Saturday, August 10, 2013

A Huge Mess

Lucy's new favorite request is to "make a huge mess" when I ask her what she wants to do that day. What this really means that that she wants to make a huge pillow and blanket pile in the middle of the living room floor.

Who knows where she came up with this, but it always makes me laugh, is a super easy way to spend an afternoon, and it makes her so happy.





What a huge mess. Ha!





Where's Lucy?





Lucy loves any excuse to snuggle her baby sister.





Clara being terrified for her life in the blanket pile.












Best. Day. Ever.





Friday, August 9, 2013

Going to Work

Lucy thought going to work with Dad would be fun.










She was wrong.





Thursday, August 8, 2013

DIY: Bow/Accessory Storage

My friend who taught me how to make the baby headbands, makes and sells them herself. After seeing her amazing collection of baby hair accessories, I had to take pictures of her storage solutions to share here on the blog.



Frame with chicken wire to clip hair clips on. 



Double-sided hanging makeup organizer.






Behind-the-door shoe rack.


Which is your favorite storage solution?

Do you have your own idea to share?



I love being able to see all the options, and I love dividing them by color!




Sunday, August 4, 2013

Marshmallow Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

I could not stop eating this yummy dip at our Cheese Party. I especially enjoyed dipping walnuts into it. Yum! After getting the recipe from my friend, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to recreate.



Marshmallow Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
Original recipe found here.

Ingredients:

1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1 15oz jar marshmallow cream
Fresh fruit
Graham crackers

Directions:

1. Blend cream cheese and Marshmallow cream with hand mixer until combined.

2. Serve with assorted fresh fruits and graham cracker sticks.














Saturday, August 3, 2013

Ipsy: July 2013

What is Ipsy?

Ipsy/Glam Bag is a subscription beauty service. You can sign up for a year, or just one month at a time. (I am doing one month at a time to see how I like it. So far, I love it!) You can cancel at any time with the monthly subscription. If you choose to buy it monthly, they only charge you at the beginning of the month. Right now there is often a waiting list when you sign up, so you might not get your first bag (and charge) until the next month.

I was on the wait list for about two weeks. I signed up in the middle of June after they had already sent out the bags for that month, but got off the wait list in time to get the bag for July.

They also offer incentives and contests to win more beauty products by reviewing the products from that months bag and making Youtube video reviews.




What do you get?

Each month you receive a new makeup bag and five or so beauty products based on that months theme. July's theme was Beach Beauty.

When you sign up you take a beauty survey to determine your beauty preferences, skin tone, hair color, etc. to help select the best products in your personalized bag. This month there were ten main products, and each person got five products based on the answers to their survey.


July Glam Bag

This is a picture of the average bag received. The only difference between this one and the one I got was that instead of the Benetint lip stain, I got a bottle of Nailtini Mai Tai nail polish.


Nailtini nail polish in Mai Tai



Some examples of other variations in the bags is what color of Pop Beauty Crayon you got, getting the Coola sunscreen moisturizer tinted or non-tinted, and getting the Healthy Sexy Hair Beach Spray (shown above) or the Sexy Hair weatherproof hairspray.





What I love about Ipsy:

1. Only $10 a month:
It more than pays for itself with the quality of the items you get. Not to mention the makeup bag. $10 a month works into my monthly budget great.


2. A variety of items:
It gives you a nice variety of products each month, so there is always something fun to try out. If you don't love the color of the lip gloss, then you can sell or trade it, and try out the cool eye shadows.

(PS. Anything unused that you don't want to keep, would make excellent bridal or baby shower gifts, stocking stuffers, etc.)








3. Trying new things:
It is perfect for getting out of your beauty rut, and taking new risks with your beauty routine and products. You don't have to spend money on a full-size (and price) item, only to find out that it isn't your cup of tea.


4. Anticipation:
Looking forward to something is half of the enjoyment! My girlfriends and I talk about each "sneak peak" picture posted on the website or on Facebook. We talk about what colors and items we hope we get, and we eagerly follow the tracking of our shipment via online tracking codes once we get our confirmation email that our bag is on its way. Besides, who doesn't love getting real mail? And packages are even better!



So exciting!


5. Camaraderie:
This was touched on above, but it is fun to have something to share with your friends. You are all eagerly awaiting your next makeup bag, and can't wait to show each other what you got, and how it looks on you. For $10 a month, it is cheaper than dinner and a movie!




What do you think? Is a beauty subscription something that you would like to get?

So far I have been loving it, and am super excited to get my bag for August!

I think it would be an awesome anniversary or valentines gift, and would love to give a three-month subscription for a baby or bridal shower gift.


Click here to sign up!


If you already subscribe to Ipsy, leave me your username so I can follow you!






This post is not sponsored by Ipsy.
Disclaimer: Referral link

Friday, August 2, 2013

DIY: Baby Headbands

My friend Natalie taught me how to make some headbands for Lucy and Clara, and sold me a handful of flowers for them. I love how they turned out. So easy and cute.

I made two plain white headbands to start with, one for each girl. Each has a piece of scratchy and soft velcro on it, so that the flowers are interchangeable, and any velcro on a bow or flower will stick to it.
















Now that I have the white headbands I am excited to make even more bows and flowers to put on them, and maybe even make a few more headbands of other colors.

Another goal down!






Thursday, August 1, 2013

Spinach Salad

I've been really digging massive homemade salads for my lunch lately.

This one consists of:
Baby spinach
Feta cheese
Honey roasted sunflower seeds
Chopped tomatoes
Sliced strawberries
Poppyseed dressing








What are your favorite salad combinations?




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