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Mary Kay® Redefining Elegance Collection

Mary Kay® Redefining Elegance Collection

Wow, every year when Fall rolls around, I am soooo excited to see what new products Mary Kay will be introducing for its Fall/Holiday catalog The Look, and this time they have out-done themselves!!!!

Weekend Project: Painting Table & Chairs Black

This weekend, I decided it was time to update our kitchen table & chairs!  The cushions were stained and disgusting, and I thought it would modernize them a little to paint them black.  It was actually quite simple.  I spray-primed and painted the chairs, re-upholstered them, and my husband helped paint the table (which ended up being a little more work than we anticipated thanks to a suprising "wrinkling" effect the spray paint began doing at the very last coat).

Closet Cleanout

Oh gosh, my closet was an absolute disaster!!!  I had so many clothes that I don't wear anymore and things that shouldn't even be in my closet (like framed photos of the kids, a medicine bottle, and my daughter's shoes!!)!  Our closet is pretty small, so I should be doing a big clean-out like this every few months. 
So....I spent about two hours bagging up clothes for charity, organizing my winter shoes & boots (my summer sandals and flip-flops are still down in our shoe container by the garage), and going through my mess of necklaces.  Here are some pics of the before/after! (Oh, btw, I didn't touch my husband's stuff!!!)

Here is a video I found with some de-cluttering tips!

The Hot Pink Swimsuit

Ok, I found this fabulous swimsuit online: http://tinyurl.com/3f2gffn on Sunday and was so excited about it.  I am leaving for vacation this weekend, so I knew the shipping would be outrageous to get it here on time (the swimsuit is sold online only), but I was relieved that I had a coupon.  Well.....I got a little busy Sunday and didn't order it, then Monday came and my coupon had expired.  Big bummer!!!

So I went to Target and settled for a pink and white polka dot bikini top that didn't have a matching bottom, to which I bought a black bottom and white "swim shorts" that would match.  I came home and tried it all on...YUCK!!  I am very flat chested, not to mention that I have a straight boyish figure and a not-so-f"AB"ulous stomach, so this was awful.  Definitely returning it.

Then today I decided to pack up the kids and go into Macy's.  I could not believe my eyes...there was the fabulous pink swimsuit.... in my size!!!!!!!  I tried it on, loved it (it has tummy control, so I felt much, much better in it!)!!!  AND...it was only $44 after my coupon!!!  The lady who checked me out explained that someone had purchased it online and returned it to the store!!!!!  God bless her!!!! 

How Do You Have Time to.....

...leave your house every day in FULL HAIR & MAKEUP???

As a busy, busy mom, it is sometimes extremely difficult to get it together.  By "it," I mean hair, makeup, jewelry...your total self.  But if you're like me, you won't even think about (or consider, even if paid money) leaving the house in anything less than total hair, makeup and a nicely put together outfit (well...I might cheat on that one a little depending on where I'm going!).

Let me clarify though.....I do this for one reason only....MYSELF!!  I don't put on makeup for my husband, other people, to appear something I'm not, or anything like that.  I do it for me.  I feel better about myself when I wear it, my self esteem is better, and it just makes me feel more confident.  This is not how everyone feels or should feel, but it's my own personal feeling!

So, how do I have time to do it all with a 4 year-old and a baby boy? 
1. Multi-tasking
2. Organization/Preparation
3. Chaos and Craziness

1.  Multi-tasking:  I often take my shower while the baby plays in the empty bathtub next to me.  Then, as long as he's happy, I will keep him in there while I brush my teeth, put in contacts, apply self-tanner and any other morning routines I have.

I have a makeup bag that has all the basics packed at all times that I carry around the house with me.  Lately, I put on my makeup while Mason is in his high-chair eating breakfast...or I'm feeding him breakfast since he's only 9 months and not totally self-sufficient when it comes to feeding himself.

2.  Organization/Preparation: My vanity has everything that I need in the exact place that I need it.  If Mason is taking his morning nap, I will get myself ready at my vanity where I have a drawer for makeup, a drawer for round brushes & combs, a place for hair gels & mousse & hairspray, and my deodorant and perfumes all sit right on top.  It gets sticky, messy, and dirty every time I sit down, but it's so easy to clean up since each and every thing has a place!  (I do have to Windex the glass several times a month, however!)

3.  Chaos and Craziness:  I don't get myself ready with two kids in a nice, calm, reality-tv-show manner.  I mean......come on......there's always some place where we're getting ready to go, or someone who's coming over, or the baby crying, or the 4 year-old whining....it's almost always chaos!!  But it doesn't matter...I still make time for it.  I still make time each and every day for me.  For ME!!!! 

Our Summer...so far!!

Wow, it has been too long since I've sat down and updated this blog!!  My life is practically lived out in pictures on The M&Ms and Pregnant Twins, but it's no excuse!!

Our summer so far....

For the last several weeks, I have been spending every "free" second watching the Casey Anthony trial (since I don't get much "free" time during the day, that equates to just having HLN on in the background of my day).  Wow, what a SHOCKER that verdict was to me.  Sooo disgusting!!

Anyway, here are some pics of some of our summer highlights so far:

 Me & Jim at the Kenny Chesney Concert

My twin sister Sarah, her daughter Reese, Mason & Me

Family Pic!  4th of July parade in our neighborhood

A family tradition in my family...a handmade sign and pic on 4th of July!

And a new tradition...contest for the silliest pic!  Yes, we won!!

Jim and Mason

Our basement is done!  Here are just a couple pics.  More to come when we have it all decorated!

The little bathroom in the new basement!