My daughter is home from college so we have been shopping a lot!  Here are three of my latest beauty finds that have been really beneficial for my hair and skin.

Redken Contour 08 Shaping Lotion: Add oomph and structure to lifeless hair!

Because my hair is baby fine,  my new growth is hard to control.  With this (light hold) shaping lotion, my style stays the same – from my bathroom to my destination!  Halleluiah.  Simply work a smidge or so through wet hair (starting at the crown) and blow-dry as usual.  You’re gonna love this lotion!  Redken Contour 08 sells for $17.00/8.5 Fl. Oz.  For Redken products near you click
Redken Salon Locator .

Boots No. 7 Intense Beauty Serum: Seriously good stuff!

My skin became dry and flakey after I started taking Tamoxifen.  I tried many different moisturizers and nothing seemed to help.  I stumbled upon this skin care line at Target.  If you have troubled skin, like me, you will LOVE this product!  The serum is also unscented which makes me SO happy!
Boots products are moderately priced — No. 7 Beauty Serum is $22.00/ Fl. Oz.
For a store near you click Target Store Locator .

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Christoph  Volumizing Conditioner: Get a lot of cluck for your buck!

This lightly scented conditioner adds body while nourishing fine, fragile hair.  Perfect for new growth too!  I like to alternate between  Kerastase Bain Volumative Conditioner and  Christoph Volumizing Conditioner  depending on the weather  and condition of my hair hair.

Christoph Professional Conditioner is available at CVS Pharmacies for $7.99/10 Fl. Oz.
For a store near you click CVS Pharmacy Store Locator .

The Narcissus Bulbs growing on my window sill have really taken off!

I see four little buds … I should have darling/fragrant flowers any day now.  From bulbs to blooming in just two weeks!  Yahoo.  I will tie a holiday ribbon on this little pot and deliver it to one of my friends in the next day or so.

To read more about planting Narcissus Bulbs (Parerwhites) and information on other  gift ideas under $20.00, please see the last Tips and Tools post on December 12th.

Phalaenopsis Orchid: $13.99 at Trader Joe’s Markets
I was thrilled when my friend Donna gave me an orchid (and delicious dinner) after my Mastectomy. These orchids require little attention (water every few weeks) and can last up to three months. For a Trader Joe’s near you click STORE LOCATOR.

iTunes: This is a ridiculously easy and great gift for loved ones who are currently undergoing treatment. Buying music online during chemo was a biggie for me! iTunes gift cards are available from $10.00 to $100.00. Easy to purchase too — available at most markets and discount super stores like Target and Kmart. Tuck iTunes into a get well or holiday card; combine with a small box of fresh cookies or pastries from your favorite bakery and Voila – a super thoughtful, but inexpensive gift!

Planted 8 days ago and growing on a shady patio.

Paperwhites (Narcissus Bulbs):  My all time favorite! It’s not too late to plant bulbs for Christmas 2010!

Nothing says Christmas like the pretty white flowers (with a tiny yellow center) and sweet fragrance of Paperwhites. Stalks will generally pop up a week or so after planting. Bulbs can bloom in as quickly as three weeks and will continue to bloom for over a month.

Planted 8 days ago and growing on my windowsill.

I purchased 6 bulbs for $6.99 from our local nursery. Terracotta pots are inexpensive (under $2.00 for a 6” pot)) and look great tied with a holiday bow!

Planted 3 1/2 to 4 weeks ago.  So pretty!

To Plant: Fill a pot with potting soil 3 to 4 inches below the rim. Evenly space bulbs (about two inches apart) leaving at least 2” from the side of the pot. Cover with soil and place in a cool, shaded area. Carefully wet soil.

Or, simply fill a pot with soil and place bulbs directly on top. Lightly wet soil and wham, you’re done! Once stalks start growing, there is almost nothing you can do to keep them from blooming. Fool proof — I LOVE that! Grow Paperwhites on your front porch or window sill, or enjoy as a holiday centerpiece.

Although stalks may be small for Christmas 2010, Narcissus Bulbs are fun to watch grow and can be enjoyed long after the start of the new year!

I am a baked goods snob and think everything tastes better when made from scratch.  However, I do have a simple solution for baking sweet treats on days when time is short or energy is lacking.  Trader Joe’s Markets offer a variety of wonderful bread and brownie mixes.  My favorites are Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread, Banana Bread, Spiced Apple Bread Mix, and Brownie Truffle Baking Mix. Yum.

The mixes are super easy to make and call for pure ingredients like butter, eggs, and milk.

Pop cooled bread into a cello bag with a cute ribbon tie, or arrange sliced bread on a pretty plate (one that doesn’t need to be returned) when saying you care with these “homemade without the hassle” goodies.

Click here to find a Trader Joe’s Market near you.

I lugged a huge (sort of obnoxious looking) designer leather tote with me on all treatment days. I filled the bag with snacks, bottled water, magazines, novels, a planner, address book, and mail. Since I usually stayed at the doctor’s office for four hours or more on infusion days, packing my tote full of goodies and things to do was really important.

Because I am always on the look out for great bags and accessories, I was THRILLED when I found Halsea in Newport Beach, California. I was actually overwhelmed by all of the one-of-a-kind bags and items for travel, so it took me a while to pull together the collection of items I thought would best suit my Pinxwear customers.  Perhaps I just needed an excuse to buy everything for myself?! Hah.

The new Halsea Kona Koi Blue Large Tote is a seriously CUTE bag … perfect for weekend getaways, over night stays, or long treatment days. With it’s unique retro feel, happy colors, zillions of interior pockets, and durable laminate finish, I can see why this is bag is so popular. Pair the large tote with the new Kona Koi Blue zip make-up bag for a darling matching set. All Halsea Totes are perfect for everyday use too — whether you’re heading to the market or off to your child’s soccer game … this is the bag to have! Treat yourself with a new Kona Koi Large Tote or surprise someone you love with this fabulous gift!

Because I am so excited about this bag — from now until June 12th, the Kona Koi Large Blue Tote  bag is 10% off with free shipping! To order

click http://www.pinxwear.com/item.php?item_id=255&category_id=52

and type in promotional code Halsea10 at check out for your discount.  Enjoy!

It’s hard to admit that losing my hair was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. Yah, I know, being diagnosed with cancer, having surgery followed by chemo basically sucked, but having a bald head was really tough too.

Like most breast cancer patients going through chemo, my hair fell out shortly after the first treatment. My scalp ached and strands fell out slowly at first and then in big clumps. Two weeks after my first infusion, my darling hairdresser came over to the house, cut off most of my hair, and then buzzed off the remaining precious follicles. My kids watched in amazement. Eric, true to form, stayed in the TV room and missed the entire thing. After darling Vicki was done with the buzz job, she helped me place my newly purchased wig on top on my head. A few adjustments later, I had a wig with the same hairstyle I had before I lost my hair. I thought it looked pretty good! I went downstairs to find Eric in the TV room (surprise) and started chatting away as usual. I finally said, “What do you think of the wig?” Sweet Eric replied, “It looks exactly like your old hair – I thought Vicki hadn’t shaved your head yet!” Whether he really though that or said it just to make me feel better doesn’t really matter – he made me feel like a million bucks with his nice comment.

Fast-forward one year. My hair had grown back in (about 2 inches all over) and it was time for me to remove the wig! Hooray. In true Cathy form, I went totally over board with styling products, hair extensions (for the bangs) and highlights. My new short doo was pretty cute and I was thrilled to have my own hair once again. After a few months, a few too many chemicals and bad products, my baby fine hair became brittle and started to break. After all I had gone through, I hated to lose my hair yet again! After scolding me a bit, Vicki recommended a fabulous line of products that literally saved my hair. I adore this line and have vowed to stick with it regardless of what’s on sale at the market! I still color and highlight my hair (let’s not get crazy) but now that my hair is healthier, there is far less damage.

I highly recommend products from Kerastase Paris for new hair growth. I use the Bain Volumative Shampoo and Volumactive Conditioner (for fine/damaged hair) every single day. I also LOVE Kerstase Age Recharge hair mask and use once every 3 to 5 days.

Looking for a gift for someone special?  Say “thinking of you” or “congratulations on finishing chemo” with these great hair products!

The Kerastase line is a bit pricey (ugh) but worth every nickel.  Kerastase Paris products are sold only in salons … for salons that carry these fine items click … salon locator

To place an order from The Gates Salon, please email Mayron Gurule at
thegatessalon.com or call 626.441.1188

A lovely fresh scent and a luxurious treat for the hair – Kerastase products, for you or someone you love.

I now receive Gwyneth Paltrow’s weekly newsletter called GOOP – so fun. In last week’s newsletter, Gwyneth recommended this lovely book about helping others and also shared some GREAT advice on how to touch someone’s heart.

Silverman & Sacks

How to Help
by Gwyneth Paltrow

“When someone you know is overwhelmed by life, confronted by obstacles that are a little too heavy to carry alone, it’s easy to feel unsure of how to respond.  That’s the time to remember it’s not what you do, but that you do something.  Often, we don’t realize that what may seem like a small gesture or an insignificant act to us can actually make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.   This book offers practical ways on how to reach out to help someone and lend a hand. There are no perfect words, no perfect gestures.  Simply reach out and touch someone’s heart.  Be brave, be a little more generous, be kind.”

So goes the introduction for a little book called Do Good: 201 Ways to Lend a Hand  is a sweet and often ingenious guide to helping us figure out waysin which we can help a loved one who needs support in some way.  It got us thinking, when life’s difficulties come crashing over, what are the ways in which we can offer a little life raft for those who have always been there for us. Aside from those contained in “Do Good,” here are some ideas on ways to support someone who is traversing one of life’s more serious obstacles.

My dear friend Wendy gave me these wonderful painted rocks!  A very special gift – I LOVE them!

Wendy is Founder of Bling Bling Rocks and sells darling painted and bedazzled rocks for all occasions.
Say happy birthday, thinking of you, or I love you with these sparkly, custom creations.

Tuck rocks and a pretty coordinating candle into a cute bag (stuffed with tissue paper) and you will have the PERFECT one-of-a-kind gift for a dear friend!  Another great way to say  “I care” or simply … YOU ROCK!!!

BLING BLING ROCKS
wendyp@roadrunner.com