{babble bubbles}

Connor's favorite thing to do as of late....

i love him.

review: make up for ever smoky lash mascara

Verdict for Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Mascara: Either I had a defective item or this product sucks big donkey arse.  I'm a HUGE fan of Make Up For Ever and I had high hopes for this mascara, but man, has this product really disappointed me.  Worth $23???  HECK NO.

Rating: 0 out of 5

Pros:

• Color Intensity of the black

Con:

• Dry, flaky formula
• Could hardly get any of the formula to transfer from the wand to my lashes.  
• Had to apply a gazillion layers of this to make it look remotely like I had some on.

{teach back: heart's on gray}

tools:

• essie "master plan"
• essie "need a vacation"
• sinful colors "snow me white"
• dotting tool
• tape cut into 3 strips 

how to: 

1. apply base coat
2. polish nails essie "master plan" and essie " need a vacation" accordingly 
3. place strips of tape on middle finger to create stripes.  make sure they are applied firmly to avoid run offs when applying white polish.
4. apply sinful colors "snow me white" onto middle finger.  immediately peel tape off carefully.  
5. after polish is fully dried, use the dotting tool to draw a heart with essie "need a vacation"
6. apply opi rapidry topcoat

inspiration: from here

{snapshots}

{wearing my two favorite men everywhere I go. buy yours here.}

{new additions (zara) in connor's shoe closet}

{trying to do this more often: cook dinner.}

{connor's wondering why he's in this book.  connor + harold = twins}

{essie haul... now I have to re-roygbiv my polish collection.}

{teach back: triangle art deco}

how to:

{opi rapidry topcoat, sally hansen double duty base + top coat,
essie tart deco, essie turquoise & caicos, kiss nail art paint silver glitter}

{1. apply base coat.  apply essie tart deco. apply rapid dry top coat.}

{2. once nails are fully dry, cut 2 pieces of tap and place on nail to form a triangle.
repeat on desired nails.}

{3. polish the triangle area with essie turquoise & caicos}

{4. immediately remove tape carefully.
less mess if you remove tape before the polish becomes tacky/dries.}

{5. use kiss nail art paint in silver glitter to trace outer edge of triangle.  apply rapid dry top coat.}

{done!}

{little man baby shower}

Connor's little man baby shower.  

Everything pictured below are DIY.  BTW, I told my sisters I wanted to be the "project manager" and make everything myself.  1 week before my shower I was kicking myself for trying to be too ambitious.  I would not recommend it for any pregnant woman.  I was SO exhausted, I was considering not going to my own shower.  

{pinwheel wreath}

{teal, yellow, and gray was the color theme}

{top hats & billy buttons}

{"it's a little man!" banner.  Learn how to make it here.}

{pinwheel backdrop}

{pretzel dipped chocolate "cigars", "keep calm and grow on" frame, billy buttons}

{onsies with different pattern/color bowties}

{the spread}

{tea sandwiches}

{beverage}

{wet your whiskers.  learn how to make mustache straws here.}

{cupcakes galore!  cupcake wrappers from etsy.  cupcake toppers made by moi.}

{chocolate mustaches purchased from here.  personalized them with "thank you" washi tape.}

{bowtie napkins and utensils}

{battle of the winter whites}

Bone freezing weather comes pale winter skin.  If you're not much into the "fake 'n back", as I am not, here are some of my favorite products to warm up that white winter skin.  

St. Tropez Wash Off Instant Glow Face Lotion

*I'm using this right now.  I first put on face primer then put this bronzer lotion on all over my face and neck.  Instant tan.  I love it.*

Tan Towel Plus - Half Body

*I use "Plus" because I have a neutral beige undertone/skin tone. (Reference: I use #35 in Make Up Forever Mat Velvet Foundation.)   If your natural color is lighter or if you have pink undertones, I would recommend the "classic".  This is my current favorite self-tanner.  It hardly has that nasty self-tanner smell, I haven't had it streak on me, it's easy to apply (make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after use), and it doesn't give an orange-y color.  I bought the half body box -- I use one towel for my left arm/leg, one towel for my right arm/leg, and one towel for my stomach/back/chest/neck/shoulders.  I don't apply this on my face because I have sensitive, acne prone skin.*

 bareMinerals A Little Sun All-Over Face Color

*I've used this all-over face color for some years now.  A Little Sun gives a hint of warmth and glow to your skin.  I use it any time I don't use the St. Tropez face lotion.  I'll even add touches of it to my face when I have a natural UV doused tan.  Note: It does have some shimmer in it.*

NYX Matte Bronzer

*I use this for contouring and I love it as an alternative to the oh-so-expensive Christian Dior Matte Bronzer.  Use  it for bronzing or contouring.  Great for both.*

{uniqlo jeggings}

For the love of low-maintenance, comfort, and trend, I declare these jeggings a must have for anyone who needs all three of those characteristics in one.  (psst... that means all you trendy mamas out there!)  After having Connor, all I wanted to do was eat, sleep, breathe in comfortable, low maintenance clothes (and I still do!).  I found these bad girls to be my go-to pants.  Plop them on with a cute tee/woven and some cute flats and out the door you go (with baby in tow).  Ba da bing, ba da boom.  

{snapshots}

{spying on him while he sleeps w. his mustache paci}

{he loves captain calamari}

{hipster at heart?}

{playdate w. his future girlfriend, francesca.
you can find france on bambinos & bunny.}

{munchin' on his pal, andiamo.}

{move it, baby weight}

I thought I would share how I lost my pregnancy weight in 4 months.  I gained roughly 40 pounds during my pregnancy.  I  don't know the exact weight because I stopped weighing myself the last couple of weeks out of sheer fear.  Now, 5 months post-pregnancy, I weigh less than my pre-pregnancy weight.  This is what I did:

• I started taking short walks around my neighborhood 3 weeks post-delivery with my son.  I did this 2-3 times a week and gradually increased it as I continued to heal.    
• I slowly introduced Kickboxing and Pilates to my routine when my body felt comfortable doing so.  I did the TurboJam dvd at home 2x a week and a Pilates dvd 1x a week while continuing my walks.
• Once fully healed my routine became TurboJam dvd 2x a week, Pilates class at 24hr fitness 1x a week, and 45 minute walk around my neighborhood 6x a week.    
• I ate healthy.  I didn't diet because I'm breastfeeding and I didn't want my supply to suffer.  
• I breastfeed.  It burns extra calories and it helped my uterus shrink back to post-pregnancy size.
• I used the Belly Bandit BFF to assist in my uterus shrinkage.  

My success was largely due to: 1) a supportive husband who solely cared for Connor while I worked out and, 2) self-discipline of wanting to get back to shape.

Now that I am back at work my workout schedule has changed.  I do the TurboJam dvd 2x a week, Pilates dvd 1x a week, and a 45 minute walk at least once a week.  I'm looking to get other cardio dvds to mix things up.  Once we start getting more daylight I am going to take walks after work or early in the morning before work.  

Hope my story inspires you.  If you have any questions, feel free to leave it in the comments.  :)  xo, jules

{happy friday}

happy friday, happy weekend!

xo, jules

{connor's favorites}

 Graco Sweet Slumber Sound Machine

aden + anais issie security blanket

Carter's Wind Up Giraffe Waggie 

JJ Cole Bundle Me

 

Andiamo (Bla Bla Doll)

Sophie the Giraffe Teether

{hello.}

hello.  my name is connor and i am 5 months today.  i'm very curious of this world i live in.  i laugh and i smile.  my two front bottom teeth are growing in.  i'm yet to be fond of my baths.  i'm yet to be fond of my bedtime stories.  my name is connor.  

happy 5 months, connor boy.  we love you.  xo, mama & papa