My Lake Bag Essentials

Besides the usual hat, sunglasses, towel, extra clothes, water, snacks and chair, I compiled a list of things I keep in my  lake bag. 

Of course the first thing I do is put on the sunscreen. I am obsessed with the SPF! I actually carry around sunscreen and then I put some Supergoop sunscreen on that is specifically for your face. I also use chapstick with SPF in it. 

Every bag I own plus each of my cars always have a hair ties in them. I hate it when my hair is all over my face, especially when I’m hot and sweaty. 

Speaking of hot and sweaty, that’s why I always carry a sample of Native deodorant. 

I’m always afraid of losing my beautiful wedding set, so I always wear a cheap silicone ring I bought from Amazon. 

I keep all of these items in an old Ipsy bag. I love finding ways to reuse them, and this bag is perfect for a beach bag! 

The last item I always throw in my bag is a pack of Water Wipes. They are perfect for cleaning your hands after a sticky application of sunscreen or before eating snacks. 

What do you keep in your bag?

Tip Tuesday: Inexpensive hair repair

Does your hair need a little (or lot) TLC? 

This is an inexpensive hair treatment! 

I am obsessed with Crime Junkies podcast. It’s my favorite true crime podcast I listen to. I have heard numerous commercials for Pantene intense reduce shots. I am always skeptical of ads podcasters advertise. I’m always wondering if these people actually use the product or just advertising. Both ladies from the podcast actually use it! They have two totally different hair types and it works wonderfully for both. I tried it, and I’m in love! I love the way it makes my hair feel after I use it! 

As you can see, the directions are super easy! 

Have you used it?

What did you think?

What I’m Wearing Wednesday

Decided to try out the the Wet N Wild products I talked about in my last blog post. (Click here to read it). Not too bad!!! I’m very impressed with the quality compared to the price!

Have you tried Wet N Wild products?

Which are your favorite??

Mini Wet N Wild Haul

A couple weeks ago, while strolling down the Walmart aisles, I decided to pick up and try these Wet N Wild items. I purchased the photofocus Foundation, Bronzer in Palm Beach Ready, Highlighter in Blossom Glow, Mini palettes in Walking on Eggshells & Silent Treatment, photofocus Rose 3-in-1 Primer- Fixer- Setting Spray, and mega last eyeliner.

I'm going to do a look sometime next week and use all of these items. I have purchased and used both of the mini palettes before and I know I love them! 

Have you used any of these products before? 

What did you think?

Drop me comments below. I love hearing from you!

Urban Decay Naked Cherry

Today I decided to throw on some eyeshadow from the Urban Decay Naked Cherry palette and some cute Eyelure lashes! Filled in my lips with some lip stain and chapstick on top. 

Have you tried the UD Naked Cherry palette yet? 

What did you think?

Tip Tuesday: Sephora VS Ulta (Why I love Ulta more!)

Do you shop at Sephora or Ulta? I have shopped at both. I first started out shopping at Sephora. I loved it! I signed up for Beauty Insider, which tracks your purchases and gives you so many points for whatever you spend. 

Then, I found Ulta. Ulta has a point system too based on what you spend and it is called ultimate rewards. 

After spending sooo much money at both stores, I figured out which one I like better: Ulta!

Both stores have amazing customer service, wonderful staff that greets you and helps answer any question you may have, and have a great return policy. But I must say I love Ulta's point system way better.  With Sephora, you cash in your points for miniature travel sized items. 

With Ulta, on the other hand, you can cash in those points for store cash on anything in the store.  Not only do I love their points system, but they seem to occasionally have certain high end brands for sale more often than Sephora.  They also constantly have coupons! (However, the coupons do exclude certain brands!)  

For example, I wanted this $300 hair dryer really bad. I waited until their 20% off coupon came out, used it and then cashed in my points. I had about $125 worth of points I had saved up! I got that dryer for a fraction of the price!!!! That right there is a prime example of why I love Ulta so much and do a majority of my shopping with them!

Do you shop at Sephora or Ulta?

Which do you prefer more?

Send me you feedback, I love hearing from you!

Motivational Monday

Just wanted to drop you a little motivation I found on Pinterest. 

Happy Monday!

Top 5 of the Week

1. This was such a special week! My sister was on spring break from school and we took her with us to the Houston Rodeo! We had an amazing time. This was the baby K's first Rodeo. He had a blast seeing all the animals and watching the rodeo.

2. The K Babes got to go to the zoo with his baby cousin. They were so cute together and had a blast. I think they both enjoyed the aquarium portion the best of all!

3. For my sisters birthday, my cousin and I took her to Painting With A Twist! We had sooo much fun! If you are ever in the Sugarland area, I highly recommend it!!! Our instructor, Kim, was awesome and she made it so much fun!!!

4. Had a relaxing couple of days in Galveston. This was Baby K's first time at the beach!!! He was loving the sand.  This child is definitely a beach baby!!! Totally in his element.  Guess we will have to get him a sand box this spring!

5. We spent a lazy Sunday afternoon turning this oat container into a little toddler activity.  I took the wrapper off of the oats container, used a glue stick to glue the colorful wrapping paper to the container, and cut a slit in the top. I bought cheap cards from the Dollar Tree, so he can take each individual card and try to put them into the container. This is a perfect activity for fine motor development and hand-eye coordination.

Have you ever been to Houston or Galveston? 

Ever been to a Painting class?

What did you think about the toddler activity?

Have any fun toddler activity suggestions?

I'd love to hear from you! Drop a comment below.

Dollar Tree Haul

I went to the Dollar Tree the other day, and check out all the Yes To masks I found!!!!

I found a coconut moisturizing over night mask, clear skin tomato mask, charcoal detox paper mask, cotton comforting mask, and a tomato clear skin detoxifying clear skin powder to clay mask.

I also picked up a mask applicator. Those suckers are way more than a dollar!!!! I was so excited for this little Dollar Tree mini haul!

Have you seen these masks at you local Dollar Tree?

Have you tried any of them? What did you think?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, Y'all!!!

Lately, my combo skin has been super dry and patchy. Especially on my T- zone area.

When I put my foundation on, it looks horrible.  I found this Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil in my sample drawer. (That's where I keep all my Ipsy/Sephora/Ulta samples in.) 

I have been using this every day for a few weeks now. I absolutely love it!!! I was skeptical at first, but it really locks in the moisture without my face looking oily! Not sure how it will fare in the summer, but it definitely works now! This is one product I will be purchasing soon!

Have you tried it?

What did you think?

Sol Janerio Coco Cabana Cream

I have been wanting to try this since it came out. When I placed an order with Sephora the other day, this sample came with my package. I opened this little sample up and slathered on the cream. Or should I say, gel. (It’s more of a gel consistency than a cream) if goes on so smooth and silky, but I was hit with a little bit of nostalgia. It smelled like something very familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then, it hit me! It smells like the taste of buttered popcorn Jelly Belly’s! Now, I just can’t get past the smell. So glad it came as a sample and I didn’t buy the full size tub of it! Lol!

Have you tried it?

 What did you think?

My low-sodium chicken noodle soup

Last week I was sick with a head cold.  I was so miserable, I decided to make chicken noodle soup.  When I posted a picture of it on my personal Instagram, I had one person text me and two people come up to me and ask about how I made it. So I decided to go ahead and post the recipe here. It's so easy to make. I don't know how to make anything small, so when I makes soups, I usually make a huge pot and freeze what I don't use for later.  I don't follow a recipe, so I apologize that I don't have exact measurements! Because this is low sodium, you may need to add bouillon cubes to yours!

Ingredients:

-Chicken

-Carrots

-Celery

-Onion

-Chicken Broth

-Minced Garlic

-Spices you like

-Egg Noodles

What I do:

The first thing I do is take my chicken and boil it until it shreds easily and I cut it up. While it is boiling, I take out my mandoline slicer and slice the carrots and celery stalks into thin slices. I then dice up my onions. Once the chicken is done, I throw the veggies, minced garlic and spices in. (I used Tastefully Simple's Salt-Free blend, Garlic Mrs. Dash, Onion Mrs. Dash, little oregano, and pepper.) I then add my reduced sodium chicken broth.  I let it all simmer until the veggies are soft.  (Taste it, if its not salty enough for you, you may need to add a bouillon cube or two.) I then Add the egg noodles and put the lid on for 5-10 min until they are soft. Then I scoop out and enjoy!

Top 5 of the Week

1. Journal. Every year I keep a journal.  I always keep an eye out for the "perfect one." This year I found my journal at TJ Maxx.  I also found the perfect planner, but sadly, I already purchased one for this year.  If you ever want a pretty notebook, journal or planner, TJ Maxx & Marshall's are the way to go!!!

2. Healthy Snack. I'm always on the look out for a goof healthy snack.  I also found these at TJ Maxx.  Holy cow are these good!!!!!!! Sorry it is such a crappy picture, but I finished them off and wanted to snap a quick pic before I threw it away. I hope they have more the next time I go back!

3. Current Read. If you are stuck in a rut, feeling down, and need a pick me up, this is the book for you! I recommend any book from Joel or Victoria Osteen.  They are always inspiring and uplifting!

4. Sick Food. I had a stupid head cold this week. What's the best food to eat when your sick? Chicken noodle soup!  I always make my own.  It's super easy and wayyy better than any can soup!

5. Current Mag. Got my shape magazine in the mail this week.  I love looking at all the recipes in the back!!!

2017 Goals

I can't believe it's 2017! 

It came so darn fast!!! After taking the first week of this new year to think about what I would like to improve, here is what I came up with:

1. Developing a more personal and meaningful relationship with God. Last year I was dealt some pretty hard blows that really tested my faith. This year I want to take the extra time to really contemplate on it. 
2. Cut out some of the time I use on social medial and spend that time with my loves. I waste way too much time on my phone. I was on my phone the other night when my boyfriend told me that my dog had been patiently staring at me wanting me to pet her.  That broke my heart. I want spend more quality time with everyone I love.
3. Start saving more money. I used to be quite the couponer! However, I have slowly drifted away from it. Coupons aren't the only way I save money.  There are so many things you can do to save and make a little extra money. 

I have a few other personal goals I'm working on too. 

What are yours? I'd LOVE to hear them!!!

WunderBrow Tutorial and Review

WunderBrow is a gel my friend, Tomala, introduced me to. Once applied, it claims to last on your brows for days! It has hair- like fibers that affix to thin or sparse eyebrows to give you more shape and fullness. It was easy to apply.  It came with simple instructions and didn't take much time.  They even had one for Blonde hair! (Which is what I used) It comes in a box. Inside the box, you find the gel, (which looks like a tube of lip gloss) a spooley, and the instructions.  I did a quick tutorial on my first time applying it. 

You can check it out here:

For me, it only lasted three days.  However, I have to admit, I did forget about it and really scrubbed my face the first night, and the second night I was a little easier.  Day two, after getting out of the shower, I had to use the spooley to reshape them since the shower spayed down on them.  The color was still there, they just needed a little brushing to keep them in place. By day three, after I got out of the shower, it was patchy in some areas.  I just applied more to the sparse places. I do have to admit it made a difference and it really held my brows in place.  I usually fill them in with eyebrow gel and use a clear mascara to lock them in place, but this had the same effect only lasted a lot longer.  Definitely worth the purchase!!!

Have you tried it? 

What did you think?

August Ipsy Glam Bag

I always get super excited each month to see what all I have received in my Ipsy bag.

This month I got this cute princess like bag.

 Inside, I found:

1. It Cosmetics gel eyeliner

2. The Organic Pharmacy rose facial cleansing gel

3. Pete Lamas supreme radiance complexion booster

4. Nomad eye shadow - in the shade Spice Market (OMG gorgeous color!!!)

5. Ciate London nail polish in Spinning Teacup

Do you get Ipsy?

What did you get?

Nanye'hi "Nancy" was born around 1738 in Chota, Tennessee. She was known as the Beloved Women of the Cherokee Leader. She was an ambassador and peace negotiator to the European- Americans.  When she was 18 years old, she gained the title "Ghigau," which was a very respected title. She was rewarded this title for her bravery while fighting on the battlefield after her husband was killed. She later married Bryant Ward, however, he was married to another woman and ended up leaving her for his first wife.

 During the Revolutionary War, Nanye'hi was informed of an upcoming attack on the colonists by her cousin, and let them know. She believed in a peaceful coexistence. She was the last woman known to receive the title of Ghigau.

Motivation Monday

Top 5 of the Week

#1 I ordered Hell-Pore Clean Up Mask and Carbonated Bubble Clay mask from Meme box....review to come!

#2 My new favorite treat!

#3 Cato's had some awesome clothes on clearance!

#4 Went on a little road trip this weekend.

5. Starting to like Arbonne's chocolate protein shake. I love to drink these in the morning since I'm not a big breakfast person. So handy to just add water, shake it up and go!