More About Me

As a BzzAgent, I get to try some of the most exciting goods and services on the market. I have posted about them before and can't resist sharing this one.

What is About Me? For you seasoned online participants like me, it brings all the places you hangout on one simple page. It is like an online business card - and you even get free business cards from Moo with the promo!

To check out some really awesome About Me pages, visit:

QVC Host - Sharon Faetsch
Actor - Lisa Foiles
Actor / Producer - Lindsey Campbell
Owner, VDL Interiors - Adele Young
Corporate Marketing at Twitter - James Buckhouse

Ristorante Pizza by Dr. Oetker is a Beautiful Way to Stay Healthy

When Bzz Agent told me about my latest campaign, I was so excited to hear it involved one of my favorite foods - pizza! Since I am on a diet, I was also a bit anxious until I discovered it was Ristorante Pizza by Dr. Oetker.

Dr. Oetker specializes in healthy, low calories foods that are flavorful. The Ristorante Pizza is no exception. I was delighted about the thin crust with just the right amount of crispiness. The tomato sauce was authentic tasting with an Italian flair.  The cheeses were fresh and delicious.



I tried the spinach version and really enjoyed it. This is the perfect way to get some of your daily veggies into your diet.  The spinach Ristorante Pizza tasted just like one I get at a local pizzaria (which costs a lot more than the Dr. Oetker version and has more calories!)

My friend tried it and loved it. She also said there were enough calories left in her diet to have a glass of chardonnay with her pizza.

Since I am intimately familiar with New York pizza, Dr. Oetker had to go a long way to impress me with Ristorante Pizza - and he did!

Five Mom-Inspired Driving Tips

Mothers say it everyday. Watch where you're going, be careful and don't rush around. It's almost like a mantra as kids scurry here and there in a haphazard fashion. This sage advice also benefits moms on the road.

Watch the road, not the clock. Mama said there would be days like these. One kid has soccer practice at the same time another has to get to dance rehearsal. Dad is working late and mom is in a bind. Forget the clock and watch the road. Hurrying and clock-watching causes accidents. Dare to be five minutes late and get there safely. Nobody will really mind.

Signs, signs, everywhere signs. Avoid the urge to slide through stop signs, coast through yield signs and rush toward yellow lights. Safety is more important than time. The demands of rushing home from work and taxiing kids to activities get overwhelming. Take a deep breath, look for signs and you'll still get everything done in the long run. Accidents happen when people fail to observe signs and traffic signals.

Take a back seat. Each state has different laws about children riding in the front seat. Mothers know the familiar refrain, “I've got the front seat!” Unless the child is age appropriate, they need to take a back seat. This protects children in case of an accident as little ones can be crushed by air bags. It may also prevent mom from breaking the law and getting a ticket.

Sit on it and clamp it. States also have various laws about putting children in car seats. Know the law before you hit the road with children in tow. If you're driving kids that belong to someone else, make sure you have the right car seat. Babies one year and under are typically placed in a rear-facing car seat. Older children need front-facing car seats and booster seats. Check for recalls, read reviews and verify local laws. Know how to properly buckle the child into the care seat. Be aware of car seat laws when you travel, too.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself. Mothering is a 24-hour job and sometimes other tasks fall through the cracks. Make sure none of them are related to driving legally. Always know the expiration dates on your drivers license, automobile registration, car insurance and inspection. Check yourself before you wreck yourself and wind up without proper coverage.

Bottom line: Slow down, you move too fast. Stop, look and listen – just like you tell the kids. Know the laws, take your time and always put safety first. Your kids are precious cargo and so are you.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Holiday Makeup Tips 2011

Feeling and looking good comes from the inside out.  If you don't look your best and want to cover it up with makeup, consider:

-Did I get enough sleep last night?  Anything less than 6 or 7 uninterrupted hours will show on your face and body.  Weight gain, stress, fatigue and darkened eyes are the result of ongoing sleepless nights.

-What did I eat or drink?  Salty foods make you bloated.  Sugary snacks put on the pounds.  These treats are everywhere during the holidays, so try to resist as much as possible.  The rule of one helps - just take one (but don't take one of everything!) so you don't feel deprived.

-Did I get any exercise lately?  Marathon shopping for the holidays does not count as exercise.  If you feel tired from holiday running, try yoga or a simple walk around the block.  It energizes you and boosts your appearance.

Now that we realize Venusity comes from inside, we want to dress up the outer package a bit.  Here are a few ways to perk up your look for the holidays:

-Red lipstick is a great way to brighten your face.  Try pale reds with shimmer or deep burgundy if you don't like the traditional clarity of red.  Another alternative are golden beige tones, especially for darker skin tones.

-Use a good concealer to hide those imperfections under your eyes and breakouts from holiday snacking.  Lancome and Dermablend are good choices.  On a budget, try the classic Maybelline cover stick.



-Add sparkle to your holiday face.  Bronzing powder with metallic nuances and mineral eye shadow with shimmer light up your face without being obvious.

-Dare to add a bold touch to your eye makeup.  Apply two coats of mascara - Maybelline Great Lash is always an excellent choice.  Try dark colored eye liner such as navy blue or hunter green.  Neutral eyes have pizzazz when you apply a bit of color to the outer eyelid.


- Primer makes your makeup last through all the holiday partying.  Too-Faced Shadow Insurance is my favorite to keep shadow from creasing and wearing off.  For the face, try Maybelline Primer Skin Transformer.  Your foundation glides on smoothly and stays all day.  Add a dusting of mineral powder to complete the look.

Happy holidays from Venusity!  When you look fabulous, you feel fantastic!