Friday Favorites and Happenings

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Happy Friday all! We have another busy weekend ahead. And can you believe that August is just around the corner? This Summer is flying by. My girls start 1st grade in a few weeks! Crazy, I know.

Onto Friday Favorites and Happenings.

ONE. When the girls were in Graeagle, they got a lot of use out of their googles. So much that they started to hurt their ears and wouldn't stay suctioned to their face enough. So when they got home, they asked if they could get new ones. I searched around on Amazon and got them these. They are big time winners and are so much easier to adjust on their heads than the old ones that they had (from their swim lessons).

Speedo Swim Googles

They come in so many colors too and are only $15 ish each.

TWO. Another item that I will share via my Amazon Prime post in two-ish weeks is these silicone body scrubbers. I bought these about a year or two back and then the girls took theirs to Graeagle and it never came back with them.

This time I bought a three pack, so Rory could have one and the girls could each have one.

These things are amazing and so much better than the traditional loofas that hold and house bacteria. You can wash these in your dish washer and they are back to being new.

Silicone Loofa Body Scrubber

THREE. I usually don't share my Influenster stuff on my blog, but every so often I find something that I really like. And this happens to be one of those times. I received the Dior Forever Liquid Lipstick in Forever Nude and I love it!

It is the perfect nude color and goes on so smoothly. It isn't cheap ($38), but it is so worth it. I will definitely be re-purchasing this when mine runs out which take sometime. I wear it almost everyday at work and I still have most of it left.

Dior Forever Liquid Lipstick

FOUR. Some of my Nordstrom items have arrived and so far I have kept them all. I have one dress coming that was bought on a whim and that still hasn't arrived. But I wanted to share my Laura Mercier Setting Powder set that I got. I love this setting powder. I have tried ones from Tarte, Bare Minerals and Benefit, and this one is the best. 

I ran out of my LM one awhile ago and started using the Tarte one that came in a buy 6 or 7 items for $60ish. It is fine and does the job, but not as well as the Laura Mercier. 

The set is $49 and it comes with a full size, a travel size and the puff.  The normal full size is $39 at Sephora and Ulta. The travel size is $23 and the puff is $16. So you are getting all three for $10 more than the normal size. So you save $29. Such a steal!

If you get anything from the sale, get this set.

Laura Mercier Setting Powder

FIVE. Weekly funnies.

Have a great weekend. I am linking up with A Little Bit of Everything.

Girl Chat - Ways to Stay Organized

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It's time for another round of Girl Chat. This month we are talking about Ways To Stay Organized. Grab the button below and come back here to link up.

I always thought I was pretty organized until I had to write this post. That is when I realized that I am not as organized as I thought. Sure I have organized to some extent because you have to be with twins, but I definitely could improve. I have organization goals like Lindsay from Lindsay's Sweet World. She recently became a stay at home mom and has tackled organizing and purging in her house and she has done an amazing job. #goals

Anyways, there are some things that I do to stay organized. My main way of staying organized has to do with my phone. I use the Notes and Calendar apps on my iPhone. These save my life.

I use my notes app for everything. From writing my grocery list to keeping track of the girls height/weight to blog ideas, I write it all down in my notes app. Blogging ideas come to me at random times (especially sitting in doctor's offices) and I open up my notes app and add it to my ongoing blog ideas note. I currently have 43 notes in my notes app. I seriously use it all the time.

I also use my Calendar app for everything. I set reminders to do something, like blog, pick up a prescription, pick up juice and goodies for the girls Valentine's Day party, etc. I also add in all my daily activities, appointments, basketball games that Rory attends (to not double book), birthdays and everything in between. I feel like this is the only way to stay up to date with everything and make sure that I don't miss anything.

To stay organized in the home, I do a seasonal purge of clothes (for the girls and myself). I usually separate the clothes into two piles: one for donation and one for selling. I will admit that I haven't done my winter/spring purge yet, but I have done it for the girls.

Another way I stay organized in the home, is buying simple things like a shoe organizer. I never realized how many shoes my girls had until this last weekend when I vacuumed the house. I used to keep their shoes tucked under their dresser, so they could grab them easier. But this weekend, I realized that their shoes were overflowing to both sides of the dresser as well. So I headed out and bought the girls a behind the door shoe organizer. Total old school, but amazing for saving space.

Shoe Organizer

Now in order to become more organized like Lindsay, I need to buy some folders for the girls art work. I want to keep the special ones, take photos of the ones that I will recycle (thank you Lindsay for that idea) and give some to the grandparents.

I also have a few other things that I want to implement around the house. How do you stay organized? I can't wait to read everyone's and get some ideas!

To link up - just grab our graphic, link up, and let's getting to chatting!  Make sure to stop by a few others linked up for an extra bit of girl chat! 

Danielle / Sparkles and Lattes - Bloglovin' - Pinterest - Instagram
Emily / A Little Bit of Emily - Bloglovin' - Pinterest - Instagram
Lindsay / Lindsay's Sweet World - Pinterest - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter
Lizzie / This Happy Life -  Bloglovin' - Pinterest - Facebook - Instagram
Sierra / Beautifully Candid - Bloglovin' - Pinterest - Instagram - Twitter

My Current Makeup Products

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I love reading posts on the products people LOVE and USE. Last week, I wrote about my favorite hair products. I use EVERY single one of those items. I hate when I run out of them at the same time because it gets expensive, but they are my favorites.

This week, I am going to write about my current makeup products that I love. I change up my makeup products every so often, but some of them I use over and over again.

This is my current makeup LOVES:

Foundation

Right now I use It Cosmetics CC Cream (in medium). I love the way it smells, feels on my skin and how easily it applies. I have been using this for about 5 months. My face doesn't break out with it, it has a pretty sheen to it and it has SPF 50 in it. That is a huge reason why I use this CC cream.

I have been looking at some other foundations that offer more of a full coverage because this one doesn't cover as much as I would like. It is good, but I like a real full coverage foundation. Suggestions?

It Cosmetics CC Cream

Concealer

I have tried so many concealers. I love everything from YSL (expensive) to Maybelline Under Eye Eraser, but right now, I have been using It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer. I wasn't going to buy it because I thought it only went on under your eyes, but then I asked someone at Sephora about it and she said I can use it all over my face. I have medium and it covers all my zits, blemishes and freckles. I love this stuff. I haven't used anything else since buying this tube. Plus it lasts forever.

It Cosmetics Concealer

Makeup Sponge

I know people go back and forth on the perfect way to apply your foundation, but ever since I used the BeautyBlender Sponge, I haven't used a brush or anything else. The key is to clean your sponge out all the time. It is a pain to do, but it is the best for giving you the look you want every time. 

BeautyBlender

Eye Shadow Primer

I have never used any other primer than Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer, but I don't think I need to. Before I used primer, I used to get the crease from my eye shadow over the course of the day. Then someone was nice enough to introduce me to primer and I never turned back.

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer

Eye Shadow

Just like with my primer, I have been using Too Faced Natural Eyes for a long time. I use other eye shadows, but I always go back to my favorite. I love the colors in it. My favorites are the second line, Silk Teddy, Push-Up and Erotica. Though I use them all, but the first three to go are the second line.

Too Faced Natural Eyes

Bronzer

I go back and forth between blush and bronzer. I love Hourglass Blush, but I use bronzer more than anything else. My tried favorite is Too Faced Sun Bunny Bronzer. I love the color of this bronzer. I have been using this one for a long time. I need to buy a new one because I am left with a few broken chunks in my current one. I think this one gives you a more natural look.

Too Faced Sun Bunny Bronzer

Powder

After I put on all my makeup, I used It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Powder. This is supposed to reduce your pores, give you flawless skin, a finished look and it is anti-aging. I have been using it for about 5 months and I am on my second container. I love this stuff. It lasts all day long and doesn't make my face shiny.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores

Mascara

I don't use mascara right now because I get my lashes done. I get a voluminous look to my lashes, but they are not lengthening. I feel like they look natural and not spidery like some of the ones I see. I can't really recommend a mascara because I was always searching for the best one and none give me the look I was going for.

And there you have it. My makeup routine and favorite products that I currently use. What do you use? What are your favorites?

Friday Favorites and Happenings

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Wow, what a week this has been. I don't even know how to sort through my emotions. There has been some good and some bad, but just wow. This week, I am going to change it up a bit and tell you about my week, my favorites and just plain randomness. I didn't write a weekend update and I feel like we did some awesome stuff this weekend, so that will be highlighted below. Enjoy. And Happy Friday!

ONE. Sunday we went to a local trampoline park called EZ Air. One of my life long friends couldn't make it to the girls birthday party because her ear drum ruptured, so we set up a play date with her and her boys for Sunday at EZ Air. We had never been, but heard good things about it.

When we got there, we found out that parents jump free on Sundays. Score. I know my girls wouldn't go alone or let us watch from the side lines, so this was awesome because it isn't cheap. Though I do hear you can get groupons for it. Anyways, we got there early and had a start time of 11 am.

The girls were a bit timid at first, but once Rory and I got out there, they couldn't stop jumping. We did their main jump area, the dodge ball jumping area (where Rory through a ball at my face, ha) and the jousting foam pit. We didn't stop for the entire hour. When it was time to go, the girls were so sad. They didn't want to leave. I see us going back many times.

Side note: The next day I was pretty sore. I didn't realize how many muscles you use when you jump and do "tricks" on the trampoline.

TWO. If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw this, but on Tuesday morning, Sutton had an accident. About 30 minutes after I arrived at work, I got a phone call from the daycare. It started off as usual saying that Sutton had been running, she fell and hit her mouth. I have had these calls before and they are usually as a precaution to tell the parents that their child hit their head. It is protocol to do this.

What was different was: it was the director calling, not her teacher. And then she told me the more in depth story. She said Sutton was running, she tripped and fell into a bookcase. They said she hit her mouth and was bleeding and they think she needed stitches. I told her we would be right there.

I told my boss what happened and said I didn't know if I would be back in that day. The drive is awful because I work 40 minutes away from the girls daycare. The entire time I kept thinking it can't be that bad. But I split my lip when I was around 8 and I had to have stitches. We called her pediatrician to find out what to do and then our parents to let them know.

When we walked into the daycare, she was sitting with a teacher with an ice pack on her lip. As soon as she saw us, she started crying and removed the ice pack and then I saw how bad it was. It was bad. The director took me to her office to watch the video (there are cameras everywhere in the daycare), twice. Everything checked out with what they told me, so then I went back out to Sutton (Rory was holding her at this point). She wanted me, so I took her and Rory took photos of her to send to her pediatrician. They told us that she needed to go to the ER. Luckily, we have a really great children's ER.

We took her there and after she was checked out, they said she needed stitches. They gave us the options of general anesthesia or numbing cream. They recommended numbing cream because she didn't need many stitches. They also recommended us holding her down instead of nurses so she wouldn't freak out as much.

We waited for the numbing cream to take effect and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on my phone. Then it was go time. Rory held her head and I held her arms and body. She screamed the entire time. It was heartwrenching. She only needed two stitches, but it felt like it took forever. He wanted to make sure they were perfect to minimize the scarring. She kept telling me I was hurting her and to let go of her arms. I cried the entire time. Seriously so hard watching your child go through that.

But the good news is, when we were done and got home, she got ice cream (per the doctor's orders), lots of snuggles and is doing amazing. She knows she has an owie on her face and she has to be careful, but she is back to her usual spunky self. Children are so strong!

THREE. The time is finally here...I leave to Ireland and England on Tuesday. I am pretty excited, but so nervous. I hate the idea of leaving my family, especially after what happened to Sutton this week. But my husband assures me, he has got this and Sutton's stitches come out on Sunday.

I can't wait to explore Ireland. I have never been and it has been on my travel bucket list for a long time. Get ready for a recap when I get back.

I should be writing posts for the next two weeks, but I am pretty far behind. Ugh. But if you have ever wanted to guest post on my blog, now is your chance. Let me know if you are interested.

FOUR. Loft had another sale and it got me. Everything was 50% to 60% off and free shipping, so I bought more things. You should see the look on my husbands face when I got three different Loft packages this week. Yikes.

But I bought these awesome items.

Striped Boatneck Sweater

Poppy Bloom Smocked Shirt

Socks

And a cold shoulder top in Navy that is no longer available.

FIVE. Did you read my post on Re-introductions yesterday? If you didn't, please go check it out and check out all the bloggers that linked up with us. I met so many new-to-me bloggers yesterday and I can't wait to follow along with them. I love the Girl Chat link up. Next month's link is on Thursday February 15th and the topic is How You Stay Organized.

Have a good weekend!

I am linking up with April, A Little Bit of Everything, Meet @ the Barre and Cup of Tea.

My Favorite Hair Products

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I have fine and straight hair and it seems like it is tough maintaining it. Between the constant breakage and the limpness of it, I have picked my hairdressers brain on how to liven it up. Does anyone else fail miserably at recreating your hair look and style that your hairdresser does during your hair appt? I do.

But I am going to share my current hair routine. I do change it up every so often, but this is the one I have been using for awhile.

Shampoo and Conditioner

I alternate my shampoo and conditioner throughout the week. I use Bumble and Bumble Full Potential Shampoo and Conditioner one day and Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner the next time.

Why do I use two different lines? Well I color my hair a bright blonde and I want to keep that brightness going between appointments.

Bumble and Bumble's Full Potential is amazing. It reduces hair loss, prevents breakage, strengthens your hair and makes it look fuller. The key to fine hair.

Full Potential Shampoo

Full Potential Conditioner

My other favorite shampoo is the Oribe collection. I get the bright blonde (in the pink bottle), but they have so many lines for different types of hair. This is my favorite one. It smells so good and leave my hair feeling silky.

 Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo

Oribe Bright Blonde Conditioner

Dry Shampoo

I have tried a bunch of dry shampoo lines. I used to use Not Your Mother's Clean Freak (I still do after the gym), but then I went to the grand opening of my hair salon and they used the new Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-powder and I fell in love. Not only does it smell good, but I can use it for several days and not shampoo my hair. I have never found a dry shampoo that does that. I usually can only go a day in between, but not with Bumble's. This stuff works soooooo good. It isn't exactly cheap, but so worth it. Plus it smells like heaven.

Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-powder Dry Shampoo

Hair Repair

If you are like me and blow dry, straighten and/or curl your hair all the time, I am sure it is a bit damaged. With fine hair, it gets damaged easily. A new product came out and my hairstylist put some in my hair last time (before blow drying it) and then gave me some samples to take home since they were not selling it in the store yet. She said her husband complimented her on her hair and he never does anymore (since it is on point all the time).

I used it daily and my hair never felt better. The ends felt soft and my hair was shiny without being greasy. I got a ton of compliments on it and I hadn't changed anything really. I did the same color and a micro trim.

Bumble and Bumble Saves the Day

Hair Spray

I have used so many different hair sprays. I have used expensive ones like Bumble and Bumble Does It All, Pureology Hair Spray, Kerastase Hair Spray and then cheaper ones like Tresemme, but the one that seems to do the job and is only $3 to $5, Dove Flexible Hair Spray.

Dove Flexible Hair Spray

What are your favorite hair products?

Friday Favorites

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I am so glad the week is almost over. It hasn't been a bad week, but it was my first full week at work in what seems like forever. Thankfully, we have another three day weekend ahead of us. I plan to spend a lot of time with my family and hopefully squeeze in a snowboarding day if it would actually snow here. Here me snow gods, please snow!

The girls school is open on Monday, so we are taking them in and either snowboarding, taking a hike or having a day with just Rory and I. I can't wait!

Onto Friday Favorites and Happenings.

ONE. I posted a picture the other night (on IG) when I made chicken tikki masala in my Instant Pot. I was a little worried I wouldn't love it because every time I make it from a jar that everyone swears by, I am not a big fan of it. But Jenn from Going the Distance posted this on her IG and I knew I had to try it. And let me tell you, it is good. Like really good. It won't replace my favorite local Indian spot, but we will be adding this to our rotation.

The recipe comes from Savory Tooth. I made it exactly like the directions said to except I used a bit more greek yogurt because I was too lazy to measure it out and take a bit of the yogurt out. I read some of the reviews and some people thought it was either too much garam masala or that the garam masala was gritty. I didn't have this problem. I bought my garam masala at Whole Foods. I like the flavor of garam masala as I use it in another favorite dish (roasted cauliflower and chickpeas on pita bread with an avocado creama), but if you aren't sure, maybe cut down to 3 tsp in the SAUCE. I paired mine with basamati rice and garlic naan from Trader Joes (the frozen ones). So good.

TWO. I may have mentioned this here before or maybe not, but I loved unicorns growing up. I think it stemmed from my love of Rainbow Bright growing up. I still have a VHS of Rainbow Bright. Now to find a way to share it with the girls. Anyways, one of my friends showed me some unicorn leggings for the girls and I am in LOVE to say the least. I sooo want to buy these for the girls, but I don't think I can get away with it right now since we just had Christmas AND the girls birthday. So these will stay on my wish list for a bit longer. Maybe for Valentine's Day? Can I justify it to my husband then? But seriously, how cute are these? And they come in long which is perfect for my girls.

Unicorn Leggings

THREE. Speaking of other things that I want to buy, these Toms are at the top of my list. They look so cute and I feel like I would get a lot of wear out of them. I want them in brown as well.

Tom's Booties

FOUR. Have any of you tried Third Love bras? I have seen ads for them everywhere and I love the idea of them, but just not sure I want to pull the trigger on a $68 bra. Yes I know you can try it for 30 days and if you don't love it, you can return it, but I also fear that I will love it and then have to replace all my current bras which is two (one black and one nude), but that is still an investment. 

I took their sizing and fit quiz to see which was best for me and I got the classic t-shirt bra. So please if you have used them, please message or email me so I can hear your thoughts before buying or not buying.

FIVE. If you haven't entered the $500 Amazon gift card giveaway, go here to do so. I know I would love $500 to Amazon. Then I can buy the booties above plus everything else on my wish list. And maybe share some.

Giveaway

SIX. I have good news....my favorite bloggers and I are continuing our monthly Girl Chat link up. We came up with some new topics and a new graphic. Our first Girl Chat of January is Thursday January 18th and the topic is Reintroductions. This gives us all to the chance to reintroduce ourselves, get to know our fellow bloggers even more and get to know new bloggers. I hope you will join us next Thursday. And don't worry, I will send out a reminder next week. Also note: we changed our link up date to the third Thursday of the month!

I am linking up with April, A Little Bit of Everything, Meet @ the Barre and Cup of Tea.

Twins Birthday Party

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What a weekend. I am still soaking it all in. In case you didn't read on Friday, but we celebrated the girls third birthday this weekend. They turned 3 on December 29th, but we had their party on January 6th.

Friday after work, we had to run errands for the girls party. We stopped at a party store and it was disappointing. I had hopes of getting Minnie cupcake decorations, but they had zero. I did pick up two balloons for the party...a Minnie Mouse and the number 3 in pink. Then we went to the grocery store to buy some drinks, a veggie tray and things to make cupcakes. My co-worker told me if I couldn't find any Minnie decorations, then take Oreos and make a Minnie, so that is what I did.

Once we got home, the girls were already at our house courtesy of my in-laws and my SIL and sweet nephew were there as well. We had some take-out Mexican food and watched my nephew open his presents from us with the help of his cousins (the girls love opening presents). After some hang out time, everyone went home and we got the girls ready for bed.

Then I got to some cleaning and decorating for the party. I wanted to have enough time to bake and clean a bit in the morning, so I decorated early. Best idea ever. Then I had a glass of scotch and watched some tv before calling it a night.

Saturday morning we got up and got the girls some cereal. Rory went out to get some coffee and pastries and I got to baking the cupcakes. In between baking, I did some cleaning and showering. It felt like it was 10:30 in an instant and people were to start arriving soon, so I snapped a few photos of the girls in their new party dresses.

Then I let the girls run around so I could take some pictures of the decor. I didn't get that many photos of their party as I was hosting, running around, and enjoying every moment.

Banner | Lanterns | Tablecloth

Swirl Decorations

 Funfetti cupcakes with pink frosting and Oreo Minnie's

There was more drinks outside in a bucket, juices in the fridge for the kids and bottled water everywhere

We bought pizza from our favorite place and Rory brought it back about a half hour after the party started. We had four sets of twins at the party and it was so much fun to see all the twins. Two other sets were invited, but couldn't make it. Plus there was a ton of other kids. We set out a ton of toys, the girls teepee, tunnel, art easel, basketball hoop, doll house and then we opened up their room to all the kids. 

Sutton wanted her cupcake that she had waited all morning for, so after Avery finished her pizza, we sang Happy Birthday to the girls.

 Not the best picture of me, but one of the only captured of me going to the twins with their cupcakes.

Then the girls opened up all their presents.....so many gifts.

They couldn't tear through them fast enough

 My future BIL in the thick of it all

After gifts, people started leaving and the girls wanted to open all of the toys.

This cell phone came in the Happy Helpers Bag Set and the girls have been fighting over it ever since.

After everyone left, we cleaned up a bit and then put the girls down for a late nap (at 3 pm vs their normal 1 pm naptime). I spent the entire nap cleaning the house (other than vacuum) since our dog would be coming back home. Once the girls were up, I finished cleaning and went out to grab us salads for dinner. The girls spent the rest of the evening playing with all their new toys and cuddling while watching football.

Sunday morning we got up, gave the girls a bath and then went to my in-laws house for a brunch to see my SIL, BIL and nephew before they went back to California. We ate sausage, bacon, quiche, fruit, jalapeno poppers and bagels with coffee. 

Then we took the girls home for their naps. While they napped, I went grocery shopping for the week. I love meal planning...especially when I get 5 days of food for only $120. After the girls naps, we did some laundry, playtime, took down the Christmas lights outside and watched football. I left the house just after 5 pm because I went to dinner with my sister and our friend who was in town from Colorado. I haven't seen Holly in about 4 years, so it was long overdue. I have known Holly and her family all of my life as her older sister was my best friend growing up. It was so nice to catch up.

I spent almost four hours at dinner, so I got home, changed, watched some tv and went to bed early. 

How was your weekend?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway I am co-hosting for $500. You can enter here.