Stacy B here! I'm still wary of this whole 'spring' thing. New Englanders out there, you know what I mean. Spring happens in odd fashion around here so it takes a few weeks for you to really let go of that 'but it really COULD snow one more time!' feeling and actually do spring stuff, like change over your closet.

I did that this week and it was equally exciting and depressing. I love having new clothes in my closet, even if they are already mine. It's nice to have something else to look at, another choice to ponder and more brightly colored options. However, I was VERY pregnant, and very post-partum last spring so I didn't really wear any of my spring/summer stuff until about July when I went back to work. Even then, I was still losing the baby weight so I stuck to my more flow-y shirts and dresses and kept it neutral with some fun new accessories. Now, I'm seeing all these clothes that I can fit into (yay!) and they are 2 years old!! Luckily my style is fairly classic and I don't overindulge in trends unless I see long-term potential, but still, it was a lot of outdated stuff!

And with two kids, my clothing budget is nearly zero! Spring panic! Luckily, I got a nice first quarter bonus from work and have been promised an outlet shopping and dinner date this weekend for my 7th wedding anniversary. I can't wait to restock my closet. And the best thing is, **bragging alert** ....I feel pretty good this year since I am officially  4 pounds below my pre-baby weight. And not my younger son, my OLDER son! That's right, with hard work, low calories, healthy recipes, and pinterest workouts I can do at home, I am under both pre-baby weights and only 3 pounds over my WEDDING weight. Let's get shopping!!!

Another thing that inspires spring panic? Besides bathing suits in a month (let's just skip right over that. I look good, but not THAT good!) is open toed shoes!! It's been a long, cold winter and my piggies are in rough shape. Neglected, dry, wintery and bare toes. I can't get a pair of peep-toes to even look my way. For Mother's Day last Sunday, I'm got a nice spa pedicure at a place in town but my toes are so bad, I had to start prepping them at least a week before!

I found this great peppermint foot scrub from Kiss My Face and have been using it every other day for the past week or so. It's been a big help! It smells SO good, which is not surprising. I've tried a few other Kiss My Face products to mixed reviews but the one thing I've always said is how good they all smell. This is a true peppermint smell and it fills the bathroom up and makes it smell like a really nice spa.

Stacy B here! Bangers and Mash! Fish and Chips! Jolly good time! Throwing out some British phrases because I just got back from London! What a city, and what a trip we had. Girls only, so my husband and boys stayed home. I had 5 days of quiet, making my own decisions, peeing by myself, waking up naturally and not by sticky hands touching my face, and carrying a small bag with ONLY my stuff in it! It was great. But I did miss those little buggers.

It was a rough week, we were there to watch my cousin run the London Marathon, and after what we went through with Boston, we were nervous and emotional. We wanted to unplug the day we got there and just enjoy, but with the lockdown and the manhunt and news happening so fast, were glued to our TV or iPad for a lot of the day. We did our best to get out during the days and walk, shop, sightsee and wander but as soon as we got home, it was BBC and iPad time.

We tried to enjoy while keeping our thoughts on those left at home in Boston. I think we succeeded, we had a great time and met a lot of locals that had so much support for their neighbors across the pond. And my cousin ran a very emotional PR in the marathon (personal record for those not in the running world) and funished in 3:53. Her fastest time by more than 10 minutes. WOW!

 I was proud of myself for being able to fit all my stuff for 5 whole days in a small suitcase and carry-on that was pretty easy to manage while taking the Tube all over the place. I'm a great packer and I love to find small products in the drugstore that don't take up much room but still pack a punch. I hate packing shaving cream because I am always afraid the can is going to explode in the plane and get shaving cream all over my stuff. Which has happened to me once. Not fun. I had it in a plastic travel bag, but it still leaked all over everything.

This trip, I went with a shave cream that came in a tube, not a can. I brought Kiss My Face Moisture Shave in Key Lime. Yes, it smells that good. This is in a tube that's like a lotion containter, not a steal can that can't bend or move in the suitcase. I got there, unpacked, and no product explosion incidents!

 Plus, it was not a big tube, so it didn't take up as much room or weigh as much. The formula is so good for you, no parabens, gluten free, no animal testing, all essential, natural oils, ingredients I recognize and can pronounce and nothing artificial. Good for my suitcase, good for me. And it really does smell so yummy.

 It moisturizes, so I didn't have to pack a huge tub of lotion. I wouldn't completely stop moisturizing, but at least for my trip, I didn't have to worry too much. It held enough skin essentials in it that for the few days I was there, I didn't need to layer on multiple products.

Meg here! I am running all over the place today. It's going to be a very busy Friday but I wanted to leave you something to kick off your weekend right! Tarte is having a 50% off sale! 

I know you already know how amazing Tarte! Is. We have been raving over them for years. I am so obseesed with their new Aqualillies line (review to come soon!) Park Avenue Princess Bronze and Cheek Tint is my latest "must have obsession." It may be the most perfect summer item. A glowy 2-in-one that that goes on smooth as silk, looks incrediblely natural and the pink on the tip brings the perfect flush to the apples of your cheeks. It is so awesome, I have been reaching for it daily!

It's my site. I'm Megsmakeup and it's after midnight and I can write. So be cool.

Marathon Monday. It was amazing. I was a naughty child and I was always grounded over April vacation. Same violations. A boy I was "caught with." My sentence was always up on Patriot's Day. Maybe in the rest of the country "Patriots Day" didn't mean much. It was always a "freedom day" for me. The first day off of a groundation, I managed to get trapped in the house for "bad behavior" for all of April. I never worked the concealer just right to hide the April Vacation hickey. And I did it in a "cah! (for those not familiar with Boston a "car.")

Slut shaming is the new thang and I wasn't "Slut Shamed" I just liked to get down in a cah because the 16 year olds I knew were not yet property owners.

Freedom from my groundation was a spring day. People were out and cheering and happy and I felt free from my parents. The real revolution.

Because I am so socially networked, I had on my twitter "A blast just went off" from a high school runner I was following. This is Boston, it's not Baghdad. The follow up tweet I expected was for her to say she farted in her pants. Because I'm from Boston, we laugh and say that shit. Pun intended.

How on earth could it be something else? This is Boston.

Limbs blown off? Blood everywhere? No, I watched glued to the news. This is BOSTON.

I despised this city growing up, It's a terrible city to grow up in. I hated it because it was a city that cared about "who your parents are" and "where did you go to school?" Fuck that. Who cares?

I fled far and fast to get away from it. I was never going to win here.

It sucked me back in.

I give money to the homeless. I rescue my dogs. I cook dinner every night and if you need a place to crash for a year, I wil take you in. I am Boston.

It is very important, your pedigree in Boston. I prefer mutts.

I can't watch "Good Will Hunting" without crying. I sob. I know what it is like to leave everything behind to try to become "better."

But do we know really?

I think back on the days of innocence, the days of fun! The days when I was so happy to sneak a "bee-ah" and just relax. You should have that day. They're great days.

Stacy B here! I'm not sure how to start off this post right now. Yet again, we have an unspeakable tragedy hanging over us, and makeup posts seem insignificant. But we must move on with our lives in order to restore some normalcy while dealing with tragedies.

Marathon Monday is ingrained in a Bostonian's brain from a very young age and is hard to really explain to those who have never experienced it. It's the start of spring, happier days, warmer weather, no more threats of snow, leaves budding, flowers blooming, people emerging from their winter caves, the Red Sox, school's out, BBQs, parties, friends, beers, sports on all day, runners, wheelchair racers, pace cars, legendary athletes, TV coverage, and for 26 miles, the best the human mind and body can offer.

And for those of us that live along the race route (I'm at mile 3!) the above is magnified a million times. There's a buzz in the air that only a true New Englander who's survived yet another long, cold, winter can truly understand. It's the season of optimism, hope and pride. And warm sun! And now, that day will be forever tainted.

I will not go into details, I'm sure you know them all. But I can tell you this. Boston will not crumble. This day will return in all its glory next year, with more pride, passion and love than ever. And we will get the person that shattered our perfect day.  My husband worked through college at the store where the first bomb went off, and watched the marathon from that spot many times. I can't begin to express how grateful I am that we have not gone into the city for years, thanks to my two little boys. They give us an excuse to stay in the calmer suburbs! The hunny has vowed to run next year in support, and defiance. I am scared, but I want him to do it. I want everyone to do it to prove that this city will not back down!

I have no good transition here, so I'm going to jump right in to less important topics. My hair! Last week I told you about Tresemme's Keratin Smoothing Treatment and said I'd be trying the shampoo and conditioner from the same line. Well, I did. And it's not bad.

My hair is not one to be messed with (much like my fellow Bostonians) so I hesitate to jump into new things. This was surprisingly good. My hair has been smooth, frizz-free and manageable for the last week or so. That's something to be said! It's getting really long and hard to deal with again, despite a cut a few weeks ago. It just grows so fast, especially as the weather gets warmer. This set has kept me from that awful sticky, thick feeling. It's been fairly easy to dry and style and my style holds all day. I'm not sure I want to permanently switch from my previous brand, but I would say this was just about equally as successful. So since I have a lot of thick hair, the build up happens every few months. I'd be comfortable enough with Tresemme to swtich back and forth.

Stacy B here! It's spring! Well, sort of. I still have to bundle the kids in hats and mittens in the mornings, but the afternoons are starting to warm up! I swear I heard birds this morning.

I really want to be able to turn my heat off soon, it's been a few months of processed heat and dry air and it's taken a toll. My hair was acting up big time a few weeks ago, and I knew it was time for a change. My hair is very thick and wavy so when it feels sticky after drying it straight in no humidity, I know it's time for something new. If you have thick hair, you know what I mean by sticky...that feeling that your hair is clumping together and getting heavier and heavier. No matter how much you straighten it, brush it, blow it out, it just feels weighted down and stuck together.

When I get that feeling, it's one of two things. I need a cut (which I knew I was due) or my product has built up and I need to do some sort of cleanse or switch up my products. So, since I love my products now, I went for the cut option. In theory, it was a great cut. Long layers, thinned out, a little weight taken out of it...but the next day, I still had that heavy, flat feeling. Off to try some new product!

I've been hearing a lot about Keratin treatments (anyone who's had one, fill me in! Did you like it, hate it, love it??) so I thought I'd try a product that advertised itself as "infused with keratin" so I could test the waters. I didn't want to totally change my whole routine, so I stuck with my normal shampoo and subbed out my normal straightening serum for Tresemme's Keratin Infusing Smoothing Serum. 

It took almost 3 pumps of this stuff to get through all my thick hair, but it smoothed in very nicely. The serum was more liquid than I thought it would be, so I had to be careful not to let it run between my fingers and onto the floor. But I liked that, because it didn't feel like I was adding any weight to my hair and it felt like it blended in well and got to every piece of hair. This didn't add to my drying time (which I found some heavier products can do), and definitely made a difference.  

My hair was less sticky and heavy, and moved a bit more. It felt a little smoother than normal, although I didn't notice any extra shine at all. And since it's still very low humidity out here in the Northeast, I can't tell you if it passed the frizz test. But, it accomplished what I wanted it to, my hair feels light, swishy, manageable and it held my style all day. While I'm sad to see my old product get moved to the back of the shelf, this is a good replacement. And knowing my hair, in a few months, this will become built up and I'll have to switch back. But I've been doing that my whole life, so my products know to just wait for their turn in the rotation!

Nick Stern here! Men are creatures of habit. Once we get accustomed to a routine, we are committed to it. This shouldn't be mistaken for loyalty or integrity but simply laziness. We exert just enough energy to find our comfort zone and as soon as we discover it...Good luck trying to lure us out. No! Really, men don't like to leave their "comfort zone?" This is why many of you struggle to get the men in your lives to upgrade their skin care routine. You might be laughing right now because the closest thing to a skin care routine for your man is probably a bar of soap and a washcloth. I would stop laughing though because their failure is really your failure. I can't wait to hear how this is our fault.

Let's face the facts, without women forcing this whole hygiene agenda down our throats in the first place, most men would probably stop showering altogether. However, women can command (nag) a man to do anything when it comes to maintaining a respectable appearance. I mean Meg (yes, Meg nags me not to start sentences with "I mean") in passing told me that my toe nails needed to be clipped. Now at the time I totally downplayed my concern as it was the weekend. All I wanted to do was watch basketball with my beer and my primal toe nails. But it was useless, the seed was planted in my head and an hour later I was in my bedroom clipping those suckers listening to The Cranberries like a brainwashed Stepford wife. I'm sorry you felt brainwashed Nick, I now see that I took away 10 great self defense weapons.

Please understand that I'm in extreme circumstances living with a beauty expert and all. I've learned about exfoliation, eye creams, eye gels, the difference between eye creams and eye gels, lip balms, hand balms, cuticle balms, balms with more balms...I even know that the oils on your face have low PH and when you use bar soap, which has high PH, you can actually damage the natural balance of your face by leaving a salt residue and sucking the moisture from your face. Still laughing....because I just dropped some knowledge on everyone. Meg, did you even know that? I am all knowing. AP Chemistry (fist pump)! Where was I?

Ah yes...so ladies you have an obligation to improve your man's skin care, if not for his appearance at least for the health of his skin. What exactly is your job here?

I know changing your man's routine is a daunting task....he probably already has his standard soap, his shaving cream, his deodorant, his shampoo (hopefully he has a conditioner in a separate bottle., Pert Plus was great when we were 13), and you are not going to change his comfort zone overnight. Asking him to try a daily facial cleanser or an eye cream might overwhelm him with too much commitment right out of the gate. We don't want to push him back into the arms of the bar soap by being too aggressive.  Thus, the easiest way to improve his routine is to add something that isn't a daily commitment but a weekly one. My advice is to start with a weekly facial mask like the Lava Masque by Kyoku for Men to his regimen giving  him what everyone wants a product that has a big payoff for little effort. You only have to convince your guy to use the lava mask for 10 minutes a week to see great results. Honestly, his skin looks really, really great!

Meg here! I am happy to report that I am still smoke free! That's great, however the pack a day for twenty years bit may have done some damage. Those are "naughty lines." Lines my bad behavior caused. Smile lines? how is that fair? Isn't smiling good? I love to laugh, I really do. If you have any doubt you can see my "laughing lines" aka "crow's feet." Had a good life? Lots of joy and giggles. The joke's on you lady! We will see your laughter and raise you a tear once you see the wrinkles we've got in store for you. What's a girl to do? Walk around expressionless (that is an option but hardly seems fun.)

I have a new magic wand (Fine. I have another magic wand but this is for your eyes!) Michael Todd True Organics Eye-O-Sonic Infusion System is my new secret weapon. How much do I love this? I'm taking it with me on Extra! This Wednesday, I'm going to be vibrating away any lines Mario Lopez might have (I've never seen any on him but you never know if there are some lurking. He seems to smile a bunch.)

"Meg, is this a gimmick? Seriously, a vibrating wand for your eyes? What does it do and how exactly is it any different then using my own hands?" There are a million off color jokes I could make about the benefits of a vibrating wand over your own hands but since my grandmother insists on reading this site. I will refrain.

The answer is in the ions! This is the quickest way to sum up what's going on. The explanation of Ion Technology: The outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) is covered by a tough layer of dead skin cells that functions like a wall to keep foreign substances out such as heat, light, dirt, microorganisms and pollutants, which is a good thing when it comes to protecting us. Unfortunately, it is a bad thing when we want to nourish and moisturize our skin because this protective layer prevents the penetration of biologically effective ingredients meant for repairing the skin. You see, the "wall" is not selective. It does not differentiate between what is good for the skin and what is not.

The eyeosonic is beneficial because it can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your topical renewing products. It is a uniquely effective therapy that uses ions to penetrate the skin's natural barrier and carry skin care products more deeply into the skin where they can work effectively to rejuvenate cells at a molecular level.

Hundreds of ions pulsate into the skin and deliver your eye cream more effectively, it really gets it in there. Whats the point of having pricey eye creams if it's not being applied effectively? Oh yeah, I don't know if any of you have ever smoked. I'm guessing that you're too smart to do that and have never had a puff. If you have maybe had a lapse, the Michael Todd True Organic Eye-O-Sonic Infusion is also great for those pesky "old lady smoker lines" that can appear above the lips.

Also, it's relaxing and it feels good. The eye wand. Sheesh people!

Meg here! I have just been looking at the weather channel and good Lord, is this spring? I thought this post was going to be timely. Everyone was going to be so eager to learn about my new fantastic faux tan! Then I saw that the country was blanketed under weather misery, let's hope you can use this advice sooner than later!

The weather here is starting to get warmer and the limbs are beginning to come out. It's L.A., it's not like we've had a difficult winter. I hesitate to even call it "cold" since there may be some of you that are actually in weather less than 48 degrees (brrr!) 

I went to the dermatologist 2 weeks ago and I asked him "What's this brown freckly type spot on my cheek?" I then pointed to my lower face. I don't know how the next sound wasn't "thud" as I wanted to drop down and faint on the floor as he casually replied "oh, that's from the sun. Just an age spot." AN AGE SPOT? On my face. I immediately thought of my friend Emilie, her 85 yr. old Grandmother called her 88 yr. old boyfriend "M&M Head" because of all of the sun spots on his face. I really am not ready to become "M&M Head." Speaking of age spots, there also seem to be a few getting ready to make their way on my hands. Yup, you can tuck and lift and inject your face. You can laser it and bleach it and peel it. What can you do with spotted, ugly hands? You can buy fancy gloves. You better sunscreen those hands now, unless you're into telling people that you like to work part time as a chauffeur, and you're just in uniform.. 

No one that knows me would believe either! With my amazing, pasty Irish skin, the only choice I have is to sunless tan. Sure, I could sit in the sun but the fear of age spots has me paralyzed and I can't actually move.

All of the Oompa Loompa fear has been taken away by the beautiful Sinead Norenius and her fantastic tanning line, Beautisol! I've always been rocking the faux tan. With more success some times than others. Since I have been introduced to the Beautisol line, I am streak-free and have a super gorgeous glow. It's so easy, dries fast and they even have a product made just for your face! Not only is Beautisol's "Need I Glow More?" specifically targeted for your face, it targets for your skin type! How awesome is that? I used it yesterday and not only do I look "glowy" it also camouflages skin imperfections (Ahem, like the above mentioned "age spot.")

How about Beautisol Summer Glow Self Tanning Lotion? I used DARK TAN (but don't be afraid, the color is buildable. On first application, even my Casper butt looked sun-kissed, not unnatural.) 

I look healthier, I look sexier, I look thinner! It did not make me humble. But who needs humble? When was the last time you put on a pair of short shorts and thought "do these make me look humble?" Never, that's when. 

How did I achieve limbs that I am proud of? Ones that make my body smooth and fake something people call "toned?" How am I streak free and fabulous? The boobs to the left? Those are mine. Well, I mean, they were paid for, so yes... Anyhow, look at the tan color? That's after one application! Pretty darn great right?

3 EASY STEPS AND 15 MINUTES!

SHOWER: The first step to a gorgeous tan is to exfoliate.

#1 Michael Todd True Organics Walnut Grapefruit Scrub: I applied this to my body in the shower, I let the shower steam up and I grabbed ths tube. 

 Michael Todd True Organics Walnut Grapefruit Scrub $19.00 You have to exfoliate or else you're going to have a splotchy tan. Dead skin cells don't soak up the pigment of a self tanner. I love how this scrub isn't so grainy, it doesn't hurt but it exfoliates. You have baby soft skin, skin that is ready to drink up pigment. You're smooth and your stems glow. It doesn't leave any residue and the bottle is HUGE.

After the shower, I towel COMPLETELY OFF (water can streak!)

#2 Kiss Streaks Buh Bye! No more messy palms!

 Beautisol Applicator Mitt Want to have as super smooth application, no need to wash your hands?

This applicator mitt cuts self-tan time in half. It also takes out the annoying step where you have to scrub your palms! It is easy peasy and I have enlisted Nick Stern into Self Tan back applicator. He's not exactly happy with this new job, but he still manages to breeze through it in 2 minutes and it looks like a professional did it. I swear, I am really building his resume of "special skills." 

The other day someone questioned me how manly a Manly Monday could really be since I write for a beauty blog. And though my user name is WordsofWhimsy (Meg refuses to allow me to change this somewhat regrettable and whimsical choice of words) I believe I have a responsibility to champion the best products for men because men only want the best. We want the best lover, the best car (car probably goes first), the best job, the best sports team, so why would men want to settle for second rate hygienic products. Now I get it that some men are never going to try fancy body wash or eye creams but I'm going to discuss something that all men need...that all men secretly want (even if they don't know it.)  Shaving is a daily necessity and unless your man is a cowboy, a civil war veteran, or a porn star it's time for a shave...seriously. I had a mustache for a year in college and the only things I got out of it were a lot of fist pumps and girls always asking me for drugs. 

Shaving is a billion dollar industry and both Gillette and Schick have spent years of research ingraining their brands into the minds of your men. In fact you might not have known this but Gillette actually sends every 18 year old a free razor for his birthday. What's the point I'm trying to make you're asking...well the point is that if we're going to get your men to try a better shaving product, we have our work cut out for us. This won't happen overnight but with baby steps we can definitely enhance your man's shaving experience. So without further ado, let me introduce you to  Billy Jealousy's Hot Towel Pre-Shave Treatment. If your man has ever had a real manly shave at a barbershop (and if he hasn't you just got yourself a last minute gift idea...wink) then he knows the warm and comforting feel of a hot towel wrapped around his face. Billy Jealousy bottles that experience in their Hot Towel formula. It's simple to use heating up in seconds after applying to a moistened face and then using a traditional shave lather for a cleaner, closer shave.