Tried and True

When it is freezing out, not only do I dress accordingly but I also have to change up my skin care routine.  Cold, dry winters can be brutal on a gal's face.  I have found a few products that I love, especially this time of year.

Stila Glowing Review

This scrub has a light touch of exfoliant to help really clean your face without over drying or leaving your face to feel stripped.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight

I use this about once a week in the winter.  Right before bed, put a layer of this treatment on your face, then go to sleep.  When you wake up your face will feel hydrated and super soft.  It is perfect this time of year if your face is constantly dehydrated.

Lumene Vitamin C Serum

I always wear serum, everyday not just in the winter.  My girl who gives my facials always tells me how important serum is to keep you hydrated and take care of those fine lines.  I have tried a lot of serums but this one found only at CVS is hands down my favorite.

Mario Badescu Aloe Moisturizer

This is a new discovery for me and I love it.  This moisturizer is on the thicker side so I don't think I will use it in the summer but it is perfect this time of year.  This moisturizer will last the entire day, you won't feel dry by the afternoon.

Stila One Step

This is my favorite base layer especially in the winter.  It has a very light tint of color which I really need in the dead of winter when I have not seen sunlight for weeks.  This cream comes out pink, blue and green but once you blend it together your face just seems to sparkle

Lancome Renergie Night

I always feel like I need to do something a little extra at night from what I do during the day.  I love this night cream, my skin feels soft, it hydrates those annoying fine lines, and it smells really really good.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Obsessed with these Naked Palettes!!

Girl Friday

I am starting off this weekend on a high note, I have a new niece

Vivian Mae

Nothing like a beautiful baby to remind you how sweet life can be!!

Other than that we are getting out of dodge to visit some friends

I am ready for a weekend to visit with good friends and drink lots of good wine!!

Have a beautiful weekend

DIY

The start of a new year always gets me motivated for a few DIY projects.  There is something so rewarding about tackling a project from start to finish.  Here are a few things I have lined up for myself.  Some will take a day, and some might actually take all of 2014

Glitter Wine Glasses

I bought a box of inexpensive wine glasses at target and I plan to sparkle them up with this tutorial I found.  This sounds easy, lets hope so!!

Photo Gallery Wall

I hate that I take so many pictures then never hang them.  My goal for 2014 is to have my entire wall going upstairs covered with photos.  These layouts will make this easier.  

Original Works of Art

In addition to hanging photos, I really want to do some art projects with my kids before they are too big.  When I was in college I babysat for a family with 3 little girls and they had all these beautiful projects they made in art class framed and hung and I remember thinking, when I have kids I want to do that, well the time has come.

Holiday Neighbor Gifts

I am officially the worst neighbor!!  The entire month of December I had neighbors leave cookies, candles, towels etc on my doorstep and every day I kept thinking I have got to do something for my neighbors.  That never happened.  I already set a reminder in my phone for Dec 1, 2014 to start working on my neighbor gifts.  Baileys and hot chocolate is my kind of gift.




Build a Dollhouse

I bought my girls a dollhouse kit from hobby lobby, right now it looks like this

so we do have a big job ahead of us, we have to paint every square inch, assemble and glue the house, then we get to decorate.  One of my sweetest memories is building a dollhouse with my dad, I am doing this because I want to do something special with my girls that they will hopefully cherish their entire lives.  There is a dollhouse store close by that sells every piece of furniture or any accessory you could imagine so I think we will have fun.  BTW there are some crazy, over excited, dollhouse people out there.

Just writing this post has motivated me to get busy this week!!

Nailed it!!

The day after any awards show my friends and I like to sit around like we are Joan, Giuliana, and Kelly and discuss what everyone was wearing.  Once all the stars have arrived on the red carpet and are ushered into the theatre, I pretty much turn the channel, I mean it is all about what they are wearing anyway.

By some chance if I get the call today from E asking me to fill in and give my favorite looks of the night, I am ready....

Jennifer Lawrence

this dress is so simple yet she looks so pretty


Louise Roe

love the cut, love the color, love the lace, love the cut out


Lupita Nyong

I didn't even know who this girl was, I had to google her ( 12 years a slave) but her dress/cape combo was perfection


Cate Blanchett

anyone who can wear all lace and not come out looking like the bride of Chuckie is a winner in my book.


And my number 1 top look, she looks so feroish, Emma Watson

Just wearing a dress/pants combo was a fashion risk but I am telling you I am now obsessed with this look.  She nailed it!!

A Few Pretties

 Sometimes it is hard to feel pretty when you have a foot of snow on the ground and the temps are topping off at 5 degrees.  I am trying to resist the urge to just pull my hair back in a pony tail and stay in yoga pants all day long.  These few pretties might be just what I need to get me out of my slump!!

What better way to feel fancy then a pair of sequin leggings

leggings



Or a little sparkle on your sweater

sparkly sweater


If I am going to wear a pony tail I should at the very least have these

earrings



If I do leave my house sometime it is just to go to the gym.  I am in love with these chevron shoes, I need these shoes!

chevron shoes



and who can't use a little words of wisdom on their socks

cute socks


And finally, if this snow keeps coming I am going to need a pair of these.  Durable and cute!!

Sorels

Christmas Past

Another Christmas has come and gone, way too fast for me!!  We ended 2013 on a high note, just how I like;)

Christmas eve was quiet for us.  Typically we have 20 people over but this year we just took my parents out for dinner...

then it was home to tuck the kiddos in bed and wait for Santa...

and he did come!!

After gifts, coffee, and brunch we were off.  We flew down to Florida...

then got on our boat...

and left South Beach behind...

Now I have to admit, and the hubs and I keep saying this.. we are really not "cruise" people but somehow we keep ending up on cruises.  If I was to plan my own vacation I would not pick a cruise, but this was my parents gift to us, so I am not going to kick a gift horse in the mouth.  

There is definitely no shortage of things to do on a boat.  We watched a parade...

Tried to surf on the simulated wave...

played a little ping pong...

found the champagne bar with my sister and sister in law

and the girls and I found the cutest cupcake shop...

and they took a cupcake decorating class...

it was the cutest thing ever!!

When we docked in Mexico we went swimming with the dolphins..

(unfortunately this is the only shot I got, they would not let cameras near the dolphins)

 we spent the day at the beach

and explored the town...

5 days later we were back in the USA...

My sibling and parents flew back home but we decided to add on an extra 2 days to our trip...

but all good things must come to an end...

and I have come home to a blizzard!!