It seems that I want them, (being men) to understand my need for order, sense and logical thinking, so I thought I would return the courtesy and try to be more enduring and forgiving to their man-like humor, odd sense of affection and one word sentences.

Just yesterday, practicing my loving eyes and warming smile I gazed at my husband as he peeled the last of the Christmas oranges and wiped his orange-stained hands on my brand-new, white tea towels given to me by my girlfriend from Restoration Hardware. Calmly, I thought about the new stain remover I had just purchased for the gravy stained table cloth and thought nothing of the way the tea towel (mainly for show) was being used like the kitchen scrub pad.

Noticing my admiring eyes and realizing I was not going to scold him or freak out about the tea towel, he meandered over, matching my romantic glare. Looking deep into my eyes he leaned towards me, only to reach out and hastily pluck a chin hair from my face.

I am not sure which was more upsetting, the fact I had such a large and noticeable follicle growing from my jowls, or that without any warning, he happily yanked it from its root. The pain from the tug was less than the one I felt on my ego, as he snickered and made comparisons to a Billy goat.

Needless to say, I immediately made an appointment to be threaded, and I have to say it is one of the best things you can do for unsightly hair and beautifying your eyebrows.

Threading is an ancient method of hair removal which originated in India, and is now gaining popularity in Western countries. Practitioners use a pure, thin, twisted cotton thread which is rolled over untidy hairlines, mustaches and so on, plucking the hair at the follicle level. Unlike tweezing where a single hair is pulled out each time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line.
As the top layers of skin are not peeled or traumatized, threading is an alternative for those with sensitive skin and gives pristine results.
If you have never heard of the technique, I encourage you to try it out. It is much kinder on your skin than waxing and hurts a lot less than plucking. Check out the yellow pages for a salon that provides this service, or venture down to one of the ethnic parts of your town where this is common. I am in-and-out in less than 10 minutes, for under $7.00 dollars; can’t beat that and my face looks great. It is worth it so I never have to have hubby pulling on my chin again and I can sanely keep practicing my New Year resolutions.

Standing on my soapbox,

JB

Congratulations to Nancy Jachik of Fraser MI. She is the excited winner of the Colossal Gift Basket valued at over $800.00.  Nancy is expecting her first grandchild, a baby girl  this April. She is thrilled at all the new things coming her way (including the prizes). She was first attracted to Soapbox when she found out she was becoming a Grandmother and says she finds the product reviews helpful and the articles realistically helpful.

Nancy we hope you enjoy all the new and fun things the many sponsors were so generous in donating. The gift basket was such a success because of the manufactures and retailers who support or site and love ‘opinionated’  moms.

We would like to once again thank all the companies who donated their fantastic items and say we are truly thrilled with the readers who responded to the excitement of such a Colossal Gift Basket.

Standing on my Soapbox,

JB

As much as we love to spoil our kids, once and a while we need to spoil ourselves. Here a few things I recommend that don’t cost a lot, but can make a big difference in the way you feel about you and your skin.

Get a great body lotion. No matter the cost, find the right luxury lotion that every time you smell it, and put it on your skin, it makes you feel better. Just a squirt after washing your hands or a full lather after a shower, something this simple is a quick pick me up and says I’m not afraid to spoil myself.

Look after your face. No matter how little time you have in the day, be sure to make time for your face. Wash off your makeup at the end of the day. Don’t rub your eyes or pull at the sensitive skin around them. Get a fantastic moisturizer for longevity. A superb sun screen for protection and a killer foundation to cover those things you don’t need to see.

Find your lipstick. Take the time to find the right shade for your skin, clothing, hair color and mood. Forget radical, trendy shades, go classic and practical. Once you’ve found it, buy three. One for your purse, one for the diaper bag and one in your mommy coat pocket. When all else fails, a bit of lipstick goes a long way.

Only Bronzer & Mascara. If you never have time for make-up any more, a bit of bronzer will give you that healthy glow and a great mascara will gives your eyes the twinkle they need. Two brush strokes over the cheeks and two stokes over the eyelashes, and you are out the door and feeling great.

You may already have most of these things, but if not you may want to look at the certified organics and handcrafted cosmetics from http://www.miorganic.ca. They have a plethora of unique products for all types of skin, (including babies, but we’re not talking babies right now) with all types of needs. They use only the finest organic cold pressed oils, essential oils, and flower extracts. They are handcrafted in small batches for freshness and potency; in fact they say their ingredients are so pure you can eat them!

They also have bath products, hair products and even household products that all look after you and the world you live in organically. It takes just a few extra minutes to make a huge difference and I know you will feel better for it. Give yourself that MY TIME you deserve.

Standing on my Soapbox, JB

As part of my New Years resolutions, I have decided to think a bit more about me as a mom. I want to concentrate more on being a happy mom who has found peace with dirty dishes and beds still unmade half way though the day. Sexy mom who may not have the body she once did, but still the desire and enjoyment that comes from being romantic. Patient mom that is kind to herself, accepting that she can only do so much. Active mom, who isn’t always rushing, late and frazzled, but who maybe does fewer things with a bit more satisfaction. Listening mom who hears not only the needs of her family, but the inner voice of her own hopes and dreams. And current mom, no more dated clothing, worn out shoes, sloppy hair and maternity underwear.

Unlike other years where I have made big plans or drastic changes, this year’s resolution it to resolve to what is and make the most of it. No more thinking it will be different, no more planning that when “it” changes so will I. This year is about embracing the life we are living and finding all that is wonderful and spectacular about it.

If you are like me, you may need a bit of time to plan out your new year’s resolutions, adding them into your traditions or starting a new ritual you’ll never forget. Use the next few days to start thinking about it, so when the big day is here, you are ready. Allow these four points to support and encourage you to enjoy the magnificent life you have, resolving to how special it really is.

In the dictionary resolution has 4 definitions.
1) The process of resolving.
2) Decision.
3) Determination.
4) Solution.

Said more eloquently, I’d like to think the deeper meaning is…
1) Let go of what you can not change.
2) Decide that what you do have is fantastic.
3) Be determined to enjoy your life.
4) Find the solution for every complication.

Standing on my Soapbox,

JB

Innocently, he asked me why he was sleeping there. I explained that some people do not have a home so they have to sleep outside. “But he goes to his house at dark time, right mommy?” he asked, still not comprehending the impact of lying on the sidewalk. “No”, I explained, “he doesn’t have a house, so he has to sleep outside”. “But it’s too cold, can we have him come over?” he questioned.

I spend most of the ride home trying to explain as best I could to a four year old, why that man was there. The more I tried to put it in simple terms, the harder it was. The more I tried to make it light and uncomplicated, the more difficult it became. Why, how come, but why again and you fix it mommy was all he could say and I arrived home to my warm and comfy house feeling as many of us do, unable to fix a problem so heart-breaking during the holiday season.

Some dear friends of mine sent me a pleading e-mail put out by their church, regarding a homeless woman who had died in our city a few nights ago from exposure. Their minister was urging the congregation to help if they could with volunteering, supplies or any sort of monetary contribution. Doing a bit of research I found that 56 people in the last two years have died from exposure in my city alone. I am sure if we added up all the cities we live in, the numbers would be staggering.

For many of us, the next few days will be filled with warm food, lavish baking, crackling fires next to decorated trees surrounded with gifts. As we enjoy our festive holidays, others will be doing their best just to survive and keep warm. If you have an opportunity to help, please do so by dropping off items you are no longer be using at your nearest homeless shelter, outreach center, or church.

Some of the items they are looking for are:
•    Blankets
•    Bus tickets
•    Winter coats
•    Long-sleeved shirts
•    Thermal underwear
•    Wool socks
•    Sleeping bags
•    Tarps (preferably small)
•    Hygiene items (combs, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, nail clippers, etc)
•    Boots

That man lying there is someone’s son and every one of us can relate to what this means. He is someone’s child and needs a bit of help.

Standing on my soapbox,

JB

You know you’re a mom when, it way past midnight and you are still wrapping presents, putting out cookies, cleaning the house and getting ready for Santa.

Merry Christmas everyone,

JB Owen-Sacallis

Founder of Soapbox, mother of two, and still a little girl inside excited it’s finally Christmas.

Thanks to the UMI shoes gift certificate, the Colossal Gift basket has reached an outrageous $800.00. Enter to win simply by subscribing to our newsletter and everything could be yours. The winner will be announced Dec 24th so you have just a few days left.

You know you are a mom when, you see a cool contest for free kids stuff and you immediately forward it to your entire mommy network.

For your chance to win the Colossal Christmas Care Package, you need to:

1. Subscribe to the Soapbox Mama Newsletter.

2. Use the “Send To a Friend” tool just below to the right and tell your friends about this for more chances to win! Each friend you tell is one more entry for you! Contest closes December 24th at 12:00 AM PST.

Standing on my soapbox,

JB