Confessional Friday: Cozy, Cutesy, Change and Target

It's been a big week around here folks. A big week in the sense that our daily routine consists of Googling how in the world we get to Target, taking drives to see what homes are sale, becoming an official Nashville Mommy complete with some big changes (hehe, see below) and trying out all the nearest restaurants to find a favorite. Big week I tell ya :)  So let's get right down to it!

Time for a little Confessional Friday Action. 

I confess ... I haven't really moved THAT far away, but for some reason I'm craving sweet tea like it's the first time I've ever been to a restaurant that actually serves it. When in reality, I've always lived far enough past the southern line where sweet and unsweetened tea is most ALWAYS an option. Nevertheless, I was craving it so bad the other night I went ahead and made myself some. 

I followed this recipe: 

1. Boil four cups water
2. Once water begins to boil, remove from heat. Add 6 single serving Lipton Tea Bags. Cover and let step 10-15 minutes.
• Note: If you want or need decaf tea, you can buy decaf tea bags or simply decaffeinate regular tea. To accomplish this, boil two pots of water. Steep the tea bags for less than a minute in the first pot of water. Remove the bags and discard the water. Steep the tea bags in the second pot of water as normal. The result is 90-95% caffeine free tea. Cool huh?!
3. While the tea is brewing, make a batch of simple syrup. Dissolve one or more cups of sugar in three cups of hot tap water for a gallon of sweet tea (one is plenty sweet for me, but if you like it sweeter, add that sugar baby). Stir until the water is clear. Pre-dissolving prevents that glob of sugar from settling in the bottom of your pitcher. Whoever gets the last glass will greatly appreciate you for this added step.
4. Once the tea steeps long enough to reach your desired strength, pour it and your simple syrup into a pitcher. Stir the tea and syrup gently, adding enough water to make a full gallon. Taste test for sweetness and add more sugar, if needed. Cover and let stand until the tea reaches room temperature. 
• While it's tempting ... don’t just add ice and throw it in the fridge, this can make for cloudy tea that sours quickly. 
5. ENJOY!

I confess ... That my child is also jumping on the band wagon and sneaking some for himself. Although he refers to it as "teet". And only gets a few sips because Lord knows that child does NOT need additional sugar or caffeine in his diet! HA!

Cozy Momma: Tunic | Sleep Tee | Pajama Pant | Pajama Legging
Cozy Home: Coral Blanket | Sweater Knit Blanket
Cutesy Toddler: Mickey Sneakers | Toddler Hoodie
Cutesy Accents: Accent Pillow | Dachshund Bookend | & Accent Pillow

I confess ... My obsession for Gilligan & O'malley started post pregnancy when I randomly purchased a pair of their jersey knit lounge pants. While perusing the aisles of Target yesterday, I stumbled upon some other fabulous goodies that I want NEED in my wardrobe. I may have found some other phenomonal items I also wanted to share. Ahem, the Mickey Mouse shoes - STOP. That little toddler jacket for your mini! SHEW!  The dachshund book ends!  The quilted soft blanket. You win again Target. You win AGAIN.

I confess ... Some BIIIGGG changes took place this week. I took the plunge and changed both my preset radio stations annnnnd my car's clock. This is a big deal people. I made a funny little noise when I finally pulled the trigger. Sigh, why am I so dramatic?! 

I confess ... Those pictures make me realize how desperately I need to get my car detailed. Sorry you had to witness that. 

I confess ... I'm so glad I'm finally getting around to recap ya'll on the Australia trip. It's a big weight lifted. Hehe.

I confess ... I'm still torn on what sweet treat baby B and I will be making next week. Right now I'm thinking the wafers or the rice krispy treats for no reason other than ease. That's a valid enough reason right?

I confess ... My stomach is still in knots from last night's Scandal episode. Our girl Shonda is doing an EXCELLENT job with this season, I can't get enough!  

Alright kids, I'm signing off until Monday. We've got a fun weekend planned for our first official weekend as a family living in Nashville (since Shane left us for the Super Bowl last weekend, hmph). Plus, the weather is supposed to be SUPERB and we've got some visitors coming Sunday, so color me excited!

Hope you lovelies have a great weekend as well!  Until then, #SAVEOLIVIA (Scandal shout out for those of you that aren't watching). Toodles!

I Heart You

Ahhh Valentine's Day ... your hearts, your red and pink romantic decor, your endless amounts of love, your oversized teddy bears, your dozen long stemmed roses, you and all your smoochies and I love yous - for those of you in love with someone to share it with, you're such a happy day.

Truth be told, I've never been over the moon about Valentine's Day. I'm one of those "it's so overrated, such a Hallmark holiday, blah blah blah" people. But, I am also a girl ... and therefore expect SOME kind of special attention, even if I say differently (insert winky face emoji). Aside from our fourth (I think) Valentine's Day when Shane booked some super swanky preset dinner menu reservation, at some over priced restaurant downtown (which I enjoyed of course .. just thought it was worth mentioning .. ha), we've kept our Vday's pretty simple. A homemade heart shaped pizza has been our favorite one to date ... maybe we'll reenact that at some point and let our little man make his own too.  But I dunno, to me it's just more fun to make an ordinary day special .. and that's what we've always done.

This year however, I'm looking at Valentine's day in a whole new light ... as a parent!  It's making it really fun. I'm imagining my kid(s) a little older and putting together super cute Valentine packages for them to take to school. And giving them a special little Valentine gift from daddy and me. And maybe even splitting up and letting Daddy take his little princess to dinner (if we ever have a girl) and I'll get to take the boy on a dinner date. It makes me smile picturing it all.

Anyways, before I get ahead of myself, I'm also focusing on fun ways to make it special this year. And by special I simply mean making some fun treats for us to munch on next week. I made these little nuggets a couple of years ago and they were so fun!  I'm so excited to start building traditions with our wee one.  I'm going to let him help me in the kitchen this year, and plan to every year after that (until he has his own little lady to take out one day, sniff, tear, sigh).  But while I've got him all to myself that's just what we'll do. And giggle and make a might mess because, Valentine's Day and toddlers and love. Here are some of my favorite contenders for this year's Valentine treat.

How on earth will I ever decide? So many adorable sweet treats!  Maybe I'll just have to make them all ... I'm sure Bennett wouldn't mind having dessert for every meal next week. Ha!

Here are the links if you're interested in check them out yourself. Which one would ya'll pick?

• High Heels & Grills: Valentine's White Chocolate Dipped Krispy Treats
• Valentine's S'mores Cookies | Chelsea's Messy Apron
• Cookies n' Cream Strawberry Cheesecake Bars - Creme De La Crumb
• Brown Sugar Blondies | The Recipe Critic
• Sweetheart Buddies | The Recipe Critic
• Easy Valentine's Day Cookies - Family Fresh Meals

Happy love month to all. Smoochies.

All The Gold

I remember in high school when I would need jewelry for something and I would always ransack my mom's loot. But I would always come up empty handed because it seemed EVERYTHING she had was gold ... and all I wanted was chunky sterling silver (ohhh teenage Katie, your style was tacky).

But now my dears, times have certainly changed. What I wouldn't give to still live at home and sport all of mom's fun, fashionable, and way nicer than anything I own gold pieces. I'm certain I would wear almost all of it now.

I know, I'm way late to this party ... but I'm loving all things gold right now. As I'm scouring websites for Black Friday deals and ideas I may want to ask Mr. Claus himself for this year ... I can't help but stop on every single dainty gold jewelry item I can find.

1: Lola James Jewelry engraved jewelry
2: Dogeared jewelry
3: Nadri bracelet
4: Argento Vivo knot ring
5: Kate Spade mini 

All the love. All the gold. All five pieces. Happy gobble til' you wobble week!

Essential Beach Items for Baby

It's true ... I took my baby to the beach AND enjoyed it. It was Bennett's first time at the beach and while we were so excited to share the new experience with him, I was also beyond stressed about what to pack and nervous that the trip would involve nothing but syphoning sand from his little mouth.

Babies and sad just don't seem to mix to me - not to mention sun and water safety and coordinating feedings and naps. I tried reading and finding great tips, but was always led off on adorable swim trunk tangents and all research proved to be unsuccessful. Anywhoodles, I did find a few blogs/pinterests etc that were helpful and here are some of my tips to other beach baby mommies!

hand and face wipes / baby pool / aden and anais blankets / sunscreen / sun hat / swimfloat / sun tent / swim diapers / sunscreen wipes

I can't tell you exactly what I loved more ... the small sun tent or the tiny swimming pool. Both were perfect for keeping little man out of the sand (which he obviously loved to eat). The sun tent was great for staying cool while he played or napped and we were actually able to {RELAX} (a word used loosely). Bennett loves the bathtub and the pool allowed him to play in the water in a safe and controlled environment. Yayyy for things that make parent's lives easier!

Obviously other items that were essential ... swim diapers and big ol' floppy sun hat along with sunscreen galore. My dermatologist recommended the Blue Lizard sunscreen and OMG I can't say enough about it. SO much protection for his fair baby skin and he walked away an entire week later completely unscathed with literally zero sunburn. The sunscreen wipes were also a great addition for when I needed to just dab over an area or his face. Love them!

Same story for the boogie wipes. I can't say enough about these fabulous little saline wipes, they are a staple in our house regardless of the beach or not. The blankets were also a great addition. The beach and blankets don't exactly mix unless your having a bonfire or something, but these work great because they are so light and airy while still keeping little man cozy during nap time. And last but not least, the swimming float. This was a great addition in the pool. Not only did it allow BUB some shade, but it also gave him some independence to play in the water and splash about.

Hope this helps with your next trip to the beach with little ones, so you can enjoy yourself on your much deserved vacay! Happy Spring/Summer!

Gimme.

Since it's officially my birthday month, I thought I would give everyone a heads up with an insight to my wish list, so I can make shopping easy on you ;). Please give me any and all of the below and we should have one happy momma on our hands ... bahahaha. Let's remember they're called wish lists for a reason ... a girl can dream right?!

But seriously, GIMMMEEEEEE!

Gimme Yurman.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Gimme Marc Jacobs.

1 / 2 / 3

Gimme Steve Madden.

1 / 2 / 3

Gimme Piperlime Fall Fashion

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Gimme wine.

A couple cases of Kung Fu girl and a trip to California wine country should do the trick!

That's not too much to ask for right? Completely reasonable. 

Okay, now get to shopping!

Quinn's Ingredients to BEAUTIMOUS

Meet our Asian beauty, Quinn.  My fashionista friend who has a SERIOUS knack for online shopping ... or maybe just shopping in general.  I'm talking you think you saw some lady at the mall in a cute top, describe it in horrible detail that even an episode of unsolved mysteries would come up empty handed. And, she's still able to find either the exact same top or something similar that's even better. Quinn has an infectious laugh and is great at putting you in a good mood.  If you're looking for new material, check out her blog: QUINNtessential.  She'll be sure to keep you on your fashion twinkle toes.  Now, pay close attention - because just like fashion - she knows her beauty!

Annnnd drum roll, for the last time you have to hear me say this - this week:  y'all should know the routine by now but if not, I had each gal send me a list with their descriptions and links to their favorite products. I put together their "favorite things" collage (to make all of the posts look the same) but from here on out - Cutie Pie Quinn be Chattin:

1. Shimmer Blush Powder 
• I am currently using this blush in DollyMix and I am loving the color. I have always loved MAC's blushes because they are so blend-able. You can have a subtle hint of tint or a bold cheek with how sheer and workable they are. 
2. Grace Body Lotion
• This is the best lotion in the world!! I love it, in fact I just ordered my second bottle. The smell is truly heavenly and leaves your skin feeling baby soft!
3. Chanel: Coco CMademoiselle
• If I could bathe in this smell I would. I absolutely love it and can't go a day without wearing it. Sometimes I switch during the different seasons but for the most part this is my signature smell.
4. Beautenizer Fiberwig Mascara  
• This is one of the best mascaras I have ever used. It really does put a "wig" on your eyelashes. Since I am not blessed with having an abundance of eyelashes this product really makes my eyes pop! 
5. Long Lasting Liquid Eyeliner  
• I have been using liquid eye liner for a long time and this has been my favorite for a few years now. It has the perfect tip for both thin and thicker lines and it also stays on for a long time. The best part is that it is completely smudge proof!
6. Sugar Lip Treatment  
• In Rose. I use this on a daily basis whether I am at work or going out on the weekends. It makes your lips incredibly soft with just a hint of color!
7. Hoola Bronzer by Benefit 
• I love this bronzer because there isn't any sparkles in it. Makeup to me is looking your most natural with just a tad bit of help from your products. The last thing I want to look like is a disco ball in the sunlight from my bronzer.

Teddi's Ingredients to BEAUTIMOUS

Ladies and gents, meet our little southern Tennessee belle, Teddi.  Ted  moved to Louisville 2-3 years ago and pretty much became an immediate addition to our group of gals.  She fit in just perfectly! Yes, Teddi is her real name. No it is not short for anything and yes we are all aware of how cool that is.  She's the go to crafting gal and you might as well just call her Betty Crocker ... Girl can bake y'all. And I don't mean add a few chocolate chips to something and call it baking.  I mean homemade, from scratch goodness that tastes better than yo' mammas.  I'm still holding out for her mamma's secret recipe on Teddi cakes (they are these amazing little butter mini cakes coated in a sugary cinnamon topping - TO.DIE.FOR.), but we'll leave some of my copy cat attempt recipes for another post on a Recipe Monday review. Anyways, as long as she's not in that blinding orange color, I got much love for the gal!

Now begins my broken record intro for the week:  y'all should know the routine by now but if not, I had each gal send me a list with their descriptions and links to their favorite products. I put together their "favorite things" collage (to make all of the posts look the same) but from here on out - Tennessee Teddi is Talkin':

1. Eye Makeup Remover by Almay: Eye Make-up Remover Pads.
• These are not oily but they don't burn. Conveniently packaged and even come in a tiny travel size (15 pads!) that is perfect to toss in your bag on the run.
2. Soft Lips Lip Balm in Vanilla 
• Lip Chap for your crusty crusts. Also perfect to accent your Cupid's bow (on your top lip). Perfect to keep handy to keep your lips looking fresh and natural!
3. Highlighter by theBalm Cosmetics: Mary-Lou Manizer
• Great for contouring cheeks and giving just the right glow! 
4. Moisturizer by Willa Naturals: Face Friendly Clear Face Moisturizer.
• Keeps face moisturized but is lightweight and doesn't feel heavy or sticky on your face.
5. Primer/Balm by Benefit: POREfessional.
• Lightweight "balm" to put on right after moisturizing. It minimizes the appearance of pores and makes the rest of your makeup routine look flawless! Perfect with just Hoola swiped on top for an effortless perfect skin look.
6. Face wipes by Yes To: Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towelettes.
• Full of vitamin C, fresh scent, doesn't dry your skin out, and it lightly exfoliates! What more could a gal want before bedtime? :)

Laura's Ingredients to BEAUTIMOUS

Today's guest bringing you their favorite things is my great pal, Laura.  Some know her as Bop ... or Baby Bop ... because let's face it, in high school we realized she looks like a baby dinosaur (but an oh so cute one!).  Laura and I met in high school because our last names were next to one another in the alphabet, so we were always seated by each other. Our lives have continued to mesh well into adulthood because we seem to be on a similar track. Although, she could speed up the pregnancy part and I wouldn't hold it against her :0)  I love the gal, she's real real great.

Alright so you should know the routine by now but if not, I had each gal send me a list with their descriptions and links to their favorite products. I put together their "favorite things" collage (to make all of the posts look the same) but from here on out - Lil Laura has the floor... :

First things first, I'm a review-reading junkie. I read and I read and I read until I decide to probably not purchase. I could give you the statistical average on reviews of millions of products that I've never owned, nor seen in real life. Stupid, I know. It's a guilty pleasure. Few products make the cut for me and you can bet that all of mine are tried and true. The real deal. While they may not be groundbreaking, they work for me and have become lifetime faves. Take a peek!

1. Benefit Coralista blush 
• I love the color. I love the brush. I love the smell. I love Benefit. Win-win-win-win. And actually while I'm at it, I love this whole set (1b)  
2. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle 
• I have brutally tangly hair. It used to take my hairdresser 30 minutes to comb it out. I've been known to use Johnson's No More Tangles up until about age 22. It's bad. But this stuff helps immensely. I use it once a week to keep my hair soft and tangle free. It's cheap and smells like a dream.
3. Oscar Blandi Texture & Volume Spray 
• I was certainly skeptical of this product, but it does wonders for my hair. The perfect pick me up. It adds a little texture and va-va-voom to dull hair. Bonus: It also adds a little life to hair on those days that you forget to wash. Major plus for this girl.
4. Sebastian Shaper Plus Hair Spray 
• This has been a staple in my life for about 10 years. It's the most perfect hairspray out there - great hold, not sticky or heavy. I blame all of my bad hair days in the past year on the fact that they discontinued it. I've been through countless hairsprays since and nothing compares. But I'm happy to report it's back!  I'll be purchasing 10 bottles to avoid any mishaps in the future.
• Hi! Katie here -- I wanted to pop in and mention ... this girl knows hairspray and I've got the photo to prove it, so I'd recommend taking her up on this advice ... too good not to share. Now, carry on Laura...

1. theBalm Stainiac Lip Stain in Beauty Queen 
• This one's a stain, so not moisturizing, but you'll never know it's on your lips. No icky lipstick or lip gloss texture and it lasts all day.
2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer 
• Finally! The foundation product I've always wanted. It's super light, but with great coverage. So easy to apply. And SPF included! This is something I probably read 600 reviews on and am so happy that I purchased. I'll use it for the rest of my life.
3. Sugar Lips in Rose 
• Probably my very top product. It's super soft & moisturizing like your favorite chapstick, with a pop of the most perfect color. The color of your lips, but a little better.  

Baili's Ingredients to BEAUTIMOUS

The first gal pal sharing with you her favorite beauty products is my dear friend Baili.  I think I have described Baili before as the mom of our group.  She's the one who keeps us all in line and keeps everything together. She is the key to the kingdom when it comes to organizing events, gals nights, and any other detail that needs a close eye.  She is a lover of the lake and we share one too many happy place memories there. Baili is the gal who will be a bridesmaid in every wedding from now until the year 2090 because she's that good of a friend. She also has one of my favorite alter-party ego's {Madtard} - but we'll spare those stories for a later post :P ... hehee!

So, like I mentioned yesterday, I had each gal send me a list with their descriptions and links to their favorite products. I put together their "favorite things" collage (to make all of the posts look the same) but from here on out - Miss Baili has the floor.  So here she is ladies and gents:

1. Mia Clarisonic
• Seriously my one and only true love when it comes to my skin care and beauty regimen.  Not joking when I say it has changed my skin. I honestly don’t feel like my face gets truly clean unless I use it. I just pump some Cetaphil on the brush head and get down to work! I have the Mia version, which seems to be the most affordable one. Not sure what the difference is between the others, since the brush heads are all interchangeable, you can really get whichever brush is best for your skin type. Be sure to order those off Amazon though, much much cheaper!
2. Mint Julep Masque
• I use this mask every Thursday so prep my skin for the weekend. It will clear up any blemish and leaving your skin feeling taut and smooth. Doesn’t hurt its called Mint Julep, a little nod to my Derby City!
3. Benefit Hoola Bronzer
• This is a great NATURAL looking bronzer that’s not too orangey and lasts a relatively long time. I’m also a sucker for Benefit’s cute packaging! Check out their other bronzer names.. .too fun!
4. Cetaphil
• I buy this thing by the industrial vat, seriously it’s that good! It’s gentle but gets the job done. There are a few different versions as far as skin type. You can pick it up at your local drugstore.
5. Cover Girl Tinted Moisturizer
• The only tinted moisturizer I keep going back to. I’ve tried the BB creams and other tinted moisturizers but those tend to be a little too thick and make-upy for me. Since I don’t use a foundation I really like to just have a little coverage and a moisturizer all in one.
6. Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette/ NakedPalette
• I went crazy for the Naked palette when it came out. It was nice to be able to try out colors I wouldn’t normally buy. Once those began to run out I discovered that Urban Decay has a ‘create your own’ palette option where you can pick 4 of your favorite colors in the regular size and pop them in yourself! I think it actually comes with one already in there. Such a deal at $18. The full size shadows are $18 themselves.  Also, Sephora is 8% cash back on Ebates right now!
• On another note, if you don’t have Ebates you’re missing the boat! You basically get money for shopping online—seriously that easy. Each online store that participates has a different %  of money back  on orders. Ebates will send you your earnings quarterly.

RM: My Ingredients to BEAUTIMOUS

Today is Recipe Monday.  The day where I normally share the latest and greatest recipe I'm wanting to try, or the latest and greatest recipe I did try and can no longer live without.  However, today and this entire week actually, I've enlisted some help from some of my besties to share with you a different kind of recipe.  A recipe made up of our absolute favorite beauty ingredients that make us look and feel like rock stars.  In the words of our favorite Honey Boo Boo Mama, June, the stuff that makes us down right BEAUTIMOUS!

I'll share my list of beauty must haves with you today - and then I'll highlight some of my gal pals for the rest of the week to divvy up their can't live without lists.  

It has been so fun to look at everyone's must haves and see what makes them tick.  It's not so great for my bank account however, because it makes me think I in turn need the items as well. If they're good enough for my pals, than I absolutely MUST HAVE THEM TOO ... Duh!  It's a blast though to see how passionate people are about "THEIR" products, and hear their excitement when they talk about them.  Because they are SO life changing, and make everything SO much better! ... Hehehe

I wish I could say I was different and haven't been sucked into the endless black hole that is the never ending abyss of retail beauty products, but I am no better my friends.  NO BETTER.  I actually may be worse.  For instance, when I was soliciting their help for this little project I started analyze my morning routine and realized how much I rely on every day items.  For instance, if someone were to ask me to choose between my teasing comb or my bronzer and said I had to quit the other 100% cold turkey, I really don't know if I'd be able to do it. Like really, it would inevitably cause a full fledged meltdown with tear stained cheeks and a ugly cry face.  I wish I were simply being dramatic for the sake of story telling, but I truthfully think it would be THAT devastating.  SEVERELY life altering.

So here goes, my list of favorite things that I use to make me feel BEAUTIMOUS!

1. Clean & Clear Daily Pore Cleanser
• This is MY face wash, and has been since I was about 14.  The bottle has changed appearance from time to time - but what's inside is grand. I've tried other face cleansers, but nothing seems to work on my skin like the teeny bopper brand.  So I will remain an ever loyal customer!
2. Sephora Cleansing pad
• I use #2 along with #1 and make my own Clarisonic.  Ugh, I've been wanting one for some time now and I know I need to break down and get one.  But I just haven't seemed to find the time, money or rationale.  But I hear once you get one you can never go back - so maybe I just need to turn in the flimsy cleansing pad and upgrade to the big girl status of the Mia. Or mayyyybe the Easter Bunny will bring it in my basket! -  Cough, cough: PENNY, ARE YOU READING THIS?!)
3. Amor, Amor by Cacharel
• My musk.  Again, a tried and true Katie-ism.  I was at the ripe old age of 17 when I found this stuff. My long time bestie, Jessica and I flew out to Denver, CO to visit her older sister Megan at the University of Denver.  Megan drove the coolest black 4-runner, played volleyball in Colorado, and took us to Bruegger's Bagels to eat lunch one day (side note: I still love all of these things, and I think it is all partially due to this trip, because I was so entranced by the whole scenario).  Anyways, when we climbed into Megan's ever so awesome Black 4-runner, it smelled so heavenly I swear I could have died a happy teenager right then and there.  And when we went out that night, I spotted the scent.  She spritz a little on before getting out of the car (because she kept a bottle and the lotion in her car - HOW SMART?!). I caught a glimpse of the label and I swore I'd make the purchase as soon as I got home.  Annnnnd here we are today. I still track the stuff down (on the Internet because they don't see it in many stores) and wear it like no other. Now, I'd be lying if I said I didn't throw in other scents every now and again, and Hubs buys me new perfumes.  But this is the one that tugs my heart strings. - Also, Megan if you're reading this - I apologize for how creepy I sound! 
4. Mebco Teasing Comb
• As I write this, I shrill at the thought of my life without it.  Now, I am by no means a "the higher the hair, the closer to Jesus" kind of girl, in that BIG hair is a must.  BUUUT, if my hair has not been teased at least a little bit, I feel downright heinous.  It's part of my routine.  I picked it up on college, well before the Snooki poof.  But, I rocked a decent half-up|half-down poof, and always added volume to my pony.  It's a must have item. MUST. HAVE. MUST.
5. Brazil Nut Body Butter
• I don't know about ya'll but I think it's kind of a challenge to find a good lotion.  I feel like many lotions have flaws: too greasy, not heavy enough, too heavy, overly scented, smells like an old lady, etc.  This little beaut seems to be just the right amount of scent, creaminess (hate that word), and non greasy.  Plus, it's an easy snag at your local Target!
6. Oscar Blandi - Pronto Dry Shampoo (powder)
• So, I'm one of those gals who always has wispy hairs in my face and some for (any length) of bangs hanging (even when I rock a pony).  So those fringe pieces around my face tend to get a little oily.  Plus, having dark hair - they seem to grease up a little quicker.  WELL - dry shampoo is my best friend when it comes to needing to throw myself together in a pinch.  I sprinkle a little on my finger tips - rustle it around my fringe and off I go.  Voila.  Squeaky clean (or at least my hair looks like it)!
7. Bare Minerals - Warmth - Bronzer
• Another absolute must have.  Dash a little of this on my cheek bones and I can take on the world.  Just a pop of color without appearing to orangy or oompah-loompah.  Bronzer isn't a gimmick. It's a lifeline.
8. Osis + Dust It Matifying Powder
• As mentioned above, in conjunction with my teasing comb.  This magical red bottle brings my roots to life.  The texture is a little funky, so use sparingly until you get the hang of it.  But my hair dresser used this on me for a wedding I was in almost 2 years ago and I've been hooked ever since.  It adds texture, volume and just enough life to SHAZAM those roots!  Buy it on Amazon - it's MUCH cheaper than what it retails for in a salon.
9. Victoria's Secret - Lip Gloss
• I won't name names, but I have a friend who tells me I'm not allowed to wear bright colors on my lips (specifically hot pink and red) b/c I've got big lips and big teeth.  Ergo, not a perfect combo.  Bottom line, there are some ladies who can rock it and some who can't.  I fall amongst the "can't" category but I'm okay with it.  This lip gloss has great flavor and doesn't stick with you.  It adds just enough neutral sheen and is great for everyday wear.
10. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
• I rub this little cream all over my face before I touch it with a make-up brush.  It helps to smooth everything out, keeps the oil to a minimum and helps to fill in some of those pesky pores.  Plus it keeps your make-up in tact for JUST a little longer.

So there you have it.  All of the items I use to make myself feel BEAUTIMOUS!  Stay tuned all week for updates from some of my best gal pals to see their MUST HAVE items!

Nerdy Nautical Nursery Inspiration

That's right, Nursery inspiration for Baby U that is both NERDY and NAUTICAL.  What a great pairing!  Okay I lied, really it's not that nerdy - it just involves the letters of the alphabet - and Nerdy started with an "N" which sounded good in front of Nautical, to make the title more catchy.  To-MAY-toe, To-MAH-toe.

Alright, so hubs and I (okay I lied again). Hubs and I have been scouring ideas for nursery inspiration and relentlessly FORCING hubs to look at them and provide feedback.  And we've both pretty much agreed we like the idea of an alphabet theme and/or a nautical theme.  Now, I'm not talking matchy-matchy, baby-baby, themes here - I'm just talking a general direction to inspire my creative juices to start lil' man's room.  And the line I'm walking between a cute baby room and a cutesy baby room is very thin, people.  It's so hard to find sophisticated decor that will look good in a nursery and "not too grown up" or cute and fun decor that doesn't look too cheesy. 

Alas, I think I have finally settled on some images that have successfully inspire me and also challenge me to create the perfect hub.  The perfect hub of course, that is to be: Baby U's haven of ever exploring nautical inspirations to encourage him to chase his dreams, with an undermining tone of the alphabet to inspire focus and the importance of higher education surrounding his peaceful and splendid nurserydome (I'd add more adjectives if I was clever enough to think of them, because I feel they are indeed THAT necessary to depict excitement and convey my intensity - although, let's be honest, really I just think it looks pretty).

Okay, enough talk.  Need more action.  So here goes - my inspirational pictures.  Don't worry, I'll make sure to narrate as we go along :) And SHWING this is my first attempt at using polyvore to create a board! Sooooo fun.  I may have to use this more often - Lord help us all.

Alright, so here's what we're working with.  As I mentioned, we both could agree on being fans of either an alphabet theme or a nautical theme. But I was really having a hard time finding one that I totally was in love with.  I kept finding some elements that I liked but I couldn't find a way to bring it all together. That was, until I stumbled upon the great photo of all the letters individually framed in the top left of the collage.  

I LOVE LOVE LOVEEE all of the different letters, and I love even more the idea of utilizing different picture frames to separate them from being one large clutter. But I LOVE the gallery wall vs. painting or printing directly on the wall.  So, my plan is to find all different kinds of letters (SHOPPING. STARTS. NOW!) and mod podge them with a sepia/tan tone vintage map to help keep it sophisticated and neutral.  THEN, agh I die, the next step is to incorporate some nautical pieces into the alphabet.  These will allow for some pops of color while also layering the theme.  So I'm thinking a boat life savor or a sailor captain steering wheel (as seen above) as the "O" or light house as the letter "I", for example.  

The alphabet wall will obviously be the main focal point, and other pieces will just be accents throughout the room.  We're currently torn between 2 cribs:

....OR....

I think I'm kind of leaning more towards the Davenport, because it looks a bit more bold and has a little more character.  But Larkin was my original choice, so I'm always nervous to throw a change up this late in the game.  

Another FUNN finding.  Hubs and I were strolling through our local Peddler's Mall this past weekend and stumbled upon this beauty.  Which I think will be the most PERFECT piece of accent furniture to Baby U's nursery, don't you? LOVE.

So that's it my loves.  A truly fabulous Nerdy and Nautical Nursery.  The Hubs and I are taking a babymoon in a couple of weeks, so we're planning to gather all of the materials before we head out.  That way when we return it's full on nesting mode to put the finishing touches on lil' man's bedroom! EEEeeeek.  It's all becoming so real!

Sharing Fail.

Wow. Sorry. For those of you who's alerts and blog rolls have been blowing up with posts from me. Clearly you can see what kind of post I am working on next.  

Teaser: I believe I have finally found the missing link to the nursery planning puzzle.  And I'm working up a big fancy post to share.  In doing so, I also enlisted the help of our friendly favorite website polyvore.  BUUUUUT I failed to notice while setting up my account that I accidentally linked it to my blog and therefore ANYTHING I do shows up as a new post.  It is downright SPOILING by nursery surprise for all of you and I'm literally having a screaming fit over it.  Nevertheless, I have deleted the accidental posts, so if you try to click on the pictures to see them in more detail you CAN'T! HA! So there.  Well, at least not until the big reveal.

But anyways, I figured I'd formally apologize and then leave you with a Bathroom update.  We're SO CLOSE Y'ALL.  I'm talking SO CLOSE.  If you've missed the initial posts you can find them here and here.

So here are some pretty pictures of where we are.  I've been taking pictures as we go along, so some of the more unfinished are from 1 or 2 weeks ago and the others are from LAST NIGHT (sorry about the terrible picture quality I've just been snapping them on my phone)!  EEEkkkk.  I almost have my bathroom back, and constructions workers gawwwwn.  Buh bye. Leave me my beautiful stone and get out. Please and thank you.

So that's it.  We've still got some fixtures to replace, minor plumbing to complete, walls to be painted and decor to be added.  But after that, I think ladies and gentleman we will have our master bath completely renovated. WHEW!  And I'd say that MORE than deserves a pint of this....if only I hadn't eaten it all yesterday for Fat Tuesday...hehehe :)

Goodbye my loves!