Drum Roll Please ...

...as I unveil my most recent portrait.

I have gained a few years (thought I was going to say "weight" didn't you!). I am also getting much grayer, but I think I take a lovely portrait, don't you?





Yes, Miss Ky and I had our first Mother/Daughter facials, and I thought it was important enough to share with the world.

This isn't just any facial, either--

It's MUDDY H2O Chocolate Blueberry mask!! I had to forewarn Miss Ky not to try to eat it, but with the honey mixed in, it sure smells good!

If you recall (or not) when I first told you about this mask I used a testimonial from another blogger (who has gone private so I can't link to her). She had said that in her marriage, where a blond goes to being a red-head and her husband didn't notice, she was sold when after a Muddy H2O mask, he stopped dead in his tracks and said, "Your skin looks terrific!"

Miss Ky and I washed our masks off and I finished making dinner. At the table the Hubby said, "Is that your skin? No makeup? It's glowing!" so does that mean... never mind, I'll take the compliment.

I'm sold on this product, people!!

When Heidi (of Gabriela and Heidi, founders of Muddy H2O) emailed me to say she was coming to London, I turned my schedule upside down to go meet her in person. We had a great time.
I've got pictures of us in front of the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, but if you think I'm posting them, you're crazy.
Heidi is pixie-sized and standing next to her in a photo was a really bad idea on my part.

Now, a whole day galavanting around London with great company (her husband is as charming as she is!) was enough for me, but she brought me MORE goodies from Muddy-- including Pit Powder and Pit Stop, which the Hubby and I both love. (Please... check it out)

So, it's your turn to have great things come your way.

Leave me a comment. I have a little Muddy H2O love I'm going to send a lucky person... and if that's not enough? I am including a British copy (movie cover) of New Moon to read while you're making your skin pretty, AND I'll include some Cadbury (only the British Cadbury) hot chocolate to drink while reading the book as you make your skin pretty.

You don't have much time-- sorry, some crazy person with great looking skin set the rules. You have until the next post (tomorrow) goes up.
Good luck!

The down side of being a military wife

This morning, determined NOT to be addicted to blogging, I decided I would only pull in my email and then shut this Mac-baby down for the day. Things never quite work out how we plan, do they? (Yikes, I just did the British "question thing!" how funny).

Any who, I had an email from Heidi, of Muddy H2O.

I discovered MH2O through one of my favorite blog sites, Getinthecar! Jen was having a give-away for a Chocolate face mask and well, if there's anything with chocolate involved, you can count me in! I immediately went searching for a place to order.

Living overseas can really be a great experience. However, when you're longing for a taste of home or in need of something that you can't find here, things can get a bit frustrating. Few places will ship to an APO address. What APO means is, you post the item to me. It travels to NY where the military takes over and sees it to it's final destination. You don't pay any more than if you were shipping to your Grandma, but you do have to fill out a customs slip-- which is mostly a check-the-box-and-sign type of form. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out, but it does take extra effort. Many Ebay sellers won't ship to APO, Target has never shipped anything to APO, Amazon can't send electronics or gourmet items (so much for belonging to the "Hot Sauce of the Month" club) and I once spent an entire day uploading 600 pictures to Walmart only to be told at check-out that they wouldn't ship photos to an APO. You try to figure why.

So, when I contacted the MH2O company directly and asked how I could get my hands on a chocolate Muddy, Heidi told me she would ship it to me personally-- in support of my husband serving in the military.
Regardless how you feel about the war or anything else with the military, you need to know that on a regular basis, we are bombarded by negativity from total strangers. Once on an Amazon chat, I noticed some idiot taking a verbal punch at a Veteran and even though I normally don't get involved with chats, I felt like I needed to this time. Needless to say, he then attacked me with comments about how joining the military was our choice or rather maybe we didn't have a choice (inferring I had a lack of education). Whatever, Einstein.
We did choose the military for reasons I won't go into here, and it's not always easy. The 15 months we have lived here in England, my husband has been away in one place or another for more than half of it. He has missed several birthdays, 4th of July celebrations, Thanksgiving, "Firsts" (like first day of school for two kids, baby milestones for two babies, teenage 'firsts' etc...). He has been gone when the house needed repairs, the tires have gone flat, vehicular accidents and most recently, for the High School Graduation and overseas move of our teenager.
I am proud of him. He works hard, loves his family and loves his country. So I really like people like Heidi that recognize him and the sacrifice he makes in serving our country.

Today's email from Heidi went something like this:

"I mailed your box this afternoon. I ran into a little wrinkle when I attempted to ship the package. I naively believed that if I sent your package via an APO address and you were an American citizen then the package would not be considered "export merchandise". Hooooo Weeeeee..... " "I got from the clerk a big, fat "You can't send this, Lady!"
'So, instead. I sent your package as a gift. Your Visa number has been shredded and will never see the light of day again. Please accept this gift from Muddy H2O as our show of appreciation for your husband serving in our military and your hard work at being "Mom" and "Wife". You deserve a little chocolate pampering.' "

Wow. I almost cried. I immediately thought, "What can I do to repay this lady who has never met me or my husband?"
And then it came to me.
All six of you reading this blog, no pressure, but what I am hoping you will do is 1.) If you've EVER done a facial in your entire life, would you please support this company and try one of theirs? They even have single packets, so you don't have to break the bank with this. and 2.) Could you send the link to every warm-blooded being you know so that THEY will support this company? They have retailers all through the West (that will ship to the East, not sure about Canada though, Tara).
If you're not sold on this product, click here to read Jen's account. Her HUSBAND noticed.....