New Dry Shampoo Update on Batiste

Before this blog becomes completely shoes, and some occasional purses and beauty products, I need to add a short review for another dry shampoo. Batiste, original scent.

You can find more about Batiste products at their website.

When I did my dry shampoo review back in December 2013 two of my best friends asked me if I had ever tried Batiste and I had not. I started using Batiste in January and I must say I've been really impressed. It controls even my super oily hair and lets me skip a shampoo day.

So far I would rank my favorite dry shampoos in this order:

1. Bumble and Bumble hair powder
2.Got 2b Rockin It dry shampoo
3.Batiste dry shampoo

Sadly, TRESemme doesn't even make the list for me. I used half the bottle and gave it a fair chance.

When I found the Batiste in my neighborhood Kroger I saw that another one of my favorite hair product companies also has a dry shampoo. Big Sexy Hair also makes one! I'll let y'all know what I think of that one once I try it.

Do any of you use dry shampoo? If so, what has worked for you?

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You--- ShoeGirl Corner To Re-launch as a Shoe Blog

I have some exciting news. ShoeGirlCorner.com is about to re-launch as a Shoe blog this year. I say in my intro that I don't sell shoes, however shoes are a big part of my life. I'm not one of those people that has a million shoes. I'm just your normal, every day working mom who has a healthy amount of shoes. The most important thing to me when it comes to shoes is variety. I aspire to have a shoe in every major color, both closed toe and open toe.

My TOMS ballet flats.

For example, I recently fell in love with TOMS ballet flats. They are so comfortable! And they have been my life-savers this past month. ($79-$89)

I love heels! I'm only 5'2 so heels have been a way of life for me ever since my mother let me put on that first pair when I was around fifteen years old. I wish I could remember the exact first pair but I can bet it was a pair of shiny black patent leather pumps. It was the 80s after all!

Six weeks ago I started feeling a pain in my Achilles tendon when I wore my favorite Nine West sling backs with a platform in the front. I couldn't believe that was happening to me. I was in such denial that I wore them to an event again the next day and sadly I could hardly walk on my heels.

I very reluctantly made an appointment with a podiatrist. I have heard so many horror stories about podiatrist visits. I've had friends and friends of friends who have had foot surgery and never wore a pair of high heels again. My rational side know that this isn't the case with every person but I am still leery. In the end I decided to cancel my appointment and to treat myself by not wearing heels. My therapy was wearing my TOMS ballet flats and Nikes.

I went about five weeks without wearing heels and then I wore a pair of enclosed Nine West black pumps that gave my foot support. My foot only hurt slightly but the next day while wearing flats I felt the pain again. Not good.

My new pain is on the same foot but it's the ankle this time. I wore my TOMS all weekend and I could feel the pain shooting on the side of my foot. Sadly I realize that I have to make that appointment with the podiatrist. This is not going to be good... Thank goodness for my TOMS flats.

Check back often and you'll find a whole new look at ShoeGirl Corner. Same name and you'll still be able to enter through shoegirlcorner.com, but a brand new layout, plus weekly content on shoes. The topics will vary. Like this one, what shoes to wear when you are having foot problems. What if you're a woman who wears a size 12. Where can you find cute sexy shoes? What about women who don't like very high heels but would still like to find a sexy sling back in a medium size or kitten heel?

I may throw in some beauty product ideas to spice things up sometimes. I have beauty needs like all women! It will still be ME, a Latina mom who loves shoes and who is juggling two kids and a writing life. I will definitely take suggestions so please feel free to leave a comment or PM me if you know me in real life. I'm excited! And I hope you are too.

On My 44th Year of Life

Last night I was on the phone with a friend who I hadn't talked to in a while. She asked me how long it had been since I left the Chronicle, my job of 16 years, and I told her nine months. She laughed at the irony of 9 months- the time that we are pregnant- and said that it was as if I had rebirthed myself. I also laughed because I hadn't thought of that coincidence. Also that now, right around my 44th birthday, I have decided to go back to work full time after a 9 month hiatus. Born again.

Me at around one year old.

Nine months to reflect and to enjoy life. Nine months of time with my kids that I had never had before. I don't regret anything. I am grateful for the time that I have had and I am grateful for all the other things I have had in this time. I appreciate our time at the beach at the beginning of the summer, our vacation to DC, NY and Philly, being able to pick up Seth at 3 p.m. from school, having dinner made by 5 many days, being here to help with my dad, editing my novel and finding an editor to help me, and just having the choice.

So many people don't have that choice. I've done something that so many people wish they could do. I also appreciate the opportunity that I've had to start my own business and to be my own boss. That has been a great experience and although I've appreciated it, my realistic side has told me that I'm not making enough and it's time for me to go back to work.

I have been very fortunate. I have been healthy, my kids are healthy, my dad has gotten a lot better since he started living with me, and I have had the means to support us. I have also been able to help out a friend in need.

Yes there have also been challenges. There always are because that's what life is all about.

Last night I watched the latest episode of GIRLS, "Free Snacks,"and I could totally relate to Hannah and her struggle. I have always struggled with my writing and making a living. So much so that sometimes I feel like I'm not a serious writer because I haven't really made the time in my life to write full time. Even in these 9 months that I've been working for myself I have been trying to build my business to make money. I told myself that I was doing this as a means to an end- to have more freedom to write- but I didn't really write. I edited, which is great, and I still have more editing to do, but I didn't write my next novel.

So if I'm going to mention any one regret that would be it. Even then it's only a half regret because at least I got Novel #1 edited and now I can get it ready for publishing. That in itself was a great accomplishment and something I hadn't been able to do in 8 years because I was working full time and caught up in all the other intricacies of life. So I can't complain and I have to show gratitude for this too.

Every year I make my goals at the beginning of the year but since my birthday is in February I take this time to revisit those goals and to revise them where needed. This week my revision was a big one. I decided I am going back to work full time. I've put the word out on Facebook and LinkedIn. I've let the world know that I'm going back to work full time! Now let's see what comes back to me.

My Recurring Final Exam Dream with a Twist

I had that recurring dream again. The one where I get to a class to take a final, but as it turns out I didn't go to class all semester. I forgot about the class and never attended, never did the reading, and now here I am and I have to take the final. And somehow this is always the last class that I need to take for my last college credit to graduate. In the back of my mind I know that I don't really need this class and that I've already graduated. I try to reason with myself not to panic and that's usually around the time that I wake up and I know for sure that it's a dream.

Miranda and I two years ago at her 5th grade graduation.

I hadn't had that dream in a while and I had it a few nights ago, but this time there was a different twist to the plot. Miranda was in the dream this time and I think it was her test but it was also my test. Wow! Freud would have a field day with that one.

I've always heard that the test dream can mean several things. The main interpretation I've heard is that you dream this when you have some big deadline at work or when you're going to be expected to perform. I personally always wondered if there was some correlation between the dream and the Imposter Syndrome theory. Like maybe it's my own insecurity and disbelief that I have actually accomplished as much as I have in my education and professionally. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I did all the course work and that I wrote a thesis to receive my Master's.

When researching this again recently I found this interesting article in Psychology Today that discusses several variations of the dream and the hypotheses. In this particular case when I had the dream, and because Miranda is in it, I think it's because I'm feeling the pressure of my kids' success now. Miranda is in 7th grade and next year this time we'll be waiting to hear back from her high school applications. (I've blogged before about living in the city and our great Magnet school program.)

As parents I believe we think our kids are a reflection of us and how well we've taught them. I feel that pressure many times and I know I shouldn't. My kids are going to be who they are going to be and as their mom my job is to be there and to guide them.

Or does the dream mean something more personal? Am I feeling insecure because I have to go out into the work force for the first time. I just realized that I have never had to look for a job and at my age that can be daunting.

When I graduated from college the Chronicle was calling before I even took my last final asking me to go work for them as a Holiday intern. Then they couldn't hire me because of a hiring freeze, due to the closing of one of the San Antonio papers so I started sending my resume out. I was offered a job at the Corpus Christi Caller Times and I was called back to the Dallas Morning News for a second interview. The El Paso paper also called me, but by that time I didn't want to waste their time or money flying me out to them because I had too many other options. Meanwhile the Chronicle started talking about giving me a full time position which they did by that March and I worked there for two years.

Fast forward to leaving the Chronicle and working for the University of Houston as an ad manager. I was there when an old friend recruited me back to the Chronicle. I interviewed and I was hired, so once again I didn't actively look for a job with them. I stayed there for 14 years before deciding to leave on my own this last May. Now for the first time in my life I'm actually looking for a job, sending out my resume and hopefully interviewing soon. The thought that I have really only worked two places in my adult life- the University of Houston and the Houston Chronicle- is strange even to me.

Yes, I've decided that it's time. Although I have really enjoyed these 9 months at home, doing my own thing and having time with the children, the time has come for me to return to full time work. I have no regrets. I have really had a great time and I have loved the freedom of being my own boss.

If I have any regrets at all it's only that I didn't write more. That's why I've decided that for these last months that I'm going to start looking for a job I'm going to spend part of my time working on two clients that I have decided to keep for now and I'm going to spend more of my time writing.

Sometimes I work better that way. When I know that time is running out on me that's when I get the most done. Now that I know that my days are numbered I will probably write more than I ever did in the 9 months that I've been out of work.... Maybe that's what my recurring dream is really all about.