Life Favorites - June

1. Organization/Planner - Last year I was introduced to Erin Condren Life Planners. I had no idea what to expect but it was just so pretty. I was blown away. It is so fun and such good quality. EC just released the 2014-2015 Life Planners and of course I had to get a fresh shiny one. This year they also introduced changeable covers which is cool because last year I spent like four agonizing hours trying to decide which cover I wanted lol. Now you don't have to. They are a bit pricey but you can get them for 18 months so it will last a while. I have never wanted to be so organized! It inspires and motivates me. I am going to do an entire blog (and maybe a video) on my new one but if you want to get one for yourself before then you can sign up through my referral link and save $10 off your first order. They will send you a code through the email I believe.

2. Earphones - I picked up these Coral Urbanears in-ear headphones before we left Washington. I knew nothing about them. I just liked the color and thought it would be fun for spring and summer. Who knew they would sound amazing and the quality would be awesome. I went back and picked up the over the head ear phones too. In the same color of course.


3. Beverage - I find myself under my favorite rock alot. From there I miss things. Like Teavana. I came super late to the party when we were in Washington. Now I am hooked though there are no stores close to us here in Kansas but I can buy it online (thank goodness). My favorite blend is the Youthberry Wild Orange Blossom. I like it hot and cold with a little sweetener.

4. TV Show - Remember that rock? I was hitting the summertime blues. I had come down from my 'it's summer' high and found boredom so I went browsing around on Netflix and saw One Tree Hill. I think I never watched it because I was under the assumption it was all about basketball and this girl doesn't like basketball really. I looked and it had 9 seasons (Nine? Really? And I didn't watch it once while it was on the air. Impressive really) but since it was long, I figured I'd give it a chance and hope that it would just entertain me enough. I got hooked. I may or may not have watched all 9 seasons in less than a month. Time for round 2. By the way, you can get a 30 day free trial of Netflix if you are a first time user (or use a new email). Watch One Tree Hill. And Pretty Little Liars. And Orange is the New Black. You'll thank me.

5. Electronic - Which brings me to Number 5. My iPad mini. I watch Netflix on it (aka I watch One Tree Hill all day) and now I have discovered new an wondrous things I can also do on my iPad. We have DishNetwork now and it's connected to my system. I can watch live TV and not sit in front of the TV, I can watch anything on my DVR (and not be tied to my couch) and I can even download shows from my DVR and watch it offline aka while I'm waiting for cheer practices and swim lessons to be done. My other favorite uses are my Kindle app and my Audible app.

6. Book - One of my favorite youtubers recommended Panic by Lauren Oliver. I honestly started reading it without even bothering to see what it was about because I was that bored. It's a good one. I don't wanna spoil it but if you are looking for a Hunger games type Young Adult book to read then I highly recommend it. From Booklist: Oliver brings the survivalist competition of the Hunger Games series to present day New York State, where newly graduated seniors can take part in an annual game called Panic. In a small town where factory closures laid off 40 percent of the population, students are understandably concerned about financial security, and Panic awards the ultimate winner a sizable cash jackpot gathered from mandatory contributions from all high-school students. Participants are judged on physically and mentally challenging dares that culminate in a game of chicken called The Joust. The game’s genesis, organizers, and judges are carefully kept secrets, and participants work hard to keep the police in the dark, as dangerous stunts have resulted in deaths in years past. Told in alternating chapters by Heather and Dodge, two players with siblings to protect and avenge, Oliver’s novel is a wholly believable and compulsively readable tale of friendship, loyalty, survival, and courage. Although loose ends are tied together a little too neatly, the depressing yet realistic picture of new high-school graduates facing a bleak future balances unlikely heroism and happy endings.

7. Game - Anyone who knows me, knows I like to game. Specifically MMORPG type games (Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2. Wildstar is a newly released game in this genre that my best friend and I started playing on release. It's good enough that I've managed to get a toon to max level and started leveling another one. I don't have any opinion on the end game yet because I haven't really experienced much of it but the graphics are intense and gorgeous, the playstyle is different and unique, and the fun is enough that is has held my attention so far. If you are looking for something to try and like these type of games, it's worth a look. (Note: alot of times you can get it at a 20-25% discount on Green Man Gaming. If you are interested and can't find a discount code send me an email and I'll find one for you. Or at least try)

8. Online Shopping - Ok one drawback of living in Kansas is well...there is nothing. I feel like I moved back to 1995. My saving grace has been online shopping. I usually can find a coupon code for whatever I want to buy and free shipping programs like Amazon Prime gets it too me fairly quickly. My favorite and MUST HAVE service is Ebates. Alot of retailers are listed on Ebates and basically you shop through their links and you earn cash back for your purchases that is deposited to you quarterly. They have their own promotions as well like recently there was a 15% cashback promotion for tons of retailers. I mean you shop, get the things you want and need and they give you part of your purchase back in cash just for using their shopping links. It's a no brainer. If you want to try Ebates  you can sign up through my referral link. I mean honestly, why would you NOT use Ebates if you are going to shop online? Just since we moved here I have gotten 43 dollars in cash back on my purchases. Without using Ebates I would have gotten..uhmm nothing? Do it! Run! Now!

DIY How to Clean a Candle Jar

I have a slight addiction to Bath and Body Works Candles. I am slightly embarrassed at the stash I have. Ok, not really. But I do love them and usually have at least one lit all the time. The strength of the scent depends on the candle of course. My favorites (right now) are the Garden Strawberry, the Lemon Mint Leaf and Summer Boardwalk which smells vaguely like Cinnamon Sugared Donuts. A lot of their candles are seasonal so I have my favorites for each season. Because I burn through a lot I end up with a lot of empty candle jars so I've been re-purposing them for awhile now and thought I'd share with you not only how I do it but some ideas for the empty jars. Now I should point out that I do not keep them all but I do empty out the wax at the bottom to save and I do recycle the ones I don't use. I am actually saving up a few right now in order to make some crafty holiday containers. I am not a very crafty person (though I can fake it really well) so it'll be interesting to see how it goes. 

To clean the candles I start with a candle that has burned the wax to the bottom of the Jar. Now you could make removing the old wax easier if you pop the candle in the freezer for a few hours and let the wax harden. I usually decide at the last minute to clean my candle jars so I usually skip that step. Next, I use a dull utensil, usually a kitchen butter knife to break up the wax and remove it. I add the wax to a another jar because I don't want to be wasteful and it's perfectly good wax. Once the jar is full, I set the jar in a pot of slightly almost not boiling water (not covering the top obviously) and soften the wax just enough to put a few wicks in the wax. I take it out, let it harden and presto I have a new candle that is uniquely layered and scented. 

Once you have removed the wax, these candles have wicks attached at the bottom with a glue. A little hot water will loosen that right up and you can easily remove them. The labels come off easy enough and any residue can be removed with warm water and a kitchen sponge. I hear vinegar works well to remove the sticky residue but I haven't actually tried it. Rinse, dry and voila! As detailed as those instructions were (sarcasm intended), I actually made a little video to show you quickly how to do what I just described. I would suggest checking it out because my instructions are terrible. 

(Note: since the video is fairly new, I can't embed it here. To see it click on the image below and it will take you to YouTube. Once it has been updated I will come back and embed for your viewing pleasure!

The possibilities for what you can put in the jars are endless. Pictured below left to right, top to bottom: Eyeliner pencils, perfume samples, lipgloss, makeup brushes. 

Pictured below left to right, top to bottom: Hand creams, Lip Balms, Cotton Rounds, Pens. 

The One With Smoothies

There's something about approaching your mid-thirties that I never really associated with the age when I was in my twenties. I mean we are invincible in our twenties right? We can eat what we want, stay up as late as we want, sleep in all day and not worry about a thing. Ok that might not be entirely accurate. There are those people who lead very healthy active lifestyles their entire existence. I am NOT one of those people. At least I never have been. As part of my quest to live healthier, I quit smoking almost a year ago. It wasn't quite as difficult as I thought it would be. I had smoked for 16 years give or take 18 months (I quit each time I was pregnant. Just cold turkey quit.) I had to take a few classes for my Associates Degree to fulfill my physical education requirements. When I could barely walk once around a track without coughing up a lung, that was it for me. Step one - complete. 

Step two? Incorporate something, anything, healthier into my life that I was lacking. So I opted for green smoothies. I knew nothing about smoothies, except for the ones you got at like the smoothie place in the mall that was full of ice cream and sugar. I didn't think that was along the lines of what I was looking for. I didn't own a blender but I had a Magic Bullet (not the one in the picture - the bottom of the line version). I tried to make a few smoothies in that and they were ok but it just wasn't strong enough to pulverize the greens and I felt like I was drinking grass. It was a quick way to get me to stop right there and never have a smoothie again. 

So I did a little research and found the Nutribullet. It's motor was stronger. Hopefully strong enough to pulverize my leafy greens so I bit the bullet (pun intended) and bought one. It is the best purchase I have made in the realm of smoothie makers anyways. I found this Vega protein smoothie powder on Amazon and decided to try it also. I don't know about you, but I have tried several protein powders and they all taste like crap and by that I mean, you can tell there's protein powder in the drink. Maybe I just have sensitive taste buds. I dunno but this stuff ended up being tasty and delicious. Now, I am not a nutritionist or anyone remotely qualified to tell you what is good for you or what is the best thing out there to use for smoothies. I just make what I think tastes good and hope that I have added a few things that are beneficial for me. If  you disagree with what I use and how I do it, well you are free to include whatever ingredients you think are best for you and make it any old way you like. 

I must warn you I measure nothing. I eyeball everything. I didn't want to be too strict about what I was doing otherwise it would become a chore that I would avoid at all costs. I start using the large cup attachment that came with my Nutribullet and fill it about half way with baby spinach. I add a few kale leafs, some frozen strawberries, blackberries and/or raspberries, frozen mango and/or peaches, a fresh banana, a couple of spoonfuls of Greek yogurt, a scoop of Vega protein powder and finally I add coconut water. The amount of coconut water I add depends on how many frozen fruits I have used and how much I need to liquefy the smoothie. The more frozen fruits I have, the thicker the consistency and the harder it is to drink therefor I add a little more coconut water. I have learned through trial and error when and how much to add. What I add on any particular day just depends on what I'm in the mood for. I have two different varieties of the protein powder so that often influences the types of fruit I add. I also typically add a spoonful of chia seeds. Once I've done all that I just pop on the blade and blend it up in the Nutribullet until it's all smooth and mixed together well. I then pour it in my blender bottle and drink it up. 

I have also found if you make more than you can consume at once, it will keep well in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Since I started having at least one of these daily along with increasing my water intake, I have noticed improvements in my hair and skin, my energy level and how I feel and I might have shed a few pounds. I also want to note that if you are concerned about the taste due to the greens, don't be. These greens don't have particularly strong flavors and any strong flavored fruit like berries and bananas will eliminate the taste of the greens almost entirely. If you are concerned about drinking it because you have a phobia of green or brown foods (like my husband) then just add a few more berries and presto, it is no longer a color that is abhorrent to you. 

And there you have it. My not so secret smoothies. They are delicious and better for me than that ice cream smoothie you can get. If you want to know where to find some of the things I mentioned, I have included links below. Enjoy! 

Nutribullet Pro you can get a tons of places. I got mine from HSN because it came with a recipe book and a bag of Super Food to add to my smoothies.

Vega Smoothie Protein Powder  you can find on Amazon. It comes in several varieties. I've only tried the Bodacious Berry and Tropical Tango. I like them both. 

Blender Bottle  I got from Amazon as well.  

Top five perfume edition

It's not just makeup I have an obsession with. My husband tells me I always smell good which I guess is good, right? These are my top five perfumes and while smell-o-vision hasn't been invented yet, I can tell you why I love all of these! 

If I had to choose one I couldn't live without it would be the Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede. I had never actually heard of Jo Malone before. I was at the MAC Cosmetics counter at Nordstrom one day testing out some products and this lady kept coming by asking me if I wanted to try a perfume sample. I politely said no but on her third trip by I took a sample just so she would stop asking and sprayed a little on my wrists. I left MAC, took a walk through the mall and went home. I couldn't. stop. smelling. it. It was the most delicious smelling thing ever. That evening, I made a trip back up to the mall and bought it. Admittedly, I have tried other Jo Malone scents and none of them were for me. Plus they have the absolute cutest and fanciest boxes and packaging. On the trip from Washington to Kansas my bottle had a run in with another perfume and so now it's a little worn but I don't mind one bit. If you are out and happen to pass by a Jo Malone counter, I highly recommend taking a smell of this!

From the Jo Malone website: The essence of charm.  Peonies in voluptuous bloom, exquisitely fragile. Flirtatious with the juicy bite of red apple and the opulence of jasmine, rose and gillyflower.  Mingling with the sensuality of soft, blush suede.  Luxurious and seductive.

I can't even tell you where I first smelled Boucheron. I feel like it was either a sample from one of my subscription bags or maybe a flappy sample in a magazine? I can't remember but what I can tell you is it was one of those same things where I smelled it and couldn't stop thinking about it. I finally got it Christmas last year. It's one of those fragrances that make me feel like one of those rich ladies walking through some glitzy mall. Is that weird? 

From Macy's: Introducing Boucheron Place Vendôme Eau de Parfum, a floriental woody fragrance that envelops the skin like an invisible jewel, creating a veil of emotion, sensuality, and addiction. Place Vendôme opens with a burst of pink pepper and fresh, sparkling orange blossom. In the heart, jasmine combines with the golden shimmer of honey. Cedar wood and benzoin round out the fragrance to create a base that is uniquely soft and sensua

Sofía by Sofia Vergara Eau de Parfum was a product of boredom. I was perusing the channels and it was featured on HSN as their like daily special around Mother's Day. It was bundled together with the Lotion and cute bag. It was a freakin steal (and the bag was cute) so I bought it. What can I say. I'm a sucker. I am so happy I did! I absolutely love this stuff. It's a little muskier than the floral I usually wear but it's still super feminine and it lasts FOR-EEVER. The lotion that came with it has little sparkle to it which is awesome for summer. It might however leave you feeling a bit like Edward Cullen if you use too much. 

From HSN: Fragrance Notes Top: Cassis buds, juicy blackberries and luscious plum nectar Mid: Purple violet and Colombian luna musica orchid Base: Earthy woods softened with toasted praline, vanilla absolute and creamy sandalwood 

See & Be Seen Sasha by Benefit Cosmetics I can not be without. It's so classy. I had ordered something from Benefit and they sent this sample in my box. I sniffed it and had to have it. It's so refreshing and light. Perfect for the summer. An added bonus...the bottle is super cute. I am a sucker for cute packaging too. Because it is a light scent and a toilette, it doesn't last as long but it is so worth the scent. 

From Benefit: Top notes: orange flower absolute, apricot, pink freesia Middle notes: ylang ylang, tiare flower, white peony, jasmine sambac Base notes: crystal amber, liquid musk, vanilla.

Folle de Joie  I got as a sample in a Birchbox. It was love at first smell. The scent is mesmerizing. Literally I just stop what I'm doing and bask in the smell for a few moments when I first put it on. Those subscription boxes are awesome for trying things you've never heard of. For me it was this. Apparently it's super popular since that box too. It has a lot of great reviews. Paired with the lotion, it lasts a good bit. 

From Joie: The scent opens with a burst of freshness from an intimate blend of calming sweet citrus mixed and a light woodsy floral, giving way to playful hints of rich cognac. Folle De Joie’s mid notes of jasmine and rose add a feeling of Summer’s carefree essence while exotic warm base notes of spicy and rich wood and leather nuances broaden the seductive scent.

Ok I know I said top five, but I had to include this. I went in the PX on post one day and they had this on the clearance rack for like 5 bucks. I was a sucker for the packaging. I admit it. Its Gin Blossom Perfume by Love & Toast. I keep it in my glovebox in the van (that's probably a TERRIBLE thing to do in the spring and summer) but I do. If we've been out and about, especially in the heat, and I (or my van) needs a little refreshing, I use this. It is so citrusy and the kids love the smell when I spray it in the van. Just thought I'd share a little bonus! 

From Love & Toast: Fragrance notes Citrus zest, Spring dew, Mandarin blossom, Verbena leaves

And there you have it. If you are in the market for new perfumes and happen to be out, these I recommend taking a whiff of. 

Ipsy June 2014

It's June and it's Ipsy time. I know I said this before but I love the bags I get with my Ipsy subscription. It makes it different than other monthly subscription services. I might have an addiction to bags. All things bags. Purses, makeup bags, totes, backpacks, laptop bags. I of course have a few classics that never go out of style (to me anyways) but I like to change it up and along with the makeup and beauty samples, Ipsy feeds my addiction! This month is a super cute bag by the classy and stylish Rebecca Minkoff. I think I would've liked it just because it is Rebecca Minkoff.

So the Ispy subscription breakdown is for ten dollars a month you get 4-5 beauty/makeup samples. In this price range, I think Ipsy has the most generous samples as far as size goes. This month's bag included Dream Waves Beach Spray by Marc Anthony, Lash Out Mascara by Be A Bombshell, Universal Eyebrow Pencil by Ofra, Realtree perfume for Her, and NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee.

The Be a Bombshell is a brand I've seen a couple of times. Most of the time they are full size which is nice. All of the products have become part of my girls dance/cheer makeup bag. I was most excited about the NYX Butter Gloss. I own MANY of these in most of the shades in the range. Creme Brulee is my favorite and as it so happens mine was almost empty. I actually put it on my shopping list and surprise! It's in my bag! Overall, as always I am super impressed with Ipsy. It is definitely becoming my favorite subscription service at this price point. If you want to see my past Ipsy bags you can here.

If you would like to try Ipsy, you can sign up  here. There is typically a waiting period but I hear if you sign up through a referral you get bumped up in line. It's worth a shot. Until the next subscription box!

The One on Father's Day

As little girls, our daddy is the first man to sweep us off our feet. We grow up hoping one day to find a man that will not only do the same, but will be a good father to our own children. I found one. I went looking for some photos of him and the kids. I ended up looking through photos for well over an hour. It went something like "OH MY GOODNESS! Look how little (insert name of child here) was" repeated for every photo. Seriously though. When did my children grow up? I look at them and think I still see that same little face but when you look at old photos you really can see how much they have grown. It's not just the kids either. My husband and I might have aged just a little. 

Through the years, we've celebrated many Father's Days, birthdays and every other holiday on the calendar thousands of miles apart. I think we've sort of put up a wall to holidays. In order to get through them all when you aren't together, we just give it a little nod and then act like it's just another day. In a way, it's worked out because we have learned to appreciate every day as a special one because when the next one comes, we might be celebrating it from across the miles. Some of the bigger holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, we've rearranged some years to accommodate deployments. We've had Thanksgiving in June and Christmas in February. It's made for some very different family traditions over the years and I am thankful for every single one of them. I think our favorite 'holiday' are the homecomings. 

Despite the things we have had to overcome, my children still look at their father and not only call him daddy but they call him their hero. The years apart make the time spent together mean that much more. I couldn't ask for a better man to call husband and a better father to my children. We love you and miss you and are counting the days again until you come home. Happy Father's Day. And to the two men in my life that I call Dad, Happy Father's Day. I love you more than I could ever say and am so grateful for the things you have taught me over the years.

Homecoming Deployment Number 3

Homecoming Deployment Number 4

Homecoming Deployment Number 5

Point Defiance Zoo Tacoma Washington

State Capital Olympia Washington

Kansas State Baseball Game

Birchbox June 2014

It's that time of the month again. The subscription boxes are starting to roll in. First up...Birchbox. The low down on Birchbox is for ten dollars a month you get 4-5 deluxe beauty samples. The best thing about Birchbox is their points system. When you review your products each month you get 10 points and for every 100 points you get 10 dollars to spend. Now I am no math wiz (I won't admit I'm a math major) but if I'm getting 10 dollars every other month, doesn't that make every other box free? In theory lol. The Birchbox shop is pretty diverse and carries alot of brands that I love and I get points for buying from the shop too. 

Now if I am being honest, Birchbox is hit or miss every month as far as samples go. The samples seem to be smaller in size than comparable subscription services but I keep my subscription because their points and store system is better than any other out there. There samples are a little more on the mid to high end side typically and I have found some absolute loves. 

So what's in this month's box? The box contained a Catherine Malandrino Fragrance, Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Defense System Serum by Caudalie, Lemom Lemongrass Vitalising Body Wash by Dr. Haushka, Sheer Lip Lube Pencil by LAQA & Co. and Fresh Feet Wipes by Jasmine Seven. 

I am most intrigued by those Fresh Feet Wipes. It's odd I know. I've never heard of them but a little story..the other day I took my youngest to swim lessons. It was 90 degrees in the pool room so I took off my light summer jacket I wear in the mornings and set it on the bag I used to carry her towel, change of clothes and flip flops. After lessons, I put my jacket back on and we went into the women's locker room so she could change. There was a hint of dirty feet smell. I just assumed it was because well..we were in a locker room. I sprayed some body spray and hurried my child up so we could get out of there. It was more than a hint really. It was actually pretty bad. Well, we get in the van and the smell? It was stronger. Long story short, it was my jacket! I had set it on her flip flops. I haven't removed a jacket so fast in ...well...ever lol.  How children's feet smell so bad baffles me. The mother who created these Fresh Feet Wipes is a genius. I can't wait to try them. 

If you want to see what was in past Birchboxes you can here. If you would like to try Birchbox for yourself you can sign up here.

The one with the deployment

Someone once told me that it doesn't matter who you love, it's how hard you love that counts. Today I am loving a hero. My hero. I am loving him with every stuttered breath and unshed tear. I get asked all the time how I do it. How do I watch him walk away and hold everything in my world together until he comes back. I must be a saint. I'm not. Today my husband deploys for the sixth time. I hugged him, kissed him and stood at the van as he unloaded his gear singing Frozen songs with my child. I smiled and waved as he walked away but inside my heart was breaking. I wasn't scared of him being gone or wondering how I was going to make it. I was proud. Proud of the man he is and the sacrifice he makes. You see, my husband is a soldier in the United States Army. He fights for people who can't fight for themselves. So what do I say when people ask how I do it? What would I tell that young spouse that doesn't think they are strong enough? Stay busy. Find a hobby. Go back to school. Read a book. Or two. Watch a movie. Explore the area around you. Visit family. Make new friends. Laugh often. But don't stop. Because if you do... 

No matter how many times I've done this and no matter how strong I seem, it never gets any easier. We get through it because it's what we do. It's what I do. Would I change it if I could? Never in a million years. What's it worth? Our children smile and say my daddy is a hero. And he is. I love him and will miss him everyday until he comes home. We never say goodbye. We say see ya soon. 

 The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but

 because he loves what is behind him.

-G.K. Chesterton

The one with Kansas summers and cats

It's only the beginning of June and can I just say it's hot? I'm no stranger to hot summers. I was born and raised in Texas and its not uncommon to have week long streaks of greater than a hundred degree temperatures in the middle of summer. The thing about the heat is you get used to it. It falls below 70 and you're grabbing a sweater. I didn't know any different. It was our way of life and I had been living it since the day I was born. The Army moved us to Maryland when I was just 20. It was the first time I had ever lived outside of Texas. We drove up on the biggest snow storm they had seen in years. It snowed us in to our hotel for days. When it finally stopped the snow was so deep you could barely see the top of my car. I loved it. We were there for just six months and I flew back home to Texas for a family visit. I stepped outside of the airport and the heat took my breath away. It was unbearable. I had lived in Texas my entire life and had only been gone six months but I had already adjusted to the cooler temperatures. We lived there for three years. I fell in love with the East Coast and was so sad when we moved back to Texas. 

It would be another six years before I got the opportunity to leave Texas again and this time it was to the Pacific Northwest and Washington State. I remember before I left, a friend of mine from there told me there weren't air conditioners. Say what?!?! Now, it was a lot cooler in Maryland than it was in the south but the temperature still got high enough in the summer that you needed an AC indoors. I panicked. I hated the heat. How was I going to survive without an air conditioner? I soon found out my friend was right. We didn't need an air conditioner. The entire Pacific Northwest was our air conditioner. Nine months out of the year the temperature was mild, the rain was slight and forgettable, and on warm spring evenings or at night in the summer you just opened your window. I found a new love for the beauty of the outdoors. And a love for the mild temperatures. Let's face it. I am not cut out for the heat. 

Enter Kansas. All I can say is, thank goodness I have air conditioning! While I mournfully readjust to the heat, the cats (and the kids) are enjoying it. Here's to making memories, and getting a little much needed Vitamin D.