essentials

i have contemplated doing a small little series of posts of some of my favorite things. I used to have a "favorites list" in which everything that i found wonderful was written down so that when i was feeling like nothing was wonderful in my life i could turn to this list and rejoice in all the little things that brought me happiness. I loved that list. i should go searching for it. i may or may not have gotten a little bit of grief for this list, because it was large, and it was thought that i had TOO many favorites. is that so? well, i still have lots of favorites. today i am going to share with you a few of those, and maybe next week i'll share some more, and so on and so on.

today we'll focus on some of my beauty favorites. the cool thing about all of these is that my mom introduced me to all of them. i'm afraid she's slightly addicted to QVC, and because of that she tries out alot of beauty products, then she is kind enough to gift me with her favorites, which then in turn, become my favorites. thanks mom.

1. let me introduce you to moroccan oil. have you met? you should. This little bottle of heaven, makes my hair feel like, well heaven. smooth, silky, and shiny. really it does the trick when my used to be blonde hair got looking like straw and when blow-dried-too-many-times hair needs a pick me up. this does the job. just a little oil on my wet or dry hair leaves me feeling like i just left the salon. oh, how i love that feeling. 2. The lovely Purity by philosophy. put simply this is the most gently face cleanser i have ever used. I have pretty decent skin (knock on wood) and so with that, i really hate to wash my face. (my esthetician sister in law should be very disappointed in me) but..i do. I always have. until this gem entered my life. I'm still not perfect at it. In fact, most nights i'd rather sleep than wash my face, but when i do, my skin thanks me...so i have a large jug of this stuff that stays in my shower and i love it. but the jar is almost empty, and that is no bueno. It really is pure. and wonderful and leaves my skin feeling refreshed every time.

3. Oh this makeup. what would i do with out you? i have been a faithful user of bare minerals makeup for about 8 or so years. and i still love it as much as i did the first time i used. probably more actually. sometime i wonder if i should venture out there and try something different, but then i'm drawn back in. I am in love with their foundation. especially their new matte finish. and don't even get me started on the summer bisque, its an amazing concealer. i feel naked if i leave the house without the foundation on my face, and i rarely if ever do leave the house without it. slightly vain about it, i know, but i am. and then there are their eyeshadows. oh how i love them. i might have 20 too many. they stay on, and the variety of colors that they offer is awesome. not to mention they last almost an eternity (that's why i have so many of them). I have heard that mac eyeshadows are wonderful as well...so maybe i should give them a try. but for now i am sold on these babies.

do tell, what are your favorite beauty products that i should try and add to my favorites list?

new do & the boy in action....

yep...i made a return to the darker side. as much as i enjoy the blonde-ness, my hair is not as naturally blonde as it used to be. The girl who did my hair (whom i absolutely love) didn't even touch my whole bottom layer, and the color on top totally matches the bottom. kinda crazy. always takes awhile to get used to, but i am really liking it.

don't mind my cheese grin and preston's snotty face (tis the season).

And here is the boy in action. almost impossible to get him to sit still for a picture. isn't he cute? his newest thing: pulling himself up onto something, then letting go and standing all by himself. he can't stand for long, but he's getting there. then he takes off like he is going to run across the room...thank goodness for padded diapers, and a little extra chub on those legs that help to cushion his frequent falls.

We are at my mom's house for a few days, and she just keeps saying how busy and exhausting it is following this kid around because he doesn't sit still unless he's watching baby einstein. its true, it really is. But it is also very fun to see him learning new things. i however wish he would slow down just a bit, i'm not ready for my baby to grow up. i give him till he's 10 months and he'll be walking. slow down kiddo

might be the death of me....

you see that yummy little treat right there....yeah, we'll i'm kinda addicted to it. There is just something completely perfect about it...the peanut butter to chocolate ratio is spot on, and oh so heavenly (huh aunt Jill). I don't usually gravitate towards a regular Reece's peanut butter cup, but you better believe that when Easter rolls around, i am the one keepin' Reece's in business. I usually buy the bag of them where the "cup" isn't quite as big as this one pictured...makes me think i am doing myself a favor by not eating the big one.....so that's when i try not to look down at the already half empty bag of them on my way home from wal-mart (yeah, they are that good my friends). Hurry up easter, because i have no/little self control when it comes to these babies, and i love them, but i sure like my waistline better, and its going to quickly disappear if they don't go away. so help me out, and go buy yourself some, so i don't empty the stores.

(sorry sis, i imagine this post is something similar to me eating an american string cheese in front of you every.single.time. we skype. I'll try and save you one.)

little dude....

for my own sake, i thought i'd update on what the little man is up to these days. HE IS BUSY!! Preston is a full on crawler now, and he doesn't stop. constantly on the go-go. when Preston is not crawling everywhere, he is pulling himself up onto anything he sees. he loves to stand up. When i lay him down in his crib to go to sleep, and then i watch him on the monitor, all i can see is him doing laps in his crib, throwing in a couple sommer-saults, then pulling himself up and chewing on the top of his crib. once he had warn himself out and just cannot play anymore, he gives in and goes to sleep. oh he is funny! He loves paper, i have to be very careful that i don't leave any paper out, because that is his go-to-entertainment. He could play in his room for days. he is so happy and content in his room, it is his comfort zone. He and i are both loving the semi-warming weather so we can get out and go for walks. He loves eating, especially what we are eating. infact as i am typing, he just stuffed 5 cheerios in his mouth, that is whats for breakfast at our house today. and he really really loves chocolate cake and ice cream, he gets that me no. He will eat baby yogurt 6 times a day if let him, i won't though, but really he would. Preston still lights up everytime his daddy walks into the room, its precious. and just in case you were wondering....i still really love my little dude.

you can thank me later....

i am currently making a yummy little treat. it is one of my very favorites. As it is in the oven, i thought i would quickly share it with you so you can make and enjoy. it will not disappoint and you cannot mess it up.

Cinnamon Popcorn

preheat oven to 250
2 bags plain microwave popcorn (or i use air popped and kinda guess on the amount that would equal two bags)
1/2 cup butter (not margarine)
1/4 cup light karo syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

let these 4 ingredients come to a boil, boil for 2 minutes, take off heat and add:

1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda

stir together, it will be foamy.

then pour of the popcorn, mix well. spread on a cookie sheet. and put in oven for 30 min. take out and stir every 10 minutes. Take out of oven, drizzle with melted white chocolate chips (about 1/3 of a bag) i like to put them in a ziplock and microwave, then cut a little corner out of it....let cool. then enjoy.

grandpa's little buddy....

I had these pictures sitting in my drafts for quite sometime, and i kinda forgot about them. They are priceless to me. Preston went through a little phase where he didn't really like my dad, i think he scared him....but he's definetely warmed up to him now (we just need to keep our visits regular now). But i am 100% certain that these two will be great buddies, my dad is a pretty awesome person. He is a great dad, and i am so lucky that my kid(s) get to have him as their grandpa. They are pretty lucky!!! He is so patient and fun and playful with them, and i can't wait till preston can play with him more (but really i can wait, he is growing up too fast). We love you Grandpa!!!

i'll claim her...

So my little sister, Sydney was nominated for "Athlete of the Season" for the 1A/2A division. 5 girls and 5 boys were nominated in the area. In their highlight they did on Syd, they said she averaged a season double/double....with 15.7 points per game and 10.8 rebounds, totalling for 376 points in her 24 games. She's good. She's real good. She even scored 33 points in one game. I was able to watch her play a lot of games this season, and it was so fun to watch. her. Her team won the consolation game at the state tournament, which she had 21 points in. Anyways....turns out, she won. She is the Athlete of the Season. Yeah Syder!

Not only is syd a stellar athlete, but she is the sweetest girl i know. like really really sweet. and she's adorable, with great style. we share clothes....ok, i share her clothes mostly.

I'm pretty proud of her. and super excited that she's just a junior, which means lots more fun games next year.

Good Job Syd...your awesome...I love ya.

7 months.

that's what we do all day.
eat. play. sleep. repeat.
over and over and over again.

can't believe he 7 months old already.
it is kinda a bitter-sweet feeling. it would be totally sweet if i had any recollection of what the first 3-4 months were like, but honestly, i can't remember because they went by too quickly, and he changed so fast. wouldn't change a thing. hands down, best seven months of my life.