbs in time for me to put on my makeup — which I could not believe. The sunscreen’s an SPF 30, and I put my Ageless Foundation powder — which is also around SPF 30 — on top of it no problem. The sunscreen and the foundation powder give me around SPF 60. So, I’m totally good to go for the day.

FYI, here are some more specific deets on the sunscreen from the Pure + Simple Press Release…:

Using nourishing and natural ingredients, Pure+simple has developed a line of mineral sunscreens with an SPF 30 for the entire family. Locally produced, the Pure+simple sunscreen line is hypoallergenic and water resistant. In keeping with the company’s natural and holistic values, the sunscreens do not contain any chemical fragrances, chemical preservatives or emulsifiers. Also, unlike other natural sunscreens, this one does not leave behind a distinctive white residue.

In contrast to a chemical sunscreen, a natural sunscreen will not be absorbed into your skin, it will remain on the surface, providing a safe and effective barrier against the suns harmful rays.

The natural SPF is provided from two active ingredients – Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. Natural sunscreens, using zinc and titanium minerals, provide more than just sun protection. Zinc possesses soothing and disinfecting properties. This means that it is anti-inflammatory for sensitive skin and provides anti-bacterial properties for acne. The Titanium Dioxide particles are micronized as opposed to the more controversial nanoparticles. Titanium Dioxide nanoparticles have been included in many recent debates involving the harm upon entering the body’s bloodstream.

The GORJ peeps at Pure + Simple sent me a big bottle of the face-and-body sunscreen (that’s good for children, as well), AND a few other cute little bottles of their specialty screens: Baby, Sensitive Skin, Oily/Impure, and Anti-Aging. All of which are totally yummy (my new favourite word).

And, just to emphasize, sending me swag does not automatically get one a “Cheaty Recommends”! I stand by the products at Pure + Simple heart and soul. And, I recommend them to EVERYONE.

If you’re looking for a sunscreen without all the toxic gunk in it? This is your best bet. I DO have the Jurlique sunscreen and another all-natural one for babies to compare this to. And, I can easily say the Pure + Simple sunscreen is by far the best. It’s smoother, smells the best, absorbs the best — without residue — and is the most affordable. It’s also water-resistant and non-allergenic.

Order one now and get a 15% discount!

(Discount good for the entire month of July.)

Wow, you Gorgeouses! It’s amazing what a little bra shopping AT THE RIGHT STORE — i.e., not at the cheapo maternity store at the mall — can do for your state of mind on what was s’pposed to be just another day!

Yes, I woke up this morning with no special plans. Josh-O was taking the Monkey to play with some other daddies and daughters. I was just going to take my little Rascal out for a little OH BLASPHEMOUS Starbucks Grande Soy No-Water Tazo Chai and a little jaunt around the giant book store as he napped…. But, then. I looked in the mirror.

Yes. I looked in the mirror, and I didn’t particularly like what I saw. It was sort of the same feeling I got when I looked at this picture of myself, and then of course posted it for EVERYONE to see….

I was wearing a nice enough shirt. It felt right. But, it didn’t look right…. My ginormous MILK BAGS breasts were just out of control. And, it was time to do something about it. Time to start looking good in shirts because these breasts — whether I like it or not — are going to be this big for another three months (until I wean the Rascal). They are NOT shrinking anytime soon, as I’d hoped….

So, I went (with Rascal in tow, of course) to THIS fancy bra boutique. Because I knew this was the only place in Toronto that would have bras in my size….

I was SO intimidated when I walked in. Everyone, and everything, was so fancy and so, erm, perky…. But, I stood my ground, lifted chin, rolled shoulders back, and asked to see their selection of nursing bras.

“We do things a little differently here,” explained the skinny girl with the blow-dried hair behind the front desk, “You have to make an appointment.

“Oh, no!” I exclaimed, “You don’t understand! It’s taken me NINE MONTHS to get here!”

“It’s okay,” she replied nonchalantly, “We may have a spot available for you….”

And, they did. Thank God. I was soon escorted to a fancy change room, and a woman came in and checked out my boobs. “I’ll be right back,” she told me….

She came back with this….

No, seriously, she came back with this bra…in black, of course — because BIG BRAS are NEVER sexy, so you better at least buy it in black, I say.

I tried it on and immediately breathed a sigh of RELIEF. “You don’t understand how good this feels,” I told the lady, “and, OMIGOSH, I look so SMALL!” I didn’t, of course, but I looked MUCH smaller than I did in the DEPLORABLE bra I came in with….

Since these bras are TOTALLY expensive, I bought two of them. I figure I’ll just have to do a lot of hand washing. So worth it, though.

I’m in love with my new bras — so much so that I tried on a bunch of tight shirts pretty-much as soon as I got home…. Monkey and I had a blast!

Now, on to the good stuff…. Can you guess what size I am?? I’ll give you a hint: it starts with the letter G!!!!! Eeeek!

Anyway! Treat yourself to a good bra, the RIGHT bra. You TOTALLY deserve it!