Giveaway! *$150 to JewelMint* (CLOSED)

-This giveaway is now CLOSED-

I am SO excited about today's giveaway hosted by JewelMint!

Fashion icon Kate Bosworth and Hollywood’s stylist of the year, Cher Coulter have teamed up to bring you the ultimate in affordable luxury with their member-only jewelry club. Based on your fashion personality and style you will be recommend personalized jewelry just for you. Such a fun concept!

Today JewelMint is giving one lucky reader $150 towards any 5 pieces they choose!


How you can win:

• You must be a follower of Delighted Momma
  
• Visit JewelMint and create a free account by taking the quick style quiz provided. Browse through the collection and come back and comment with your favorite piece!

Extra entries:
(leave a separate comment for each, total of 4 extra entries)

• Tweet about giveaway. Tag with @Delightedmomma
• Mention giveaway on Facebook
• Like JewelMint on Facebook
  
• Mention giveaway on blog

In addition, Delighted Momma readers can use the promo code DLITE50 for %50 off one item! This is for first time JewelMint customers. Offer expires 12/14.

Good luck! The winner will be picked at random and announced next week.

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The winner of the crochet fingerless gloves is:

Erin McFarland!

Congrats Erin! Please e-mail me at lindsay.kujawa@yahoo.com with your mailing address.

Skin Care Tip of the Week *How to Treat Blackheads*

Blackheads are annoying, especially when you feel like no matter what you do they keep coming back. Although, I must say as an esthetican there is nothing more satisfying than a good extraction session with a client. Gross...yes but someone has to do it ;)

What are blackheads?

A blackhead is a mass of hardened sebum (excess oil) and skin cells trapped in a hair follicle. When the follicle becomes filled with an excess amount of oil a blackhead will form. It is dark because it is exposed to oxygen.


Common misconceptions about blackheads:

• Blackheads are caused by poor cleansing and dirty skin- NOT true. In fact it is quite the opposite in most cases. When your skin is overly dry (from too much cleansing and not enough moisture) blackheads will form underneath the skin because your skin is overcompensating to produce more oil.
  

• The reason they are black is because there is dirt trapped under the skin- NOT true. The oil that is trapped beneath the pore turns dark brown or black because it is exposed to air. Similar to how a banana turns brown once opened and left on the counter.
  

How to treat and reduce blackheads:

• Do not over wash your face. Washing your face twice a day is ideal. See common face wash mistakes here and you can check out the oil cleansing method here.
  

• Steam your face once a week to soften up the blackheads and open up the follicles. This makes it easier to remove them. Be careful when extracting yourself, you can easily spread bacteria if your hands are not clean.

• Exfoliate 2-3 times per week. You can find an all natural exfoliator here.
  

• Apply a clay mask 2 times per week. The clay will help draw out the excess oil which will make blackheads less frequent. A DIY clay mask can be found here.
  

• Wear a mineral based or a non-comedogenic makeup if possible. Heavy foundation can clog pores, which can result in blackheads.
  

• If you have tried all the above remedies and want to take a little more aggressive route, make an appointment with an esthetican to have a few microdermabrasion treatments. Microdermabrasion removes the outer dead layer of skin, which will drastically improve the frequency of blackheads.
  

If you have any skin care topics that you would be interested in learning more about I would love to hear. You can either e-mail me or leave your suggestion in the comment section below.

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Things That Make Me Say Yeay *Thanksgiving*

My husband checking out all the Black Friday deals on electronics. He can dream :)

I am so thankful for my little growing belly. I am 11 1/2 weeks today. This picture really does no justice but you get the idea.

A beautiful Thanksgiving table set up by my mother-in-law.

Inspecting the turkey, which was delicious. SO moist and perfect! I think I still have a typhoon hangover...or whatever its called when you eat too much turkey.

End of the night impromptu puppet show.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

I am off to check out all the black Friday deals with all the other crazy people! Wish me luck ahh!

Would You Rather...

I had so much fun reading all the answers from last week's "Would You Rather!" Plus I didn't feel like a loser since you all played with me. Thank you ;)

As far as last weeks question goes I would rather wildly and uncontrollably flail my arms around whenever I walk. That way my arms would be super toned (like Jennifer Aniston ) and I would constantly be burning calories. Awesome.


Would You Rather...

Have to learn to walk all over again?

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OR

Learn to write all over again?

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Tough one right?

I cannot believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a wonderful day spending it with people you love and filling your bellies with amazing food.

Let the holiday dysfunction begin!

On a side note: I recently shared by top 10 beauty superfoods over at Yummy Mummy Kitchen, which is one of my favorite foodie blogs! You can check out Marina's awesome blog here.

Giveaway! *Crochet Fingerless Gloves*

Today's giveaway is hosted by Crochet Creations.

Crochet Creations was created by Felicia, who just so happens to be one of my really good friends! She specializes in baby beanies and her shop is absolutely adorable.

Felicia is offering one reader the chance to win the crochet maroon fingerless gloves pictured above. I have a pair of these and I wear them all the time! Plus you can still text and write e-mails...which is very important :)

How you can win:
(leave a separate comment for each)

• You must be a follower of Delighted Momma.
• Visit Crochet Creations and take a look around. Leave a comment telling me what you love.

Extra Entries:
(leave a separate comment for each)

• Tweet about giveaway. Tag with @ Delightedmomma
• Mention giveaway on Facebook
• Be creative and mention any where else you like! Please let me know where you did.
  

Good luck! The winner will be picked at random and announced next week.

Skin Care Tip of the Week *Using Apple Cider Vinegar Topically*

I have talked extensively about the amazing benefits of raw apple cider vinegar when you drink it daily, however I had a huge response of people wondering about the benefits when applied topically.

The benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar when applied topically are:

• It is rich in Alpha Hydroxy acids which help dissolve fatty deposits on the skin, which appear as little flakes or dry patches
• Helps balance the PH of your skin
• Because of the high amount of Alpha Hydroxy Acid it contains, apple cider vinegar can also help lighten sun and age spots
  
• Wonderful spot treatment for blemishes

To use apple cider vinegar topically for acne:

• Do a skin test first to make sure your skin is not too sensitive. Place a small amount on your neck and leave it on for 15 minutes. If you do not see any reaction then you can apply it directly to your face.
  
• To start, dilute 1 part apple cider vinegar with 3 parts water. If you can handle this after a week you can decrease the water ratio. If you feel it is too strong for your skin increase the water ratio.
  
• Using a clean cotton ball or q-tip dab the solution onto the affected area and leave on for about 20 minutes then rinse off. This should be repeated 2-3 times a day until the acne clears.

For more severe cases you may either leave this ratio solution on overnight and rinse off in the morning.

I only suggest using organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar.

If you have any questions regarding this post you can leave them in the comment section and I will be happy to answer.

Hello!

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Happy Friday! Thank you all for the kind words on yesterday's post. Means the world!

I am over at Nifty Thrifty Things today sharing a few of my favorite things from the past month or so.

Hop on over to say hello!

Have a wonderful weekend!

On a side random note:
Morning (all day) sickness has really been kicking my butt. Not to gross you out too much but I spend a lot of my day dry heaving and or throwing up. Sooo a few days ago my son Max started "mimicking" the dry heaving sound and randomly making it whenever we are out! Ahh great.

Living With Type 1 Diabetes

I never want to come off as someone who has constant rainbows shooting out of my butt...because that's not real life, and I want this blog to represent me...all of me.

Being Type 1 diabetic is a BIG part of my life, and I have felt recently that I wanted to share a little more about that side of me. I have also received quite a few e-mails from other type 1 diabetics asking if I could talk about it more.

I have been diabetic for 19 years. I was diagnosed when I was 7. My symptoms were:

• I lost a significant amount of weight
• Had no energy
• Was extremely thirsty
• Wanted to sleep all the time
• I was irritable
• I was starving (because my blood sugars were up in the 800s..which is near death range) and had to pee every 10 minutes due to the high amount of sugar that was in my bloodstream.

My Mom and Dad thought I had a bladder infection (because I was going to the restroom every 10 minutes) so they took me to my pediatrician. He knew right away something was wrong. He tested by blood and told my parents to sit down. He said, "She has Juvenile Diabetes (different from type 2) we need to get her to the hospital as soon as possible." My Mom fainted! Yep..

The Dr. told me I would have to spend a little time in the hospital in order to get better. I was scared. Hospitals are where people go to die (in my 7 year old brain that's what I thought). I found out a few years later that I would have most likely gone into a permanent coma if I was diagnosed any later.

I took one last shower before we left for the hospital and I remember standing there crying. Why was God letting this happen to me? My Mom and Dad packed me a suitcase and off we went.

I stayed at Children's Hospital in San Diego for one week. I still remember to this day the sweet nurses that helped me understand what I was going through and what I would have to do.

I had to start doing shots (4 a day) and testing my blood sugar every hour or so. I got to practice on my Dad. He would let me inject his arm with saline every time I had to do an insulin shot so I did not feel alone. Looking back, that makes me smile.

I remember asking, "When will I get better?" The kind nurses gently told me that I was going to have to do this for the rest of my life. I grew up a lot that week at Children's Hospital, I knew things were going to be different.

I have definitely had some scary moments with diabetes. I have had three seizures due to low blood sugar. My parents were always worried about me and sleepovers did not happen when I was little unless one of the parents was either a Dr. or a Nurse.

Fast forward to today.

I am a healthy, married 26 year old woman with a perfectly healthy 16 month old son with another baby on the way. Diabetes is a huge part of my life and it is something that I deal with everyday. Everything I eat and do I have to think about.

Yes I still have moments where I feel scared and weak and wish diabetes would just go away, BUT I know God gave this to me to somehow help others that may be feeling like they are all alone in the world of diabetes.


If you have any questions please comment below and if you would like more information visit the American Diabetes Association.

Skinny Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite things to eat on Thanksgiving, but this year since I am pregnant and on a really strict low carb diet (for my diabetes) real mashed potatoes are out (bummer).

I recently started researching alternatives to some of my favorite dishes because there is NO way my plate will be without a big ole pile of mash potatoes.

I came across this recipe that uses cauliflower instead of potatoes. Hmmm not a big cauliflower fan so I wasn't sure. If there is a choice of either celery or cauliflower in a veggie dish 9 times out of 10 I will choose the celery. BUT I decided to give it a try since the reviews were outstanding.

***BEST MOCK mashed potatoes I have ever had!***

What you will need:

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1 tablespoon of cream cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 5 or so dashes of pepper
• Chives for garnish
  

Directions:

1. Wash and cut cauliflower into small pieces. Boil in a pot of water for about 10-15 minutes or until soft and cooked.
2. Drain and dry using paper towels. Immediately place in food processor or blender. You do not want the cauliflower to cool.
3. Puree the cauliflower with the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
4. Sprinkle the top with chives and a few dashes of pepper. Serve!
   

These were seriously unbelievable! I will definitely be making these for Thanksgiving. They were creamy and smooth, just like mashed potatoes should be. Such a delicious alternative... plus you don't need to feel guilty if you go back for seconds or thirds since they are virtually carb free! This is also a great side dish to bring if you still plan on making the real thing.

Would You Rather...

Ever since I was little I was completely obsessed with "Would you rather" questions. I remember sitting in the car with my Dad and I would ask him, "Would you rather get stabbed or jump off a cliff?" Yes I am aware that normal children most likely would not ask such questions ...but I really wanted to know.

I would fill long car rides with hours of strange questions and the game usually ended with one of my parents telling me it was "quiet time" now.

So when I recently discovered there was an actual game FILLED with ridiculous questions I knew it was a match made in crazy heaven!

The only problem is no one wants to play with me (sad). I bring it out at family functions and I get ignored! So I end up completely cracking myself up as I read the questions aloud and play the game by myself :)

I figured there MUST be people out there who enjoy this as much as I do...SO I am going to start a random little feature on my blog called "Would You Rather."

Are you ready for this awesomeness? I hope so!

Would you rather...

Have your skin change into vibrant colors according to your emotional state (e.g red for anger, blue for sadness) -OR- wildly and uncontrollably flail your arms around whenever you walk?

Skin Care Tip of the Week *Makeup*

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The type of makeup you use can make a huge difference in the overall health of your skin.

Before I decided to work for myself, I worked in a medical spa where I specialized in corrective skin treatments and face makeup consultations. Most of the time I worked with clients who experienced severe acne, rosacea and pigmentation problems. Using the correct face makeup played a huge role in the improvement of their skin.

Everyone can benefit from wearing makeup that will let your skin breath and will not clog your pores. Makeup should enhance and work to improve the health of your skin, not cause irritation.

What to look for when choosing makeup:

• Makeup that is free of synthetic dyes
• Makeup that is free of talcs (which can clog pores and irritate skin)
  
• Makeup that is free of synthetic fragrances
• Makeup that does not contain artificial binders (which are added to give makeup that extra silky smooth effect)
  

I listed some of my favorite face makeup products above, which I highly recommend.

If you are experiencing breakouts, clogged pores or your face just feels irritated...taking a look at the type of makeup you use can give you quite a bit of insight into why you may be experiencing these problems.

If you have any questions regarding this post you can leave them in the comment section and I will be happy to answer.

Things That Make Me Say Yeay

My new "Wild Thing Max" iPhone case from Society6.

A sparkly coin purse that I have been using.

The latest Anthropologie issue that is filled with beautiful things front to back.

Eating little handfuls of organic chocolate chips while making cookies :)

A recent thrifting find...a vintage Pyrex dish.

On a side note: There is supposed to be a crazy thunder storm here on Saturday! I live in California where everything is exaggerated so I am sure there will be a emergency alert going off on the TV every 10 minutes as usual.

We are having some friends over for a cookie exchange tomorrow so I have to get creative and think of something good!

Only a few days left to enter the Son of a Sailor double necklace giveaway!

DIY Colorblock Earrings

This is such a fun and easy way to spruce up those old boring silver hoop earrings that you may laying around. Does anyone even wear silver hoop earrings anymore? I don't. This little project was inspired by these bracelets that I made a while back.

What you will need:

• 2 different colors of embroidery thread
• Hoop earrings
• Krazy Glue (not shown)
• Scissors (not shown)
  

Cut two long pieces of embroidery thread. Tie a tight knot around the end. Choose a color that you would like to start with (orange) and begin tightly wrapping it around the earring, while keeping the second thread (purple) tucked behind.

When you are ready to add the second color (purple), simply tuck the orange thread behind and begin wrapping the purple.

When you reach the end tie a tight knot and cut off the remaining thread.

Add a drop of Krazy Glue to each end to keep the thread from coming loose.

I never know what to say at the end of the finished product other than...TADA!

On a side note: I just found out that a Hobby Lobby opened up literally down the street from me. I am so excited about this you have no idea. I wonder if they carry polymer clay...hmm!

ROCKABYE BABY!- lullaby renditions of timeless rock songs

Rockabye Baby recently sent me their latest lullaby version of none other than the great Van Halen! I had so much fun listening to all the classic songs and I know baby #2 will love it too!

Rockabye Baby transforms timeless rock songs into beautiful lullabies. Now you may be thinking what's soothing about guitars and drums rocking out? Rockabye Baby traded the adult version of the sounds for soothing mellotrons, vibraphones and bells, and the volume is turned down from an eleven to a two. This is the coolest lullaby CD that I have ever heard!

They carry all the great classics from artists like The Beatles, Bob Marley, Journey, The Eagles, Pearl Jam, No Doubt and so many more! You can see the full list of artists here.

Such a fun gift for a new Mom! If you are an expecting Mother or know someone who is expecting I highly recommend you check out their website.

To hear a clip from the Van Halen soundtrack you can check it out here.

Giveaway! *2 Son of a Sailor Pendant Necklaces* -NOW CLOSED-

This giveaway is now closed. The winner is Stephanie of Pretty Much Art.

Today's giveaway is hosted by Son of a Sailor

Son of a Sailor was created by Jessica and William, who together make incredibly beautiful handmade jewelry!

Son of a Sailor is SO generous and is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a pair of two 18" necklaces each with a letter and a geometric charm. The idea is that you keep one and give the other to a friend. With Christmas approaching I think this is the best idea ever!

How you can win:
(leave a separate comment for each)

• You must be a follower of Delighted Momma
• Visit Son of a Sailor and let me know which two geometric charms and letters you would like on both of your necklaces.
  

Extra Entries:
(leave a separate comment for each)

• Tweet about giveaway. Tag with @Delightedmomma
• Like Son of a Sailor on Facebook
  
• Follow Son of a Sailor's blog
  
• Mention giveaway on Facebook
• Be creative and mention anywhere else you like! Please let me know where you did.

Good luck! The winner will be picked at random and announced next Tuesday.

Skin Care Tip of the Week *A Great Beauty Essential*

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Cleansing facial wipes are one of my favorite beauty essentials.

I always remind my clients that wearing makeup to the gym is one of the worst things you can do. Yes I am aware that when you have an ugly zit you want to cover it up, but in the long run you are doing more harm than good. While you sweat your pores open and you are inviting bacteria and makeup to seep in.

Since washing your face pre-workout is not always on the top of everyone's priority list, facial wipes can solve that problem.

Not only are cleansing facial wipes quick and easy to use but they also effectively remove dirt and makeup.

They are the perfect solution to clean skin if you don't have time to wash your face before bed. I keep a pack in my gym bag, the car and on my bathroom sink.

A couple brands that I really like and recommend are: Korres Pomegranate Cleansing Wipes and Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes.

For more information on facial cleansing you can read this post.

Things That Make Me Say Yeay

So what exactly is this bumble bee looking device? Its a life saver...literally. It is called a continuous glucose monitoring system. It attaches to my stomach and I wear it 24 hours a day while pregnant. It uses wireless technology and displays my blood sugar readings on my insulin pump every five minutes. My new sensor just came in the mail this week and I could not be more excited....even if it does look like I have two belly buttons (which my nephew pointed out).

Max was Max from Where The Wild Things Are for Halloween. I felt like it was a pretty fitting little costume.

I have been OBSESSED with orange flavored tic tacs.

These two boys mowing Grandpa's grass (weeds).

A new cozy sweater that I have been wearing everywhere.

Have a wonderful weekend! Any fun plans? I plan on relaxing and not doing anything...love those kind of weekends.

Skinny Spaghetti

There is no denying that a delicious bowl of pasta is satisfying and delicious...but did you know that you can still have "pasta" without the carb overload?

Spaghetti squash is a delicious and healthy alternative that is high in fiber and low in calories. Once cooked the inside of a spaghetti squash looks just like pasta and you can make it however you would normally make a pasta dish.

There are several ways to cook a spaghetti squash. You can microwave it, bake it, boil it or crock pot it. I pierced it with a knife several times (if you don't pierce it you will end up with a squash explosion..yes this happened to me one time when I tried to microwave it) and boiled it whole for about an hour.

Once it has cooked and cooled, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Use a fork to scoop out the spaghetti. If you want you can bake the seeds just like you would with pumpkin seeds.

You can season it however you want! I used a little olive oil, feta cheese, diced tomatoes, basil, onions, salt and pepper.

Having Faith

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I know I have been a little MIA this week on the blog. For starters my computer decided to poop out on me and you cant really blog without a computer and secondly I received some not so good news on Monday.

My Dr. who helps manage my diabetes called to tell me my recent blood tests came back and the results indicated that my diabetes management is not where it should be in order to have a healthy pregnancy.

I panicked and had a mini melt down.

What if something happens to my baby? I would feel like it would be completely my fault.

As a type 1 diabetic (different from type 2) pregnancy is considered very high risk. Your risk of miscarriage is increased as well as your baby developing abnormalities if your blood sugars are not under tight control.

I prayed and realized I have to have faith in God. He is the only one that can predict the outcome of a situation.

Pregnancy is a blessing and I truly believe God only gives you what you can handle. I know I can handle this.

Yes I would love to eat a nice toasted bagel for breakfast...with a side of Taco Bell but that is just not possible. Its time for me to go into military mode as far as my diet goes. Its low carb smoothies for breakfast if it sounds good or not.

The reality is I only have one shot at determining the outcome of our future baby.

There is no try only DO...My husband Ian always tells me that. It's a quote from Star Wars apparently.


On a side note: It is NOVEMBER! My two favorite holidays are approaching and I could not be more excited about that.

Olive Yew Necklace Winner Announced!

Thank you to everyone who entered the Olive Yew Giveaway!

The winner is...



Lucky #13! Congrats Libby! Please email me at lindsay.kujawa@yahoo.com


For those of you who said..." Awww man," I will be having another fantastic giveaway coming up soon!