Julep Maven

I'm so excited to have joined Julep Maven!

Julep Maven is a monthly beauty subscription, much like Birchbox or Glossy Box, and they specialize in nail polishes.  I've really been into the trend of these fun beauty boxes but haven't committed yet. And, I'm still on the waiting list for Birchbox.  Oh, how I want a Birchbox! 

Beauty blogs are one of my newest guilty pleasures these days because there are so many beauty product reviews out there.  If you're interested in purchasing something you can always find a great review out there to help the decision process.  After reading a few blogs I stumbled across the Julep Maven box idea.  I was sold!  

Julep Maven sends at least $40 worth of product each month and it's all packaged up in a pretty box.  I can't wait to receive my first box and blog about it.  

For the rest of May, Julep Maven is giving you your first month for one penny.  Too good to pass up. You need to add code "SHAREONMAY" to get the deal, but I promise it's real and it works.  If you don't wish to continue receiving monthly boxes, just go online and cancel or "skip" the month. Simple!  

Oh, Hi Cat

Oh, hi cat!  I really love a cat.

Oh cat, I really like to watch you.

I may fall out of my stroller trying to watch you cat.  Gee, I really love you.

Cat, come back! 

What I'm Really Wanting...

This is a vain post.  Ever since having the baby I've felt really drab.  My hair, makeup, and clothing selections have taken a back seat to my sweet Avery.  Wearing maternity pants six months post baby is downright embarrassing (especially when you are constantly hiking them up because there is no more baby bump to make them stay).  I'm revolving the same outfits over and over each week and it's getting tiring.  I feel so boring.  I need a change.

I realize that none of these things define my true happiness, but they sure would make me feel better when getting ready for work in the morning.  And possibly make the last remaining 19 school days a little brighter. 

Nineteen.  Can I say that again?  19...19...19...

1.  J.Crew Cece Flats 

I've had my eye on these flats for a while, particularly because of the colors and the overall look of the shoe. Sometimes flats can look matronly, but these look very flattering.  My sister just received the turquoise color way for her birthday and they are fierce looking.  This bright coral color is very summery to me. 

2.  A Blonde Bob

This picture of Kellie Pickler's fresh blonde bob has been in my favorite style file for forever.  I love the length and the style.  My hair is screaming for a cut.  Although it's only been about seven weeks since my last trim, my ends are so split they look terrible.  I will straighten my hair in the morning and by 10 a.m. it's flat and fluffy (in a bad way) looking.  Ponytails for me until then.  

3.  Cute, Summery Tops

Boden Long Island Top in Pink Chambray

Boden Printed Summer Vest in Stone

Lilly Rosalee Top in Worth Blue

4.  Philosophy Field of Flowers Perfume Spray 

Philosophy's Field of Flowers scent is a beautiful, light, flowery smell that isn't too strong.  I've already purchased the body wash but the smell tends to go away quickly, so with the body spray I'm sure I could smell like this all day.  It's so pretty.  I like pretty.  

I also really like Bobbi Brown's Beach scent for the summer.  It smells like Coppertone and the pool, but in a really good way.  It's amazing.  

5.  New Makeup

Clinique Chubby Stick 

I've seen these Chubbies all over the place in ads and I'm really wanting one.  Usually I don't wear lip color because I frankly don't even think about it.  I get to work between 7:15-7:30 a.m. and putting something on my lips is the last thing on my mind.  I'd like to try more color this summer.

PS - Online Clinique Bonus going on now!  Looks like a good one.

I know it's wrong to put value into material things this way, but just having a new look or outfit would make me feel so much better.  As I write this I literally have nothing to wear to work tomorrow.  Every weekend I make a vow to myself to go buy a new top and it never happens.  Ever.  When I started pulling out maternity tops from last year I knew that I was in trouble.  Maybe this weekend will be the weekend?  

Probably not.  

Avery's Six Month Portraits

Sometimes I cannot believe my sweet baby girl is six months old, soon to be seven.  Where has the time gone?  In order to freeze this moment in time, we took Avery to a portrait studio on Saturday to have her six month portraits done.  I am so glad that we did.  She is so precious to me.  Here are my favorites from our session.

Those chubby legs.

This silly face melts my heart.

My First Mother's Day

To be a mother has been the most amazing, scary, wonderful, terrifying, inspiring journey of my life.  We have had our share of highs and lows, up and downs.  It wasn't what I expected it to be-it was more.  My incredible daughter has taught me that I have more patience than I ever thought I had, that even running on two hours of sleep a night is sometimes enough, how poopy diapers would become the normal conversation around our house, and how much love one heart can possibly hold.  

I cannot say that motherhood has been sunshine and rainbows.  I believe anyone who makes it out to be so is in a delusion.  It is the hardest job on earth.  It's the most rewarding job on earth.  I'm not sure I'll ever be able to put into words how much love I have for her.  Sometimes I don't feel adequate enough to raise such an angel, that all of my shortcomings and past failures don't make me mom enough for her.  But she was given to me, and to God I am so grateful.  

My first Mother's Day was such a delight.  My husband, Justin, surprised me with a gift certificate for a spa day at Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Salon.  I am so thankful for my husband and his thoughtful gift.  He knows that I am in desperate need of a day of relaxation and pampering.  

After church we went to lunch with Justin's parents and then later to dinner with my parents.  I am kind of in love with Mexican food right now.  Obsessed.  

My mama on Mother's Day.  She will kill me for posting this! 

Last year my mom gave me a Pandora bracelet for Mother's Day.  I was pregnant at the time and she gave me my starter bracelet with two clasps and a baby carriage bead.  Since then I have been collecting charms based on different events with Avery.  I got a pink glass bead when we found out she was a girl, I have an A and an L for her initials, a silver heart with a pink stone (Avery is my heart) and a Mom charm that Justin gave me when Avery is born.  I love the fact that one day the bracelet will be hers and I can share details of her life with each bead.  This year she gave me a little girl charm for Avery.  I just love it! 

My dad also gave me a gift.  A Dolly Parton Cd/Dvd.  Love him!

And can I just share how good these tacos are?  They are simple corn tortillas with steak, cilantro and onion with a garlic/chile sauce.  They are delicious.  I cannot get enough of them and if Justin would go back with me tonight, I'd get them again.  Yum! 

Avery was so great at dinner!  She is usually really loud when we go out to eat but since we were outside she really enjoyed watching people and looking around.  No screaming.  Whew.  I loaded her up with lots of toys and she was good to go.  

The highlight of Mother's Day?  Avery said Ma-Ma and Da-Da.  It was precious.  While we were at dinner, Justin went to use the restroom and as soon as he was gone she said Da-Da!  We were so amazed.  She said Ma-Ma several times earlier in the day and both of our moms say that they've heard her say it before.  There could be no better gift than hearing my baby girl talk!  Love her! 

This is her new favorite face to make.  

I cannot think of a better day.  I love my family and the little girl who gave me the title of Mother.  

AND...

I'm pleased to announce the winner of the House of Smith's giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

House of Smith's Giveaway

Because I like to share (a lot),  I wanted to giveaway one of my favorite new things.  I stumbled across the House of Smith's blog last year and instantly fell in love with Shelley's funny wit and amazing DIY and home project ideas.  I was so wowed by her creativity as soon as I stumbled across their "vinyl shop."  Way cool.

Once I found the mixer decals, I knew that my plain black Kitchen-Aid needed a little pizazz!  After agonizing over which design to choose (or really just loving the baking word art so much that my mind was made up for me), I decided on the words in a simple white.  As much as I love the chevron stripes, I thought a bright color would be too vivid against the black, especially for my kitchen.  Subway art it was! 

And I love it!  

And I want you to love it to!  Because I like to support small businesses, especially crafty ones at that, I want to giveaway {one} winner's choice of Kitchen Aid mixer decal in the color of your choice! Don't have a KA mixer?  I'm sure someone you know would love it as a gift OR you could choose something in their shop for equal value.  And because I L.O.V.E. teachers I want to give you gals extra entries for being so wonderful and hard working!  

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.  Contest ends Friday night at midnight!  All giveaway info should be listed for you on the widget.  Please email me if you have any questions. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


***Disclaimer - House of Smith's is in no way affiliated with this post.  I just love the decals!

Teacher Appreciation Jackpot

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week (ain't it about time)!  To celebrate all of the hard work that teachers do, many teacher bloggers are offering products from their shops for FREE.  This jackpot is today only!  I'm so excited because I find many of my teaching resources from Teachers Pay Teachers.  Other teachers are the best resource for classroom materials and I have found amazing things that I share with my fifth grade kiddos at school.  

The linkup starts at Laura Candler's Classroom Connections blog.  She is awesome and inspiring.  I've purchased a lot of her ebooks and they do not disappoint(read=meaningful).  Head on over to Classroom Connections and start downloading your freebies!  

PK - Grade 2 - April McNair on A Modern Teacher

Grades 3-6 - Laura Candler on Corkboard Connections

Grades 7-12 - Adrianne Meldrum on The Tutor House

And since we're on the topic of Teacher Appreciation, don't forgot the teachers in your life this week!  Here are some ideas to celebrate teachers! 

Personalized soap dispensers via Liberating Working Moms

Lots of ideas via Eighteen 25 Blog

Teachers Treats jar via Eighteen 25 Blog

S'mores via Domesticated Lady 

Sharpies, Starbucks cards, and chocolate chip cookies are also appreciated by, I'm sure, all teachers! 

April Showers Brought May Flowers

All pictures via the Hipstamatic app for iPhone.

Rainbow Shower Cupcakes

A girlfriend of mine is expecting a precious boy in just five weeks.  Look at the precious cupcakes she made for her shower.  She's kinda like me and we want things the way we want them, so we end up doing them ourselves!  They were too wonderful, and tasty, not to share.  She is amazing and I am praying for baby Declan to arrive safely on June 8th.  Enjoy the eye candy! 

New Sponsor Shout Out: Paper Coterie

Can you believe that it is May already?  This year is already flying by and I wish time would just slow down a little.  Except the next seven weeks.  I'm ready for school to be out for the summer and if you are a teacher I know you are too!

Paper Coterie is a fabulous site that I recently found and I find myself daily checking out their blog or products (and create my own books too).  I am currently in the process of creating several of their wonderful books that are easy breezy to put together yet look professionally done.  They have ideas galore including calendars, cards, flip books, growth charts, posters and more.  Right now you can take an additional 60% off of your purchase, a great deal for Mother's Day gifts.  

I've started to create a digital pregnancy scrapbook about my pregnancy with Avery and it's coming together really nicely.  It's never to late to document events like this, right?  It may have been over six months ago that she was born but I remember everything!  At Paper Coterie the layouts are modern and fun, and I much prefer them over the other sites for online books. Take a look around on their site.  I promise that you won't be disappointed!  

And if you're feeling up for it, try out their May photo challenge! 

What is your favorite product at Paper Coterie?