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October 29, 2015

Top Five Beauty Favorites

Happy Thursday!  That means the weekend is in sight which is always a good thing.  Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite beauty products.  I'm not a big makeup girl, and now that I'm getting older I have been trying to focus more on taking care of my skin and just keeping my daily routine easy.  I work part time, so the majority of the time my makeup is minimal since most days I'm running errands and carpooling kids around to baseball fields, gyms, etc.  But I have found a few products that have worked really well for me and thought I would share.


One -- Not Your Mother's Dry Shampoo.  This is a new one for me and I actually never, ever thought I would use this.  I've heard others talk about dry shampoo, but never thought it would be something for my very oily scalp.  Here's how it works well for me.  It doesn't replace a wet shampoo by no means, but works so great for me about 24 hours after I've washed my hair.  I especially love using it if I've worked all day and then plan to work out or run a few errands in the morning, but don't feel like washing it.  I'll spray a little on my roots and work it into my hair before bed and it makes such a difference when I get up in the morning.  Definitely errand worthy hair.

Two -- Burt's Bees Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Blush 020.  I love having a good lip gloss to keep my lips from drying out, but also don't want a gloss that is a really bright color.  I love that this particular one adds a little touch of color to my lips while keeping them moisturized at the same time.

Three -- Tokoyo Milk Petit No.2 Lotion.  Love, love, love this lotion!  Silky, smooth and smells amazing!  It adds a little fragrance, but isn't overwhelming like a perfume.  And it also makes a great gift!

Four -- Rodan + Fields Eye Cream.  I'll be 39 in December, so anti-aging has become part of my daily skin care.  This under eye cream is my favorite.  I add a small dab every morning and night which brightens as well as helps fight the fine lines and wrinkles.

Five -- Ceptaphil.  I've washed both morning and night with this for years.  Love the smooth, gentle cleansing I get from it.

I'm really picky about my products, so these recommendations are ones I truly, truly love.  Have a great day!!



October 26, 2015

Halloween Cupcakes

 
Hi there!  Can you believe Saturday is Halloween?  My kids are super excited!  And since we were stuck inside all weekend because of all the rain in our area, it gave us the perfect opportunity to make our monster cupcakes!  These were really so easy, and lots of fun for everyone.
 


Knowing we were in for a rainy weekend, I picked up a yellow box cake mix, candy corn, chocolate and vanilla icing, candy eyes and colored icing writers.  I made the cupcakes as directed on the box, and after they cooled we got creative.

You can see from the pictures how to make the designs, but here are a few tips.  To make the hairy yellow and green monsters, I used the small colored icing writers and drew lines back and forth until the cupcake was covered.  Then I simply add the eyes and horns (candy corns).  For the blue monster cupcake I used the blue squirt can icing (see picture above).  It came with four different tips, and I used the star-shaped tip to cover the cupcake.  I added the candy eyes and my fury blue monster was done.  To make the mummy, I put vanilla icing in a quart size Ziploc bag and cut a tiny piece from the corner.  Then I went back and forth with the icing to make the gauze.

 

And here are my helpers and the cupcakes they created.  Sometimes I'm surprised how excited they get about doing simple activities like this.  I loved listening to them talk with one another about their ideas.


 
We are usually so busy on the weekends, that it was nice to have a little time to just hang out and relax together.
 
Have a beautiful day!
  

October 23, 2015

Instastyle | Black and White Check

Black and white buffalo check was a print I loved last Fall, and my love for it this year is just as strong!  I posted these two pictures recently on Instagram and found that lots of you guys love it too :)
 
weekender bag similar here and here | denim top similar | white jeans | belt | booties | watch
 
I picked up this buffalo check weekender bag yesterday at Old Navy for $38 and absolutely love it!  Both my husband's family and my family live about 2 hours away, so we do lots of 1 and 2 night trips.  Pulling out even our smallest rolling suitcase is so bulky and has no cutest factor :)  So I know this bag will definitely get lots of use!  When I went to look for it on-line to link for you guys, I can find the same bag, but a different print.  So pop in your local store if you like the buffalo check.  This one is super cute too if you like stripes.
 
And buffalo plaid's baby sister, gingham, is another favorite of mine!  I love that the black and white pairs so well with my basics.

gingham shirt exact and similar | jeans and similar jeans | watch and another favorite watch | booties and cute with these boots too
 
There seemed to be lots of interest in this gingham shirt, so here's the story on it.  It has been a popular one!  When I bought it, it was fully stocked in all sizes and then it went on sale ($23) and it sold out quickly.  Since then, I've checked back for a some IG friends who inquired about it, and they do restock select sizes, so just keep checking (que Dory :) and jump on it when you see your size.  I'm wearing a medium.

My fashion style is definitely very similar to my home décor style...simple, classic pieces.  I really am draw to basics and clothes that I know will withstand the latest fashion trend.  What about you...are you more of a classic fashion girl (or guy) or a trendsetter?
 
Happy Weekend Friends!
XO

 

October 20, 2015

Latest Loves | Buffalo Plaid and Wedge Booties

 
Good Morning Everyone!  We've had some amazing Fall weather the last few days which makes me excited about pulling out a few of my new Fall pieces.  I wear a lot of blues and this navy buffalo plaid vest is calling my name.  I also love these distressed boyfriend jeans and I am trying to justify why I need another pair of booties.  And my thinking is that I don't have a pair of wedge booties yet...good reason, right?  I really, really love these.  This classic Kate Spade watch is so pretty and on major sale. 
 
And finally my favorite black and white gingham button down shirt has a few sizes back in stock and has been a great Fall transition piece for me.   I love that it's a gauze-like fabric, so not too hot while our Texas weather is still pretty warm.  It also has the cutest pinstripe detail trim.  (P.S.  It recently went on sale, so if you can't find your size, check back later on, as Nordstrom does restock.  And I bought a medium, which fits great.  Hope that helps :)
 
Have a beautiful day!
 
 

October 12, 2015

October Style

 
Happy Columbus Day!  So glad to have the extra day off this weekend.  We spent yesterday in my hometown for my nephew's Baptism, so having today off worked out great!  And today being a holiday also means some of my favorite shops are running sales.  I bought this scarf in the picture above and it's 50% making it $19.  Great, lightweight scarf, perfect for our still fairly warm weather here in Texas. 
 
 
I also finally took advantage of the sales and bought these shoes.  J.Crew has 30% off regular price items and 40% off sale prices through today.  There are so many occasions were I need a cute tennis shoe to wear that is not my running/workout shoe.  I know I will wear these soooo much.
 
 
Loft is also becoming one of my favorite stores, but unless I'm really needing something for an event, I usually like to wait for their sales, which they run quite often.  They have 50% several Fall essentials through today.  I love basic pieces like this button back chambray top.
 
You can also find more of my current favorites here.
 
Enjoy your day!
 


October 7, 2015

Spider Cookies

 
These spider cookies are not only one of my favorite cookie recipes, but also one of the cutest Halloween cookies!  I made these last year around Halloween and plan to make them again this year.  They were such a big hit with everyone!  They are my same Peanut Butter Blossom Recipe that I shared here, just changing out the Hershey's Kiss for a Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffle.  And then adding some candy eyes and icing legs, making them not only one of the yummiest cookies, but also one of the most adorable cookies ever!
 
 
 
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Spider Cookies 

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles (or candy of choice)
  • black tube icing
  • candy eyes
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375.
  2. Cream together butter, both sugars and peanut butter.  Add vanilla and one egg.  Add flour, baking soda and salt.  Mix all ingredients together until dough forms.
  3. Roll dough into walnut size balls.
  4. Roll in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.  While baking unwrap truffles
  6. Remove and allow the cookie to almost completely cool, then place truffle in the middle of the cookie pressing down a bit.  (If the cookies are too warm the truffle will melt and if too cool they won't stick to the cookie.)
  7. Completely cool cookie, then add legs with black icing and glue candy eyes on with a dab of icing on the back.
  8. Enjoy!!



A delicious cookie all disguised for Halloween.  They are sure to be a hit at your Halloween festivities! 
 
Have a beautiful day!
 


October 1, 2015

My Fall Home Tour 2015


Happy October!  Wow, how did that happen?  I finally got around to adding a few touches of Fall to our home this week and wanted to share with you all.  I know being October 1st, lots of people are pulling out the spooky decor, but I'm going at my own pace this year :) 

I have found that I really like using "real" décor to decorate with, like live plants, flowers, fruits and veggies.  I added pumpkins, along with orange pansies and white alyssums, which smell amazing by the way.   And finished this look off with a plaid throw and decorative pillow to help cozy things up in our family room.



Aside from adding the Fall décor, you may have noticed that I switched out the mirror on our mantel.  I have been on the hunt for one for years.  I never liked the one we had when we moved in almost 5 years ago, but could not find a replacement.  I finally found this one at Stein Mart.  The size was perfect, but the color was a really weird orangey-gold.  So because the size and price were so right, I decided to get it and give it a makeover.  I primed it, then painted it with Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, which is the same color I used on our office doors.  Then I dry brushed it with white paint.  I love the finished look!  I still think I want to hang it, but it will take some work drilling into the stone so we haven't tackled that yet. 



Our breakfast room got some pretty sunflowers and white pumpkins.




Have ya'll seen all the plaid in Target.  Clothes, home decor, phone cases, wrapping paper, etc!  Love it!!  And love these plaid navy mugs combined with the orange flowers and striped mini pumpkins.





And finally our piano got a little dressed up for Fall as well.  My boxwood wreath, also from Target, made an appearance again.  I picked up the clay pots and blue and white striped ribbon at Michael's.


That does it!  Love walking in and seeing all the Fall pretties.  And cool weather...we are ready when you are.

Enjoy your day :)