total beauty: 23 tried, tested and rejected anti-aging products

before you head out to buy a new anti-aging product, check out this list of poor performing products as reveiwed by real women at Total Beauty's website!

23 Horrible Anti-Aging Skin Care Products

Readers say these anti-aging products did nothing that they claimed to do

This is a TotalBeauty.com anti-aging skin care article To help save you from getting hurt by these products that don't deliver, we're here to share a list of the anti-aging goods our readers have tried, tested and rejected. See products

No. 23: Cosmedicine MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum, $60

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6

"I was completely disgusted by the smell. I don't know what this is 'supposed' to do for your skin, but the smell makes me not care."

No. 22: L'Oreal Paris RevitaLift Complete Lotion SPF 15, $16.59

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6

"I tried using this once and had to stop, [because it made my] face start to itch and feel dry."

No. 21: Benefit Eyecon, $28

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6

"After applying it twice a day for over a month" one reader didn't see "changes under my eyes" or "any lightening at all."

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

i love making lists

each evening, i always make sure i write a list of things that need to be done for the next day. my lists include everything ranging from mundane, boring things (clean the bathrooms; get eggs) to doing something fun and fabulous (get a pedicure or work on art project).

and of course, it's always great checking items off my list!

the image above displays things we should all add to our own to-do lists-- yes, even eating ice cream. love it! :)

image via weheartit.com

happy friday!

hope your week was fabulous, beauties! did it go by fast for you? it definitely flew by for me. now that the weekend is here i can't help but feel a little more relaxed. i plan to take time to listen to the rain (it's raining now as i type this, and supposed to rain all weekend), read, sip tea, do some yoga, read some more and enjoy time with my family.

i'm looking forward to my tea & manicures date i have with my daughter and finishing the 3d puzzle (an angel fish) my son and i started on monday. once it's done he's going to paint it-- can't wait to see how it turns out. :)

what are your plans for the weekend?

image via weheartit.com

nail color of the week: Zoya Kelly

gray is not only a hot "trendy" color right now, but it's become my personal color obsession over the past few months. this fabulous shade, Kelly by Zoya, is keeping my tips looking tres chic and modern while catering to my gray-loving self.

indoors with flash, left; outdoors, cloudy day with flash, right

the brand describes Kelly as a rich gray shade with soft purple and blue undertones, and that sums it up perfectly. i love that Kelly is deep, but not too dark (it's a great alternative to black), and is a fabulous choice when you are wanting to wear something neutral without being traditional.

visit zoya.com for more info

pics taken my me :)

currently loving...

happy monday and valentine's day, beauties! how was your weekend?

my weekend was gorgeous, and i enjoyed it so much. walking the dog, dancing, sipping tea, doing ballet (as a slower-paced-but-oh-so-challenging workout, it's fabulous-- haven't tried it? you should!), cooking yummy meals, running, reading (one book i'm reading is about Marie Antoinette-- wow), going to the park to play basketball with my family, and enjoying absolute perfect weather (73 degrees with a cool breeze)-- it was fabulous, and i admit i'm sad that's now over.

thankfully, i have some things that i'm currently loving that aren't gone with the weekend! take a peek...

for fun picture sharing Instagram is my new love. i'm having so much fun editing pics on my iPhone with fun effects, like these you see in throughout this post (look forward to more in the future).

to encourage my resolution for saving more money in 2011, i've been using coupons.com. download the software to your computer to print out great coupons each week (i've even had a few for magazines)! target.com also has this great feature, and since i'm there a lot, i'm always printing, LOL!

L'Oreal Youth Code is hello, fab-u-lous. seriously, they've created an amazing skincare collection that i can't get enough of. it includes a serum, eye cream, day/night cream and a day cream with spf. for me, it's improved the look and texture of my skin. though i hate to admit it, i had very fine lines appearing a few months back and sometimes a, a-hem, "expression" line across my forehead when my skin is dehydrated. those have diminished since i've been using these products. merci!

because the weather has been cool and dry, and i'm already a total hand-washing diva, my hands crave nourishment and moisture. Aquaphor Healing Ointment to the rescue! i also use this on my kids' parched skin as well. at night i slather it all over my hands and feet for perfectly supple skin come morning.

what are you currently loving? do tell me in the comments! :)

100 things that make me happy...

have you ever stopped to think about what really makes you happy?

i was recently listening to a podcast regarding journal writing, and one of the idea prompts was to write out 100 things that make you happy.

that to me sounded like a challenge...

i mean, don't get me wrong, i can name many things off the top of my head, but i guess the number 100 seemed a bit daunting.

until i got started.

crazy enough, i had no problem listing what i find to put me in a better mood just by experiencing them. my children, my husband, watching the sun rise, running, yoga, time to pray, meditate and sip tea...

the list goes on...

here are 25 other things on my list:

books
heels
sparkle
spending time with friends
cool, sunny days
putting money into our savings
getting and sending snail mail
the color pink
fairytales
the smell of fresh baked bread
a good workout
the sound of a baby in a fit of laughter
the day after a rain storm
butterflies
a new journal
magazines in my mailbox
finding a book i thought i'd have to buy at the library
fresh flowers
coffee
a fresh mani and pedi
music
reading
writing
learning something new
clean laundry
art projects


what sort of things make you happy? start your list now! :)

weekend musings: New Changes and Discoveries

bonjour, dear readers!

how was your week? delightful, i hope!

can you believe it's already february??

it's been a very exploratory, creative time for me lately (been doing lots of journal writing, home decorating, drawing, learning french, cooking, not to mention, i finally got back on my yoga mat after about a year). i'm trying to balance spending more time with my daughter and son individually, nurture my offline friendships and everything in between.

BGM is now a little more than 3 years old, and i feel, like me, now 31 (eeek!), the blog is ready for a change.

while i have a bit of an idea where i want my little online baby to go, i really want to let everything happen organically. afterall, it developed into what it is today the same way. that being said, i feel that i need to get away from so much celebrity and pop culture coverage so i can really focus on sharing more of the things i love, in addition to all the fun, beauty-related stuff.

please know i completely appreciate that you take the time to visit each day (or subscribe via email, reader or blogger), and i j'adore sharing my love of all things beauty and style with you! thank you!!

as a little heads-up, as the weeks progress things may be a bit different. i can't really be specific, since i'm not really sure myself, but i hope you'll continue along with me!

now that my rambling is over, i wanted to share some fab new-to-me blogs (along with some websites and random stuff) that i've recently discovered, am loving, and/or am being so inspired by. take a little time and be sure to visit them soon...

blogs:

Dead Fleurette is an inspiration scrapbook where Fluerette shares fabulous articles or photographs as well as her musings on style-related topics.

Accidental Chic is a blog written by Tiffani Rogers and offers readers a daily dose of topics ranging, but not limited to, being fashion, beauty and financially savvy.

The Simply Luxurious Life is just about that-- living simply. Shannon Ables says about her blog, "the simply abundant life is something i believe every one of us can attain if indeed we are seeking quality rather than quantity, decadence rather than frivolity, personal style instead of trendy fashions, and a truly fulfilling life instead of being led around by the nose."

Into the Gloss is written by Emily Weiss (if you were an avid viewer of The Hills, you may remember who she is) and is an insider look into the world of fashion and beauty. her topics range from product reviews to featuring fabulous people and their own style, makeup artists, hairstylists, etc. all sharing their tips and musings.

websites:

Shelter Pop -- lots of fun home decorating trends and style tips
ModCloth -- fab vintage clothing and accessories
Pure Wow -- fashion, food, beauty, health, art, tech-- wow!
This Week In (they also have audio and video podcasts featuring everything from books to fashion!) -- catch up on all the fun happenings of the week.

random stuff:

Good Earth Teas (their original Sweet and Spicy blend is amazing)
American Eagle Outfitters (they have great basics and awesome accessories to jazz up your casual wear)
Pandora Radio (my fave stations? Pomplamoose, Ke$ha (this one surprised me, lol), Maxwell, Eric Hutchinson and Instrumental Hip Hop)
my new journal, yoga mat, gym bag and gloves :)

stay tuned for more...