Friday Faves: Coconut Oil

Source: amazon.com via Sarah on Pinterest

I am in love with Coconut oil.  I've been using it for skin care for about 6 months now, and I am totally impressed.  I use it to shave, to wash my face,  remove eye makeup, a hair mask and as a lotion.  I can have sensitive skin and this doesn't bother me at all.  It comes in a solid form but the minute you touch it it melts into an oil.  In the summer this isn't a problem because mine is always melted from the heat of my house.  In the winter though it can be too hard and so lucky for me I came across this solution on Pinterest:

Source: livingthenourishedlife.com via Sarah on Pinterest

You just whip it - ya whip it real good - ok so I just throw a cup of the oil (in solid form) in my mixer and turn it on high. After a couple of minutes it's like mousse or body butter.  I put it in a jar and it doesn't harden again.  It also makes the oil last a lot longer.  I use it in this form for everything.

I also love to mix it with baking soda as a light face and body scrub - everything feels sooo soft afterward!  I've read that you can use this mix for a toothpaste too - but I'm not quite up to that yet.  I can't wait to test this on my kids' eczema.  Did I mention that I love it.

Friday Faves: Holiday Glam

With all the fun Holiday parties this month I thought I'd share some of my favorite beauty items for a holiday look:

Source: schwarzkopf.com via Sarah on Pinterest

My version: 

1. Primer: It helps the foundation go on smoothly and you don't need to use as much of it either. I used to use E.L.F. Mineral face primer, at $6 it's really economical and I liked it.  However, I've recently switched to a Pinterest find: Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel

Source: skindeco.net via Deann on Pinterest

I really like it and they say it's comparable to smashbox. I used a $2 coupon from Monistat and got it for $3.39 at Target.

Source: ebay.com via Sarah on Pinterest

2.  False eyelashes!  This is my newest favorite beauty item.  At first it was a bit scary and there was a bit of a learning curve.  Now that I know the ins and outs of applying them it's a snap and makes such a beautiful difference in the overall look.  First off buy Duo glue - it is the best and only glue that will last all day.  Also, one tube lasts forever!  I place a dab of glue on the package of my eyelashes and let it sit  while I take out the false lashes.  This lets the glue get tacky so the falsie will stick immediate.  Then I take a bobby pin, dip the ball end in the glue and then apply the glue on the strip of the lash. Place the falsie on your lash roots-trying not to get it on the eyelid but as close as possible.
My current fav lashes are by Ardell, they are made with european hair so they are more "real" looking.  Although I use E.L.F. lashes a lot - you can't go wrong for a $1.  I get at least 4 uses out of each pair, and if you clean them they can last up to a month supposedly.

Source: bim.shopstyle.com via Haley on Pinterest

3. Red lips: automatically glam up any look.  There are a few secrets to sucessfully pulling it off.  One make sure your lips are exfoliated and moisturized, any flakes will show up like crazy.  Use a lip liner to fill in the entire lip first, this will help your lipstick last.  Apply a layer of lipstick, blot and then apply another layer.
 Here are some of my fav red lipsticks (since I own like 20 of them):
NYC Sheer Red (shown above), This is a great lipstick if your nervous about wearing red lips. Its moisturizing and doesn't need all the layering tips I wrote about above, just glide it on.
 Besame Lipstick,  I ordered a sample pack when it was available and I love all their colors. These are very pigmented and opaque.  They take a little time to apply, which I like, it makes me feel like an old Hollywood movies star ( kind of).
Revlon Matte Lipstick In the Red, also for a more old hollywood look, but better on the budget.  I love the matte look and this one doesn't dry out my lips. I bought mine at WalMart
ELF matte lipstick in Rich Red, this is great for a base or liner too.  Easy application and lasts a good amount of time, no dry out: available at target.
NYC Extend Wear Lip gloss in Round the Clock Ruby, for super shine this is really fun. Great for New Years Eve.  Also from WalMarthttp://www.target.com/p/ardell-duo-eyelash-adhesive-clear/-/A-12391673?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C12391673&CPNG=Health+Beauty&kpid=12391673&LID=PA&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=12391673

34th anniversary!

This has been the best project I've ever made!
and the one that has made me the happiest!

Honey Do List

My amazingly talented husband has had a bit of a honey-do list since we moved into our house a year ago.  From a laundry chute, faux mantle and bookshelves that match to rain-gutter bookshelves in the kids' room, dog kennel, fire hydrant water-fountain and not to forget my totally awesome craft room!  He's always willing to oblige...and didn't fall short when I wanted a one of these for the front porch:

My sister-in-law gave us these 3 chairs out of her storage.  I knew immediately what I wanted done with them, but my husband went the extra mile.  One of the chairs had these cute arms so hubby decided to make sure that the bench got to use them!  He then cut off the seat of the third chair and fitted it in the middle of the other two.  Added a new board for the seat and attached all the chairs together. A coat of paint and voila.
I love it, and can't wait to spend my afternoons watching the kids play in the front while sipping lemonade...

Rudolph Party

I threw a Rudolph party for my grands. We used the Vintage Rudolph Collection party printables from TomKat Studio for our invitations.  I had several activities and dinner planned.

 Each of the kids received their own handmade apron and reindeer ears.

We made gingerbread houses, had a hot cocoa bar, played musical chairs, watched the movie which was interupted by a surprise visit from Santa!  After Santa head back to the North Pole we had dinner and then decorated cupcakes for dessert.  The kids had a ton of fun.  Everyone got a gift bag for on the way home.

Cheers

I'm working on the decor for our New Year's Eve party...here is a printable of the poster I've made for our photobooth for your pleasure, just right click and save image as:

I'll be blowing mine up at an office store and having it printed as an engineer print - 24x36 for $4! 
We have several parties coming up so look for those posts soon!

Stockings are Hung

I have our traditional Christmas stuff in our basement family room.  The kids got to decorate the tree and help me put up the decor.  Is it really sad that all the decor I've been using for the past 8 years fits on one wall shelf and tree?  Oh well the kids love having their own to do.  I wanted to share how I hung my stockings:

In years past I used my board with hooks to hang all our stockings, but this year that hook thingy is up in the kitchen with aprons on it.  I really didn't want to buy 5 stocking hangers because that can add up quick...so I bought 2, at Walmart for $5 and then I painted a $2 dowel to match and hung all the stockings that way.  I saw the idea on Pinterest here and here.  You could use a curtain rod or painted pvc pipe too...