Mineral Makeup... a mom's magic look naturally beautiful!

I'm one of those majorities of women who shun away make up. It's not that I don't like it, but sad to say, I have sensitive-pimple-acne prone skin. Yes I have fair skin, and have nice legs that my hubby gushes over. But I feel that my legs are more flawless than my face, lol! In spite of facials, derma treatments, I accepted my fate about my skin, and that make up gives me more zits!!! Not only is my facial skin so sensitive, but my lips is often choppy! I can't find a good lipstick to give it enough moisture... Oh, I was given a good brand that my lips like most - a costly US hypoallergenic brand! Oh, something I would love to have but won't buy! The practical (or 'kuripot') side in me would not prioritize such costs of this make up brand.

Lo and behold! I found an answer to my search for something to color my face! Mineral Make Up, particularly Ellana Minerals. I was able to try to try it for Mom's Today Mommy Power Event. I was able to ask about the product and have a dose of their complete product range: foundations, blush, multipurpose powders, and lip tints. To top it all, the brushes are divine. My judgement - no itch or breakout after wearing it for more than half day! That's a milestone for me!

Aside from what we already know about mineral makeup - like being all natural and made of pigments not harmful to the skin, I like 3 things about Ellana Minerals. First, it is made by a Filipina to suit Pinay skin and our Pinoy weather. Second, Ellana is readily available online or through resellers. And finally, it’s budget-friendly! Makes moms like me less guilty for spending for myself and paying little for vanity!

So what does makeup do for me? Not that I am a makeup junkie.
Being a fulltime working mom, I like it that makeup gives color and life to my everyday look. While I'm pregnant, it gives me a healthy glow, in spite of the preggy hormones wearing me out! I don't have to worry about the chemicals in makeup penetrating my skin and my placenta. Now at 6 months postpartum, juggling 2 kids, exclusively breastfeeding my infant and keeping a fulltime work, it gives my esteem a boost when I hear others' comments. Something like, "Buti nagagawa mo pa mag-makeup kahit 2 na anak mo." (Good that you can still put makeup on in spite of having 2 kids). Since I'm a lactating mom too, I don't have to worry of chemicals affecting my breastmilk. During weekends, after prepping up the kids, the going-out stuff and settling the home, I ask my husband to give me a few minutes so I can brush up some colors to my face. Yes, I do put some light makeup - foundation, a blush and a lip tint so as I won't look harassed or worn out. Did I mention that we are hands on with our kids and we don't have yayas for them? Oh, and I like make up cause my husband likes seeing my natural look, and I get compliments from him (wink!).

That's why I like using natural make up or mineral makeup. It makes me look neat, feel confident about myself, and it naturally brings out my inner joy of being a woman and a fulfilled mom!

Isn't that a little price to pay for a feel-good, look-good mom?

Why Handy Mommy?

Handy Mommy could be any other woman like me! It is a given that motherhood is a 24/7 job! No day offs, no vacations, no even leaves and all. To add, life calls for so much demands on a mom - as a wife, a mother to her kids, managing the household, a career/professional life, are just some of important areas that moms have to balance. Being on my 4th year journey to motherhood, I came to many realizations and 'eureka' moments about the joys and challenges of being a mom, a hands-on-mom in particular. The books, hand me down infos, and degree in graduate school are all just supplements in handling the challenges it brings.

Thus, I'm giving life to Handy Mommy. Handy Mommy hopes to help moms and moms-to-be, even dads as well, to gain practical, affordable help in making herself well - in mind, body and spirit. Her sense of fulfillment must come internally and not on other people and things around. If mom is a happy and fulfilled person, then the kids and the family is well too.

As Oscar Wilde said "The best way to make children good is make them happy." I believe that for children to be happy, moms should be happy, recharged and find a balance between enriching herself, the kids, her hubby/partner, the home and other things important for her.

It may be easier said than done. But who said motherhood is easy? That's why Handy Mommy is here...

Thoughts during my pregnancy: My Baby and My Body

Written on March 2009

My baby and body... I see them as 2 different entities. As of my ultrasound last Saturday (Feb. 28), my baby is doing well and has a heartbeat of 163/min at 8 weeks gestational age. The doctor also did not note any hemorrhage inside my womb that may be a cause for bleeding. It was a relief knowing that! Thank God! Thus, we are assured of how our little one is. And I know that like Kuya Migo, our baby is a fighter. We're claiming a normal healthy baby and very good development for "her."

But my body is another story. While my baby is doing well, I feel that my body's a weakling! I am one of the statistics that gets really super hyper extra sensitive when pregnant. My pregnancy hormones are shooting high up. There's my nausea, the vomiting (am, noon, pm), the hyperacidity, the hunger pangs every 2 hours, the itch/infections, dizziness/ headache, the unexplained spotting, and the ever present pain in the abdomen that are possible heaviness/contractions (w/c are no nos!). Need I say more? It does not make me any normal having these. It drags me into each day hoping that things would be normal for me. It burdens me physically and emotionally. Yes, I keep giving myself pep talks on counting my blessing and looking at the bright side that I am carrying life inside me... Oh well, it does not work, it does not ease my discomforts, it does not stop my vomiting bouts.

Whatever happens, I have to give credit to myself in undergoing all these for the 4th time. It strains me emotionally. In my words, "I am emotionally tired from pregnancy difficulties!" Although I am emotionally ready to be a mom again, carrying the little one is another story for me. My husband, Koots and I told ourselves, that this would be our final try. It is not a normal life! And I must honor him for being the ever supportive husband. He makes sure that my needs are met and attends to everything in the house, while I lie down and rest. It was such a big help to ease me through each day.

Above my body, the baby is what all is about. Our desire for another child, like Kuya Migo, is greater than what we know would be the odds of pregnancy. And so we prayed and willed this to happen. And so we're praying hard for this little one to be healthy, easy, and normal and a pretty baby girl. Maia will be her name!

I don't know what would happen in the days to come. It may be easy, it may be harder. I'm just taking one day at a time, and praying that God would embrace my body and take care of my baby!