Mac Cosmetics! It practically writes itself...

Umm, ok.  I've been up since 3:30am (Why? I have no earthly idea.) and I'm almost too tired to think, not to mention write.  So, as I sit tapping the keys on my keyboard, one thing that keeps coming to mind is my love for Mac Cosmetics.  Ding! Ding!  We have a winner!!  Try to stay with me now.  I was so excited the other day to (finally!) have gotten an invitation to join Pinterest, which I have to say, is my new favorite, fun thing to do on the internet!   So, the first thing I did (no kidding!) was go to maccosmetics.com and pin my make-up products.  I didn't pin my kids, husband, family, friends or my beautiful cats.  I pinned my Mac products!  Wow.  Should I be worried?  I do hope someone from Mac reads this. Yeah, right.   I know.  It's really not likely anyone will read this post.  But, on the chance that someone does read this, check out the products I recommend on my "My favorite products" board at http://www.pinterest.com/mommyinmotion.  Naturally, you can go to their website to find more of their awesome products at maccosmetics.com.  Another reason I love their products is they offer a recycle program called "Back to M.A.C."  Just bring 6 of  your empty Mac Cosmetics containers back to a Mac Cosmetics counter at any Macys store or send them to MAC online and you will receive a free lipstick of your choice as a thank you.  Love it!

P.S.  Literally minutes after I pinned some of my products, they were repinned by other people!  Two thumbs up people!

Playdoh to the Rescue!

Playdoh has come to the rescue in our house this week.  Lots of homework, days of flooding rains, unspent energy and cabin fever had my children literally crawling the walls!  So out came the many beautiful colors of Playdoh and like magic, both boys were immersed in worlds of make-believe pizzas, cakes, cars and even christmas trees.  Many thanks to our family and friends who gifted us at Christmas time with so many new colors.  There's nothing like the smell and feel of brand new Playdoh and the sight of happy, busy children! 

Want a "New York" hair style in Atlanta?



North Atlanta moms!  Stop in and meet design specalist, Hollie Abney and the other fabulous stylists at Oasis Salon in Johns Creek, GA if you want New York style in north Atlanta!  Hollie has styled my hair for the past 18 mos. and she's made this busy mom look fabulous even on my not-so fabulous days!  Check out their website for more info at oasis-salonspa.com.  Like them on Facebook!  Let Hollie know you read this blog and receive a discount!

Put You to Sleep Pedicure!

My husband gave me the most wonderful gift this past Christmas -- spa treatments at Natural Body Spa in Alpharetta, GA!  So today I went for the "Signature Pedicure."  Let me say that I'm pretty sure there was drool at some point during my session!  It was so relaxing, something I rarely get to do with two active young boys.  So check it out all you mommies who need a little extra mommy time!  Find them at multiple locations throughout metro Atlanta at Natural Body Spa and Shop.  Enjoy!!!

Our 3 yr. old Russian Cutie

Goof-a-potamus  2012

The adoption of our second son (seen here as the "goof-a-potamus") happened 3 yrs. after we brought our first son home.  Going in, we knew this one was without a doubt our final adoption related adventure.  I was determined to make the most of whatever came our way.  Little did I know lots of adventure was waiting for us, some good and not so good!  The good news:  Our beautiful (now 3 yr. old) is from the city of Tver (formerly known as Kalinin from 1931-1990) which is the administrative center for Tver Oblast, Russia. It is located 3 hours by car, northwest of Moscow. (We are sooo thankful we didn't have to make the 15 hr. train trek across the arctic tundra again!)  It is a small, quaint community richly steeped in Russian Empire history.  During the Cold War, it was home to the air base Kryuchkovo, which is no longer in service.  Today,  Tver is home to Migalovo, which is one of Russia's biggest military airlift facilities. It has a fairly busy city center and retail shopping area. The food in this part of Russia was so fresh, delicious and locally grown.   Honestly, both regions of Russia provided some of the best food I have ever tasted.  No kidding.  Fresh vegetables, cabbage, mushrooms were served daily at the Metro in Petrozavodsk and locally grown vegetables and fresh fish caught in some of the coldest waters in the world were served at the  Hotel Osnabruck in Tver.  The bad news:  Things got a little wacky with a visa official in Tver who at the last minute decided he wanted to make things very difficult for the "Americans" (that would be us!).  My poor husband was fined $500 US dollars for "not having the correct visa" and was booked, fingerprinted and told in broken English, "never come back to Tver if you don't want to get arrested!"  Well...I bet you can guess what our answer was...thank you and buh bye!

Two Amigos

Daddy and his boys

Awwwe!  The day we left the orphanage.

Our 6 yr. old Russian Cutie

So proud to finish the Fun Run 2012

My husband and I have the pleasure of loving and parenting 2 young sons from different regions in Russia.  We adopted our first son (seen here) back in 2006 with the help of an incredible US adoption agency, European Adoption Consultants (eaci.com) based in Strongsville, OH. What an adventure!  My 6 yr. old is from the Republic of Karelia, city of Petrozavodsk which is Karelia's capital city.  It is located 15 hours by train, north of Moscow and is in a remote but surprisingly busy area of the Russian Federation. Petrozavodsk is within walking distance to Lake Onega which is a beautiful recreational area.  There are about 1650 islands on the lake. They include Kizhi, which hosts a historical complex of 89 orthodox wooden churches and other wooden constructions of 15th–20th centuries.  Traveling to this region was, to say the least, an experience never to be forgotten!  Beautiful, interesting people reside in this arctic region of Russia.  I will share more about this area in future posts.


Made a birdhouse with Daddy

 "The first time ever I saw your face..."

One happy family 2006

About Me

I am an adoptive mom to two very beautiful Russian boys (6 & 3 yrs.).  My family and I live in suburban Atlanta, GA in the city of Alpharetta.  We relocated here from Tampa, FL 18 months ago for my husband's work and I'm a stay at home mom.  I'm constantly working on being the best mom I can to my two children and am always looking for new connections to local and internet mom networks and the adoption community.  It's been difficult to make those connections as both my boys are very busy with school and extra-curricular activies, birthday parties and sports events and I'm constantly on the go.  Hence, Mommy in Motion is born!