Another Beauty Timesaver: Foundation Paper

So I am subscribed to the Rachel Zoe Project beauty and fashion updates. They always post interesting beauty products, and a lot of great fashion tips (but not always so affordable). Anyhoo…I just saw these on their latest post, and am really interested in trying them. Being a mom with often no time to even floss my teeth, I always love a beauty timesaver! Mai Couture makes Foundation Paper. I know, weird right? OR IS GENIUS?! You decide!

Here is the description:

“A sheer tinted sheet with illuminating powder that gives skin a natural flawless complexion.  Use it alone as foundation powder or over your makeup as a quick touch up.  Soften appearance of imperfections and even out skin tone without the mess.”

“Instructions: Tear one sheet from booklet.  Press and sweep sheet all over face.  To avoid uneven application, use sheet to buff and smooth out powder.  Discard after each use.”

Comes with 50 sheets, and you can use one sheet for the entire face. Retail value is $24.00

They also have Blush Paper! For Blush on a Rush! So cool! I am not sure if I feel sheets are wasteful or not (sorta like paper plates and napkins, I always feel guilty!)..but it also includes 50 sheets for about $17.50.

Mr. Happy Saved My Mother’s Day

So my Mother’s Day was challenging. VERY CHALLENGING. The hubby was away on business, so I had the kids to myself. It started off the night before with Anabelle waking up three times. She’s been doing this for three weeks now. Not sure why, but its exhausting. Her top 2 year old molars are making their way in (finally), so this is the only thing I can attribute her waking to. Then both kids decided to wake up for the day at 6:30 am. And immediately off the bat, they began arguing over Legos….at the crack of dawn! I had only fallen back to sleep by 5ish am, and I was clinging on to every extra second I could get. I had to get up and face the day…but it was Mother’s Day!…so your kids are supposed to be perfect on this day, right? It’s the day they are supposed to get along, eat all their food, clean up their messes, kiss and hug one another, offer to mop the floor…etc. Right? Well, not exactly. We started our day off not the best, and it seem to continue that way for the rest of the day.

I decided to take them to Startbucks for breakfast (drive-thru only since they were being crabby from lack of proper sleep). Anabelle didn’t want to go in her carseat. I tried everything short of physically putting her in her seat. Bribing, distracting, being silly, giving favorite toys, food etc. Finally, after 20 minutes she decides she wants to go and gets in herself (so Two years old!).  In the drive-thru they were arguing over who wants chocolate milk and who wants vanilla (yes, they were arguing with thermselves because they could obviously get whichever flavor they wanted). Then, we drove around looking for a new park to go to (one that we haven’t been to before)…only in Austin, my GPS  pulls up “parks” as National Parks. So we drove past three plots of land with nothing but forest (and probably wildlife) without a swing or slide in view. Finally after 45 minutes, we found one, that was decent. The kids started running around and getting out of their moods (ok, I was beginning to get out of my mood). Then I took them home for lunch, nap, etc…While AB was napping, Red decided to cheer me up with making pictures for my fridge. He said he wanted to “cover my fridge” for Mother’s Day. Ok, so that was a true highlight. The shining moment out of the day that seemed I would never make it through.

When it was time to read books for bedtime, Red picked out “Mr. Happy”, by Roger Hargreaves. I had never read this one before. Well, I believe this was truly the perfect book for me at that moment. If you’ve never read it, please do. It’s cute. Basically about a character named Mr. Happy, meeting Mr. Miserable. Mr. Miserable transforms into a happy and cheerful person by just being surrounded by “happy things and people”. The book ends with a message that says, if you feel miserable, just turn up the corners of your mouth and smile. You will feel better. Wow, talk about speaking right to me that day.

I know that the kids were just being kids that day. It was how I was handling it that made it feel unbearable. Maybe I was a little depressed being alone for the day. Maybe I was tired from three weeks lack of sleep. Maybe it was a lot of things… So the next day, I woke up early and thought about Mr. Happy all day.

We had a great day.

Mommy Trend Alert: Mommy Cards?

So, I am starting to see these more and more actually, and I am feeling a little anxious that I am falling behind the trend. Mommy calling cards? What are they, you ask?  Basically your own personal business card for being a mom. It lists your name and contact details (even your children’s names if you like) should the opportunity arise where you have met a fellow mommy that you actually could see yourself liking (which is totally rare in my experience) and not getting annoyed with the fact she calls her son, “My Tommy”. So you want to set up a play date for your little ones…instead of fidgeting with your phone trying to input her contact details and realizing that you are fat fingering symbols instead of numbers, while the other mommy is blankly staring at you and making you nervous thinking you are smart phone illiterate, and then only later you realize  you never hit “save contact details” and  so the “potential” new mommy friend becomes dust in the wind, a mere distant thought on the rolling wave of relationships that could potentially change your life.. …well, you could have avoided all this if you just handed your “Mommy Card” over instead.

You can make these yourselves at home, or go online to the many vendors that will make them for you (just google, “mommy cards” or “mommy calling cards”).

This would make a great Mother’s Day Present too!! Very unique and easy to do!

What do you think? Would you carry Mommy Cards?

Kids Craft: Paper Owls

I am excited about our house because I have a designated “home school/craft area” for the kids. It’s an open room upstairs where I can put my shelves of craft supplies, books, educational toys, etc. Previously when we lived here, the room was where we put all the musical instruments…but it didn’t get used all too much. Now, we use the space everyday and it’s been so nice. The kids can freely walk into the room and have access to crayons, paper, books, etc. I often find them picking out their own supplies and sitting down to create something. A little creative independence if you will

Today Red asked if we could make owls as a craft…Sure, why not?!

I logged onto my favorite site for at home crafts: NoTimeForFlashcards.com. It’s amazing. I usually take inspiration from their craft ideas, and add or change a bit according to my own creative juices that flow.

Today we didn’t stray too far from the tutorial, but nonetheless, the kids had a blast.

Great Way to wear Mustard Yellow!

On your feet!

Just bought these at Marshall’s on Sunday for $24.99. LOVE them. They are super comfy (wore them Sunday, Monday and today). I even went grocery shopping with the kids in them, and ran through the rain and puddles…so far they are holding up super! At Marshall’s I noticed they came in only white and mustard color…however they are selling them at Victoria’s Secret (for more expensive of course) in a cognac (brown). I also found them on a site called 6pm.com, which sells them for $29.99. Or you can check out your local Marshall’s for the discounted price.

What I love about them is the slight wedge. I am a mom of two kids…running around all day. I can’t wear these 4″ wedges that are all the rage right now. I would seriously break my neck or my ankle….ok, so actually I’d break both. So having a slight lift to the sandal still gives the illusion of dressy, but with the casual and comfortable feel. Plus, I can wear them with my jeans too and my pant legs do not drag on the ground. The leather is comfortable and soft, and I have not experienced any rubbing to cause blisters. I even went up a half size bigger in these (only because Marshall’s didn’t carry my exact size), and I am having no issues at all.

Now all I need is a mustard color oversized purse….hmmmm.

Moshi Moshi Pop Phone Review

Here is my vlog on the Moshi Moshi Pop Phone by Native Union. Enjoy!

I was not compensated for this review. This is purely my own personal experience with the product to be shared with my followers Thanks!!

Living Room is Almost There!

Still working on it, and eventually will need to paint, but for now its at least livable.

XoXo,

B

Would you wear neon puke yellow?

Old Navy, on sale $24.99. Didn’t buy it because I was totally unsure of the color, although the style of the dress was nice. I’ve never worn a color like this. Have you/Would you? I was really tempted (I could picture this with my motorcycle boots), but wondered, how often would I honestly wear this color? And would I get tired of it quickly?

Make Em’ Laugh!

My kids just love the musical numbers from “Singing in the Rain”. One of their favorites is the skit performed by Donald O’Connor, “Make Em’ Laugh”. Red has been watching this since he was two and he still cracks up when he sees it. It is also AB’s new favorite. I thought I’d share with you:

How to catch a fruit fly…

I made a mistake. I left bananas out on the kitchen counter and bred a colony of fruit flies within two days. Now, my biology experiments in college taught me how to breed fruit flies, which I obviously have a knack for, but never how to get rid of them. Seriously, if you don’t get rid of the FEW that you see right away, by the next day or two you will have an invasion. An invasion so big, you will feel like you are living in a 3rd world country.

I know there are many solutions out there. Here is how I got rid of my fruit fly invasion:

1. Got rid of the food source first (all fruit off the counter)

2. Wiped down all the countertops

3. Filled a jar half way with apple cider vinegar and 3 drops of dishwashing soap

4. Poke holes in the lid of the jar, or use tin foil or seran wrap (also to be sure to poke holes at the top…put a rubber band around the top of the jar to secure the tinfoil or wrap and make taught).

5. Put the jars out in the most highly populated areas

6. Check on the jar the next day, and see how many you caught…it will be incredible!

I ended up putting three jars out around my kitchen, and I really think that in two days, I caught them all! No more invasion!

Have you bought your POP phone yet?

I was at a toy store with the kids today and I saw a display for these. The cashier told me she bought one and they are amazing….plus, they are all the rage right now.

As per the website by the maker, Native Union, “Designed by the French designer David Turpin the POP handset combines classic style with a contemporary edge and is finished with a luxurious soft-touch texture. The handset has been manufactured with a high quality speaker and microphone and can be used with all mobile phones when fitted with the correct adaptor..” But not only is the design a throwback to what many of us have grown up with (and my child hasNEVER seen), but it actually has some health benefits and conveniences that you may not be aware of:

• Eliminates up to 99 percentage of the radiation absorbed compared to a direct use of mobile phones
• One touch button for convenient pick-up/hang-up directly from the handset (not all mobile phone support function)
• Noise-reducing technology for a crisp and polished sound
• Comes in many vibrant colors

I just bought one in Red, even though I really wanted the Purple one (figured my hubby may wish to use it sometime and I’d spare him his ego). I will do a review on it when I get it so you all can see. They have great online reviews, so I am really excited. They range from around $15-$40 depending on the color. I bought mine off of Amazon.com. Just do a search under “Pop Phone”. Your headphone jack needs to be a 3.5mm, if not, Amazon also sells the 2.5(male) to 3.5(female) adaptors. They range from $1-$2.

How its coming along….

So the move was grueling, and I still have zero energy to unpack the garage full of boxes…but one thing I have to be grateful for is the fact that I now have closets. For 3 years I have lived without a proper closet and now, I don’t know what to do with mine (upcoming post).  I got used to getting rid of clothes routinely, so that I would have enough space in my tiny armoire’s…and now it appears I need more clothes to fill my closet again.

We also still need quite a bit of furniture to fill spaces in the house as well, as we got rid of a ton during the last three moves. Yes people, we have moved three times in three years. I am now done. I swear. I am just going to have to be one of those people that is content with settling in one spot for a long time. It’s not in my nature really. I just love to explore new places and go on adventures. I seem to have the itch to move routinely and it follows in this way:

1. Redecorate a room….nope, still have the itch…

2. Paint…anything, EVERYTHING….ugh, the itch is still not going away!

3. Contemplate on having more children….ok, now talking crazy and the itch is in full flare up…

4. Move

Now that I have two kids, I can’t just always pick up and move. Well, I can I guess…but its just so exhausting. And stressful. And half way through I am remembering that I actually hate it and why you pay people do to certain jobs…etc.

But, we are having fun getting reacquainted here. Today I took the kids on a long car ride all around Austin to see what has changed since we lived here last. A lot more food trucks…and Whole Foods…great balance.

Thanks to all who helped us during this process, we couldn’t have survived it without you. And to all family and friends back home…we love and miss you dearly. We are truly feeling the absence and can only hope that someday we can build our compound and live next door to each other .

X0X0,

B

Some pics from our move:

H & M’s Hottest Summer Dress Picks

Ok, so I have taken a break from the fashion world for the past few weeks due to the move. Today I am feeling like things are starting to get under control at our house, so I took a moment to peek at H&M’s Summer line-up. It’s so nice to take a break for a while and come back, because there is a huge supply of new items I haven’t seen yet!

Here are some of my favorite picks, all under $40. Which ones are your favorites?

Cool Off with Toxins!

At about 4am this morning I woke up to a very alarming and toxic smell. I have been sleeping upstairs on an Aero bed next to the kids rooms (just until they are adjusted to the new house) since we moved in. Over my aero bed I have a ceiling fan. Since the upstairs AC isn’t working at the moment, I have been relying on the ceiling fan to cool me off at night. Well, my nose detected toxins during the wee hours of the morning, and I couldn’t find where it was coming from. I even woke up Nana to help me search, as I was extremely nervous. I would say it smelled almost like the scales of a fish….but with a hint of plastic. It was so bad, I had to put my shirt over my nose and mouth while I searched. Nana and I were smelling everything, the walls, the newly installed baby gates, my purse…nothing. Finally I went to turn off the blades on the fan and noticed the center of it smoking! I was completely freaked out! We grabbed the fire extinguisher just in case, turned off the fan and lights, opened the windows and put some floor fans to help blow out the dangerous smell. I woke up this morning, and the smell is almost gone but the hint of it turns my stomach…

I never thought of ceiling fans being unsafe, but the more I am reading about it now the more they seem VERY unsafe. Now, keep in mind, I had ours on continual use…but still, it was only about 4 years old. We got the brand Harbor Breeze by Lowe’s…and on Lowes.com the reviews seem great, but once you start looking elsewhere you will see they have some pretty scary safety issues going on. They are great looking fans, at really reasonable prices…but in my opinion, not worth the risk of inhaling toxins or worrying about an electrical fire.

Here is a close replica of the one we have (with the exception of the frosted glass):

Well Hello There!

Ok so I’ve been off the radar for the past week and a half or so. What have I been up to, you ask? A large family move. Now I am trying getting settled, but its been a grueling process. Trying to adjust the children to the change, plus having to move furniture and boxes, unpack, purchase new stuff, fix old stuff…has been utterly exhausting. I literally sat on the couch mid-day the other day, and just about fell asleep mid-sentence to Anabelle. On top of all this, my cell phone doesn’t work in my home, we haven’t had a house phone for over a week, internet issues, no air conditioning upstairs…its been a lot to take on. I haven’t been feeling all too “bloggy” in the midst of the chaos. Hopefully I can get on track soon, as I have dresses to make and blog posts to do. I am excited because in our home, I now get my very own “craft room”…a large space for me to just create. So, if I can get that set up soon, I think I will feel better about our new situation.

Just wanted to touch base, and let you all know that I still have a pulse. By next week, I hope to be back in business (if I can just find my darn camera to use for my blog posts!).

Anyways, here is something I am loving, and so fitting for where I live now. It channels my inner hippie.

Have Fun with a Virtual Makeover!

I love doing virtual makeovers…its so much fun. Some tools are better than others, so do a search and find the one that you like best. Some even allow you to do some cosmetic enhancements I always like to see what I would look like with fuller lips.

The one I like the best though, is a basic virtual makeover that lets you pick a celebrity style hairstyle (and adds it to your uploaded pic). Its from Daily Makeover, and it can be quite the time sucker! What I love about it, is that it provides makeup samples of colors from your favorite cosmetic companies. It also allows you to try on fun accessories such as hats, eyeglasses, scarves and jewelry. What a fun way to try out new looks, don’t you think!?

I am always on a quest for the best virtual makeover tool (Daily Makeover is one of the best I’ve tried), and they are all very similar… so if any of you have one that you enjoy, please send it my way. In the meantime, check out my new style! Glammed up with red lipstick (on trend for this year), and a fun hat . What do you think? Pretty fun, huh?…Red liked it when I tried blue hair. I must say, it did look pretty neat! Not sure that would fly in my day to day lifestyle though. Maybe in my next life.

Have a great weekend everyone! I will be on vacation next week, so make sure to check back at the start of April for some new blog entries!

Primary Science Set | Great Find

So Nana bought Red a Science Set a ways back. We recently cracked it open (I tend to save presents the grandparents get the kids and space out when I present them. This way they don’t go through everything at once and then tire of it).  Red has been really into “experiments” lately, and claiming he wants to be a “science guy with goggles” when he grows up. Lately I have been finding him on his step stool next to the bathroom sink, filling up measuring cups of water and pouring into other cups. He also mixes in some bubbles and tops off his lab work with an evil scientist cackle.  Its pretty hilarious. So this set was really perfect for us right now. Recommended for ages 4 and up, the “Primary Science Set” by Learning Resources provides all the equipment and labs you need to spark the curiosity in your little one for less than $25 (thru Amazon.com).  AB, only being two, also likes it (even though it clearly states the kit contains small pieces and not recommended for under 3 years old).  I let her play with the larger equipment. She enjoys sucking water up the dropper and putting into cups. I kid you not, my kids were quiet for an hour the other day both doing their “experiments”. It was great.

This science kit  provides 10 activity cards that teach everything from mixing primary colors, to buoyancy. You can make volcanoes, learn about acids and base, and much more. The kit includes a beaker, magnifying class, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, goggles, test tubes and activity cards. The equipment is made in a very durable plastic, and the activity cards are laminated for easy care and longevity.

I recommend this science kit to any child who is interested in learning about chemistry and the way things work. I also recommend to any child who isn’t, as it still works on fine motor and sensory skills.

Thanks Nana for a great gift!

Video | Collective Fashion Haul

Target and Forever 21 Fashion Haul People!

My Yogurt Trick

My kids love yogurt, and I love giving it to them, but every time I do, no matter how much I “prep” each child before eating (napkins, reminding them to “lean over”, bigger spoons, etc.), it ALWAYS ends up on their shirt, the table, their sleeve, and so on (keep in mind my kids are 4 and 2).  I am forever holding my breath as the spoonful of yogurt makes the trek from the container to their mouth. Its seems like such a long journey, and in slow motion for me, causing a bit of anxiety. Why? Its only yogurt?  So who cares if it spills? They need to learn, right?  Right..but how about I present those learning opportunities when they have their play clothes on, or their PJ’s that are ready to be washed. The rest of the time, I can do my Yogurt Trick. What is it,  you ask?  Well, I started buying yogurt with the aluminum peel back tops. I simply shake up the yogurt, and punch the straw through the aluminum surface (I find it better to cut the straw a bit to make it a little shorter). There you have it. Now they can drink the yogi (which my kids thought was hilarious at first), and you don’t have the mess! Not rocket science…but pretty damn close if you ask me.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

A little leprechaun visited our home today, and wanted to wish everyone a very happy St. Paddy’s Day (see video below)!

To learn about the history of St. Patrick’s Day I have provided a link here:  St. Patrick’s Day. It’s pretty interesting.

For instructions on how to make a Leprechaun Beard, please visit my favorite site for Kid’s Crafts, “No Time For FlashCards“.

Be safe, enjoy your fun day, and most importantly, be sure to eat corned beef and cabbage! Just kidding, my Gram used to make it every year for us on St. Patrick’s Day, and I must say I’ve never enjoyed it. Ahhh, tradition though, gotta LOVE IT!