Showing posts with label mommy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mommy. Show all posts

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Mommy & Me Shoes

To say that Sienna and I have a pair of matching shoes is definitely an understatement. We actually have three pairs and are on our way to number four! 

YES…I am that mom. 

And I love every minute of it!

The hard part about having matching shoes with your toddler is that their feet grow so fast! She is already on her second pair of gold Saltwater Sandals and her leopard flats are about to be one size too small. Mommy is in need of some new ones so maybe we will switch it up to a loafer style next! 

saltwater sandals // leopard flats // hunter boots // yosi samra ballet flats

Can you believe that she actually received her little purple Hunter boots before me? So I made sure Santa brought me mine a few weeks later ;) These will also have to be replaced when she outgrows them because let's be honest, who doesn't love splashing in muddy puddles?

saltwater sandals // leopard flats // hunter boots // yosi samra ballet flats

And now I've started my Yosi Samra obsession! They are the cutest and comfiest ballet flats I've ever had. And guess what?? Yep, you guessed it: they have a fabulous little girl selection! 

Love my little mini-me :)


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Mommy's Drugstore Make-up Must-Haves

A couple of months ago I was turned onto the world of YouTube Beauty Gurus by my fabulous sista-in-law, Kelly, and it has forever changed my life. I realized everything I was doing wrong in the make-up world and had to do a major revamp of my make-up collection! I could have easily walked into Nordstrom and purchased all the necessities, but I don't know what Danny and I would be on the same page about that ;)

So as any stay-at-home mom does, I researched and found a lot of drugstore dupes that would work just fine. Now don't get me wrong, I do have my department store must-haves, but I will save that for another post!

Here are a couple of products that I really won't ever be able to live without! I don't necessarily use them daily, but they are definitely a drugstore staple in my make-bag these days...




1.  My first item I love is my Revlon Colorstay Lipstick Ultimate Suede Lipstick. I have this in a red and a pink and it's the perfect lipstick for a busy mom who doesn't have time to constantly be reapplying. I know there is nothing worse than a red lip that isn't bold and beautiful at all times! These can tend to be a little drying so I just whip out the Aquaphor that this mom always has on her and it gives the perfect amount of moisture needed!

2. Next I have the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. This is THE best eyeliner I have ever used. It comes with the perfect brush to apply it and always turns out flawless! The only reason I don't use this is if I am in a hurry and realized I forgot to clean the brush after my last use, in which I then use my felt-tip Physician's Formula liquid eyeliner. Beauty Guru, Jaclyn Hill, is the one that turned me onto this one so check out her videos for some tips!

3. Next I have another Maybelline product, The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara. Kelly told me about this one day because she really is my go-to when I have a make-up questions! Before using this I was a Dior Show snob so it was very hard to break away, but this mascara really gets those lashes up there (I rarely curl too)! I've also heard from many that the Loreal Voluminous mascara is another drugstore staple for your make-up bag. I will have to try it, but as you saw here, I am well stocked in the mascara department.

4. Now I rarely ever use foundation, but there are those special occasions when you really want flawless skin so that is why I went the drugstore route for this next one. I ran in one day and grabbed the Revlon PhotoReady foundation and never looked back. It gives me great coverage and matched my skin perfectly considering I wasn't able to test it in the store. It's very lightweight which is an added bonus! I've seen a lot of beauty gurus use whipped foundation as well! Maybe if I am feeling adventurous one day I will try it :)

5. For awhile I had been set on purchasing the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and when I mentioned it to Kelly she told me I should look into a BB cream. I decided to try the Loreal Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream. It's the perfect alternative for someone who doesn't like a heavy foundation and needs a little more coverage than powder can provide. It also is good for your skin!

6. And last, but not least this fabulous Love & Beauty nail polish in the gold glitter. Now I didn't actually get this at drugstore, but it caught my eye while at the register paying in XXI. It was in one of those little bowls sitting in front of you so you add on all these unnecessary things. Well I am very glad I decided to throw this one into the mix because it is simply fabulous! Now with this polish I actually pat it on the nail bed to get a thick layer of glitter on. After a couple of coats and a clear coat over, you will have a stunning mani that shows no imperfections! Now the downside to this 99 cent polish is that within three days it was chipping, but this is usually a polish I will put on for a special occasion like this one. It's simply fab!

So there you have it! Some of my make-up must-haves that you can find at your local drugstore! There are a lot more, but these are just the essentials. 

And stay tuned for a post on this mommy's Department Store Must-Haves!!


Monday, September 30, 2013

My Ipsy & Benefit Cosmetics Lash Bash


I couldn't be more excited to share that I was one of 1,000 women across the United States to have been chosen to host a REALvolution Lash Bash soiree by Ipsy & Benefit Cosmetics! It couldn't have been more perfect since a couple of months ago I started my 'mommy time' section on the blog! Every mommy needs a little makeup to help her feel extra beautiful!


Ipsy & Benefit sent me some fabulous swag bags full of Benefit goodies for nine of my closest friends and I broke out the raspberry champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and more! 



After some eating and schmoozing we got down to business! The lash bash was meant to showcase Benefit's They're Real mascara and  some other products! I gave the girls a quick tutorial on correctly applying the mascara and then they were off to try.


Each guest received a swag bag with luxury sized samples of Benefit's They're Real mascara, Liquid Benetint lip and cheek stain, their Sugarbomb lip gloss in Ultra Plush, and some fabulous coupons to use. They also sent some full sized products that a few lucky winners took home after we played a some games!



We all had such an amazing time at the Lash Bash! It's not every day that we get play with make-up while drinking champagne and eating chocolate covered strawberries!

Thank you Benefit Cosmetics & Ipsy! I was already a fan, but you definitely gained 9 more!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Gold House Paper & Press




In my house greeting cards are always needed. Whether we have a baby to celebrate, a birthday, a wedding, or maybe just to say thanks, it seems like I am constantly running to the store at the last minute to pick up a card. There is even that small percentage of the time where I manage taking both the kids to the store to pick out a gift and get all the way home just to realize I forgot the card. Unfortunately, hand-made cards by the kids can only get you so far...

Recently I found an online shop called Gold House Paper & Press. The cards are so adorable and most of them are hand illustrated by the owner of the shop, Megan Mercier. If you can find the time to plan ahead you will be able to find a beautiful card for your special occasions that is reasonably priced compared to some of the nice cards in the stores these days!

Gold House Paper & Press has items for every occasion! They also have stationery sets, art prints, fun gifts, and more!

I am such a fan!




Disclosure: We were sent samples of these cards, but all of these opinions are my own. 

Sunday, August 18, 2013

A Night Out with Bethenny: Calling All My Girls Tour



Bethenny Frankel stopped in Tampa last week for her Calling All My Girls Tour and all I can say is Bethenny can throw one heck of a party! We had a fabulous evening celebrating Bethenny's new talk show with none other than Bethenny herself and an array of Skinnygirl beverages to sip on. I couldn't have asked for a better mom's night out full girl talk, cocktails, and BETHENNY! She has been such an inspiration to watch over the years with all of her success. 




The event was held at the swanky Grill One Sixteen which couldn't have been more of a perfect place! Bethenny rounded up Tampa's hottest bachelors and the place was dripping in Skinnygirl cocktails...can we say HEAVEN ;-)



 Leave it to Bethenny to have pillows that say It's Hot as Balls! Welcome to Florida...ha!



This momma was able to hang out with some good friends that I've known since kindergarten and connect with some Tampa blogger friends as well!



All the flat screens at the event had the #callingallmygirls hashtag going and you can see me below with Bethenny when we attempted to win a trip to her show earlier in the day! Unfortunately we didn't win the tickets, but I would take a photo-op with Bethenny any day! We will just have to work a little harder now to get a mom's trip to NYC!



Bethenny's new show will be premiering on your local FOX station on September 9th at 2pm! I hope you will be watching because I already have my DVR set! (live televison is a rare occasion with a one and two year old...)

Thanks Bethenny for a night to remember!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Bethenny Frankel is Calling All Her Girls in Tampa!




Bethenny Frankel has been such an inspiration to watch over the years and it has been so exciting to see her make a rapid rise to the top! After reaching great success from her Skinny Girl empire, she is now taking over the world with her new daytime talk show, Bethenny, that premieres September 9th on FOX. 

To celebrate her new show, Bethenny is calling all her girls to come out and have an intimate night out for her Calling All My Girls Tour. She will be making a stop in Tampa on Monday and yours truly was lucky enough to receive an invite! Woohoo! Mommy's night out!!! I am so excited to hang out with my girl and get ready for her new show!

There is still time to try and win tickets to the event here

Stay tuned for a full rundown of the event next week! 

Any other Tampa ladies attending this fabulous event? I can't wait! 



Wednesday, July 24, 2013

A Day at the Beach for Mommy

We are knee deep in summer and it seems like everyone is out at the beach every weekend enjoying this Florida weather! We don't frequent the beach as often as I'd  like since it involves a little more work and a lot more stuff when you have a one and two year old. 

Last time I was at the beach, the kiddos were taking a little siesta and I was able to sit on the edge of the ocean and unwind for a little bit. I've been daydreaming of having a mommy's day at the beach (sans the littles) so I felt inspired and wanted to share some must-haves if I ever get around to going...




Clockwise from the top:
Sun Bum SunscreenSkinnygirl SkinnyMini Margaritas | Tory Burch Beach Towel
Black Floppy Hat | Hayden Reis Tote | Gnarly Whale Beach Waves


What are some of your favorite day dreams for a relaxing day for mommy?


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Beauty Box Bandwagon

Some of you may have noticed that I jazzed up the blog a little and added some fun new labels to my sidebar. Life with les deux can really be overwhelming and sometimes I just need a bit of space so I added a mommy time section that focuses on everything for moi!

Anywho, the other night I was amazed by a celebrity's makeup and was lead to a YouTube beauty tutorial. Now this was my first time EVER watching a video beauty tutorial and...I was amazed! I couldn't stop watching and was in awe at how beautiful the makeup artist looked after ten minutes of makeup application! What really amazed me was how behind in the beauty game I am! Highlighter isn't just for brushing on your cheekbones anymore people!! Sure I would be able to mimic the application, but I don't own a quarter of the products she used in the video and if I purchased half of them I probably wouldn't be allowed home ;-)

So I found myself looking at beauty subscription services again. I've glanced at the box craze before, but didn't think I needed it. Now I am starting to realize it may be helpful for me to step up my game in the makeup world. Let's be honest, I have two toddlers (yes I said it....not babies...toddlers) that keep me incredibly busy and I don't have a lot of time to spend researching the latest beauty trends.

Sooooooo...I've gone ahead and compiled a couple of beauty box subscriptions that appeal to me:



1. Birchbox: This is one of the first beauty boxes that hit the scene. Every month you will get a selection of samples from different beauty brands. Boxes for women run $10/month.

2. Glossybox: This box is taking the lead so far because every month you receive 5-6 luxury-sized products. The bigger sizes are nice, but it's a little pricier at $21/month.

3. Ipsy: This subscription is neat because every month you'll get a makeup bag filled with personalized products. The products seem to be more of a full size as well and this bag runs $10/month. 

4. NewBeauty Test Tube: This tube is another fun option! For $26.95 you will receive a test tube full of beauty products and samples six times a year as well as a subscription to their magazine which you will receive quarterly.

Decisions...decisions...

Have you jumped on the beauty box bandwagon and if so which one did you choose?


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

All Things Popsicle Week!

clockwise from the top:
fruity pop // coin purse // iphone case // popsicle tee // necklace
Hello everyone!! I hope you had a long and relaxing holiday weekend! Even though summer technically hasn't started, it sure feels like it's already July around here! It always seems like Memorial Day is the perfect time to kick off summer in this Florida heat. And what better way to cool off than with an ice cold popsicle?
We LOVE popsicles in this house and it seems like lately I have been seeing popsicle swag everywhere. So I thought it would only be fitting to declare this week All Things Popsicle Week! I'll be posting popsicle-themed recipes, diy tutorials, and even popsicle fashion trends. 
Above are some cute popsicle goodies I found already. It seems like Kate Spade is really making their mark lately with these icy pops...Enjoy!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Insta Weekend!!





Hi there!! Happy Monday!! I know the weekend is over, but life has been pretty eventful and I have so much to share!! Plus Monday is always like my Friday since Danny has tomorrow off...

I also just came off of my first Alt Summit conference called Alt For Everyone and I am so excited for all of the new ideas I have for this year! It was one of the most #inspiring weekends of my life :)

Enjoy!









Friday, May 10, 2013

Best Week Ever!!!


This week has been soo amazing in soo many ways!! Let me start out by saying that Monday was my birthday and I turned the big 2-8!! This year was actually a freebie for me because I kept thinking all year that I was twenty-eight when I clearly wasn't...ha! (mom brain) But anywho, those who know me know that my birthday is usually a week long celebration and this year was none the less!


We started it off celebrating my birthday at an intimate dinner with good friends at the new Cooper's Hawk Winery. There's nothing better than great friends, great food, and great wine all jam packed into one night :)


Then on Wednesday morning we had an amazing opportunity to be featured on Fox 13's Good Day Tampa Bay to do a Mother's Day gift segment! Since I am a Tampa native it was truly an honor to be part of such a respected morning show! And what a great time we had doing the segment! 


Click here to view the clip! 
(Best if you watch from a computer and not a mobile device)

As if the day couldn't have gotten any better, Danny topped it as he accepted a job offer with a wonderful new company!! Needless to say, Wednesday was a day full of celebration. 

Now if we can rewind a little bit I have been dancing in my head (and in real life) all week because I will be attending my first blog conference next week and it's called ALT SUMMIT!!!! (in Oprah's screaming voice) haha!

source

Well, I won't actually be going to an Alt Summit blog conference, but they have created their first completely-online conference called Alt For Everyone <----yes that includes me!! This is absolutely perfect because I'm not in any shape to leave the kiddos behind just yet so virtual sounds fantastic! And to top it off one of my fav blogger Joy Cho will be the keynote speaker so I can only imagine how informative this experience will be!!

And now we are finishing off this fabulous week celebrating why we do what we do everyday! For our babies of course! I love my babies and am incredibly blessed to live the life I live with them.


Happy Mother's Day!!