How to Survive Family Reunions with Toddlers

I'm fresh back from a family reunion and I'm beat. I'm done in. I'm wiped out. As a cousin said to me in a rare moment during which I talked to someone who wasn't 2.5 and screaming, "Here's Tricia to friends on her family reunion:  I chased around my toddler for two days."

Let me give new moms out there some advice about big family events and toddlers: MAKE YOUR HUSBAND GO. Or hire a babysitter. And be sure to take along fail-safe beauty products.

High SPF is needed under the July Nebraska sun at the family golf tournament while trying to stop the toddler from destroying the putting green. Also, coverage is needed when close family members call your daughter "a handful" and your head begins to explode. Most important, BB cream is OK to leave on overnight if you fall asleep while reading "Old Bear and His Cub" for the third time in a row.

Heat, humidity, stress, time restraints? Blow dry that hair then use a little argan oil. This stuff saved me. My hair did not look like total crap all the time, and that was probably my biggest coup all weekend. 

A lip stain that moisturizes is a necessity because you're going to be dehydrated. It's hot, you're on your feet, and you'll hardly get a glass of water down in-between toddler meltdowns (you will, however, sniff out and guzzle wine as soon as a bottle comes within 500 feet). I like a stain because makeup application time gets low-priority at these things, and this gave me some easy and pretty color.

Wen is at Sephora now! I stopped using shampoo post-pregnancy, but I use Wen as a travel alternative because it's sulfate and paraben-free. If you're unhappy with your hair texture these days I recommend giving it a shot. Also, for the scant two minutes you have in the shower alone, hold the bottle to your nose and inhale deeply. The scent will help revive you.

If you meant to make a hair appointment before the big weekend but failed and your bangs look a mess, fall back on the old reliable headband. This Sephora Thick Bradie version is chic and will make you feel like Sienna Miller. Just kidding, not for one moment will you feel like Sienna but your hair won't be in your face. 

Sephora

130 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

Shoes, Fries, and Accessories

What an afternoon. First, Pat Field for Payless shoes on sale (see tomorrow's post), then a little Manhattan Mall wandering inspired by a Racked Twitter request, and last, a perfect, just-a-step-above fast food burger & curly fries at Bruce's Burger. All I needed for more perfection was a McDonald's shake.

I dropped by Afaze in Manhattan Mall as earlier in the day Racked twittered the need for those plastic backs for earrings. Which reminded me of my dire need for these as I seem to always lose one in every pair of earrings I own (blame cats...). Where to find? Mirthful33 was lovely enough to twitter back: Claire's or Afaze in Manhattan Mall. Really one of my most productive twittering sessions yet.

But sadly, Afaze no longer carries the plastic backs. I'm checking out the bead stores on 6th Avenue later this week. Here's what Afaze did have:

A few baubles in the line of this spring's "ethnic" trend:


You could wear that headband across your forehead ala Arden Wohl, but then I may have to send Cousin Phil over to torture you.

Bright pink and green faux-skin clutches, $22, what's not to love? Afaze is like a grown-up Claire's. One can get a little lost in there. And I'm very excited with the Manhattan Mall progress. No JCPenney yet, but everything's looking all shiny and modern.

Afaze, Manhattan Mall level 1, 33rd & 6th Ave.
Bruce's Burger, 1 Penn Plaza in Kmart corridor, 34th & 7th. Or, right around the corner from the awesome Garrett Popcorn.

Marimekko Giveaway

In keeping with yesterday's hair and headband theme, guess how much I paid for this:










Hint, bought on sale at H&M. I just felt so bad for it, the only feathered thing (ok, fake feathered thing) sitting on the sale rack. So if you're the first to post, on Tuesday, the correct or closest price for the black feathered spiderband, I mean headband, you win this:


Bought during the H&M Marimekko collaboration frenzy, it got lost in the morass that is my desk. But fate has revealed it to me again, so I thought "giveaway!" Winner to be posted on Wednesday. And I promise it will be mailed henceforth and straightaway and not sit any longer on my desk.*





*and as a bonus you'll also receive the black feathered spider, I mean headband!


H&M, 34th & 7th Avenue

Pin and Grow

Is there something amiss in the universe? Because I went for a haircut and my stylist DIDN'T cut my hair. Instead, after coloring and washing it, she looked in the mirror and said, "Let's not cut it." I then woke up and almost fell off my chair (getting my hair done makes me super sleepy).

The woman who has been cutting my hair short for more than eight years wants me to grow it long for fall. If you're thinking "But it's your hair, do what you want," you're wrong. It's actually her hair and I'm just here on earth modeling it for her.

Problem is, I have an ornery side thanks to an aggressive colic. Blow dry, flat iron, give sacrifice, nothing works. By noontime it will be doing what it wants, which is usually the flip.

Solution? Bobby pins. I just twist up sections of hair in the back and pin them down, then make it soft by pulling some pieces along the ears. If the top looks flat I slightly tease some bits. Bonus is, all that hair is off my neck so I'm much cooler. And later, when you take the pins out, you'll have some pretty waves. More pinning = more waving. Do I care what it looks like in the back? Uh, no, because a: "out of sight..." and b: I'm at work, people, not the disco.

Sometimes I add one of these:

You get two for $3.90 at H&M. I got the grey and black. Simple and not very exciting but I look ridiculous in those Blair Waldorf headbands. These won't give you a headache until about 3pm.


While you're picking up bobby pins, spend another $7.99 on Citre Shine to keep your hair smooth in the summer heat. It coats your hair and doesn't look greasy. I've used this off and on for years. But honestly, lately I don't use much product as I've been liking a soft, messy look. You know, I'm prepping for that sexy long hair come fall.

H&M, 47 W. 34th btwn 5th & 6th
CVS, 320 Fifth Avenue @ 32nd