Super Bowl Sunday...

So I am actually looking forward to watching the Super Bowl this evening!... We're not doing anything fancy. Our plans to go over my brother & sister-in-law's actually got cancelled because he came down with a virus. So we're just gonna stay home & watch it- which suits me just fine. I can stay in my jammies, underneath my Snuggie & not have to put a bra on! Yeah! ;)

I'm normally one of those girls that will watch the Super Bowl with no real emotion or amusement (unless the Titans are playing)... I'm really just in it for the commercials! During game play, that's the time to eat, socialize, & go to the bathroom. But when the commercials come on is when I'm actually paying attention! :) Its the only time I like watching commercials! (who doesn't like Super Bowl commercials right?!)
But during tonight's game it will be different! I'm going to try to pay attention the whole time {baby permitting}... Because Kim Kardashian's boyfriend is playing! LOL. And they might show her & the family on TV! (I love me some Kardashians! ;)... And Kendra's hubby is playing against them!... So this time it's personal since I have friends playing! LOL. (Can you tell I watch way too much reality TV?!)
I'm "Team Saints!"... Not only because of Kim K. but because I think they deserve it! I think it's just what New Orleans needs!! (or at least that's what Ellen Degeneres says!... Again I watch way too much TV!)
Anyhoo, we are on our way to church. I'm exstatic because I was able to fit into one of my favorite pre-baby skirts! (it's holding on by a thread & a prayer but nonetheless it's on!!) And I've got my "Team Saints" colors on!! I'll try to take a picture later to post!


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What a nice Saturday...

Today was a good day!... Nothing terribly exciting happened, but just another enjoyable Saturday... I love Saturdays like these...

Got up and made breakfast for me, hubs & baby... and after breakfast sweet baby girl played in her activity center for a while & let me & hubs sit at the kitchen table and drink our coffee & talk.

After breakfast, hubs let me have the afternoon to take some "me" time! I have the sweetest husband {yes, I'm being bias!} but I am so blessed in the hubby department!... So of course for my "me" time, I went SHOPPING!!

I needed to get some new jeans because I am in that horrible stage where I can't wear my maternity clothes anymore but still can't quite fit into my pre-baby clothes... I bought some jeans a few months back when my maternity jeans were too baggy on me and I've now gotten to the point where those are too big to wear now too {I'm not complaining, I just hate spending money on clothes I'll only be able to wear a couple months-HOPEFULLY! I'm only one size away from pre-baby... SO CLOSE!!!}

So I went to Old Navy and they were having a GREAT sale!!!! I got the "skinny" jeans I went in for (they weren't on sale) but I found a pair of "boyfriend" jeans for $10!! I actually had a different pair in my hands at full price & headed back to the baby dept to look around when I saw all their clearance items that were an additional 50% off the lowest price!! I found a pair that looked almost identical on clearance!!... I LOVE FINDS LIKE THOSE! I just couldn't pass them up... and hubs totally understood when I got home- thankfully! :)

Then in the baby dept, I found some cute things for sweet baby girl!.. Look at these cute pieces that were on clearance!! The top and skirt ended up only being $2 each!!! You can't beat that! She really needed more church clothes too!...

The Valentine's tee was on sale for $7... I thought it would be cute with a cream cardigan over it... The navy skirt has polka dot bloomers too!... so cute, I want one in my size! ;)

And I'm a sucker for cute jammies!... These were on sale for $8...

I came home after Old Navy cause I had to nurse baby & made the best BLT's for lunch for me & hubs... We have been on a huge BLT kick lately (probably because bacon has been buy one get one free at Publix for the last few weeks!)

Anyhoo, a great tip for cooking bacon- bake it in the oven!!! Its the only way I'll do it from now on cause I hate frying it in a skillet!

Just preheat oven to 400, put bacon on a foil-lined baking sheet for easy cleaning (I like to sprinkle a little brown sugar on top!...Mmmm nothing like candy-coated bacon!), and bake for about 15-25 minutes to desired crispness. Once you take it out of the oven, transfer bacon on a separate plate so it can get crispier :)

Then I went to my favorite place, Whole Foods! ;) I stocked up on a bunch of fruits & veggies to make baby food this week... went to the mall for a little bit, then came home and made dinner...

Plus, I only had to change 1 diaper the whole day!!... It was a nice day! ;)

Show Us Your Life: Beauty Tips...

So earlier this week I shared some of my favorite Health & Beauty products... This week for Kelly's Korner "Show Us Your Life" she wants us to share some of our beauty tips...

Tip #1- Take care of your skin!... So I know this is pretty obvious, but I just can't stress it enough!! I used to be one of those girls that would go to the tanning bed everyday & lay out in the sun with no sunscreen!! It wasn't until after I got married that I started being so devoted to taking care of my skin! {I want my husband to have a hot, young looking wife when we're older!} ... I can't tell you the last time I went to a tanning bed & I wear sunscreen every single day! I DO NOT want to be one of those old ladies that looks like they have rawhide skin & sun damage just because they wanted to be tan in their 20s! It is SO not worth it to me anymore to "fake & bake!"... Everybody should wear sunscreen EVERYDAY- even if you don't think you need it! You still get rays from the sun driving in the car!... Make sure you put it on your neck too!! This is the one I use & I love it!...

Tip #2- Use an eye shadow base... On days I wear eye shadow, I always make sure I use an eye lid primer. It helps so much to even out the skin, helps color stay on, keeps it from creasing, & makes your eye shadow color more vibrant! These are ones I've tried & like...

Bare Escentuals Prime Time Eyelid Primer

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Tip #3- Use a face highlighter... I love it when skin has a pretty glow to it! To fake one, use a highlighter! I love Benefit's High Beam... Dab & blend a little on your cheekbones & brow bones. I also use a little on the bridge of my nose to make it look a little slimmer... This is great for moms who might need a little brightener to their complexion due to lack of sleep! I also love it for going out at night!...

Tip #4- Put lip gloss on only on the center part of your lips... This may sound silly, but I think it helps to give the illusion of fuller lips... When I go out, I'll put on lipstick (put a coat on, blot, & apply another coat to help color last longer), then I put on my regular lip gloss, & (because I'm high-maintenance like this) I put on a different color gloss that's lighter & shiner just in the middle of my bottom lip... and voila! :)

I LOVE Lip Fusion! It has collagen to help plump lips even more!...

Tip #5- Use an eye lash primer before you put on mascara... If you read my "Favorite Things: Health & Beauty Edition", you know I am obsessive when it comes to my lashes! So here's another one of my secrets... I put a coat of lash primer on before I put on my mascara. It helps to keep mascara in place, makes your lashes look longer & fuller, and also conditions them! Pair that with the eyelash comb & DiorShow mascara I talked about in that blog & people will think you have "falsies" on! ;)
These are the two I recommend...


That's it for now my beauties!!!!

Grammy Awards: Fashion Recap...

So the Grammy Awards were on last night... I LOVE the Grammy's! I just love the musical performances & how they pair artists together from different genres! But most of all I love to see what people are wearing- of course!... Here's my take on the good, the bad, & the "Gaga"... ;)

Pink- I think this is as glammed-up as I've ever seen Pink?! I think she looks very pretty! I love the shape & top part of this dress... I would, however; have lived to see more of an ombre color fade at the bottom instead of such noticeable lines... but those that saw her performance last night- she stole the show! That was unbelievable!!

Fergie- I think she looked stunning!... and her body is ridiculous in this dress!! I love this color on her too, especially with her darker hair color! One of my favorites of the night!!

Lady Gaga- You gotta give Gaga this, she keeps us on our toes!! This red carpet look I actually like for her!! I get that this is her version of a fairy princess, ball gown... This is probably one of the "prettiest" she's looked because let's face it, most of her award show & performance outfits just leave me with nightmares!...

Then she changed into this creation... reminds me of a cracked-out icicle, but the antique teacup & saucer do add a touch of class! LOL ;)

Taylor Swift- Oh sweet little Taylor... so she does look beautiful, but this dress is more Oscar night than Grammy night to me! The Grammy's are more fun, edgy, & fresh and this dress makes her look too old! Since she loves glitz & sparkles so much, I would have loved to see her in a long-sleeve, mini dress covered in gold & silver sparkles!... Congrats on Album of the Year tho!


Carrie Underwood- I really like this look on Carrie! She looks stunning in white and even though she's wearing a long gown the abstract, asymmetrical neckline gives this dress more of a youthful edge.

?? So I don't know who this is but she looks fabulous! I love this dress! LOL :)


Miley Cyrus- I love this!... I think she looks totally age-appropriate & I love her hair & make-up!

WORST DRESSED...

Britney Spears- Oh Britney!!!... Girl what's wrong with you! I know you rarely make the right fashion decisions lately, but showing up in a 1940's swimsuit with an ugly sheer piece of fabric over top was not the right choice!! My friend, Stephanie, was right though in saying "at least her hair looked decent for once!"...

This black disaster dress makes me wish for the matching denim get-ups from yester-year!... LOL ;)


BEST DRESSED... {drum roll please}

Rihanna!! - So let me tell you why she's my pick for best dressed... First of all she looks stunning! I love a girl in a white dress and her make-up is beautiful! Second, no one else can pull this dress off as well as she did! Rihanna has her own distinct sense of style and this dress suits her personality very well! And lastly, with everything that happened to her last year the night before the Grammy's, she's proven to be a strong, independent woman! She went through so much over the past year and has come out on top!... Plus, there's no sweeter revenge that looking good! {eat your heart out Chris Brown!}...

Favorite Things: Health & Beauty Edition

So I am a total cosmetic junkie!... I am OBSESSED with buying health & beauty products!! (It is my goal in life to eventually kick my husband out of our walk-in closet as well as all the bathroom cabinets & drawers! LOL)



I love all things make-up & skincare and probably have tried most of them under the sun so I think that makes me a good person to fill you in on the things that I cannot live without and are worth the $$.


Skincare- I LOVE it all (and use it all!)... I have a devoted morning & night time skincare regimen that includes an entirely different set of cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and eye creams for day and night... yes, it may be a tad anal, but I just see it as your skin needs different things in the AM than the PM... In the morning, you need to moisturize & prep your face for makeup and in the evening I believe your skin needs to be cleansed, conditioned, & corrected... These are my main go-to skin care essentials...

Kiehl's- I use SO many Kiehl's products it's ridiculous!!! I even got my husband & friend Elicia hooked!... I love EVERYTHING I've ever tried from them! Plus I just love their simple packaging! Some of my cannot-live-without items is the Ultra Facial Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 (I use this in the morning & don't even have to use any powder or foundation- plus as a busy mommy I love it when a product does double duty!), Abyssine Eye Cream (This is my night time eye cream. It helps with dark circles & fine lines), Blue Herbal Spot Treatment (Love this stuff! I put it on when I feel the slightest pimple starting & it usually goes away before it becomes an issue! The hubs uses the whole Blue Herbal line for his skin regimen), Tea Tree Oil Toner (I have normal/oily skin so this stuff is fabulous & smells SO good!), & Lip Balm #1 (I keep one on my nightstand & put it on right before bed).



DERMAdoctor Picture Porefect- So I have pores the size of dinner plates... and this stuff literally shrinks them to at least a salad plate size! LOL ;) I have tried everything that claims to reduce the appearance of your pores and this is the ONLY one that has worked for me! It worked so much that my husband noticed! I use it every morning before I put on my tinted moisturizer and this small bottle lasts forever!...




Rene Furterer Dry Shampoo- So I don't believe you should wash your hair every day so this product I LOVE! For those of you that have never heard of dry shampoo, you spray it at the roots of your hair & it sprays a fine powder that soaks up any dirt & grease. After a couple minutes, you brush it out and your hair looks fabulous & has tons of volume! Love it!! You can also use it just to freshen up your hair throughout the day & add some body.


Make-up- I LOVE make-up!! I could probably be classified as a "hoarder" when it comes to buying too much make-up! I love putting it on too! {I hope in our next house I can have a HUGE vanity table where I can just sit and primp for hours! Ha :)} I'm such a girlie-girl! I NEVER have someone else do my make-up either because I always like how I do it better! ;) I even did my own make-up on my wedding day!... Here are some of my go-to items...




Eyelash comb- I am OBSESSIVE about my lashes!! If I have a bad "eyelash" day it is the equivalent to a bad hair day to most people! ;) In high school, I used the needle part of a safety pin to separate my lashes til I discovered this wonderful tool!! This fancy gadget makes sure you never have to have a bad eyelash day again! Use it after every coat & get the clumps of mascara off & separate each hair so your lashes look full & yummy! :)




DiorShow Mascara- This mascara can do it all!! It lengthens, curls, & thickens all in one!! And the brush is big & thick to coat every hair!






Benefit Blush in CORALista- I love blush! I think different color blushes can change a look as much as an eye shadow color can! This one I adore! Its my perfect go-to blush for everyday but also looks awesome going out at night... and the coral-pink color looks great on most skin tones!




Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer- Golly! I just realized I have been using this stuff for over 10 years!... I have bad dark circles under my eyes & I just love this concealer because it actually covers well & doesn't leave those yucky creases!





Well that's it for now! ... Stay tuned later this week for more of my beauty & make-up tips for this week's edition of "Show Us Your Life!"... And I'm also working on my Grammy Awards fashion recap that I hope to have done tonight or tomorrow! ;)

"Show Us Your Life: Fashion Tips..."

This week's topic is sharing your Fashion Tips... Hummm?!... Where should I start??...

I like to think of myself as a fashion-savvy person... You could also say I'm very opinionated & know what I like and don't like. So here are my fashion tips to live by... take 'em or leave 'em...

TIP #1- **Splurge on key pieces of your wardrobe & you can be thriftier on the rest! I believe there are a few essential items every woman should own AND spend a little more money on... These are my TOP 5!...

1) A great everyday purse- (yes, I admit I am a little bit of a purse-addict) but they really are good investments! You use one everyday, so why not get something you love & that will last?! Plus, I am a firm believer that you can throw on a pair of jeans, a plain t-shirt, & a great, expensive bag and look super chic! ;) In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a Louis Vuitton! ;) ... Special occasion/going out bags or real trendy stuff that will be out of style next year, you can just buy at TJ Maxx, Target or Forever 21!

2) Black heels- no matter if it's patent leather, peep-toe, pointy-toe, or round-toe; every lady needs a great pair of black heels (or in my case 10)! My fav is the black leather peep-toe. It's great for going out on the town, work, church & even with jeans! Just make sure you spend the $money$ on a good, comfy pair! I've learned not to even waste my money on cheap, uncomfortable shoes that end up hurting your feet.
3) A great wool coat- C'mon ladies... we're not 18 anymore walking around downtown in a spaghetti strap shirt in the middle of winter with no jacket on! Spend some money on a great jacket & stop looking like an idiot in the freezing cold! My favorite is a single-breasted, wool peacoat... If you can only get one, I suggest a tan or winter white color that will go with black or brown.

4) A fitted, white button-up shirt- (especially if you're a career woman, this is a MUST!)... For some people they might feel their best in jeans & a t-shirt or a sexy little black dress... for me, I feel my most sexiest & feminine in a crisp, fitted, white button-up shirt, a knee-length pencil skirt, high heels, & a wide belt cinched at the waist! I'm getting myself excited just thinking about it! LOL... Is that weird? :) I love the ones they have at Ann Taylor! No matter where you get it, just make sure it's not see through, fitted, & has a strong collar.

5) A great fitting black blazer- This is another fav of mine! A black blazer can be dressed up or down... Aside from a solid work staple, you can put it over a cocktail dress at night or pair it with jeans, a white top & your black heels & you're good to go! ;)

TIP #2- **Have fun with the extras!... Personally, my fashion wardrobe mainly consists of what I like to think of as "fashion basics"... I have a ton of basic pieces like solid color cashmere sweaters, plain, everyday cotton tees & tanks, timeless dresses & skirts, jeans, & dress pants... then I just play those basics up with purses, shoes, & jewelry!

I am a firm believer that accessories you might think not go with anything at all actually go with everything! For example, a pair of leopard print or red shoes or an off the wall colored purse...

Leopard print shoes can not only be worn with your basic black, but throw them on with a fun colored dress too!...

You can totally spice up your casual look too!... I love this as an everyday "around town" outfit! My leopard everyday shoes are ballet flats though! ;)

Here's an example how a fun colored bag can be worn... You don't always have to "match" people!! Have fun with it!...

My favorite "fun" bag is this white Coach with giant green C's all over it! I was a little hesitant at first spending as much on a "non-classic" bag but over the years, this has been the one I turn to the most to "add a little extra pop of color" to a basic outfit... :)

This is a great example of how to take everyday, basic pieces & turn up the volume with fun extras!!...

TIP #3- **Don't hide behind "TOO MUCH"!... There's nothing I hate more, than when I see girls putting on "too much"!!... Too much jewelry, too much make-up, too much hair, too much cleavage- you name it! Ladies, don't disguise your true beauty behind all that craziness!! When in doubt just remember the words of Coco Chanel, "Take one piece off before you leave the house"... or cover it up!

Boys and their toys...

For once in my marriage, I am being the sensible one!... What is it with boys and their toys?! In this case, it's my hubs and buying a new car...

We are coming towards the end of our lease on an SUV we got a few years back before we had a baby. Well hubs thinks we need to upgrade to a much bigger SUV as our "family" vehicle... And that I do agree with a little...

We have realized the arrival of a baby also comes with all of their "stuff" too!!!... and with an already high-maintenance wife who overpacks for all occassions {me}; we are already out growing our small-size SUV when we go on road trips. However, this will be the car I will mainly be driving so I'm a little hesitant to go too big because I'm not a very good driver to begin with... (I've been known to come to a complete stop in the middle of a two-lane road if a big truck passes!) LOL :)

So for the past few weeks hubs & I have been talking about possible options... It has been excruciating!!!!!!! He is the PICKIEST person when it comes to car buying that out of all the SUVs in the world, we can only come to an agreement about 3 different models.... SHEESH!!
I am about to throw my hands up in defeat because I'm so sick of debating about it!! But I know if I tell him to just get whatever he wants, there's no telling what he'll come home with!!
Wish me luck cause I have a feeling this is going to be a long, bloody battle! :-(


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