Up until now I have been lucky to get through this pregnancy with few if any uncomfortable symptoms. I am not saying the past 37 weeks have been easy, but they have been relatively drama free. However, sometime last week I got hit hard by the pregnant truck. My feet and ankles have started to swell, a true crime for the shoe obsessed like me. I have been wearing sneakers which is something I would normally NEVER do outside of an exercise class. To be fair they are super cute gold sneakers but still! I made the mistake of wearing heels to my baby shower last week and my feet are still paying the price.

I have a horrible pain in my rib cage where my daughter has decided to wedge her rear end. No matter how many ice packs I put on her fanny to try and freeze her out she just won’t budge. I liken the sensation to being stabbed in the ribs by a very strong little elf. All day. And night. No fun.

Finally, the skin on my belly has started to itch. And itch. All throughout my pregnancy I have been diligent about lathering up with belly oil to prevent stretch marks.  I am still stretch mark free but my dry, stretched, sensitive belly skin has become quite scratchy. When just applying my belly oil stopped soothing the itch I reached for a gift from my friend Britta Aragon of CV Skinlabs. Sure enough, a few sprays of CV Skinlab’s Rescue and Relief Spray did the trick. The extremely cooling, soothing spray instantly made my belly feel much better. I now give my belly a good spritz several times a day and have not suffered from the itchies since!

With CV Skinlabs, Britta has created an extremely effective line of soothing and healing products that are also 100% toxin free.

Why are toxin free products important? Well, did you know:

• The average woman wears over 500 chemicals on her face every day?
• Even teenage girls have makeup chemicals in their blood and urine?
• We all have measurable levels of the hormone-disrupting phthalates in our bodies, but women have more of them, most likely because of personal care products?
• People with sensitive skin are much more likely to experience painful and irritating reactions to harsh chemicals in personal care products?

Pretty scary huh? With the creation of CV Skinlabs, Britta has taken a stand against toxins in skin care. Britta is now starting a major skincare revolution with two main goals:

1) To deliver a sampling CV Skinlabs, into every hospital in the nation.

2) To start a marketing campaign to get CV Skinlabs into cancer centers nationwide.

To accomplish these goals, Britta is trying to raise $65,000, and needs your help! You can contribute to her crowdfunding campaign at www.igg.me/at/cvskinlabs, All contributions are rewarded, and no donation is too small.

The campaign ends on May 8th, 2013 so if you are as serious about toxin free skincare as I am don’t wait! Join me and Britta in the Natural Skincare Revolution!

Last week I co-hosted another Beauty Food Supper Club with the lovely Rebecca Casciano and Jolene Hart. This was our second event and we are having so much fun with them! Last week’s theme was Spring Renewal featuring a delicious spring detox inspired menu, a mini workshop on spring detox tips, and an exclusive gift bag featuring some of our favorite natural beauty brands! Everyone who attended had a wonderful time. As with the previous dinner I was so thrilled that guests were comfortable coming alone and that everyone made new friends and connections!

Once again our dinner was at Sun In Bloom in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Sun In Bloom is one of my favorite spots, chef/owner Aimee Follette could not be more sweet or talented!

To start off the evening guests were given a choice of either a Sweet Lady Green (Collard, Romaine, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley) or Green Lady Dream (Collard, Romaine, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley, Green Apple, Lime) juice.

After the green juice came a Kimchi Avocado Salad with Spiced Pumpkin Seeds Served on a Bed of Fresh Romaine with a Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing. This was the perfect salad to greet spring with. Packed with beauty ingredients such as avocado, pumpkin seeds and probiotic rich kimchi I could feel my skin glowing from the first bite!
While the guests enjoyed their salads, Rebecca, Jolene and I talked about easy ways to detox for spring. From household, to beauty, to internal cleaning tips we offered guests many ideas on how to greet the new season feeling fresh! I will be sharing our tips later this week so stay tuned!
Next up was a Carrot Ginger Jalapeno Lime Soup. I cannot wait to recreate this subtly spicy raw soup at home!
The final savory course was the Stimulating Sweet N’ Spicy Spring Role featuring Sunflower Seed Chipotle Pate wrapped in Rice Paper with Avocado, Mango, Zucchini, Cabbage and a Cilantro Lime Creme. This generously portioned role was so satisfying and filling that many of the guests took half of it home to enjoy the next day!

Before the evening came to a close Rebecca, Jolene and I each raffled off one of our services. I cannot wait to treat my winner to a Smoothie Party! On top of a belly full of beauty foods guests each went home with a deluxe gift bag from Me and the Girls, Risa’s Naturals, Blissoma, Dr. Alkaitis and Christopher Drummond Beauty to  help them furter beautify for spring!

We are already working on the date and details of our next Beauty Food Supper Club! Details to come soon!

Pregnancy is an incredible and constantly changing state of being. One day I feel sexy and on top of the world and the next I feel like a manatee that swallowed a basketball. Similar to the end of summer when I can no longer stand to look at my shorts and sun dresses I am getting to a point where I CANNOT WAIT to pack up my maternity clothes and pass them on to an expecting friend or store them in case we decide to have another baby down the road (still very undecided about that).

While growing a baby is indeed a miraculous process it certainly come with its share of surprises. I have been lucky to have had a very easy time these past 34 weeks, but I have certainly not been symptom free. My rib cage aches as if someone is prying me open from the inside out ( I guess they are?!?!). If I do not get at least a 30-minute nap in the afternoon I am useless past 8pm. My ankles and feet are starting to swell if I walk or sit for too long making wearing my beloved heels torture. To get through these last few weeks more comfortably I have been stretching my ribcage as much as possible, grabbing naps when I can, and spending time with my feet elevated (preferably up the wall).

Recently my ankles and feet have also been treated to a new and completely addictive at home spa treatment thanks to the kind folks at me & the girls. Me & the girls is a Beneficial Organic Beauty company that donates a portion of all of it’s proceeds to organizations such as Women for Women International, The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and GEMS. The entire me & the girls line is vegan, cruelty free and centered around supremely moisturizing Capuaca Seed Butter. All of their products make your skin look and feel amazing but it is the Lavandula Revive Foot Scrub and Creme that have really won my heart

After hoofing it around NYC all day nothing feels better on my swollen and achy feet than this scrub and creme. The Lavandula Revive Scrub has been called a “Pedicure in a Jar” and I have to agree. It helps perk up my tired feet with infusions of lavender, and fine grain sugar cane. The base of the scrub is a spearmint butter creme which leaves my feet feeling tingly and refreshed . The Lavandula Revive Foot Creme is a heavenly combination of capuscu seed butter and avocado oil blended into a mint moisturizer. I have been applying this creme every night before bed and I wake up with feet that are ready to tote ( haul?) my growing body around for another day

Me & the girls products are wonderful for anyone needing a little extra hydration and pampering in their lives, not just those of moisturizing for two! Their Limonum Sugar Body Scrub is a lovely in shower treat that leaves your whole body super soft and amazing smelling. The Bar Beleza Multi-Use Beauty Bar is a true multitasker that can be used as a non-foaming cleanser and moisturizer. It would be perfect for travel!

If you are in the NYC area and want to try some me & the girls products for yourself be sure to join me on April 4th at the next Beauty Food Supper Club.  Everyone who attends will go home with a deluxe gift bag featuring FULL SIZED me & the girls products along with other natural health and beauty goodies!

I am a sucker for Valentine’s Day. My rational brain knows that February 14th has become a day for florists, chocolatiers and lingerie makers to earn their yearly nut and restaurants to charge way to much for fancy prix-fixe menus but I still love it! I think it is nice to have a day devoted to love and all things sweet! In fact, somebody gave me a homemade Valentine today and I am still smiling!

In the past Doug and I have made big Valentine’s Day plans involving fancy dinners, theater tickets etc. While this is always fun, the more pregnant I get the harder it is for me to stay out late on a “school night.” So, this year we have decided to spend the night of the 14th at home together and go on a special delayed date Saturday night to a cheesy romantic movie and dinner at Pure Food and Wine. I am very excited!

In the true spirit of the holiday I almost always wear red or pink when going out for Valentine’s Day. I even have a special Valentine’s purse with hearts on it that gets broken out once a year! This winged eyeliner and deep lip look that Rebecca Casciano created for our latest video would be the perfect compliment to any Valentine’s ensemble. It is both sexy and playful, and quite easy to accomplish!

Get The Look: Rich Lips and Wingtips

Fill in eyebrows by applying a Tarte powder eye shadow with angled brush.

Add a highlight to your browbone and inner corner of the eye using a matte or shimmer eye shadow 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. We used Nvey Eco #162 in the Eye Color System #5.

Choose a neutral eye shadow a couple shades darker than your skin tone to your lid and blend up into the crease. This is Nvey Eco #168.

With a a dark liquid or cake liner, use an angled brush to make short stokes, as close as possible to the lash line. When you reach the outer corner of the eye, drag the brush up and out to a tapered point. Be sure to fill in any gaps between your strokes. We used Nvey Eco Organic Cake Liner in Brown.

Curl your lashes and add a few coats of black mascara like Nvey Eco’s Volumising Mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

Apply a warm, rosy blush to cheekbones and blend well. We used Alima Pure Matte Blush in Pink.

Finish the look with a deep red lipstick in a matte or cream texture. We applied Kranberry Lipstick by Youngblood with small a lip brush. This helps to create a more precise application.

(photos by Melissa Murphy melissamurphyphoto.com)

Last night’s Beauty Food Supper Club was a huge success. All of our guests had a wonderful time eating divine beauty foods, meeting new friends, and learning how beauty truly comes from the inside out! I personally loved that so many people felt comfortable to come solo. It was like a dinner party with the friends you never knew you had!

The menu was divine, Aimee Follette of Sun In Bloom is an incredibly talented chef whose dishes are truly nourishing inside and out. Everyone enjoyed the meal so much that most people bought soups, dressings and desserts to take home and enjoy over the weekend!

I could not have co-hoted this event with three lovelier women! Rebecca Casciano, Aimee Follette and Jolene Hart are true beautiues inside and out!

Our night started with a cucumber, pomegranate and ginger juice. Pomegrante boots the performance of nitric oxide, a chemical that keeps our circulatory systems young, our skin glowing – and gets us aroused! Ginger warms out bodies from the inside out while cooling inflammation that contributes to redness and breakouts.

Next up was the Divine Creamy Green Radiance Soup made with romaine lettuce, cucumber, parsley, avocado, lemon, garlic and sea salt. Avocado is one of the healthiest fats you can eat. It burns easily for energy and fires up the natural detox processes of the liver which helps skin stay clear and radiant. Lemon is full of collagen-building vitamin C, detoxifying for the liver and highly alkaline. A glass of lemon water first thing in the morning will do wonders for your internal ph keeping your body alkaline and healthy!

Our main course was a Hearty Balancing Macro Platter with quinoa, beans, tempeh, roasted butternut squash, steamed greens, wakame, raw sauerkraut, and Sun In Bloom’s famous ( and to die for) Live Sesame Ginger Dressing. Seriously, I could eat a bowl of that dressing! Wakame is packed with beauty minerals like calcium and magnesium to build your skin, hair, nails and bones. In my case it also helps with building the little one I am growing! Raw Sauerkraut is a natural probiotic that promotes healthy digestion. If your digestion is not working properly it will show in your skin. Healthy digestion=glowing skin!

We finished our meal with a truly decadent, divine dessert. The Chocolate Mayan Spiced Fudge Cake was one of the best sweet treats I have eaten in a long time. I adore anything that combines chocolate, cinnamon, spice and sea salt as is reminds me of Mexico! This cake was a perfect example of how something great tasting can also be great for you. Cacao improves skin hydration and reduces redness by increasing the supply of nutrients, blood, and oxygen to the skin. Cinnamon stabilizes blood sugar preventing insulin spikes that contribute to breakouts and advanced aging.

On the way out the door everyone was given a beauty gift bag featuring goodies from Tata Harper, Jane Iredale, Kahina Giving Beauty and Gnois Chocolate. The night was truly special and I cannot wait for our Spring Beauty Food Supper Club in April!

I never suffered from acne has a teen. I have always been blessed with good, clear, soft skin. Although I have been diligently getting monthly facials since I was 16,I have never had to work too hard to have a clear complexion. Well, pregnancy has changed that a bit!

While the skin on my face has remained glow-y, soft and clear my back and shoulders are a different story! Early into my pregnancy I developed a mild case of bacne, a common side effect of the hormone surplus expectant mamas experience. Add onto the hormones the amount I sweat daily from spinning and yoga and well, I guess it is not so surprising that I am having some breakout issues! While my case is not bad at all, it still irks a perfectionist like me. Ever since the first red patch reared it’s ugly head I have been on a mission to clear it up naturally, without resorting to anything harsh or toxic. I have not been able to clear it up entirely yet but have made great strides, and would even wear a sleeveless dress in public these days! Not preggers? These bacne fighting tips and finds would certainly work for non-pregnancy face breakouts as well!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Acne is a side effect of inflammation and acidity in your internal system. When your body is acidic and internally inflamed you can experience many unpleasant side effects such as illness, fatigue, weight gain, bloating, and yes… acne. While nothing has changed in my diet or routine to make my system more acidic the principal of fighting acidity with alkalinity still holds. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is highly alkalizing and can be used for a myriad of things. It is great as a salad dressing alternative and can be consumed in a glass of water for a daily alkaline dose. I have been applying diluted Apple Cider Vinegar to my bacne in order to alkalize my inflamed skin and calm it down. Despite the not so pleasant smell it does calm down my break out situation quite a bit!

Probiotics

Probiotics are another great way fight internal inflammation. Taking a quality probiotic daily helps make sure you have plenty of “good bacteria” in your gut which aids in digestions, clear skin, and an overall alkaline ( aka healthy) system. I always, always take a daily probiotic and have been doubling my usual dose during my pregnancy to make sure I am covered. I like the Dr. Ohirra’s brand because they are easy to find at most Whole Foods, and do not need to be refrigerated.

Blum Wipes

I work up a pretty good sweat almost every morning at Soul-Cyle. While my morning workout feels amazing, helps get my blood flowing, and has kept me strong and in shape it certainly does not help my bacne. Now, immediately after I work out I go to the ladies room, change out of my soaked top and wipe my back and shoulders with these Blum wipes. It really has helped!

Belli Anti- Blemish Facial Wash

Most acne washes contain lots of drying, questionable ingredients that I am not comfortable using- especially when pregnant. I was thrilled to discover Belli’s facial wash made especially for pregnancy acne. Although originally intended for the face a little on my loofah works great on my back!

Vered Therapeutic Balancing Face Oil

Most people’s instinct with acne is to try and dry it out completely. However, over drying the inflamed area will only make it worse. Your skin will start to produce more oil to compensate which will lead to more breakouts! I have been trying to keep my back nice and hydrated to calm it down. Vered Therapeutic Balancing Oil not only hydrates my inflamed skin but also calms it down and helps minimize the redness.

Bacials

Along with my monthly facials I have been having my aesthetician perform bacials, or back facials on me. I lay on my side (belly lying in no longer an option) and she cleans, exfoliates, extracts and generally works her magic on my back. This deep cleaning has certainly helped keep my bacne in check. Plus, my amazing aesthetician Jennifer is a new mom herself so I feel completely safe in her hands. She would never use anything on me that she wouldn’t to have used during her own pregnancy.

Patience… It’s Temporary

While I have been able to somewhat manage the minor breakouts on my back I have not been able to totally clear them up. Like many things in pregnancy there is no way to completely control what your body will do or how you will feel. When I am my most frustrated I try and remember that this is all only temporary and a VERY small price to pay for the little girl I get to meet in May.

I love anything purple. It has been my favorite color (with pink being a close second) for as long as I can remember. From decor, to fashion, to makeup, purple appears everywhere in my life. My den is a deep cozy purple and my baby’s nursery will feature pops of lavender and lilac. As a teen I even tried sporting violet colored contact lenses to look more like Liz Taylor!

This latest Get The Look video with Rebecca Casciano shows how using one color in various tones is anything but boring! Here purple, plum, eggplant, and mauve combine perfectly on eyes and lips for the sultry winter look. Just make sure to keep your cheeks light to maintain balance.

Get The Look: Pretty in Plum

Add a highlighter to your browbone and inner corner of the eye using a matte or shimmer eye shadow 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. We used the Jane Iredale Eye Steppes in Go Cool for all 3 eye shadow colors!

Choose a deep purple for your lid and blend up into the crease.

Add a second, brighter or lighter shade of purple into the crease and blend to brow bone.

Curl your lashes and add a few coats of black mascara to the top and bottom lashes. We used Nvey Eco Volumising Mascara.

Apply a mauve-toned blush like Jane Iredale’s Barely Rose to cheekbones and blend well.

Finish the look with either soft lavender or a rich eggplant lipstick or gloss. We choose Jane Iredale Lip Fixation in Relish.

I am very big on basics. I like having a drawer full of perfect tee shirts and tanks so I always have layering options (more on my preggers picks for these later!). I own more nude and black heels than I care to admit. I crave the same green smoothie each day. I use the same skin and body products morning and night. From my wardrobe, to my personal care, to my food I like to keep it simple (hence the name of my blog).

Every great makeup look starts with a base of flawless skin. In this latest video, recently featured as part of a series on Belle Belle Beauty, Rebecca Casciano shows me how to get perfectly prepped skin using some of our favorite clean products. If you follow these easy skin prep basics any makeup look you follow with is sure to be flawless!

How to Prep Your Skin

Spritz face with a hydrosol like Jane Iredale’s Balance Antioxidant Hydration Spray.

Apply a moisturizer like Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener by Jane Iredale.

Lightly tap on an eye cream or serum under eyes. We love Kahina Giving Beauty Eye Serum!

Apply lip balm liberally! We used CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm.

Fill in eyebrows with a dark brown eye shadow like Tarte Powder.

Apply foundation with a brush or fingers to even out skin tone. We used Jane Iredale “Glow Time” BBCream. A little goes a long way!

Add a concealer on lids as a base for eye shadow. Youngblood Ultimate Concealer does the trick…

Set everything with a pressed or loose powder like Smooth Operator by Tarte. It will extend the wear of your makeup!

I fully believe that the holiday season can be a time for health and wellness as well as indulgence. There is no reason that come January 1st you should feel like a bloated, exhausted version of yourself!

Yesterday I kicked of my healthy holiday season by participating in the Brick Church Holiday Fair’s First ( and hopefully annual) Wellness Day. Along with some of my favorite health and wellness brands and experts we showed the holiday shoppers how to indulge and enjoy the holidays while keeping their health in mind.

Just in time for holidays gifting I debuted my Clean, Pure and Simple Pumpkin Spice Granola and Coffee Cake. The granola is vegan, gluten free, grain free and nut free. The Coffee Cake is vegan, gluten free and grain free. Both are made in small batches with lots of love and organic ingredients.

Shoppers were able to try mini versions of the coffee cake as well as samples of the granola served with OMilk’s Pumpkin Pie Spice Cashew Milk! One particularly small shopper was a big fan of the coffee cake. I think he ate five samples before his mom agreed to order a few dozen for the holidays! You know you are onto something good when even kids like your food!I started the day well stocked with bags of granola but was wiped clean by 5pm! I am so thrilled that people are loving my healthy granola as much as I do!

Green Beauty Goddess Rebecca Casciano was also on hand to offer mini beauty consultations and makeup applications.Always grateful for a fresh face of makeup I made sure to visit Rebecca’s table during a lull in granola sales.
Latham Thomas, author of Mama Glow was there to sign copies of her amazing new book. If you know anyone who is expecting I highly suggest you pick them up a copy of Mama Glow! I was sure to pick up a few for some of my girlfriends with babies onboard!In between book signings Latham also stopped by Rebecca’s table to get touched up. Not that she needs it, she is truly the definition of glowing beauty!

Author, safe cosmetics expert and makeup artist Britta Aragon was also there with her natural skincare line CV Skinlabs. CV Skinlabs is an amazing line created to repair and restore the health of the skin. Originally formulated for the compromised skin of chemotherapy patients, the entire line is highly moisturizing, healing and nurturing.

Britta (on left) is a true inspiration. She is beyond passionate about what she does and it shows in the amazing quality of her products. I personally cannot wait to try my Rescue + Relief Spray  and Restorative Skin Balm. I know the balm will be especially useful for all those kitchen related burns I get on my hands!The final Wellness Day vendor was Emily Trower-Young of Sustainable Shanti. Sustainable Shanti’s line of natural balms treat everything form razor burn to diaper rash to sun burn. They all come adorably packed in tins and would make amazing holiday gifts! Emily is a true kindred spirit, we spent lost of time discussing the joys of bulk ingredient shipments such as 30 pound of seeds or 20 punds of coconut oil arriving at your door!If  you are in the NYC area and would like to try my Clean, Pure and Simple Pumpkin Spice Granola or Coffee Cake for yourself send me an email at sara@sarajanemercer.com and I will send you an order form!