Birchbox: June

I am just loving me some Birchbox. This is my second month and I am 100% happy! 

I am very impressed with their packaging. This got me so excited to see what was in my box.

Here is what I got this time around...


1. Masqueology | Brightening Mask
This targeted sheet mask features arbutin and mulberry root to help even out your skin tone. Use it before, after, or - if you're brave - during your next flight. 3 masks, $24

2. BAND-AID | Cynthia Rowley Dress-Up Band-Aids
Br prepared for life's little emergencies with these stylish designer bandages. Pack of 40, $14

3. Likewise | Facial Moisturizer + Sun Protectant SPF 50 Normal To Dry
Get sun savy with this zinc-infused cream. It soothes parched skin while deflecting UV rays. Full-size $44

4. theBalm cosmetics | Stainic in Beauty Queen
We're crazy about this two-in-one lip and cheek stain: the sheer gel formula delivers a subtle, long-wearing flush. Full size, $17

5. Ada Cosmetics | Bronzer
Get an island goddess look the dermatologist-approved way with this shimmery talc-free mineral powder. It flatters every skin tone. Full-size, $12.45

LOVE: 


IT ALL!!!

If I had to choose a favorite it would be the Cynthia Rowley Dress-Up Band-Aids! How freaking cute are they?!?! Only problem is now Kallie wants to use them instead of her Disney Princess or Hello Kitty ones. I have a fashionista on my hands.

I tried the Masqueology Brightening Mask the other night and it was so refreshing. You leave it on for 20 minutes and relax...I actually fell asleep. It was oh so very nice and I wish I could afford to do one every night. Maybe even every other night, but at $24 for 3, I don't think so.

Showing off the goods!

The mask is a little scary looking on me! Kallie told me I looked like a monster! 

Has slits for your eyes, nose & mouth!

Just too beautiful not to include.

LOL! She wanted to try it on!

The Likewise Facial Moisturizer + Sun Protectant SPF 50 Normal To Dry is pretty great so far. I'm looking for a new moisturizer to put on before my base and this is a contender now for sure.

The theBalm cosmetics Stainic in Beauty Queen is awesome. I love the way it feels on my lips and only gives a slight tint so it's perfect for me because I don't really ever use anything on my lips unless it's chapstick.

Last but not least, the Ada Cosmetics Bronzer is the bomb. Adds just the right amount of color I need and at that price I can't turn it down.

I am one happy chic with Birchbox right now. Can't wait to see what they have up their sleeve next month.

I Can,You Can...Let's All Do the Can-Can!!

{via pinterest}

Over the past couple years I have overcome a WHOLE lot. Yes, I am totally patting my own back here. I became a single mother when Kallie wasn't even 3 months old. I remember the moment I realized I was going to be doing the biggest job in the world by myself. It wasn't one of those ah-ha moments where everything became clear and everything clicked into place. It has been a long road to the mother/person I have become today. It has been a lot of sweat and tears. Everything still hasn't clicked into place but I am starting to realize that I am picking up the puzzle pieces of my life and fitting them together to create my journey.

Growing up I always had these crazy dreams. You can ask my elementary school teachers, I had quite the imagination. I always wanted to be an actress. In my mind, I was going to go to California and become this famous movie star...that was until I realized you actually had to work to become something like that. I played around with it for years but never did anything about it but talk about it.

There has always been this one quote or part of a quote that I never fully understood. "You can do anything you set your mind to." I've always had a love/hate relationship with it. Didn't people realize the work you had to do to achieve this? I think before I became a mother I never had to work hard towards anything. I just expected to have things given to me if I wanted them. 

I have been working for my company now for three years. I came in knowing nothing at all about what my business does. I worked my tale off for a little over a year and a half to learn anything I could until I was brought on full time. Sometimes I joke that they hired me because I wouldn't leave. Really. I would come in even when they weren't paying me. I was bound and determined that I was going to work for my company and be able to proudly support my daughter and myself on my own. I can now say I am doing that.

I now understand that quote because I have done the work to achieve something. I live for hard work and I know that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. My dreams have changed from when I was younger but I know they are in reach. I can do anything and it has now become part of me to teach my daughter through achieving my dreams that nothing is out of her reach.

Violet! You're turning violet, Violet!

I always think of Violet from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory when I think of my favorite weekend! The Blueberry Festival weekend!!

This past weekend Kallie, my Dad, Tammy and I went to Nacogdoches to enjoy all the festivities with the Garlington's! It is one of my favorite weekends of the entire year. Kallie has been every year she has been alive. A little tradition I have started with her.

We drove down Friday afternoon. We always stay with the Garlington's who are my second family. Stacey cooked a wonderful dinner and we chatted and swam afterwards. It's always so fun catching up with them. We had lots of wedding talk going on since Taylor and Sydney are both getting married soon!

Chelsea made these yummy treats for dessert!

The next morning we got up and went to the festival bright and early. We always like to get there to make sure we get our blueberries for the year and to make sure we don't have to wait too long in the blueberry pancake line.

Blueberry pancake line! Wowzers!

I think there were more people this year because this was the line at 8:15 am! See the red building in the right corner? That's where you get your pancakes. This was the longest we have ever had to wait. 

 Kallie with Robert & Ty!

Kallie getting some shade thanks to her Papa!

The wait was TOTALLY worth it! Yummy!!

After we ate our pancakes we did a little bit of shopping. I decided this year I wasn't going to spend that much money because I was already in money freeze mode but knew I wanted a little something to add to my office. I always try and find something fun to add to it from there.

 Awesome Ghost Chairs I saw for $198 each! I was SO TEMPTED!! I may go back in August and get one for my birthday if they still have them. That is actually an awesome price!

Stacey & Chelsea purchasing "old" luggage that was in amazing shape for an even more amazing price!

The AWESOME crowns I got for my office. In LOVE.

My office decor I got last year!

After the festival we went home, relaxed and took a 2 hour nap. I haven't taken an afternoon nap like that in forever!! It felt very nice and I should probably take them more often! Kallie actually slept for 3 hours! I had to force the child to get up to go to dinner. We went to The Jalapeno Tree in town and I enjoyed myself a very LARGE margarita and some delicious fajitas. I'm drooling just thinking about them.

Worth every last calorie!!

We went to bed pretty early that evening and got up and headed home after a yummy homemade breakfast. When I got home I bagged up all my blueberries and put them in the freezer to I can eat them year round.

The blueberry goods! We bought 3 flats!

All bagged up for the freezer!

The weekend was amazing as always! We are already counting down the days until next year!

FREEZE!!!

The June/July Money Freeze began today! So far so good! HAHA!! Of course, the first day is always the easiest. I went to the grocery store at lunch today and bought groceries for the rest of the week. I am going to keep my reciepts and add them up at the end of each week to see how much money I am spending. I will post how much I have spent each Monday. I will do this each week for the next 8 weeks. Oy vey, accountability!

I am almost done reading the third and final book of The Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay. I plan on reading a finance book next. I am considering something by Susan Orman. Anyone have any suggestions?

High Five for Friday

Is it already Friday again? No complaining here! I'm linking up with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk for her High Five For Friday!

1. Holy Engagements!

Another one of my favorite people got engaged! I have known Taylor since she was itsy bitsy! She just graduated from college and just go engaged to Joe! He popped the question in Venice, Italy! How romantic! So happy for them both!

2. Week 1 of Swim: Check!

We missed one class due to rain but overall week one was awesome. She started out on level 1 (Pike) and moved up to level 3 (Ray). The girl has skills. I would say it's more of the social aspect for her. I feel like I could teach her more than she is learning because there are so many kids there to distract her. We will do private lessons next time around.

3. New Ride

I've already told you numerous times about my recent car purchase but I can't help but still be excited about it!

4. Let's Eat!

Got to enjoy yummy meals with my favorite co-workers, my step mom, Tammy, and Ryan this week. Love getting to spend time with my favorite people! Pizza, Mexican, IHOP and Raising Cane's...you can't go wrong with any of those! IHOP is always amusing! They are very proud of their drinks we found!

5. Invitation Reveal

Here is the invitation I did for my sister Sydney! It was lots of fun to create! We will be having so much fun next Friday evening!

Kallie and I are off to The Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches when I get off! We go with my parents every year to spend time with Taylor's (my #1 above) family. Everything blueberry imaginable is involved, lots of swimming and lots of family time. I look forward to it every year! Have a great weekend!

Totally Random

I have a few random things going through my head so I thought I would share!

1. 10 Years? Say What?

I may or may not be freaking out a little. My best friend from high school, Whitney, text me last night and asked if I had seen our reunion was set. Has it seriously been 10 years? Am I that old? Ekk! We have already planned a day full of mani/pedi's, massages, getting our hair and make-up done and talked what we are going to wear. There maybe some day drinking and/or Zanax prior to the event.

2. What a Deal!!!

Well, what perfect timing! $24 for a whole month! (Usually $49 for an intro month, $99 every month after that if auto drafted.) Bikram Yoga loves me and the feeling is mutual. Bikram Dallas must have known I was wanting to come back because as soon as I posted about my June/July Money Freeze, it knew I needed a deal. That means I will save $25!!! Wahoo, get excited! You can purchase this deal from Groupon from today through Saturday, June 7-9th!

3. Pin To Win

Who isn't pinning these days? Check out this awesome contest over at Paper Source. If I'm reading the directions correctly, all you have to do is create a virtual pin board from the Paper Source website and its blog worth up to $250 by July 4th. Then they pick the most creative and you win $250! I love me some Paper Source!

4. Rainy Day Girl

It started raining aka FLOODING (and HAILING!!) yesterday afternoon, which means canceled swim lesson. Not too happy about that...fingers crossed today's doesn't get canceled!

Happy Thursday everyone! Almost the weekend!!

June/July Money Freeze

I am the kind of person who likes to have a little cushion in the bank. I like to know that if I want to buy something new for myself or take Kallie to Studio Movie Grill for dinner and a movie, I can and not have to worry about it. I also like to have emergency cash in case something pops up, for instance, my car breaks down! Haha!!

My bank account has shrunk under my happy amount over the past couple of weeks due to fixing my old car and putting a big chunk of a down payment on my new one so my monthly car note is under where I want it to be.  With all that business going on, my bank account is not up to my standards. I'm about to solve that problem.

Kallie will be with her Dad from June 28th to August 4th for summer. (Sad face...) Due to this, this little momma doesn't have to pay daycare! Cha-ching!!! I am going to save a ton of money because of this lovely fact but I want to make sure I save 90% of it. I know this is easier said than done so I figure I better start practicing now. I am about to start a big money FREEZE. Starting Monday, June 11, I am going into full on grown up mode baby. This is really weird, and I'm astonished I'm about to say this, but I'm excited to get started.

 I thought I'd layout some ground rules for this challenge.  I'm sure I will force myself to reference back to this many times...to remind myself.

1. No clothes. Nada.  For Kallie or myself. I am going to go through my closet and organize again because I know I have some clothes in there that I have forgotten about.

2. No eating out. No I don't have time to cook dinner, no impromptu lunches, no quick coffee runs.  No Starbucks, no Sonic cokes.  If I'm gonna eat, I better be eating at home or bringing it from home.  And if I planned poorly and didn't bring food, I'll have to make do with the cheez-its in the kitchen.

3. No booze. This is the hardest one for me. Sad, but true. I look forward to a glass of wine when I get home from work. The problem is that adds up quick. $20 a week for a bottle of wine...That's $80-$100 a month. More if I have friends over.

4. No new beauty products.  No new nail polish, new lotions, or new makeup.  Nothing new goes into my makeup bag or under my sink, unless I run out of shampoo or something. I don't want to stink.

5. No extra entertainment. No movies, no Redbox rentals, no new Blu-ray purchases. I have a pretty sweet movie collection and my Cable isn't too shabby. I will have to make do with those or what I have saved on my DVR. I'm not really worried about this.

6. No pampering.  At home mani/pedis, self-maintained brows and such are going to have to get me through the next 8 weeks.

Exceptions: Now of course, there are a few exceptions to this list, because I am human.

a. My grandfather’s birthday party is coming up next weekend and I need a new dress for it. All my family is coming in for it so of course I want to look cute for all the pictures that will be happening. Who knows though...I may find a forgotten about dress when I go through my closet.

b. I want to take Kallie to do something special before she goes off with her dad for 5 weeks. Probably will take her to the movies and dinner. We both love that time together and I will need it.

c. Bikram Yoga. I am signing up for a month while the little nugget is gone. This actually helps in other areas. You HAVE to eat healthy and drink lots of water, so it will motivate me to not want to eat out or drink alcohol.

d. Kallie will be home for 1 weekend and I plan on taking her to do fun things for those 2 1/2 days. I'm thinking about getting creative with this though. Find free things to do around Dallas. Might make for a fun blog post! :-)

e. The weekend of July 20th, one of my best friends and I are going to Austin to have a girls weekend. I'm pretty sure there will be some money spent on food and going out. I know we won't go overboard though. Are you reading this Katherine?? :-)

f. Small social exceptions. I know I shouldn't but the freeze is sort of like a diet. I'm bad with diets. As soon as you tell me I can't have chocolate, that's all I want. So.....if little work happy hours pop up, lunches with the ladies ever so often, or nights out with friends comes about, I am totally in. My co-workers and close friends are pretty good about saving money so I figure these won't be too big spender situations.

How does that sound? Hard? You bet, but I'm always up for a challenge. I'm most worried about the no booze but as soon as I see how much money I save, this won't be as much of a challenge.

I'll continue to post regular posts throughout this freeze on Mondays. Check back Monday for the official kick-off! Please cross your fingers for me.

{Inspired by Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles' September Spending Freeze.}