High Five For Friday

I realized earlier this week when Tolar and I were ordering our Christmas cards and trying to write a few year in review bullet points that I couldn't really remember what we did before Baby K. We had half of 2013 before she arrived and I couldn't think of anything to write prior to her arriving. 

So I figured it was only appropriate to devote this High Five For Friday to my precious Baby K.

1.) My Mom's Grandma name is Grammaroo and she has given a little stuffed Roo to both of her grandchildren. Baby K is very intrigued by her Roo, its adorable.

2.) We made ornaments with Baby K's hand print, it was so fun!

3.) The only presents wrapped under the tree are for Baby K and I think she is already trying to open them.

4.) That's my girl, pattern mixing like its her job.

5.) How did my child get so grown up? She's sitting at the table with us...in a little seat of course, but still! Time slow down.

 

I hope you all had a terrific week and that you are looking forward to the weekend.

I'm linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for this High Five For Friday post.

Beauty Box 5 review

Beauty Box 5 has provided me with a complimentary subscription for review purposes. All opinions in this post are my own.

Just like I said last month, I absolutely love Beauty Box 5. Again, I got a box full of products that I have already used and know that I will continue to use them month after month. This box was all about prepping! Whether that be for the holidays, a night out, a big photo shoot, whatever. I love beauty prepping; I like to call my prep nights my Lindsay Beauty Maintenance Nights.

In fact, I spent Black Friday trying out new products and getting my skin primed and ready. Oh my skin is so smooth!

Here is everything that came in my Beauty Box 5 this month:

1.) Aveeno Positively Nourishing Calming Body Wash – This product has the total right name, it is positively nourishing for sure. As the cold days become more regular that means that our skin starts to dry out and I need all the moisture that I can get. This body wash kept me from feeling like I had been living in the desert when I stepped out of the shower. A keeper for sure!

2.) Montagne Jeunesse Glacial Cooling Face Mask – I haven’t used this mask yet, but I cannot wait! I really like masks because I feel like they suck the junk right out of your pores.

3.) Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant & Deodorant – I can’t get over the promise on this deodorant that it will keep you smelling fresh for 48 hours! WHOA! I don’t want to really give this deodorant a shot to fully prove itself, but I definitely feel clean and like I still smell fresh after wearing this.

4.) Body Drench Lip Drench – Such a nice lip balm with a great smell (raspberry was the flavor I received). I put this lip balm on the table right next to my bed and apply it every night before I go to bed, my lips definitely feel smooth all night long.

5.) Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder – The perfect product for those holiday parties approaching. Just add a little sparkle to your look by dusting some of these shimmer powders over your eyelids. I guarantee people will compliment your makeup when you wear these.

Are you interested in getting your own box? Beauty Box 5 is a beauty subscription service that sends a box with five different beauty samples to your mailbox each month for just $12. You can click here to sign up!

Wore: Puffy Vest

Ok, I have to be honest…when I first put this outfit on, I had an entirely different post in mind. I was going to talk about how fantastic puffy vests are for the colder weather and how fun they can be because they come in a variety of colors and patterns.

But then I started looking through all of my photos to select the ones to post on here and I started to get really down on myself. My first thought was that I looked like a stay puff marshmallow and why on earth did I think this outfit would look decent on me? I even vocalized my thoughts to Tolar who then told me that I was really mean to myself – and he is right. I am very mean to myself. We, as women, are so hard on ourselves and each other. Sometimes I look in the mirror and like what I see, but the majority of the time I am extremely unhappy with what is reflected back to me. It’s really hard to be self confident in a world that tells us that a size 0 or a size 2 is ideal.

I’m not a size 2, never have been, never will be. But what I am is a mother. A mother whose body created life, that carried around a baby for 37 weeks and delivered the most perfect, precious angel this earth ever did see. We all are capable of that; our bodies were created to carry babies. I can’t stand around feeling sorry for myself when my body just did something amazing, something miraculous. I’m not the same person I was this time last year, I just went through something incredible. No, I need to learn to believe my husband when he tells me that I am beautiful. I need to smile and love my hips when I look in the mirror because those hips are a part of this body that brought more life to this earth. I need to remember that I won’t look like this forever (although I’m sure when I’m 80 I’ll be wishing I still looked like this and didn’t hate the way I looked so much), that I can take the steps to improve the way I look, but the way I feel about myself is much more important. And loving myself is what I want to do, that’s a life lesson I so desperately want to teach Baby K.

Please note, I’m not writing this post to have everyone compliment me and tell me wonderful things about myself. No, I’m writing this post to be completely transparent and honest with you – because I’m human. I’m writing this post hoping someone else reading this is feeling the same way and by my typing these words, I’m helping that person to not feel so alone.

Jeans: Old Navy.

Shirt: Zara.

Boots: Target (similar).

Vest: Old Navy (similar).

Necklace: gift.

Earrings: c/o Jay and Amy Creations.

I’m linking up with Style Elixir for Style Sessions, The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesdays and Because Shanna Said So for Random Wednesdays.

What I Wore: Baby K Edition

I jokingly put something out on social media a few weeks ago that maybe I should feature Baby K’s outfits in a What I Wore post and several of my friends quickly said YES! I love picking things out for her; I mean the teeny tiny size of baby jeans alone make me squeal with delight. It is so fun matching her socks and hair accessories to her outfits. And oh the headbands! They are just too cute. She lets me dress her in whatever I want – I know this won’t last, so I’m taking full advantage now.

Sweater Dress: Baby Gap (similar).

Tights: Baby Gap.
Headband: Jameson Monroe.
Sheets: Target (similar).

My Favorite Eyeliners

Eyeliner is one of those fabulous makeup products that can completely transform your look with just a simple stroke. I don’t wear eyeliner every day, but when I do wear it I often ask myself why I don’t add it to my regular makeup routine. And maybe I don’t wear it every day because I love the way it looks and want to save the dramatic transformation for special occasions or when I’m feeling really sassy. But no matter what, eyeliner is amazing.

I don’t like just any eyeliner though; I need my eyeliner to just roll right on. Because even though eyeliner can transform your look if applied correctly, if you mess up you basically have to start over! So that is why I need something that smoothes across my eyelids very easily. And I have found two different types that I really like.

If you can believe it, liquid eyeliner tops the list! I remember when I first tried liquid eyeliner, my college roommate told me it was so hard to use (maybe because it dries so quickly and is hard to remove if you mess up?). I however really like it and think it’s the easiest to use. I also really like the eyeliners that are skinny, creamy crayons. Both of these products leave just enough color on your lids with the lightest stroke. I don’t feel like I need to repeatedly trace my lids to get the right amount of eyeliner, just one stroke across my lids does the trick. And it’s helpful that I don’t have to sharpen either of these eyeliners, they both are always ready to go.

Here are my top favorites:

1.) Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner
2.) Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner
3.) Mary Kay Eyeliner
4.) Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner

Want to know the best tip I can offer when applying eyeliner? Don’t completely close your eye and while applying pull the outer corner of your eye back towards your temple. This makes the skin very taut and gives you the perfect “canvas” to work with.

What is your favorite eyeliner? Any particular reason? Let me know in the comments section below! 

Winter Wonderland Cash Giveaway!

Happy Holidays everyone!!! The Christmas season is now in full swing. I always spend the day after Thanksgiving decking my halls and getting the house ready for Christmas - its my favorite time of the year. As soon as my house is full of Christmas cheer, I'm ready to fill up the space under my Christmas tree with lots of presents for all of my loved ones. And if you are anything like me, you could always use some extra cash around the holidays to buy presents for everyone in your life.

Well lucky for you, I have teamed up with a ton of fabulous ladies to give you an opportunity to win some extra cash just in time to finish your Christmas shopping. I'm talking 620 smackaroos!!! That's a lot of cash that I'm sure will put a huge smile on someone's face. So be sure to enter using the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. But before you do that, be sure to check out all of the fab bloggers below - I promise it will be an afternoon well spent checking out some new blogs. Good luck everyone!

And Merry Christmas!!!

Ashley Brooke    |    Mash Elle    |    Diary of A Debutante    |    Stilettos & Sequins

My Life Well Loved    |    Ladies in Navy    |    Covering The Bases    |    BKCSquared

Southern Curls & Pearls    |    Pursuit of Pink    |    A Vintage Splendor    |    A Southern Style

Perfectly Coutured    |    A Fancy Affair    |    Just Bri    |    PinkSole    |    Penniless Socialite

    Moda And The Mar    |    Book of Leisure    |    Ashton Wears Things    |    Champagne Lifestyle on A Beer Budget    |    Beauty By Kendra C

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High Five For Friday

Happy Friday! This has been a great week and I am so thankful for oh so many things. Here are the top five moments from the week.

1.) My parents came up to visit last weekend and I so enjoy watching them love on Baby K. They clearly love to get in their baby snuggles and kisses.

2.) While my parents were in town, Tolar and I got to go out on a date! We went to go see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and had a blast. We may have been the oldest people waiting in line (well, besides the chaperone for the five teenagers in front of us).

3.) Baby K is really enjoying eating these days, she loves her rice cereal.

4.) Tolar’s parents came into town for Thanksgiving and they also got to love on our girl. She sure gets a ton of attention with all of these loveable grandparents around.

5.) We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It started out with a 5K Turkey Trot (our Thanksgiving family tradition), then we watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, took naps and went out to eat for dinner (maybe I’ll cook next year). A perfect day!

I hope you had a great week and a fantastic Thanksgiving. I’m linking up again with Lauren Elizabeth for this High Five For Friday.