ETSY here I come!

For those of you who are not familiar, Etsy is this incredibly cool site that enables people to sell handmade things. You can find anything from pottery, jewelery, paintings, or clothes, to tutus for children. The sellers are creative individuals who are trying to make a living doing what they love, from stay-at-home-moms, to up and coming fashion designers. You can find absolutely anything and everything, and it’s different and unique. There are some talented people out there!

So I decided to have a crack at it. Check out my own personal boutique at www.karinasboutique.etsy.com where I offer Invites for every occasion. Showers, birthdays, announcements, ext. I have only a couple up, but stay tuned cause a lot more is coming!

In Memory..Michael Jackson

I had to post a memorial about the King of Pop-Michael Jackson.  He was a musical genius and he changed my life from the moment my older sister got the “BAD” album when I was just 6 years old.  The more MJ I heard, the more I liked.   I rock to “Thriller” every Halloween and I danced at my wedding to “P.Y.T.”  My husband laughs at me to this day for the look on my face in a pic, when I got the  “Black or White” cassette tape on Xmas.  A lot of memories stay with me through music and my life would not be the same without Mr. Michael Jackson.

Rest In Peace Michael Jackson!

August 29th, 1958-June 25th, 2009

Transform Your Locks With Moroccanoil

Hey everyone, sorry we have been MIA for the passed month! With Summer, comes busy schedules and in this heat & humidity, comes frizzy hair! That’s why I’m here to tell you about my new favorite product! Moroccanoil!

Moroccanoil is featured in magazine like People, InStyle, and stars like Salma Hayek use it.

Straight to Wavy Hair in 25 Minutes

I was born with stick straight THIN hair.  When I decided to grow my hair long, it of course got on my nerves because of the limited time I had to style it and I would always end up putting it in a clip or ponytail. I was also sick of the same old hairdo when I went out (straight and parted to the side)…I needed to change it up.  I went shopping at Ulta and came across a beauty tool that transformed my hair beyond recognition.   It was a godsend and perfect for people like me with thin hair!

Noelle Vazzano: A Designer You Should Know

I was flipping through my mom’s address book when I was planning my wedding and I came across a name that rang a bell: “Vazzano.” The Vazzano family lived down the street from me when I was a little girl (5,6, & 7 years old I think). Brittany and Noelle were my first friends in the neighborhood. They moved away when we were still very young, but when I saw their name in my mom’s book-I decided to look them up on good ole’ Facebook. Both of the girls were on there, doing well and it was so cool to see what they were up to.

A couple months after I requested them as friends, I received an update that Noelle had a fan page. I couldn’t leave the Lush360 readers out on what I found when I visited Noelle’s page. She is an amazing, grounded, & talented designer & entrepreneur and she’s only 26. Her story is one that will motivate everyone and she was nice enough to let me share with you readers some pics on what she is doing now!

Eye cream, you scream, we all scream for Eye Cream

Stressed out? Losing sleep? The delicate skin around your eyes is the first to show it.  Here’s how to hold back the damage.

How Daily Life Takes Its Toll

AGING
The skin under your yes is thin and contains few oil glands, making it incredibly vulnerable to crow’s feet, wrinkles and expression lines (a result of all the blinking, squinting, and smiling you do).  Hormonal changes can also cause eyes to appear slightly sunken.

STRESS AND FATIGUE
Skipping those precious eight hours of sleep can lead to dark circles, puffiness, and dullness¬ further emphasizing fine lines around the eyes.  Plus, constant anxiety upsets the body’s chemical balance.

SENSITIVITIES
The delicate eye area is extremely reactive.  Allergies, seasonal colds, dry heat, and even how much salt you ate the night before can make them red, puffy, teary, and itchy.

SUN DAMAGE
Don’t forget to protect from the sun’s rays (UV damage contributes to fine lines).  Protect the sensitive eye area with SPF-enhanced cream that won’t cause irritation if it seeps into open eyes.

Eye-Opening Solutions

Four reasons why your regular moisturizer isn’t enough.

Find a Cause…..

A goal of mine since 2005 has been to walk or volunteer for a cause. There are people out there who need money raised for rehabilitation and/or research for their illness or disability. I’ve learned to be extremly thankful for where I am today. You do not have to be rich or a celebrity to do good for others. I have participated in 2 fundraisers in the last year and each fundraiser was successful, fun and for a very worthy cause.

On Sunday, May 3, 2009 I joined more than 16,000 walkers and volunteers across Illinois in the Walk MS 2009. The money raised at the Walk MS 2009 supports programs, services and vital research into the cause and cure of multiple sclerosis.

It was such a rewarding experience. When I was first asked to pick a goal of how much I thought I could raise, I entered $200

You Are What You Eat – I’ll Have a Supersize of Youth

Like most women, I am always seeking a way to preserve my youth. I am 28 years old, and I still don’t have many wrinkles, but I know they are around the corner and I will do everything in my power to slow down the aging process. Well maybe not everything…

I have been using anti-aging eye cream since I was 18, lotioning up my face and body every day since I can remember, using spf on my face even though I must admit tanning is my down fall. Has it worked? Who knows, I guess it’s too early to tell, but that will not stop me from taking precaution in the hopes that I look youthful as long as possible.

There is No Eco-Brand that exists.

I had to share this. This is a link to another blogger’s post about Lika Volkova, the designer behind SANS clothing. She does not claim to be an eco-brand but probably is the closest thing to it and her concept is awesome. The SANS website sells digital patterns and instructions. So you pay for the digital pattern, and make your own clothes. I personally have never heard of this concept

Eco-Chic…. Is it just a marketing scheme?

Everyone is going ga-ga over eco-chic designers. In honor of Earth Day I want to pose this question: What does eco-chic mean? Is it just a marketing scheme or are these designers really making a difference and are their intentions in the right place?

On www.greenlivingtips.com I found an article that states “Eco chic is a term becoming increasingly prevelant – it simply means a combination of trendiness and environment. Eco chic is not just the perceived environmental impact of what you wear/have, but how it was made and the hip factor of the company producing it – with the latter being down to effective marketing. While it seems the latest essential fashion accessory is a social conscience, eco chic can be as much, if not more, about social status as it is about environment.” I can’t help but agree with this statement.Why does it have to be a social status thing? These pricey brands are making me feel like I can’t afford to be “eco-chic”.