Favorite Beauty Products

I still remember the day my mom told me I was "allowed" to wear lipgloss and only lipgloss to school.  - you would have thought she told me I didn't have to go to school anymore - I was that excited.  Off to walgreens we went, I swear I walked the aisle for an hour looking for the perfect lipgloss.  I soon after in high school discovered the world of Ulta and the ever expanding options of make up and then bestill my make up loving heart - the mothership Sephora arrived and well I have never been the same.  Finding that perfect shade or the one product that changes your life still makes me happy.  And now after 20 years (gasp...do i feel old typing that - really I was 13 - 20 years ago!?) of reading countless reviews,  wasting money and lots of trips to Sephora, I found some favorites.


Skincare
evening
Purity with the Clarisonic, Help Me Retinol Cream
morning
Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash, Take a deep breath moisturizer
Kate Somerville Exfolikate - I LOVE THIS -   This is an expensive product and to be honest I haven't bought it yet because of that, I am living off samples from Nordstrom and Sephora.
evening and morning for the eyes
Clinique all about eyes  de puffing serum
Kiehls avocodao eye treatment (read the reviews here and here)

The combination of these 2 are amazing! I roll on the serum, wait a minute then apply the eye creme.  Every morning and night.  Seriously - even if you don't wash your face (which you should) or are a zombie heading to bed at least apply the eye stuff - you will thank me in the morning.  If you only buy one, buy the kiehls.

I am a philosophy girl.  I have tried every brand/product out there from drugstore to high end and I always come back to philosophy.  I would like to try the entire Kate Somerville line but it is costly. I have always been plagued by acne and the only thing that really keeps it aways is clean eating.  I really thought I just needed a different product but seriously its the only thing that gets rid of it. After finding a good doctor she told me the first thing to limit was dairy (and I laughed).  Get rid of cheese, chocolate milk - not going to happen.  So she said at least eliminate any dairy product with   rBGH (the growth hormone) and give up skim milk (switch to 2%), so I did .  Just from changing dairy the results were immediate.   My face is an open book, you can tell when I am not following clean eating. 

Make Up
Too Faced Shadow Insurance - the best eye shadow primer - no creasing - read  the 4200 reviews - it has a cult following
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer
L'Oreal double extend mascara - i have tried every top of the line brand - save your money for $8.99 at target this is a steal
The best eyeshadows for long wearing and true color - MAC, urban decay & bobbi brown
Bobbi Brown - Long Wear Gel Eyeliner

Invest in good quality brushes - they are expensive - I am still putting my collection together - recommended - Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown & MAC

And to store all that wonderful makeup - my muji acrylic organizers 
I use the the 2 drawer for everyday & brushes and the 5 drawer for the extras

Hair

Kerastase - I can't recommend enough - it has saved my hair. It is pricey - but a little goes a long way and I can now sometimes go 2 to 3 days without washing.

Suave dry shampoo - Days when you don't wash - a few sprays and you are good to go. I was very reluctant to buy this but it seriously does the same exact job as every other high end brand

What do you recommend?

goodbye:hello

Goodbye October

your craziness but wonderful memories

the sugar and treats



Hello November

21 days until the big day : 21 days of no sugar / clean eating until the big day

menu planning, black friday, holiday weekend, family & friends, favorite traditions

Hello Holiday Music

I've missed you



Happy Halloween

Hope your day is filled with sweet treats!

1st Birthday Party

The 1st Birthday
I tried to keep it simple
No theme, just colors - pink orange and yellow
Pinterest deserves a big thank you
as does my momma - who made all the cakes
and helped make my vision a "reality"

If you follow me instagram you have seen most of these but here is recap
I took 3 days off of work prior to the party- partly to work on my wannabe projects, bake and decorate but really just clean (aka move all the piles in my house to an overstuffed closet) 
I was so off schedule those days and survived on cherry coke, halloween candy and homemade chex mix

My big project that I really wanted that actually got done was her highchair (mainly thanks to my dad who will do anything for his granddaughter) it was my first purchase ever off of craigslist it was a steal for $20

I prayed and prayed for good weather because 50 people will not fit in my tiny house or garage
I got so lucky, it was a little chilly but beautiful. And Lauren got to enjoy the bounce house for the first time.

Since I am not Amy Atlas nor her friend or have a budget to afford such service this was our dessert table.

The details - the now must have stripey straws, polka balloons, cookies, rice krispy treats on a stick, cakes by my momma, mini cheesecakes (original, oreo and twix), the mix station (my favorite) homemade caramel corn, chex mix, peanuts, m&ms, candy corn, & reese pieces.  Since it was chilly I had a coffee station and hot chocolate. The hot chocolate went over well, I made three batches.  It was definately sweet but so tasty.

The little one enjoyed her cake - but she was very dainty and neat. I didn't even have to change her shirt.  Daddy did smear cake in her face but she took it well.

It was a wonderful day and I can't thank everyone for their help and coming to celebrate.

Thanks to this girl for taking what is my favorite picture and bringing her adorable little ones.

the BIRTHDAY

after a night of no sleep
my husband finally told me we have to go back
i did not want to get out of bed
i told him, i am going to stand up and this baby is going to come out
its going to be one of those crazy birth stories at home
i was crying
going back to the hospital was at 30 minutes
i knew we had to go over 4 train tracks and numerous potholes
i cried some more
i finally got up and shuffled to the car
matted greasy hair, looking like a zombie
totally different agenda than last night, i did not care what i looked like
i went from crying to cursing all the way there
i didn't even call the doctor, i just showed up in labor and delivery around 10am?
i was the crazy woman in the wheelchair
how just a few hours ago, i walked happily into L&D
my husband pushed me in and i said to the desk clerk
i was here last night they sent me home...my pain on  a scale of 1 to 10 is 100 and i'm bleeding
no wait off to the delivery room
waiting for the doctor, my momma showed up
i was clutching the side rails on the bed
the nurses were puzzled, still no contractions on the monitor
finally the dr comes in and checks - oh wow you are at 7 almost 8
Dr - "did they really send you home last night?"
Me - uh yes, when can i get drugs?
the epidural, 45 minutes of poking all while having toe curling contractions and being told not to move
but then - relief!  the fog was lifted i was a whole different person
labor - this is easy i just needed drugs
i now had an internal monitor and my contractions were off the charts
the resident from last night came in to apologize
i didn't care i was in lala land very relaxed
finally at 4:30 it was time
i could not feel a thing, the dr told me i was squeezing not pushing
seriously i was completely numb
at 6:30 we were almost there
6:43pm my beautiful little girl arrived
i had no idea, i was still pushing with my eyes closed
my dr told me to stop
but wait -wasn't she crying
i was supposed to holding her
they had rushed her over to the table
a million "bad" things went through my mind
and finally after a few seconds i heard the crys
then i held my baby girl
and life was perfect
and still is today

one year ago today

the weather was unseasonably warm as it is today
i was 37 weeks pregnant and having a miserable day at work because i was so tired
my exciting evening plans were to go to costco and the grocery store with my mom to stock up before the baby came
i called her on the way home from work that i was too tired to go
came home and went directly to bed
i woke up around 8 because of a sharp pain
and then decided i was hungry for dinner
i stood at the stove and made homemade cheeseburger macoroni
and told my husband it was very uncomfortable to stand
and i thought i was having contractions
i finished dinner, sat down to watch tv and the contractions got more intense
called the doctor on duty
who told me to come in since i was already 3 centimeters dialated and was told to stop working out last week
so i "prettied" myself up, packed the car and happily walked into the hospital
checked me into labor and delivery
after an hour of no progress and no contractions on the monitor
even though i swore to the resident the contractions were horrible and intense
they told me "its your first baby, you have plenty of time"
you could stay but go home to your own bed
it was painful to change into my own clothes and i kept thinking it was a mistake to leave
but maybe a night in my own bed would be good
it was  a bad ride home, my poor husband who i yelled at for going over every pothole as i cursed the city of chicago
by the time we got home i was miserable and thought there is no way i can make it another day
this has to be labor
off to bed i went
i didn't sleep at all
i was in a place i never wanted to return to
swore to my husband there would be no more kids after this if this is what labor is like
it was a very LOOOOONNNNGGGG and painful night

My Fall Favorites

I have spent the better part of the last 2 months working (well thinking mostly) on someone's 1st birthday.  I decide to reward myself with a few splurges for making it through the first year, also to teach my husband a lesson for never getting me that "push" present I wanted.  As he probably still has no idea what that is and why I deserve one. 

Michael Kors Ring, Watch, Link Bracelet
Fossil Bangle
Bobbi Brown Lipgloss
Kerastase Hair Products ( the absolute best!)
New Hair Color

 I am still trying to download party pictures, hopefully tomorrow a recap.