Wednesday Night Facials...

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of hosting and conducting my first Mary Kay Skin Care Class. 

I was the Hostess and Consultant. 

My husband led me to Mary Kay and after a lot of back and forth (and even more research),

 I decided to join the company!

So, I invited four women close to me for an evening of facials in my Beauty Studio aka My Kitchen haha!

Little did I know how amazing the results would be 

and how fulfilled I would feel when it was all said and done!

Each woman had a different thing they wanted to correct and they varied in age.

It was the perfect test group! 

They all tried the TimeWise Miracle Set according to their skin type 

and a light, natural, dash out the door makeup look followed.

I loved how when we were finished, they couldn't get out of the mirrors or stop smiling and taking selfies!

 It felt real good to help women achieve their skin care wants in such a short amount of time! 

I have always struggled in jobs with not feeling fulfilled. 

I love the feeling of being able to help.

I love feeling appreciation behind my work.

but last night, was not about me and I had a blast! 

 I felt such an immense amount of love and happiness! 

I helped four women boost their confidence and feel beautiful!

That felt amazing and now I'm addicted!

I want more! I want to help more! I feel like Oprah! haha!

You get a facial! You get a facial! Everyone gets a facial! 

Women get overlooked and under-appreciated so much and I truly love any chance to celebrate them! 

I think it is so important that we empower one another. 

Besides, If we don't, who will?

So without further adieu, here are the before and after's! 

Again, pamper yourself ladies! 

Take a chance on a new skin care regime, you never know how it might benefit you! 

Ciao!

XoXO

One of my favorite things... TWINNING!

Something that has been EXTREMELY popular on my Instagram page is #twinning posts of Kaleia and I. 

I'd be lying if I said it's not my favorite thing to post. 

I don't know. 
I have this crazy talent of finding matching outfits for us two!

Everytime I post #twinning looks, I get so many likes & comments!

I love it! and clearly you guys do too! haha

So, here are four of my favorite #twinning looks of Kaleia and I from the last 2 years: 

4th of July. 

Kaleia was 3 months old here.

 One thing I love more than #twinning is a theme!

I think this was a church look. 
I was pretty in to skater skirts for a moment. 

Now, I won't be caught dead in one! 

You have to evolve your style!

This was our "denim" moment. 

I'm still a fan of it. 

The most current. I love a good fur. 

Fur's not her fave. Excuse me, Faux Fur.

Those are my top 4 photos! I hope you all enjoyed them!

I haven't abandoned the #twinning game, I've just tabled it for the time being. 

But you never know when Kaleia and I will pop up matching!

And if you don't think I'm not bringing Keileb into the mix... you have me sadly mistaken haha

And if you want to #twin with your mini and have no idea how, hit me up! 

I'd be more than happy to style you and your mini! 

Ciao! XoXo

DIY Milestone Pics!

If you're like me, you LOVE taking pictures of your kids for any little reason! 

Birthdays, holidays, monthly, cute outfit days... you name it, I probably have a picture for it! 

One thing I've spent a considerable amount of money on is professional quality photographs for the special moments. Which is crazy because I learned a long time ago that your iPhone can produce those photos with the right knowledge. So, after many Pinterest searches, DIY shoots on my phone and being burned out on paying people to do something I think I'm pretty good at, my husband broke down and got me a Canon rebel t5i for Christmas so I can be our little family's photographer!

Keileb turned 6 months yesterday which was perfect because this was his first Valentine's Day. So, I took to Pinterest. Got some photo inspiration. Looked around my house to see what I had to pull it off. And wahlah! Cute baby pics! 

So how do you this? 

Keep reading and I'll tell you what you need/how! 

What you'll need:

A great camera (the higher the megapixels the better) 

I actually used my canon t5i but your iPhone will work perfect. 

4 iPhone apps = moreBeaute2, PhotoGrid, Giggly & Camera+

A baby blanket (I'd stick with black or white)

Red pants 

Red lipstick

What you do:

Go to a room in your home near a big window with considerable amount of sunlight. 

(NEVER rely on your cameras flash for quality photos. Natural light is where it's at!)

An hour before sun down is best to eliminate harsh shadows & gives the best lighting for picture taking. 

Lay the baby blanket out. 

Try not to allow wrinkles. Clearly i didn't care too much about that in the above pic haha

Dress your baby in red pants

Dress your lips in red lipstick 

Kiss that baby like crazy! 

Keileb and I got pretty carried away during this step 

Then start snapping. 

Hold your camera steady & take pics from different angles. Close ups are key 

Then open up your apps and get to editing until you're happy with the photo!

I used a different app for each picture (some pics I used multiple apps)

P.S . I use photogrid to watermark my pics. Watermark your photos on the internet. People are crazy!

And there you have it, DIY milestone photos!

This was a first/"bday" shoot in one so I saved time and money!

This whole process didn't even take an hour and with mommy being the photographer, baby was so comfortable and happy! 

If you try it or this post inspired you to try something similar, tag me on Instagram! Share with me on Facebook and/or comment below! I'd love to see your pics! 

Click the black social media icons on my page to get to my profiles. 

I hope this helped and I hope you guys love Keileb's adorable face! Wish him a Happy 6 Months!

Ciao! XoXo

How to amp up your casual wear

 Okay, I know I've been slacking on the fashion posts but that shall change! 

Take a look at the above pic of me. Very Plain Jane. A comfy sweat shirt, Jeans and Sneaks. 

Because I was actually going somewhere, my make up was done. I just have a new found obsession with it so whenever I leave the house, I wear it. I don't need a lot but it does help the imperfections and it's fun to play with! 

So, that is the first point! If you like make up, have it and just are too lazy to wear it, put it on!

 Take the extra time to make yourself look good! Not for anyone else, but for you! 

When you look good, you feel good! 

Now, I'm going to go into the big point of this post!

Being a mommy to two little ones, spending my day out and about in full on heels and glam is just not realistic for me! I'm running after a toddler most of the time, pulling strollers and kids in and out the car all day and also nursing at any given moment.

 Let's be honest, in these times, comfort is KEY! 

I for one will not sacrifice comfort for fashion if I'm moving and grooving all day. 

Date night is another story for another day. 

How do you take your sweat shirt and jeans to the nest level and still remain comfy you ask?

ACCESSORIES!

I swear by them! I've always loved jewelry and bags and just any little thing that can add a little character to my look! 

Take a look at this picture below. 

By rolling up my sleeves a bit, adding a floppy hat, earrings and some bracelets I transformed my comfy "mom look" to a "chic mom look."

Looking stylish or dressing stylish isn't always about following trends, having designer duds or even wearing heels and dresses all the time. 

It's simply adding things to your look that are a reflection of your interests and taste. 

That's personal style. 

And here's a style tip just for kickers:

Roll up the sleeves of your sweaters/sweat shirts (when weather permits) to add little character to your look but also show off that arm candy! 

I received so many complements on my bracelets this day by simply SHOWING THEM!

Jeans (old) & Sweatshirt: Forever21 Sneaks: "Chucks" 
Floppy Hat: G-Stage

 Jewelry: Park Lane Jewelry

I hope this post helped! Let me know what you think below and don't be afraid to hit me up on instagram or facebook! I'd love to hear from you! Until next time ladies!

Ciao! XoXo

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!

Okay, so before I get verbally stoned... I know, I'm late! lol but hey! 19 days into the New Year is better than 6 months into it right? And let's get the shade out the way now. "Who writes a New Year post AFTER New Year's Day?" ME! That's who! haha! Now, we can begin!

Happy New Year beautiful people! 

I've been spending the first few weeks of the year goal setting (i'm not big on resolutions), getting inspired and soaking up as much knowledge as I can in efforts to really boost my businesses in 2016! But, this post is not about ME, it's about YOU! YES, YOU! 

This year, bring YOU back! As a woman of God, Wife and Mother (in that order) I often get frustrated about ME. I feel in pleasing every one else, I'm losing ME! Being all three of these women shouldn't make me feel lost, it should make me feel like a better version of myself! So, in 2016, reclaim you! Love the woman you have become/are becoming. Embrace your struggles, responsibilities and triumphs! Those make you who you are! You don't have to change who you are because of a New Year just strive to be better than the last! It's all about growth and I know you can do it! No matter the size of your goals or the size of the life changes you want to make, any change is a big one! Do not let life, society, the internet, or even your peers make you feel like your time is up and you're a lost cause! As long as you are alive and well, there is still time for you!

Be determined in 2016! Have motivation! Determination and motivation will be the gas that drives inspiration! If you have a goal, seek to achieve it! If you love something, do it! People will always have something to say and always want to share their opinion but it's your life! God has given us all talents and when we have faith and utilize our talents for good, blessings will come! Being a Christian, a wife or a mom does not make you any less of who you are. It adds to your resume of life skills. Women, we wear many hats, let's embrace and love them all in 2016!

Ciao! XoXo

P.s. if you love my posts, get interactive! I want to hear from you! What do you like? What don't you like? What touches you? How did a post make you feel? Give me topics! Ask me questions! This isn't a one way street here! Let's be social!

Why you should pamper yourself this Christmas...

So here we are! Two days before Christmas! Craaaazzzzyyyy!

Where has this year gone?

I've been wanting to get this post up for the last week or so but you know, life happens!

Sooooo... what I'm here to tell you today is to get dolled up this Christmas Eve/Christmas!

I usually am pretty lazy on Christmas day. I like to be in jammies and just relax from all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season but you never know how I'll feel this Christmas!

The reason I say get dolled up is because looking cute makes us feel fab! And giirrrl, after all the hard-work you put in daily and overtime with the holidays, you deserve to look and feel cute!

The picture above was from my birthday about two weeks ago. I did one of those wine and paint nite classes with my mom and two best friends and I had a blast! My birthday was so relaxing! I got my mani/pedi in the morning followed by a hair and makeup appointment at Ulta. It felt good to be pampered! And what topped it all off, hubby was a good sport and did not call me AT ALL to bother me about baby drama! Can i get amen?!

I felt so good, so relaxed and so pretty! 

If you have errands to run, last minute shopping to do, cooking to do, gifts to wrap, etc. schedule some "me time," you deserve it, you need it and you'll feel great and more refreshed!

Even if you don't have time to squeeze in a pamper appointment, take the extra 20-30 minutes getting ready and do your hair and makeup! Believe me, someone will compliment you while you're out! And that one compliment will make you feel like a million bucks! 

Life is stressful ladies. As moms, it's very easy to put ourselves on the back burner. Which is why it's important that we take care of ourselves! We're the nurturers so no one is going to remind us to do anything for ourselves. And I completely understand that running after a toddler or being at the beck and call of a newborn makes it so exhausting to put effort into "me." That extra 20-30 minutes getting ready might seem like a lot but trust me, the pay off is worth it! 

So, do something for yourself this Christmas! Get cute! Look fab! You'll love it! 

Ciao! XoXo

Our family Christmas card and a lesson on life

So, here is a proof from our family portrait session with JCPenney yesterday. I post this because family and friends all over Facebook rave about how beautiful it is. I mean, I could stand to lose some pounds with that chubby face but nonetheless it is a beautiful family. But this post isn't about "the perfect holiday card," it's about life just not being perfect! Seriously, as I'm writing this post, I'm entertaining my son to keep him from crying. 

Different people may look at this picture and have various things they "love" or "admire" about our family and this picture. Though we are extremely blessed, life just isn't perfect. This portrait session took 5 reschedules and drama down to the minute. My husband's job doesn't have set hours so we are almost always at the mercy of his job. It's not a complaint because it pays our bills and makes it affordable for me to stay home with the kids for now but it's one of those reoccurring nuisances when you try to make plans. So, the appointment itself was rescheduled 5 times, literally. The last reschedule was not because of work, it was because my husband realized the night before, he hadn't gotten a haircut yet. And as we know, a guy will do nothing and go nowhere (aside from work or an emergency) without a haircut lol. Then, the morning of, he needs to get pants. Yes ladies, he knew about this for over 2 weeks. Procrastinator much? Yes he is and in my opinion the biggest one out there! lol Anyways, while he is out getting his pants for the pictures, the baby is throwing the biggest tantrum ever and my daughter is dropping my makeup all over the floor, unraveling the toilet paper roll and just getting into everything. So of course, I do what any good mom would do, lash out at him for having not taken care of business beforehand and have a mini breakdown! lol  I quickly got myself together because as long as it took to do my makeup, I refused to let it run. Finally, we get to JCPenney and forgot both of our phones! Which this day in age is a pretty big deal! Especially to our family, why? Because of course the Groupon for our photo session was on my phone! and as I should've expected, the computers at the portrait studio do not have internet because they don't want their employees surfing the web while they're supposed to be working. Thankfully, the reluctant photo associate was willing to let me use HER phone to log in to Groupon to get our photo session voucher! Our pictures were finally getting done! But of course, I have a year and a half old who is being asked to have a photo shoot during nap time so she quickly lost interest! It was like pulling teeth to get her to cooperate and of course mommy was frazzled as usual! But! We got them done! By the Grace of God, we got our family pictures taken and chosen for Holiday Cards!

Whew! I promise I didn't write this to "vent" or to "complain" because I am very happy and proud that our pictures came together! A blessing for sure! I write this to say, life just isn't perfect. Being a mom isn't perfect. Being a wife isn't perfect. We all have struggles DAILY. What we CHOOSE to put on social media doesn't refelct our struggles or low moments but they're there! Life in general has a lot of moving parts but when you add being a wife and a mother into the mix, it gets real! I think at any stage, it's hard being a mom or wife but when it's new, and it's pretty much at the same time, it's the hardest! You're used to pleasing and doing for yourself. But now, there are 3 other people I have to please and do for and myself tends to take the backseat (if it even enters the car lol).  If you are overwhelmed, stressed or just happen to have "a moment," believe me, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We all have our days and it's inevitable! We're human! BUT I've started to count my blessings and not my struggles and the blessing here is Our family pictures happened, Thank God I have a family to take pictures with, Thank God for giving me content for a blog post, etc. If we take a second to breathe, relax, and just give thanks for what is, we can allow peace to enter in our time of stress! So, ladies please remember, life's not perfect, we won't be perfect no matter how hard we try and giving thanks can truly bring peace! 

I hope you all are having a Happy Holidays! 

Ciao! xoxo

Ps. if you're looking to take milestone pictures, family pictures or anything of the sort, Groupon almost always has really good deals for JCPenney Portraits! Sitting fees are included in the Groupon rate and you can choose which package works for you that they offer! We did the 16 X 20 Canvas print for 39.99 then paid about $30.00 extra at our sitting for 48 Christmas cards! Super good deal if you ask me! Happy Holidays!