Journal Reviews.

I'm a huge journal writer. I believe in documenting life, no matter how simple that life is. Our lives may not be important to many, but they are extremely important to some. I hope that my children and grandchildren will be able to know me through my writing.

I was emailed on the same day by two wonderful journal companies to review their products and was thrilled to do so. They are completely different, but equally charming. I hope you all take a moment to check out their darling shops.

ANGELICQUIRK

Evelin is a small, independent handmade crafter. She owns a darling etsy shop full of paper crafting galore. Her journals are darling and very well-made. I love the vintage style. Her covers are sturdy and paper is thick, high quality. I use very inky pens and there is no bleeding. I love the line-less paper. It gives me the freedom to write as I will. The price is amazing for a kettle-stitched book, too! I love that they lay completely flat as I write. As soon as mine is filled out, I will be back to buy another.


GADANKE

Katie's shop, Gadanke, offers journals with an eclectic flair. Envelopes, library cards, tags, quotes and scrapbook paper will delight you as you flip through it's pages. Her journals offer prompts for writing that are so fun! The paper and covers are made out of light-weight paper, offering easy portability. This would be a book I'd throw in my bag to jot down thoughts while on the road. A fun journal for anyone looking for one out-of-the-norm!

Katie is generously offering all of you a 10% off code for the next 5 days: SHERBERT10

Camping with Kids.

Because I am so very girly, a lot of people are surprised when I tell them that I love camping. I do! I love everything about it! The smells. The sounds. Sleeping in sleeping bags. The stars. The campfire food. I'm a big fan. I grew up camping and really want to continue the tradition with my own family.

This was the first year that we've tried. Our trip to Southern Utah was such fun...except for the whole camping in a tent part. We went into it knowing our kids wouldn't sleep a lot, and we were okay with that. But, we didn't expect the baby to be up ALL NIGHT LONG. And he was. Luckily, I am married to the sweetest man on earth. He took Baby D into the car around 11:00pm and drove him to sleep all night. Poor boys! (The older kids and I slept like babies after they left. I felt a tad guilty about it once I heard about Jason's horrible night with the babe.)

We did some things right, and we did some things wrong. I hope some of these tips help you:

• Have a backyard campout before you go. We wish we would have done a trial run! We would have reserved a hotel room instead!

• If you are camping with really little kids, I highly recommend camping somewhere with running water and indoor pluming. We were so grateful we did. Sleeping outside is "roughing it" enough for munchkins. (Especially if one of them is sporting diapers.)

• Make sure you pick a location with kid-friendly activities and hikes. Arches & Goblin Valley were perfect for my 1-6 year olds.

• Buy a cheap flashlight for each child. Not only are they fun, but having a light at hand helps with nighttime scares.

• Make a checklist before you head out! You don't want to forget anything...especially the sunscreen and bugspray.

• Bring plenty of treats. I don't know why, but my kids ate about 3x's the amount of food that they do at home. I brought homemade granola bars, trail mix, Craisins, fruit leather, string cheese, Goldfish crackers, cold cereal, carrot & celery sticks and fruit.

• Pack warm jammies for your little ones. I am always shocked at how cold it gets at night...even after a super hot day in the sun.

• For your first trip, don't go too far from home. We were so exhausted that we went home a day early. We were so grateful that we were only 3 hours away from our cozy beds at home.

• We didn't buy special kid-sized bags for our kids. Having a sleeping bag that is too huge can keep you from staying warm at night, so we folded their sleeping bags in half. This gave them extra padding to sleep on and kept them nice and warm.

• Let your kiddos help! Our kids helped with putting up the tent, building the fire, and cooking the meals. They loved every minute!

• Make rubbings. We collected lots of interesting leaves and plants from around the campground and, using a crayon, made rubbings. Very fun!

• Don't unpack the car. We left everything but the sleeping gear in the car. It became our changing station, food center and home base. It helped things stay nice and organized.

• Let them get dirty! By the time we got home, every inch of our kids' bodies were covered in dirt. I didn't let it get to me, and they loved having total freedom to be kids.

Hope you all have fun on your camping adventures this year. We plan on trying again...in a year.

Design Shop Closing.

Sherbet Blossom Designs, my freelance design shop, is now closed for business. It was a very hard decision, but after analyzing my priorities, I don't feel like I can give both my clients and kids the time they deserve. Sherbet Blossom Designs has been my baby. I've worked hard to get it where it is, so this is a bitter sweet day for me.

I've been shocked at how my little business grew over the past 4 years. I went from receiving 2-3 orders a week to 10-15 orders a day. (Almost ALL from referrals. Thank you for telling your friends about me!) I used to thrive on my over-packed design schedule. I would only sleep 3-4 hours a night. I loved the deadlines and the portfolio building.

But, we've added two children to our little family since the opening of my shop. And I'm not as spry as I once was. I'm feeling anxious about missing out on my kids' growing-up years. The little extra money just isn't worth it to me. I don't want to miss anything with my family because of a design job.

You can still order from my premade section, but I will not be adding any new designs.

Thank you all for your support, orders and inquiries. I've made great friends and have been able to work on some very exciting projects. I'll miss that. A lot.

Here's to simplifying and being a better mother!

:: Don't worry, current clients. I'm still working on your orders!
:: Some of my family and friends are wonderful blog designers. If you need a blog makeover, feel free to ask me for a referral.

Weekend Rendezvous Wrapup.

Since I was young, Southern Utah has been my favorite cold-weather escape. (My parents, cousins & grandparents had condos in Saint George and we frequented all the surrounding areas.) Am still trying to convince my husband that these vast deserts are appealing in the heat. For now, I can only talk him into spring and fall road trips.

Moab is a hop, skip and a jump away from my home, so we took advantage of a rare uneventful weekend to make some family memories. And, oh boy. Did we ever! The tent-sleeping with a baby will be an adventure we will not soon forget. More on that later.

We were all infatuated with this gorgeous scenery. Moab is usually anything but green, but we were pleasantly surprised with the flora last weekend. Utah has been bombarded with rainstorms and they really greened up the scenery. I loved the contrast in colors with the red rocks and blue, blue sky. My kids loved the lizards around every corner and crows on barren trees. My stomach churned with every beautiful, steep cliff at Dead Horse Point.

We felt like we were all alone in the park. Except for the tour bus full of photographers, of course. I always feel silly pulling out my camera in front of a bunch of professionals, so as soon as they piled out of their bus, my photo-snapping stopped for a while. (I think I heard my husband sigh with relief when he saw me pack my trusty Canon away. He's all about exploring without stopping for pictures.)

Best baby purchase we've ever made? (Besides our Phil and Ted's stroller, of course.) Our Kelty baby backpack! It's lasted us three children and has been on more hikes than I can count. Super comfortable. The kiddos love sleeping in it. Doubles as a great sitting-by-the-campfire high chair.

Adored the blooming cacti. I wish I could go back to see the blooms open.

Arches National Park was a dream. Perfect, kid-friendly hikes. Sand-play galore. Jason and I were a bit sleepy from the previous night's comedy-of-sleeping-errors, but the kids were champs.

 The favorite hike in Arches? Landscape Arch. It was great for our little-legged sidekicks.

On the way home, we make a quick stop into Goblin Valley. If you haven't been there, you must! It was the favorite stop of the whole trip. Like a giant jungle gym. The kids climbed and climed. Played in the sand. Explored every crevice. Protested when we told them it was time to leave. We are planning another trip there soon.

All in all, the trip was wonderful. Getting away from work & school for a weekend is always refreshing. I love camping and being in the out-of-doors. Disconnected from technology and completely connected to family. Bonding and talking. Giggling and hiking. Family rendezvous are my favorite.

:: Coming up this week: Tips on Camping with Kids! (A request from a design client.) I'll do my best. Ours was not-so-successful, so hopefully you all can learn a thing or two from our mistakes.

Blog Hopping :: Quick & Easy Family Recipes.

 Today is a very exciting day! My good friend Miranda and I have been brainstorming this blog series for a couple of months and are thrilled that the debut is finally here! It is a once-a-month series called "Blog Hopping" that will have a different theme each time. (Please see the bottom of the post for details on how you can participate. We need you!)

Today, our theme is "Quick & Easy Family Recipes." This is my go-to dinner when I have no time. There is nothing to it, but no one would ever know! It is a crowd pleaser that everyone will be thrilled to eat. And it only takes about 15 minutes of work time! (If that...)

BBQ PORK & COLESLAW SANDWICHES
2.5 lbs Boneless Pork Loin Roast
1 bottle BBQ Sauce (I like Sweet Baby Ray Honey BBQ Sauce)
Coleslaw Mix
Coleslaw Dressing
Hamburger Buns

• Place the pork into a slow cooker with 1 cup of water. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until is falls apart with a fork.
• Take pork out of slow cooker and shred it with a fork, trimming any extra fat.
• Put pork back into slow-cooker and add BBQ sauce. (The amount is really a matter of taste. We like ours extra goopy, so I add the entire bottle.) Let it warm up on low for another 30 minutes.
• In another bowl, toss together coleslaw mix and dressing. (Again, to desired goopiness.) Place 1/2 cup pork in bun and top with about 1/2 cup of coleslaw.
• Serve & Enjoy!

Makes about 8 sandwiches.

Please take a moment to check out these Hoppers and their wonderfully easy dinner/recipe ideas:
Miranda
Cathy
Dianna
Jaime & Emily
Jessica
Jessie
Lindsey
Thanks for participating, ladies!

Here's how "Blog Hopping" works:
• Each blogger participating will post on their own blog about a pre-chosen theme. (Blog Hopping is all about discovering new blogs!)
• Posts will go up on the 20th of each month
• At the end of the post, the bloggers participating will be linked so you all can "hop" around and check out the other ideas/recipes.
• And most exciting: YOU are invited to participate. Please contact me or Miranda if you are interested.

Trials.

 Picture from our getaway last weekend. More on that soon! // Quote from this talk.

It's been on my mind for weeks. Every article I read and talk I hear seem to take my thoughts in a new direction; giving me new insights. I've prayed about and pondered the subject until I started to feel more at peace with my conclusions.

Two weeks ago, we turned on the tv to see Mitch Albom (the author of Tuesdays with Morrie) give the commencement address at the University of Utah. (Which, by the way, was wonderfully inspiring!) At the conclusion of the address, the administrators did as they always do, and awarded the graduates their degrees. As I watched the masters and doctorate students walk across the stage to accept their diplomas, I burst into tears.

I'm not sure that I've ever fully disclosed our education situation before. Jason and I met during my first year of college. We were so young. We had so many dreams that we were certain would come true. I graduated with my bachelor's degree after only 3 short years of college. I flew through my major by taking 20+ credits a semester. I imagined that we would be done with school and settling in a home of our own in no time.

But, that didn't happen. Jason's education has been a challenge. He is a wonderful student. An "A" student, to be exact. I'm so proud of him. But, we've been through a series of unfortunate events. Schools losing applications, majors proving to be unfruitful, Heavenly Father telling us we chose the wrong path. We've had door close after door close. It's been almost 10 years of changing plans. And my husband is still trudging on. (More than trudging. Soaring. He is amazing.) He's working on his third degree and will be starting his forth soon. It's been a long, hard road. The end seems so far away. And I'm tired.

I'm not writing this to complain. We've been blessed in so many other ways. I just wanted to point out that we all have trials. No one can compare their loss to another's. Because of our different personalities, the difficulty of a trials depends on the person. I believe that God will stretch us all to our limits. To humble us. To help us grow. For some, it will be fertility, for others, death. Others will deal with financial problems, misunderstandings with relatives, caring for a sick loved one, a mental illness or divorce. But for all, our individual trials will cause heartbreak. We cannot compare, nor can we judge. We never know what another person is dealing with.

I believe that our true character is shown as we handle these trials. If we choose to be offended, and by how quickly we are to forgive and forget. But especially by what we do and to Whom we turn to in our hour of need.

I know that God cares that my heart is broken with every shut door. I know He is mindful of our struggles. I also know that he is directing my little family's path. He is helping me develop virtues that I wouldn't have otherwise. Patience. Humility. Compassion. I know that God loves me and you.


// I love this talk. I've listened and read it multiple times over the past couple weeks. Highly recommended.

My Makeup Bag / Hannah.

Inside my makeup bag! I couldn't bare to miss out on the fun. Although I own my fair share of makeup and beauty products, I generally keep things simple and stick to the same routine. I believe in enhancing your natural beauty by using products that aren't overbearing. On the average, non-date-night day, I like makeup to look effortless and that takes less than 5 minutes to apply.

Origins VitaZing: I wear this moisturizer instead of foundation. It comes out of the tube white, but somehow evens out your skin tone. An amazing, miracle product.
MAC Select Moisturecover: I don't need a lot of concealage, but I like to wear this light, pink-toned concealer to cover the blue-tones under my eyes. (With MAC, use NW shades to cover blue areas like under eye circles. Use NC shades to cover red areas, like blemishes and redness around the nose.)
NARS Laguna Bronzer: The perfect bronzer for my skin tone! It is a little pricey, but I've had this for over a year and have hardly made a dent in it.

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara: Best Mascara I've EVER used. I love finding it on sale! (I bought this for only $6.50 at Ulta by combining a sale with a coupon.) It is like false lashes in a tube.
Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil: For an everyday eye, I use this black liner on my top lashes only. Smooth and creamy!
MAC Paintpot in Painterly: Love this to even out the skintone of my eyes. It is a wonderful base for shadows.
MAC Eye Shadow Quad: This is the cheaper way to go if you want to own a few mac shadows! Make your own quad! My quad has: Shroom (my favorite highlight), Soft Brown (a great all-over lid color, crease color or transition color), Twinks (fabulous crease color or eyeliner), and Woodwinked (my obvious favorite. This beautiful copper-brown looks great all on its own or is great paired with these other colors.)
 

Benefit Benetint: Probably my favorite makeup product. EVER. This has a dual purpose. I use it to tint my cheeks, but I also use it to pink-up my lips. It looks completely natural. Gives a rosey glow to your cheeks and makes for perfect puckers that stay a natural pink for HOURS.
Pangea Organics Lip Balm: The Benetint is a tad drying on the lips, but I don't mind. I'm addicted to lip balm, and this can be placed on top of the Benetint lipstain without fading the pretty pink. This lip balm is the most moisturizing I've ever used


Thanks for reading this fun, mini-series. (And thanks to all the lovely, guest posters who participated!) I'd love to know what YOUR favorite, everyday makeup products are! Please let us know in the comments below.

My Makeup Bag / Allison.

Inside the makeup bag of the stunning Allison of Makeup By Alli. When it comes to makeup, Allison is the expert. She is a wealth of knowledge, and offers fabulous tutorials and tips that are second to none. Not only is Allison beautiful on the outside, she is also genuine and sweet. Allison kindly let us take a peak into her everyday beauty regime .

Face:
Makeup Forever Mat Velvet + Foundation in shades 30 and 40 - I love mixing these two shades together to get my perfect match.  It leaves my complexion looking flawless and keeps my T-Zone from getting too shiny throughout the day.
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20 - A yellow-toned concealer that completely camouflages blemishes, redness and discolorations
Laura Gellar Baked Body Frosting in Tahitian Glow - This product is an allover face and body glow.  It compliments a natural or sunless tan and adds a believable, dewy highlight to your skin. Lightly dust a sheer veil of translucent setting powder, like the Makeup Forever HD Powder, wherever you've applied the Baked Body Frosting. This will give your bronzed glow extra staying power!
Makeup Forever HD Powder -  I use this product on a large fluffy brush to set my liquid foundation.  This is a really great option because it never looks dry or cakey.
NARS The Multiple in Copacabana - This is my new favorite cream highlighter because it gives you that healthy, fresh-faced effect when applied to the face. I love to apply it to my temples, tops of my cheekbones, cupid's bow, bridge of my nose, and that tiny spot on your nose where your glasses would rest. Highlighting these points on your face will give your complexion natural-looking luminosity.
Bobby Brown Pot Rouge in Cabo Coral - This is my go-to summer cheek color!  Everything about this product is perfect; the color, the consistency, and the fact that it can be used on your lips too. I love multi-tasking products because they take the guess work out of coordinating makeup shades!

Eyes:
MAC Quad with 4 refillable shadow pans: Ricepaper, Woodwinked, Espresso and Carbon.  I find myself coming up with so many different eye looks using just these 4 eyeshadows. I use Carbon (matte black) to set my liquid, cream or gel eyeliners almost every day.
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden (tube): This eyeshadow base is also tinted so you can see how much you're applying and brighten the eye area at the same time.
Maybelline One By One Volume Express Mascara: This is a drugstore gem that makes my lashes look super long and voluminous!
Covergirl Liquiline Blast: An eyeliner pencil that really comes in handy! Not only is it incredibly pigmented, it transfers easily and comes with a smudge tip on the other end that actually works!
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha - This is a great essential to have in your makeup kit.  It's the perfect neutral, warm brown color.  I use this under powder eyeshadows to make them last all day.

Lips:
Covergirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in Sandstone - Perfect summer lip color!  These lip balms are nicely pigmented, smell like mango, and are perfect for my beach bag because they contain SPF 15!

My Makeup Bag / Vanessa.

Inside the makeup bag of the ultra-stylish Vanessa of LadyDay. Vanessa is a rockstar blogger who posts a beautiful inspiration board for us all to see. She is the epitome of great taste, and her blog has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Vanessa kindly let us take a peak into her beauty regime today.

I wanted to thank you for having me on your panel and I'm intrigued to see what others have come to rely on! I am somewhat of a product loyalist and while I love a good bargain I have found that when I invest in quality basics I hardly second-guess my morning routine, and that is worth every penny.

So here's the essentials of my make-up bag...

1. Bobbi Brown bronzing powder in Deep (I use it year-round)
2. Bobbi Brown blush in Apricot
3. Mac eyeshadow in Motif
4. Bobbi Brown pot rouge for lips and cheeks in Chocolate Cherry & Calypso Coral
5. Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Warm Natural
6. Laura Mercier secret concealer #4
7. Laura Mercier caviar eyeliner in Bleu Marine (stays on till you wash it off)
8. Bobbi Brown eye liner brush
9. Laura Mercier eye brow pencil in Soft Brunette
10. Bobbi Brown Face Blender Brush & Foundation Brush (not pictured) (I've had them for years and they're as soft as the day purchased)
11. Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal mascara
12. Sister Creations Power Repair Face Mist with Vitamin C
13. Aquaphor healing ointment

And there you have it, my arsenal of "pretty". These are my go-to's when my day is filled with errand running and play-dates at the park. I'm not big into eyeshadow but if I ever got a hands-on lesson from Bobbi Brown herself then count me in. I started using her line in high school when I came across one of her books at Barnes. All of the women looked so natural, enhanced rather than made-up and truth be told, the guys and gals at the Mac counter scared me silly. Sister Creations is a local natural beauty brand that I've come to love. I spray a few pumps of their facial mist afterward to give that dewy look and a tube of Aquaphor is always within reach, it's great for lips and hands and I even dab it around my eyes at night.

My Makeup Bag / Tiffani.

Inside the makeup bag of the darling and witty Tiffani of The Days of My Life. Tiffani is another stunning woman who does it all. She is the mother of four darling children, maker of delicious looking food and creative blogger. When you read her blog, she makes you feel at home and you can't help but stay a while.  Tiffani kindly let us take a peak into her beauty regime today.

Well, hello there!  I'm so flattered that Hannah has asked me to guest post today.  I've been a huge fan of her blog for quite some time and I adore her happy take on life and family!

Hannah asked for a self-portrait.  Um...do you think I chose enough photos?  No, seriously.  I have the hardest time with self-portraits.  I always look just this side of goofy.  But they're fun to do, no?

In addition to sharing the contents of my make-up bag, Hannah asked if I would share a few tips and or skin care confessions with you. I really only have a few rules when it comes to skin care:

1.  Always, always, always use a moisturizer with an SPF

2.  If you use foundation, be sure it has SPF of 15 or higher

{do you see the pattern here?  it's all about protecting that beautiful face God gave you}

3.  When it comes to color, don't be afraid to experiment

4.  Always curl your eyelashes

Okay, now for the confession:

I rarely {okay, pretty much never} wash my face at night.

I know.  I'm bad.

Without further ado, I present to you...my make-up bag.

:: Face ::

Mary Kay Concealer-Ivory 2

Bare Minerals Foundation- Fairly Light

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil

Maybelline New York Fit Me Foundation- 120

{i switch between this and bare minerals foundation}

Cover Girl Cheekers Blush- Rock 'n Rose

:: Eyes ::

Mary Kay Concealer- Ivory 2

Sonya Kashuk for Target eyeshadow - creamy beige color

Revlon Quad- Sandstorm

Revlon Quad- Blushed Wines

Revlon Quad- Coffee Bean

Loreal HIP eyeshadow pot- Restless {918}

e.l.f. eyebrow kit- medium

Revlon ColorStay liquid eye pen- Blackest Black

Sonya Kashuk for Target eye liner- Blackest Smudge

Revlon eyelash curler

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion mascara- Very Black

:: Everyday Lips ::

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss- Pucker Berry

:: Going Out Lips ::

MAC Cremestick liner- Softwood

MAC Lustre lipstick- Full Body

MAC Dazzleglass lip gloss- Love Alert

{i snatched up the lipstick and lip gloss after hannah shared her favorite lipstick...love them!}

Revlon ColorStay liquid lipstick- Nude

:: Brushes ::

Loreal HIP brush- comes with pot

Mary Kay travel size eyeshadow blending brush

Bare Minerals Precision Concealer brush

Bare Minerals Max Coverage Concealer brush

Bare Minerals Flawless Face brush

Bare Minerals Handy Buki brush

e.l.f. Bronzing brush

e.l.f. Eyebrow brush

e.l.f. Eyeshadow brush

e.l.f. Defining Eye brush

And that my friends, is my make-up bag.  It's a hodge-podge of drug store buys and department store brands.  I like to mix it up, you know?

Thanks again, Hannah for hosting me today!

Twelve Things: May.

one. Morning nap time = my work time.

two. Am passionate about gardening. I spotted a baby broccoli today!

three. Picked up the June issue of CARDS from the office. My first issue as "Editor!" So exciting to see my name in print.

four. Sparkley, summer toes for our upcoming getaway. (DVD & Rockstar Pink)

five. Speaking of sparkles: major glitter crafting today. Love Martha Stewart brand.

six. Couscous for dinner. Trader Joe's brand. It's the best.

seven. Babysat the neighbors today while their mommy worked.

eight. Oranges: the only thing I'll miss about winter. (These are "Pink Oranges." They are my favorite.)

nine. My little artist (and friend.) This little girl is constantly drawing.

ten. Trying my hand at embroidery and LOVING it. The final product will be featured next week on the Create: blog.

eleven. Picnicking in the sunshine with my boys.

twelve. Reading on the lawn. Best thing about a Kindle? You can read while under direct sunlight.


Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! We're hoping to catch some rays this weekend. Will be back on Monday to fill you in on our adventure.

My Makeup Bag / Danyelle.

Inside the makeup bag of the amazingly creative and beautiful Danyelle of Dandee Designs. Danyelle does it all. She is not just a knockout beauty, she is also a mother of five, an all-star blogger and a designer extraordinaire. Danyelle kindly let us take a peak into her beauty regime .

I don't use a make up bag, rather I have a little drawer in my bathroom to house all of my supplies.  Here's my list. :)

Make up drawer contents:

Face:
Bare Minerals foundation in "fair"- Such a great light feeling foundation.
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in "porcelain"- Perfect for my under eye circles. (I'm a night owl!)
Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick in "porcelain"- To cover blemishes.
Bobbi Brown Blush in "blushed"-The perfect pink shade to perk up my complexion.
Various brushes from MAC + Bobbi Brown.

Eyes:
Bobbi Brown Base Shadow in "bone"-A base shadow helps your color shadows stay a bit longer.
Bobbi Brown Shadow in "ash"-This light plum shade brings out the color in my eyes.
Benefit Brow Zings in "medium"-Fills in my naturally thin brows.
Loreal Voluminous Mascara in "blackest black"-The best drugstore mascara I've used.
MAC Eyeliner in "photogravure"-A little brown line goes a long way in bringing out my eyes.

Lips:
Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in "buff"
Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in "ruby sugar"
Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in "aubergine"
MAC Lip Gelee "moistly"
Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in "peony"- I have a slight obsession with lip glosses. They're mostly in the same color family, and I love them all.

Beauty Tips:
I ALWAYS use an eyelash curler. It's makes a huge difference! Also, I really can't say enough about the importance of a good skin care regimen. Washing my face every morning and night helps keep pores clean and my skin looking fresh. Oh, and exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!

My Makeup Bag / Caitlin.

Inside the makeup bag of the darling fashionista, Caitlin of Glamouristaa16. Caitlin blogs about makeup, fashion, hair and nails. Her beauty videos are fabulously informative and so fun to watch. She is gorgeous and in-the-know, but also super sweet. Caitlin kindly let us take a peak into her beauty regime .

List of makeup bag contents:

Face:
Benefit You Rebel Lite: This is my favorite tinted moisturizer because it matches my skin tone perfectly, doesn't dry out my skin, and is streak free! Plus it lasts a very long time, and comes with a lot of product.
Smashbox High Definition Concealer: I'm always on the hunt for a good concealer, and this one is pretty good! It's not the best concealer out there for under eye circles, but it lasts for at least six hours and covers my break outs wonderfully.
Body Shop Lip Scuff: This is my must have lip product-especially in the dry seasons! It's a gentle minty exfoliator with an easy application. If you're a lipstick wearer and experience flaky lips, this is the perfect product!
Garnier Skin Renew Anti Puff Eye Roller: I've always suffered from hereditary under eye circles, and staying up late cramming for tests results in even more fatigued, puffy eyes. Using this product every night and morning consistently has tremendously helped my puffiness decrease!
Benefit High Beam: I love this travel sized liquid highlighter to add some glow to my skin!
Mac Wonder Woman blush in Mighty Aphrodite: This blush has been a constant in my everyday makeup routine ever since it came out! I love the rosy glow it gives to my cheeks without being too shimmery.
Physicians Formula Bronzer: I've always been a fan of their bronzers ever since I began wearing makeup. It adds a natural subtle glow to the face with the slight shimmer, and will never make you look orange!

Eyes:
Mac eyeshadow trio in Make it Easy: This trio came out with the In the Groove collection, and I couldn't be more pleased with it! It makes eye makeup application so easy and quick! I use the left shade all over my lid, the right shade in the outer corner and crease, and the middle shadow under my brows and inner corner for an extra highlight.
Urban Decay Primer Potion: Primer is a must have for any eyeshadow wearers! This is one of my favorites because it keeps my shadows on all day long without creasing! 
CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara: My go to mascara for the incredible volume it provides to my lashes!
Benefit Eye Bright: I use this to highlight my inner corner, under my brow, and especially to brighten up my under eye circles.
Anastasia Highlight Brow Kit: I use the middle shadow in the trio to lightly fill in my brows each morning, so they look fuller and more apparent. The gel helps to set the powder and last all day long, while the spoolie brushes out the powder so it blends more easily.
Korres eyeliner in Brown: I use this to line my lower lash line to make the look more complete! I love this one because it lasts all day long, and it's also organic!

Lips:
Mac lipstick in Creme Cup: This lipstick is a natural pink shade that adds the perfect amount of color appropriate for school, work, or date night!
Revlon Lipgloss in Lilac Pastelle: I am obsessed with this gloss! I have yet to find a lipstick this gloss doesn't go well with. It's a beautiful light purple shade with a creamy application and smooth long lasting finish!
Jo Malone Lip Conditioner: I always moisturize my lips before I go to bed with this product, and after my lip scuff to prep for lipstick application.

Brushes:
Sigma F80 Brush: I don't think I will ever use another foundation/tinted moisturizer besides this one again. The application is flawless, and the bristles do not absorb the product!
Sigma E05 (not pictured, forgot!): The best eyeliner brush I've ever used! Applies gel eyeliner like a breeze!
Sigma E55: Just your standard eye shading brush, perfect for all over the lid and outer corner application.
Mac 224 Blending Brush: A blending brush is a must have for any eyeshadow wearers! This is my favorite to prevent harsh lines and beautiful fade out of colors.
Sigma F70: Blends concealer like a breeze!
Shu Uemura Lash Curler: The most amazing eye lash curler I will ever use! It holds curl in my short straight lashes all day!
Kabuki Brush: You can find these just about anywhere! I love to use this to apply my bronzer.

Beauty Tip:
If you suffer from under eye circles like I do, applying concealer under the eyes in a triangle formation (as in, start at the inner corner of your eyes and draw a line down to a point beneath your under eye circles, then draw the point back up to the end of your eyes). Fill in with dots of concealer in the triangle, and blend evenly. Doing this will reflect the light, and cause your eyes to look lifted, so the appearance of under eye circles are diminished.

My Makeup Bag / Jessica.

Inside the makeup bag of the talented photographer Jessica of Living the Swell Life. Jessica's blog is a favorite; full of colorful handmade goodies and happy pictures. She is a wife, mother, and homemade expert. Her blog never fails to make me smile. The gorgeous Jessica kindly let us take a peak into her beauty regime .

What's inside my makeup bag:

Basics:
Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Powder in Stay Neutral
Clinique Superbalanced Foundation in Alabaster

Eyes:
Clinique Strawberry Fudge eye shadow
Covergirl Outlast Smoothwear eyeliner
Clinique High Lengths mascara in black
Clinique Smoldering Plum eye shadow

Lips;
Burts Bees Lip Balm
Clinique Different lipstick in Raspberry Glace
Sephora Forever Pink Gloss

Cheeks:
Almay Powder Blush + a poofy brush.

(As you can clearly see, I am a Clinique girl.  I switched to this from drug-store brands 5 years ago and haven't looked back.  I feel like I actually spend less on cosmetics now, because I only shop during bonus time; stock up on my powder + foundation, and get to enjoy a new makeup bag, eye + lip products for free!  I sort of love that the freebies help me experiment with new colors risk-free and it takes the guess work out of the whole ordeal! Wow, I sound like a saleslady!)

Tips & Tricks:
01. Less is more.  My philosophy on makeup is to highlight what you've got--and not pretend to be someone you're not.  I think that the most beautiful girls are those who look natural, as if they are wearing little to no makeup.

02. I am a super duper white girl.  My fair complexion doesn't stand a chance in the sun, so I use SPF in my daily moisturizer.  They're also coming out with more and more makeup products with SPF content, and I've been meaning to give one a whirl.

03. I have deep set eyes (think less glam version of Penelope Cruz or Taylor Swift eyes!), which means that I have a whole lot of eyelid covering my eyes. In order to make my eyes pop,
-I apply my lightest shade of eyeshadow between my eyebrow and eyelid crease.
-Apply a medium shade to my lower lid (crease to eyelash line).
-Save the darkest shade to accentuate the crease.
-Then I apply mascara/eyeliner just like normal!

04. Don't forget a little bit of blush!  It's so fun and feminine!

The Semester Break.

My husband finished his semester with off with a bang. I took advantage of his 8-day break and milked every bit of energy out of my main-man. We kept busy-busy-busy last week doing chore after chore. I bet Jas was glad to start his new semester today!

Last week we...

...went to the zoo.
...did a little shopping for our upcoming camping adventure.

...adjusted the spinklers.
...planted the vegetable garden.
...dug out another vegetable garden for squash.
...purchased a cute, cute grill as a combined mother's day/father's day present.
...celebrated the warm weather by setting up the trampoline.
...jumped on the trampoline and showed off all my old tricks. (Of which there are very few.)

...did the laundry.
...cleaned out the closets and compiled a gigantic good-will/garage sale pile.
...painted both kid rooms a happy, happy YELLOW. (I have great plans for showing off the rooms when they are done being decorated. But that may take a while. One step at a time...)
...did a date night with my husband every-single night of his short break. Yes, we took advantage of every rare minute we had together.

Things are starting to feel put together, although we could have used another 3 weeks of hard work in this home.


// Tune in tomorrow! A week long series begins. A play off the popular "What's in Your Bag" tag. Six gorgeous guest posters will be sharing with you what is in their everyday makeup bag.

/// We are heading south this weekend. Chasing the sunshine and getting our camp on. Our first camping experience with the kiddos. Should be fun!

Crab Mango Salad in Wonton Cups.

This is a beloved recipe in our home. Crab happens to be on my "Top Five Foods" list. This recipe contains many of my favorite flavors: lime, cilantro, mangos. It truly is a treat that pleases a croud and carries a bit of a "wow" factor. This simple appetizer looks fancy and beautiful. (I love easy recipes that food people into thinking you slaved away!) It is my go-to recipe for a dinner with friends. Sometimes I skip the wonton cups and add pasta for a seafood pasta salad that is sure to please the mature taste buds. Enjoy!

CRAB MANGO SALAD IN CRISP WONTON CUPS
Recipe via Ellie Krieger

For the Wonton Cups:
Cooking spray
18 wonton wrappers, thawed (if frozen)
2 teaspoons canola oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the dressing:
1 teaspoon lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil

For the salad:
1/2 pound lump crabmeat, picked over
1 stalk celery, finely diced
1/2 cup finely diced mango
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 2 mini-muffin tins with cooking spray.
Brush the wonton wrappers with oil, and place each wrapper into a section of a mini-muffin tin. Gently press each wrapper into the tin and arrange so that it forms a cup shape. The wrapper will overlap itself and stick up out of the cup. Sprinkle with salt and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until browned and crisp. Remove from the tin and allow wrappers to cool.
Meanwhile whisk together the zest, lime juice, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes. Add the oil and whisk until well combined.

In a medium bowl, toss together the crabmeat, celery, mango, scallion and cilantro. Add dressing and toss to combine. Fill each cup with the crab salad and serve.

BIG Announcement.

I've been teasing and hinting about my big news for a while now. And today, I can finally announce it! I could hardly believe it when I was called and asked to fill this position, and I am thrilled to take this new step in my career.

I am the new Editor of.....

My new position was announced in the May issue, but my official first magazine as Editor is the June issue.

Yay! I have been the graphic designer of CARDS magazine for almost 5 years. I love the publication! I will still be designing, of course, but now I will also be in charge of the editorial side of CARDS. Being the Editor has been such a creative stretch already. I write and craft and edit. It is way too fun. I've found myself telling Jason multiple times, "I can't believe I'm being paid to do this!" It doesn't seem like work, and I guess that is when you know you are in the right career! I feel so lucky!

Check out the magazine when you get a chance. It is a beautiful publication full of fabulous ideas. I hope to see some of you submitting!

PS // You can catch me blogging a couple times a week about CARDS over on the CREATE: blog. It is a fun blog full of crafting galore. Fabric, needlework, papercrafting and more! Check it out.