Beauty Tips, Tricks, & Secrets ---- Part 1

I felt the need to write a post including a few beauty tricks I've learned along the way...

For starters:

I DO have a favorite cream highlighter that gives me that glowing, sunkissing, shimmering finish...
And I DO have a favorite save-my-butt-from-oily-hair dry shampoo. It's 200% worth the purchase, especially if you have fine hair like mine.
And personally, I DO believe I have good taste in eye shadow colors. I've done wedding and prom makeup for friends and family and they have all been stunning successes. I will get to all these in a later post but first I have to say this:

I DO also believe I am beautiful.

There, I said it. And I meant it. The world has such a warped view of beauty, it tears a woman's heart to pieces trying to live up to it. And at the same time this twisted theology is being jammed down our throats, it's equally pounded into our heads that we can never admit to being the bit of beautiful that we are. "So, strive strive strive to be beautiful, work your sweet-cheeks off to attain it... But never ever let yourself believe it." Way to break a spirit, a beautiful heart, and shatter dr
eams. Dumb.

Now, I am no Barbie doll. Naturally blond hair and blue eyes are where the similarities end. I am 5"2 and tend towards a more lean, but muscly build. --So I suppose you could say I'm a bit curvy.-- I'm the mama of two babies who have given me tiger strips on my tummy. So I [strive to] wear them proudly under my tanned skin and hot pink ruffle bikini. I eat as well as I can on a Paleo diet, but sometimes I cheat.... Chocolate and cheddar cheese are my kryptonite and once I have a bit... I have a lot. lol

But there are things I don't like. I don't like how my skin still breaks out in acne. Or how it's a constant battle to do my hair because it's oily and poker straight. Or my loose belly skin. Or my short legs. Or my small chest. Or my small but wide tootsies.

But I've learned to focus on what I do like. I love my eyes, I love the changeable blue and like playing with liners and eye shadows. I've learned to like the definition my jaw gives to my face, which for years I thought was too square. I've learned to appreciate my figure and accent it with different waistlines, belts, and dresses and pants... My petite hands and feet. Dare I say it, I even try to like my butt.

Your ultimate beauty is in realizing your ARE beautiful. Everything that makes up you. Your taste in shoes, your crooked nose, your long legs, your freckles, your coffee addiction, or those extra pounds you can't seem to lose. Everything. Because beauty isn't what the world says it is, it's who and what you are.

So your morning face is beautiful. Your makeup face is beautiful. You are beauty at its best.

Now say it. Say it out loud. "I am beautiful. I, (first middle last name) am beautiful." And don't you let yourself forget it. Because you damn rights are a beauty.

DIY at it's Best (and Worst)

Like most moms, especially young moms... All full of life, dreams and energy (Sorry, no energy? My bad. ;) .. Like most moms... I love pretty things.Especially DIY pretty things.

Lately I've been taking steps to update areas around the house and while it is still VERY far from perfect, there are a few things which have come to excite me. Namely, finished projects. Like a nicely decorated mantle over the fireplace. Like a couple spray painted lamps. Each and every time I peak at these little creations of mine, I grow excited!!! I feel so accomplished! (The IDEA of finished projects is quite exciting too, even if they haven't been started yet.) haha

Recently, my days have been a haze of shopping for different cabinet stains and paints (hoping to redo the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room cabinets), varnish deglossers, grout stain (yes indeed! make that white grout white again, or tint any other color - sooo much easier then chipping up old grout and applying new stuff), edging for the lawn, painters tape, spray paint, and ALL kinds of thrifting.

Now, did I mention spray paint? Spray paint is a DIY gal's best friend and my current project is a big one and it requires spray paint!! ~~~I'm repainting a brass chandelier!!~~~ I found Ashley's awesome blog Make it & Love it with almost the same fixture I was redoing and have copied her method right down to the letter... Be sure to check out her Chandelier blog post!

Now, after doing a bit of research I figured this was a pretty easy and straight forward project. 5 hours later.... Not so much. Straight forward, Yes. Easy.... Well, that depends on your definition.

The work involved is easy. Just TEDIOUS. So beware, all you who are faint of heart and crave quick and easy DIY gratification. But here are a few tips to help you along your way...

• USE Newspaper when taping up the glass panes. Believe me, at first it might seem harder, but after you get into the swing of things, it pays off in the end. The process becomes faster and so much less of a headache.
• USE an Exacto knife. Don't even dream of starting without one. For some reason, all the blogs I read neglected to share this life-saving detail (or I missed it, which is probably more likely). Seems like a given but holy, it makes so much less hassle and fussing.
• Play Music, or listen to an audio book while taping. Some people have patience. Some don't. I'm pretty middle of the road, but because the taping has to be done so carefully to ensure straight, clean edges, it can take hours.... And I'm not even that much of a perfectionist! The inside is especially tricky to tape because it's hard to access.... Playing music helps the time pass more pleasantly and gives your brain something to do!!!

More updates and PHOTOS to come!!!!!

New Mommy

DIY, Blogs, and Giveaways!

Ahaha, I suck at blogging. In every way, shape, and form. My time is too much at a premium and well... With two little rug rats running around... Oh, did I say two? Yes. -Like I said, I suck at keeping things up to date.

Any how.

So to keep myself busy in all the spare moments I manage to find during the day, I do what most people do: Surf the net. I love finding new DIY ideas (hello Pinterest!), crochet & knitting patterns, new and entertaining blogs to read, and best of all giveaways! Honestly, who among us hasn't stumbled upon one and excitedly entered it, just for the thrill of it! Well, here's one I found through The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife. Her name is Melissa and there's just something about the colorfulness of her blog and the way she writes that keeps me coming back for more. : )

Through Melissa's blog, I discovered Trend Snag and their giveaways... And wha-laa. Here I am blogging about it. Make sure you check it out on Facebook and enter their Jewel-a-Day Giveaway! Cheers!

You! Lingerie!

How exciting! Who doesn't like giveaways??

Since coming into rule the kingdom of Mommydom, I've tried all manner of "mommy gear". One (now favorite) brand I stumbled upon is You! Lingerie. I came upon it browsing a local baby boutique (who has since sadly closed down). For ONCE a sexy stunning; drop-dead gorgeous brand of maternity/nursing lingerie that actually is lingerie. Not just a matronly, white or nude colored nursing bra - the kind you hide in the bottom of your sock drawer, but the kind you proudly hang dry on your clothes line outside, well in view of nosy neighbors. :) Mommy-clothes you can feel good about.

The part I loved was how affordable they were! So, home I went with a sassy Berry Monroe ($29.99 US). DD loved the functionality and easy access to dinner, I loved the feel and support, and you can bet Hubbie loved the look! ;) And who wouldn't?

My wishlist now includes one of every color and you can bet I'll be placing an order soon!

Now the exciting thing about all this is You! Lingerie has developed the Double You! Tank - for nursing! With a handful of colors to choose from, there's one for every nursing mommy - possibly for Free! You! Lingerie is giving away 25 Double You! Tanks to 25 lucky people who enter their draw. Feel free to visit their website by clicking here for your chance at these exciting new Tanks before they hit the shelves!!

Good luck mommies!!

3w 5d into the Race

Dear childless population,

I am writing to inform you that I got 5 straight hours of continuous sleep last night. Phenomenal.  This is only the third time in Joy's 3weeks 5days of life that she's slept so long. May there be many more to come...

Sincerely,
New Mommy

Welcome fair friends!

This has been three weeks in coming, and although late - better late then never!

So! Welcome to the Kingdom of Mommydom. I myself am new to this wonderful [and sleep deprived] country, but I'm looking forward to the adventures I face here.

First of all, a wonderful little miracle happened some 9+ months ago, and here we are, 3 seasons later, with a bundle of Joy that just keeps crying.

Coming from a ginormous family, babies are no new thing to me. Dirty diapers, spit up, crying, laughing, sleeping, breast feeding... I've seen it all (though Dad wasn't so prepared). Never experienced the last of those myself, but I later prooved to be a natural at it.

I wish I'd gotten to blogging sooner; everyone tells me the first few weeks fly by and with so much happening, it can be hard to remember it all. Beginning today, I will attempt to recall all I can of those wondrous 3 weeks and we'll proceed onward: toiling together, through the Kingdom of Mommydom.