Fall Favorites

Although it's technically fall according to the calendar, it's still blazin' hot here in Florida.

But that's not gonna keep me from posting some of my new fall favorites.

Granted, they're not going to include this fall's latest trends like faux leather leggings and above-the-knee riding boots, because it's just not cold enough for that kinda gear right now.

But I will share with you some great new items that are putting me in the fall mood...even if it is 90 degrees out today.

First up... a fall staple that will last you through winter...a fantastic red lipstick!

Now, I don't wear red very often. In fact, I always thought it made me look "yellow-ish" and clashed with my skin tone. But if Miss blondie Kristen Bell can rock a red lip, then so can I!

This Sephora Cream Lip Stain in "01 Always Red" is a great way to try the bold red lip trend without breaking the bank. This baby only cost $13 and it has some serious staying power without feeling sticky or dry.

I wore it last weekend to a casino-themed charity event where my entire outfit was black with some turquoise jewelry and this lipstick really completed the outfit. It made my makeup look very polished and classic. I highly recommend picking some up for the upcoming holiday party season.

Next up, a candle that I am totally crushing on right now.

I figure, even if it's hot outside, I can always crank down my A/C and light a pumpkin-scented candle and it will feel much more like a crisp fall day.

I've always been a fan of Bath & Body Works 3-wick candles because they smell fantastic, and last a long time. There are some great fall scents out right now, and there are some pretty heinous ones. I've made the mistake of ordering them online before without actually smelling them first... big mistake. Don't do it.

This one, called "Heirloom Pumpkin" is one of my favorites right now. I like to burn it by itself, or in conjunction with an apple-scented candle (my sis-in-law taught me that trick!).

There are several pumpkin/fall-scented B&BW candles out right now, so I'd recommend going to a store and smelling them for yourself. This one has undertones of nutmeg and vanilla, but I have another one that has more of a pumpkin-cinnamon smell to it and I love it too.

Another fall staple for me is this great Cable & Gauge tunic that I found at TJ Maxx (note: I did not pay $51 for it, as it's listed on this web site, I believe I paid closer to $25.

Sadly, my photography skills have a looooooong way to go, so this picture doesn't do it one bit of justice. Here's a better image of a lovely stranger wearing it that I snagged off the internet:

I'm telling you, I will be living in this tunic this fall! It is the softest thing I have ever worn and it's the perfect weight too. I've worn it with shorts, skinny jeans and cropped workout pants. It's so versatile, I just may go back and get it in grey too!

My next favorite thing has nothing to do with fall, and everything to do with starting my day off in a good mood.

I saw this line of hand-stamped silverware on Instagram and instantly (pun intended) fell in love. Milk and Honey Luxuries has the most adorable line of products. From funny, to sweet, and everything in between, they have come up with some great "one liners" to stamp on their beautiful silverware.

Every morning, I try to take this motto seriously and start my day with a grateful heart.

Because when I pause and think about the fact that I have healthy children, a husband who loves me and friends whom I know I can count on... life is pretty awesome indeed.

The next few "favorites" aren't necessarily fall-related items, but they are super important during this time of year as we enter cold & flu season.

I am a big believer in the healing power of essential oils, when it comes to fighting off germs and beating a cold once you've contracted something, but I also drink a glass of Super Orange flavored "Emergen-C" every single morning.

There are only 25 calories per pack and they are loaded with vitamin C, B12, Zinc, and lots of antioxidants and electrolytes. If you don't currently take a multivitamin, I would highly recommend getting a box of these and making it part of your morning routine.

Along the same lines, I am a firm believer in a daily multivitamin for my kids. They come in contact with some nasty germs at school each day (God please help them to remember to wash their hands after they use the bathroom!!).

I used to give them whatever brand of gummy vitamins were on sale. But then I noticed how loaded with sugar they were and how very little vitamins were actually in them.

That's when I switched to Rainbow Light Nutri Stars chewable children's vitamins.

 

I'm not gonna lie. They do not taste fantastic (kinda like a sweet tart but not as sweet). But my kids have gotten used to them over the years and now eat them without complaint. They know they can't get up from the breakfast table until their vitamin is gone. It's just habit now.

These vitamins have only 1.5 grams of sugar per vitamin and have no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. They also have 92 mg of vegetables and green foods per vitamin. I'm tellin ya... these are powerhouse vitamins!

You can buy them on Amazon for about $15 or at most health food stores.

And one more thing I'm diggin these days are these awesome Kashi bars:

 

I realize they sound pretty bland, but they are delicious - really! They are crunchy and nutty and just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect to throw in your purse for an on-the-go breakfast or snack.

That's all I've got for today. Payton is home and ready for some multiplication quizzing, and little man is bound to wake up right in the middle of it, so I better wrap this up. 

I hope you try some of these products. And if you do, please let me know what you think. Stay warm, cozy and healthy this fall! Cheers y'all!

Let's Talk Makeup

Ahhhhhh...long holiday weekends. They're my fav.

Add to it our wedding anniversary, and the fact that my parents took the kiddos for a couple days...it was pretty much a perfect stay-cation.

We had a leisurely dinner out one night; I say leisurely because there was no reason to rush home to pay the $12/hour babysitter. The kids weren't there! I got to get all dressed up (which for me means no flip flops or shorts) and wear my favorite dress that my sis-in-law got me. We enjoyed a delicious meal, had a really lively conversation with the couple sitting next to us (that's a whole 'nutha story), and then ended the evening with a little live music. Perfection.

We also took advantage of the quiet mornings in the house. There was no "laboring" going on during this Labor Day. Just sipping coffee, reading the paper and enjoying the slow pace of things.

And while I'm sure you want to hear more about my lazy weekend, I will move on to the real topic at hand... makeup!

I'm not that into makeup, but as I've confessed before, I don't ever really leave the house without at least a little face powder and lip gloss (and mascara). But I do have some tried and true products that I will never stray from. And recently, I've discovered a few new products, thanks to Birchbox.

Have you heard of Birchbox? It's a great concept if you like to try new products. Basically, you fill out a questionnaire about your skin type, hair type, etc. and then you pay a $20/month subscription fee and they send you a beautiful little box filled with all sorts of goodies each month. It's like a mini Christmas present every time it arrives.

I digress... where I was going with this, is that I've discovered some new products through Birchbox that I LOVE and wanted to share them with you in case you are looking for some new items to add to your skincare and makeup repertoire this fall.

Here are all the items I am going to "talk about." They are all available online, and most are available at either Sephora or mall department stores.

Up first, my "tried and true" won't-leave-home-without-it face powder plus foundation, MAC Studio Fix.

It's wonderful by itself, it works great as a touch-up powder throughout the day, and it does a great job controlling shine, which is my worst enemy. I've used this product for over 10 years now and although I've tried others, I have not found any other pressed powders that compare.

Next up, another basic, but one that I am glad I discovered. Sephora Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara.
It's a bit more pricey that drugstore brands, but it works so much better. It doesn't clump, which is a necessity when it comes to mascara. But I also love how it looks really natural with one coat, but if you're headed out for the evening, a couple of coats really makes your lashes look dramatic and full.

The next few items are fairly new to my makeup bag. I had been hearing and reading about the importance of using a primer when applying foundation, but since I rarely wore foundation I didn't see the need to purchase any. But, time marches on then it marches right across your face! (Anyone else remember that line from the movie Steel Magnolias?!?) Anyhow, as fine lines and other nasties haves started to appear, I have found that foundation is now a really great addition to my makeup routine if I'm going out, or just want to look nice.

But, instead of a plain foundation, there is now the gem of a product called "BB cream" (which is short for Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm). It's an all-in-one powerhouse that delivers moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation and anti-aging elements all in one!

I received a sample of this Marcelle BB cream in my Birchbox a couple months ago and now I'm hording the final few bits left in the tube. It's so smooth and easy to apply! I just wipe a thin layer of this over my face and then set it with some translucent powder and voila! Flawless skin!

And as for all the hype surrounding the makeup

primer... it's TRUE! A primer truly does allow your makeup to last at least twice as long! It's a miracle product, I tell ya. And this tiny .4 oz tube of Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Primer is THE BOMB! Again, I don't use it every day, but when I do want to look nice (for a date or church or something) it makes such a difference when I apply it before the BB cream. Highly recommend it.

And finally, another product that I got in my Birchbox this month is an organic facial peel.
It's called "Juice Beauty Green Apple Sensitive Peel." Both Brian and I used it last weekend (don't tell him that I shared that secret!!!) and it left our faces feeling so soft and smooth. It tingles when you put it on, so you know it's working, and then 10 minutes later you wash it off and enjoy your baby-smooth skin.


Okay, that's all I've got for today. I hope you'll try out one of these products and let me know how you like it. In the meantime, I'll continue testing new products in my Birchbox every month and share any new "must have's" that I find.