Sun Kissed

image found HERE

We would all love to look like the above picture right? Well, I don't know why it is, but being tan just looks better, maybe because it hides all the flaws. Don't get me wrong, I do think some people can pull off the pale look, and actually look drop dead gorgeous! For example, Nicole Kidman with her flawless porcelain skin, NOT FAIR!

Back in high school I went tanning like every week and spent countless hours baking in the sun come summer time. All because I wanted to have the sun kissed look year round. I learned all about skin cancer in junior high and was also aware that sun tanning would cause wrinkles sooner than I would like, I was extremely smart.

I remember just thinking, it's not a big deal, of course I wouldn't get skin cancer, and WRINKLES? pfff, I'm sure there will be some miracle treatment when I get older.

Well, the reality is, YES, there are a TON of miracle treatments, or so they say, that cost a FORTUNE!!! Not to mention EXTREMELY painful! I've had multiple laser treatments on my face, trying to turn back time and erase all the damage caused by the sun. AND now that I'm pushing 30, I'm noticing fine lines that are beginning to form around my mouth and forehead. NOT happy about this but it's my own dang fault. Now I'm just caking on the SPF hoping to prevent any further damage.

Botox is always an option, but not so sure I want to venture down that road.......yet.

So, I've been forced to use the alternative tanning method. SPRAY TAN!!!

I've tried so many different sunless tanners and have found that the self tanning products have come a long way since I first started using them about 8 years ago. We all remember the beautiful orange color those earlier products left behind.

image found HERE

image found HERE

image found HERE

Need I say more???

Today I'd like to share with you a few different options to get the more natural SUN KISSED look. Remember, LESS IS MORE :)

Option number one: Getting an air brush tan, having someone actually spray on high quality self tanner. This is probably the best way to go, to get the most even looking tan, but of course can be time consuming as well as expensive. Like I mentioned in last weeks post, my friend Jessica is offering airbrush tans for only $18. Just click on her name to contact her on facebook, or email me if you'd like her number to make an appt.

• Option number two: Going to the tanning salon and having a machine spray you down. This is a great option, very quick, but can also be expensive, up to $30 per visit. Golden Tan is now offering a great deal on their Versa Spa spray tans, $80 a month for unlimited spray tanning. I know, it's still kind of expensive, but if you want to maintain this kind of tan, you'll want to go in about every 6 or 7 days.

■ Fast: Get tan in 2 minutes■ Comfortable: Heated spray makes for a comfortable experience, with warm air blow-dry after every treatment.■ Mist-free: EZ-2BREATH technology makes for a completely mist-free treatment.

• Option number three: Do it yourself. I have been using this SalonBronze at home air brush tanning. It works pretty well, just can be a little tricky trying to apply it yourself. It's also very messy. So the best way to apply would be in the shower, and have someone else spray it on so you can get it even. Don't spray too close, and use a blow dryer immediately afterwards to dry. You can find it for $25 on Amazon (click on name above), or you can get it at Sally's Beauty Supply.

• Option number four: Tantowels I have found these to be VERY easy to use costing about $1.50 per towel. Just wear rubber gloves to keep your hands from turning brown. Applying the self tanner with the towel just seems to work very well because it's just like rubbing a thick wet wipe all over your body making it easy to prevent any streaks.

• Option number five: Last but not least, if you break out easily, you'll want to use Taunt and Tan. I get it from my esthetician, it's oil free, specifically made for acne prone skin. Price $38.95, but lasts FOREVER!

Now if we could just make all this self tanner SMELL better then we'd be set :)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!!! One more week for your chance to win the white purse.

I Feel Special Today!!!

Today I was featured by Tatiana @MsBabyPlan. I always feel so special whenever I have the opportunity to be featured on other blogs. Thank you Tatiana, for making my day :)!

Tatiana's blog is all about her preparation to start her family. She's recently made the decision to start trying for her first baby, and she plans to share with us her journey towards motherhood. For all those new mothers, or future mothers, you'll want to visit her blog for sure.

I also wanted to give you more information about the Boutique I was telling you about in my last post. I have the address and hours for you, as well as more pics. As you already know, she has some WAY cute purses. I got my white one, and the maroon one there. I'm giving away this one, so make sure you enter HERE to win.

The address is 5674 S Oakdale Dr. (1740 E)! Open from 11:00-6:00. They are also now offering airbrush tans on Mondays for just $18!

Spring Forward

Don't ya just LOVE spring!!!

I've been working my way around the house pursuing the yearly SPRING CLEANING. Cleaned my car out, swept out all the accumulated leaves and dirt in the garage, cleaned the basement, going through old clothes and toys, getting RID of stuff. I feel an overload with STUFF everywhere, toys, gadgets, clothes, ect. SIMPLIFY is the word going through my head as I weed through the piles and piles of unnecessary things we tend to collect over time. It seems like such a daunting task at first, but the results are so refreshing.

A while back I took a friends advice to pack away a huge box of toys for about 6 months or so. It was AMAZING what happened. I pulled out this box as I was packing for our trip, and threw a bunch of the old toys in a suitcase. The excitement my daughter had when I unloaded them on our trip was just priceless. She had completely forgotten about ALL the toys. It gave me that same giddy feeling I get when I save money. We usually buy a few new toys before trips for the kids to have something fun to entertain themselves while in the hotel room, plane ride, or car ride. So, in reality, I DID save money. My husband and I were secretly laughing feeling as though we'd fooled them into thinking we went out and bought them new toys :)

I have a new rule that I've been following for about a year now. I learned it from Peter Walsch from the TLC show, Clean Sweep. He says, "When you talk about 'spring-cleaning,' it really makes it an event rather than a process, I'm much more a fan of the concept that spring-cleaning or organizing is something you have to tackle in a little way every day."

That is exactly what I've been doing over the past year. He advises to get rid of an item every time you buy something new. I've found this to be VERY helpful and has kept the clutter to a minimum, in my closet that is, haven't quite been as diligent when it comes to the toys. We have an older home so unfortunately it didn't come with many walk in closets. I think its been a good thing though, because I believe that the more space you have, the more stuff you buy to FILL the space. When you have TOO much stuff, you eventually forget about it or where you once placed it, and end up buying the same items over and over. Now each time I buy a new article of clothing I find an old one I don't wear much anymore and stash it away in a bin. Once the bin is full, I either donate them, give them to my sisters, or I've even taken them to PLATO's CLOSET a few times. I walked away with $40 cash once!!! That was pretty exciting!

So, as I was cleaning out and sifting through everything I realized that I need to start doing this with the toys as well.

I went through the entire house and made groups of toys.

Do you think Lily has enough babies?

I don't think she'd want this many in REAL life so WHY so many dolls???. It's totally unnecessary, so I'm getting rid of some and packing up at least half and storing it away for about a year.

hmmmmm, maybe it can be her Christmas this year :)

Everytime Sean goes to the store he buys Oliver a new ball. I think he's got enough now but Sean doesn't seem to think so :)

In the process of my spring cleaning, I came across this purse that I LOVE, bought it last spring, only used it for a few months,

then of course had to buy a new one for the fall :)

and now it's spring again, so I felt like I needed a NEW one.

I spent $90 on the first one, but have come to terms with the fact that it will probably just sit in my closet and never get used again. Changing purses is fun, and I know I'll keep finding one I like more each season. So, what I thought I'd do, was offer it to one of you! I will make it a giveaway!!! I'll keep this going until the 1st of May.

By the way, I got the white and maroon purse from this awesome Boutique I love, you can go to my friends facebook page, see pictures of what she has right now, and ask her where the next open house is. She also has tonz of cute clothes, shoes, and accessories.

I got the pink one from Boehme Boutique at the mall. I love that place. Find so many cute things there.

Okay, so, here's how to enter to win the WHITE purse. (you can find all the icons you need at the top of my page) Leave a comment for one entry, and here's a list below of things you can do for more chances to win (leave a comment for each thing you do).

• Become a follower of this blog
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to this blog via email (in sidebar)
• Follow on Twitter
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Mention this giveaway on your blog, twitter, or facebook.
• Or vote for me on top mommy blogs (you can vote once a day and leave a comment each time if you want)

Family Room UPDATED

We moved into our home about 4 years ago, and ever since then we've been remodeling, working on one room at a time. We've just about finished it all, and now have it exactly the way we want it. My advice to you, is..... NEVER do this! Just buy the house the way you want it and steer clear of any major remodeling. It's no fun living with the mess, or going without a kitchen, or having great big holes in your walls and ceilings. All I can say now, is I'm glad it's over, and excited to share the finish product with you all.

I'll show you one room at a time, otherwise you'll have picture overload if I do it all at once. Here is what it looked like when we moved in. It's crazy, because this room was actually an indoor pool at one time. The pool still exists under the floor, there is a little secret opening in the floor. Just lift a piece of wood, covered with carpet, and there is a latter there to go down with a light and everything. Kinda creepy, but I've decided that it's pretty nice to have since we're using it for our food storage :)

Here are the after pics, the one on the bottom is the way I decorated it, and the one on the top is Lily's masterpiece :) It's the way she prefer's it I guess.

Here's the fire place before we tore off the PINK rock, and replaced it with a more updated looking stone, and a rustic mantel.

Here are some pictures of the bar area in the process of covering up the nasty turquoise countertop with some tile.

As well as the back splash

Painted the cabinets black, LOVE it!!!

 

We also painted the built in book shelf black, added beadboard, and my favorite part, is the ceiling. Before it was just plain boring white, and this made such a difference as far as making the room more cozy.

Now this entertainment center is by far, my favorite piece of furniture. We got this from the Wood Connection for around $3,000. I can't remember exactly, but I know that it was a great price, especially considering that you can pretty much design it the way you want. Beadboard, or not, any color you want, two toned, knobs, ect. I think this is the best place to find furniture because you can get the right color, shape, measurements, everything. It's much easier to have them MAKE what you want, instead of searching and searching for just the right piece of furniture.

And here's a bit of Sean's touch in the room. The story of these heads requires a whole new post, but basically, it took a little bribing in order for me to agree to this.

And this is what I would like to have in this room :) Isn't it awesome!!!