A Beautiful Before + After Giveaway!

For years I have been posting Before + After photos from my client’s home makeovers. Creating beautiful living spaces that are comfortable and inviting, while adding designer touches that they might not have thought of on their own, has been a rewarding process. I love when my clients are happy with their makeover transformations!

Recently I experienced a transforming before and after of my own. A friend of mine invited me to try Rodan + Fields, a top-selling skin care product line formerly sold in fine department stores, now sold exclusively through independent consultants who share the benefits of the products mainly through social media and sometimes at hosted events.

Soothe Regimen for Sensitive, Irritated Skin and Facial Redness

Before R+F, my sensitive skin had been acting up for years, and I was having a hard time finding the right combination of products to address redness and irritation. Makeup helped, but constantly covering up the problem wasn’t addressing the underlying poor condition of my skin. Topical medications hadn’t alleviated the problem either. I figured if the Rodan + Fields Soothe line for sensitive skin could solve my skin challenges, I would share the product with others, just as my friend had with me. 

“To see real changes in your skin’s appearance, you need to use the right concentration of clinically active ingredients in the right formulations and in the right order.”

Rodan + Fields formulas offer a multi-med therapy approach to skin care, utilizing a tested combination of cosmetic and active over-the-counter ingredients “in the right formulation in the right order” to visibly improve the complexion. Almost immediately after starting my new Soothe regimen, the texture and condition of my skin improved dramatically. And I have to admit, I really like having this new morning and evening self-care routine as part of my daily ritual. The multiple step approach (wash, treat, moisturize, protect) feels very spa-like and I am definitely impressed with the results.

After five weeks of using Rodan + Fields, my skin now has a healthy glow, and I am not feeling the need to cover up with foundation as soon as I wake up. An added bonus is my typically dark under eye circles are becoming less noticeable, too, and I haven’t even switched from Soothe to the more powerful anti-aging regimens like Reverse or Redefine yet!

True to my word, I now want to share these fabulous products with others. As a brand ambassador for Rodan + Fields, I’d like to treat my blog readers to a special giveaway. To enter to win, all you have to do is visit my R+F consultant page and give the Solution Tool a try. By answering the questions provided (it should take less than 5 minutes) you will receive (via email) a customized skincare routine recommendation for your specific skin challenges. It’s like having a complimentary consult with a dermatologist without an appointment (Dr. Kathy Fields and Dr. Katie Rodan are the board certified dermatologists behind Rodan + Fields success). Couldn’t be easier!

Rodan + Fields Solution Tool

ENTER TO WIN!

Everyone who answers the Solution Tool questions will be entered in a drawing to win one of the following giveaway prizes (entry period from July 27th through August 3rd). Be sure to email yourself the results to count as an entry!

MINI FACIAL  //  A 5-minute Mini-Facial sample pack that includes Micro-Dermabrasion Paste, Redefine Night Renewing Serum and Redefine Lip Renewing Serum. 

ACUTE CARE STRIPS  //  One pair of super effective Redefine Acute Care self-adhesive skincare strips for expression lines, that “fill a wrinkle while you sleep.”

MULTI-FUNCTION EYE CREAM  //  One jar of Redefine Multi-Function Eye Cream (a $60 value) that utilizes powerful peptides to minimize the look of crow’s feet and reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.

REGIMEN OF YOUR CHOICE  //  And one winner will receive a complete Rodan + Fields skincare regimen of their choice (close to $200 value!) Based on your needs, you could try out a two-month supply of Redefine, Reverse, Soothe or Unblemish. I know you will love these products as much as I do, and I’d love your personal feedback on them, so enter now to win and I just may be showing your Before + After photos next!

Enter now by visiting my

Rodan + Fields consultant page

and try the Solution Tool!

{click here}

– last day to enter is 8.3.15 –

Left Shark Inspired Design

Who is your favorite? Left or Right?

In honor of #SharkWeek (July 5 – 12 on Discovery Channel) #TBT and #summervacation, here are some nautical inspired event design photos from my son’s Junior Prom “after party” back in May. The theme was “Cruisin’ Under the Stars” and I was on the decorating committee with a large group of other moms. It was probably one of my biggest design challenges since we had to transform such a large space (lobbies, gym, and multiple hallways from floor to ceiling, including adding lighting) with such a tiny budget (I am pretty sure most everyone spent their own money to make up the difference like I did, although I really tried to be resourceful!) And it all had to be done in about 3 hours while the kids were dancing away at their actual prom. And then it had to be taken down and completely cleaned up within an hour (between 1 and 2am!) It was crazy, with tons of people on site working on their designated areas, but the kids loved the transformation and the event kept them off the streets for the night.

A few pictures of what we were starting with ...

When they returned to the high school, it looked like this ...

A large wooden anchor made by one of the dads, wrapped with twinkle lights, made a big impression at the dock-like entrance.

Blinking lights acted as a beacon while scented summery blooms wrapped with burlap brightened the walkway. 

I created a pop-up sign with the event logo and cruise ship graphics at my day job at White Light Visual, then had my event team install illuminated star lanterns to the entire ceiling (with fishing line and magnetic hooks). A palm tree from a recent theatrical production was repurposed. The cinder block and tiled walls were covered in black craft paper (not that easy to do!!) A red carpet was added as a finishing touch.

A water station was set up in front of the vending machines which were hidden behind Home Goods clearance curtains that we hung from the ceiling (magnetic hooks with string through the grommets did the trick). A flat screen TV box was wrapped with a large graphic that I had printed at White Light. 

The water fountain niche turned tropical waterfall with lots of large tissue paper blossoms surrounding sparkly silver strands.

The kids needed directions on where special activities were happening. Using a pole banner kit that I borrowed from work, I created a nautical striped sign to point the way.

A spot to sit and chat or take selfies: the glass front trophy cases were wrapped with lots of ocean blue paper. I recovered a bench of mine with burlap stamped with passport travel art. The potted hibiscus in on my porch now.

My favorite part of this event design process, besides getting to work with my husband during install, was creating pop-up versions of Left and Right Shark. Using screen captures from the Katy Perry video, I recreated the graphics, printed them at work, and wrapped a couple more monitor boxes with them. Of course super-size beach ball props were required, and I just happened to find a pair of large steamer trunks on the side of the road a couple weeks before the prom. Not kidding.

Katy Perry Left Shark on YouTube

The Midnite Buffet committee did an amazing job with all of the food including a candy “bar” complete with sparkly lobster traps and an ocean backdrop. The students yearbook photos were displayed like nautical flags and were hung on rope along the walls of the 140 foot long corridor.

There were lots of great decorating moments created throughout the school by the numerous teams of volunteers. I especially liked the Duty Free shop window above.

It took dozens of people to support this one night event, from planning logistics to coordinating donations to ensuring our kids safety while providing a fun place to hang out after a special night (there was even a mechanical shark ride in the gym a.k.a. “Mussel Beach”). If you wonder if it was worth all the effort, I would have to say yes. It isn’t often that I get to do this sort of thing for my kids, and I always wish I could do or give more ... but making memorable moments is its own reward.

My favorite photo of the night : )

New home for Left Shark (or Pool Shark)

Star shaped paper lanterns and LED battery operated lights

are available via Just Artifacts

Summer on the North Shore

“S.S. Scruffy” by Tim Crowder, oil on panel, 2008  //  North Shore Mall, Peabody MA

OK, I took this photo in a mall. I loved the irony of it. What does your summer 2015 look like?