Retail Therapy

Saturday I went to the mall to buy some necessities for Nicholas and came out with some little goodies for myself as well, I just couldn't resist :)
During Nick's first year I stopped wearing strong perfumes and lotions because I didn't want to overwhelm his little senses with such powerful scents.  So since he's bigger and walking now and doesn't have to be carried and risk having my perfume transfer onto him and his clothes, I'm welcoming perfumes back into my life!  There were so many great options to choose from and it was very difficult to pick just one!  My perfumes of choice need to smell fresh, clean, fruity, a little sweet, and need to have staying power - but never so strong that people sitting at the next table from you at a restaurant can smell it {that happened to us before we went shopping - yuck!!}.  So, these were my options:

Hippie Chic won over the other three but it took me a while to finally make my selection.  Once this bottle runs out and I need a refill I might purchase the Bvlgari Omnia or the Armani one....oh who knows! By then there will probably be a whole slew of new perfumes to chose from. 
And then of course, I had to go to Sephora and pick up this super versatile eye shadow palette that I have been lusting over for quite some time now.  Urban Decay did release a new version, Naked 2, but I like the original better.

This super fab palette also includes a brush and a bottle of their lid primer.  I love how these colors can be worn solo for a simple daytime look but also layered to match a more dressy evening outfit.

Now I couldn't leave Jacob out of our little shopping fun.  His shirt of choice is usually a traditional Polo shirt and fortunately for my wallet Dillard's was having an amazing sale.  Almost the entire Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer collection was on sale.  Polos were half off!!    
And one last little treasure I discovered was a new store, Call it Spring.  A pair of some cute and comfy flats caught my eye and an awesome handbag.  I couldn't decide what color to get the bag in so I figured I would go back later if I really felt like I had to have it.  After walking around the store and looking over all the merchandise, I kind of felt as if I was inside Aldo but with much nicer price tags.  When I got home I whipped open my MacBook and hit up Google -  sure enough, Call it Spring is an Aldo Group brand.  And luckily I didn't purchase anything because once I was on their website, I saw an opportunity to get a 10% off coupon.  All you have to do is sign up for their newsletter.  So you see, good things do come to those who wait :)     
What kind of retail therapy have you indulged in lately?

For All My Ladies

There was a time when I would've loved to ask every woman I met, "What brand of makeup are you wearing?"  I always felt like everybody else had such flawless, even-toned skin while maintaining a fresh, natural look.  I longed to have that same complexion.  My biggest insecurity has been and continues to be my skin (on my face).  I struggled with acne as a teenager and as a last resort after using practically everything my dermatologist prescribed was Acutane.  Those 8 months were amazing!  No breakouts, no shiny/oily T-zone, nothing!  However, after all the creams and peels and medications I had used, I still had redness on my face and acne scars.  There was no way I would ever leave my house without makeup on because I was (and still am) extremely self-conscious about my non-perfect skin.  
Over the past 12 years that I've been using makeup, I've used so many different brands - Estee Lauder, Lancome, Chanel, Christian Dior, MAC, Origins, Smashbox, Bare Minerals, Stila, Laura Mercier, and a few others I'm sure.  I never stuck with one particular brand because I never loved the way my skin looked, it was always just OK.  But one fine day, as I was just perusing the makeup counter at Nordstrom, these sparkly little bottles caught my eye.  I didn't even notice when the associate came up and asked if I was looking for something in particular and I honestly wasn't, but when she asked if I wanted to test out a makeup, I figured "Sure, why not?" 
Well folks, I can FINALLY say I LOVE my makeup because it makes my skin look fantastic!  After a long, hot and humid South Texas day my makeup isn't melting off or creasing.  With the help of the non-silicone primer I started using, my makeup stays in place and gives a very natural and soft finish - nothing cake-y.  I personally don't like to see when women wear makeup that's super thick and obvious.  So fortunately, this makeup allows you to wear as little or as much as you'd like.  Another important note, my makeup routine takes only about 10 minutes - max.  With a toddler either waiting for me to get dressed or still sleeping while I'm getting ready, I obviously don't have tons of time.  

Although you can't see it so well in this photo, the green/black sparkly canister of the Prep+Prime bottle is what initially caught my eye :)

I've used other makeup primers before but never really liked how they felt on my skin, particularly the silicone-based ones.  I could instantly feel my pores getting clogged with those! The Prep+Primer Skin Base Visage is creamy yet airy and fluffy and glides right onto my skin, leaving it feeling extremely smooth and surprisingly hydrated.  After that, I apply the Matchmaster foundation using a foundation brush and then dust on a little of the Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder.  I love this stuff! It's very much like the Makeup Forever HD Powder.  It has no color so it simply mattifies the skin.  I usually only use it on the areas of my face where I know I have shine.  
More recently I've started getting facials and microdermabrasion procedures a little more frequently.  I have seen a lot of improvement in my skin but it's still not where I'd love for it to be.  I'm waiting for the day where I'm blemish free and can walk out the door for quick errands without worrying about my face.  Until then, I'm so grateful for that super sweet associate that tried out this new makeup on me.  I couldn't be happier :) 

Pergola Update:
Over the weekend my husband was able to squeeze in two days to work on the pergola.  Unfortunately, these pictures don't really show all the time and labor put into this project plus the fact that it was a steamy and humid 90+ degrees for those two days.  

Since the 6x6 cedar posts were already installed, the next step was to work on the frame for the roof.  Eight 18ft cedar boards had to be cut and painted in order to build the 13'x16' frame

Here are 2 out of the 8 18ft boards cut and getting painted

Ta-da!  And the frame is complete!  Next up, the 2x6 beams need to be cut, painted, and installed above the frame.

 Stay tuned & thanks for stopping by!