Favorite Nail Polishes for Summer

If you know me then you know I always have my nails painted. I rarely get them done at the nail salon, most often it's a good old fashioned self paint job. I actually enjoy and get a lot of satisfaction out of painting my own nails but I will go in and let the professionals do their thang. I'm not really good about working the cuticles and all that jazz; especially on the toenails. Anywho, I love to change my nail color regularly and I thought I would share some of my recent favorite shades. 

Nicole OPI Oh That's Just Grape!

I LOVE this color. I think it's my favorite. It's almost a neon pink and it's just so bright and happy! Every time I look at my nails when I'm wearing this shade it just brings my mood up.

Essie Cascade Cool

This shade is very much on the orange side and was an unusual pick for me but I love it. When I need a little pop of sunshine I will pick this shade. 

OPI Is Mai Tai Crooked?

This is a pretty classic shade. It's a pinkish white color. You definitely need to do two layers or it will be too opaque. I'm currently wearing this shade and going on two 3 days with no chips which is a huge plus!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

Sweet Talker

I love how nail polish shades change with the season much like our clothing. I also love how inexpensive and temporary it is! I can change my color whenever I want to whatever color I want, SO FUN. This post was fun, I think I'll do another one soon!

What I'm Reading...

I'm an avid reader, I'll read anything and I don't prefer a specific genre. I do like to know what other people are reading to get ideas and I feel like if I know so and so enjoyed a book then I probably will too. Sometimes though, I'll walk out on a limb and grab some random books from the library based on what I read on the inside sleeve which usually works out pretty well for me as I'm not too hard to please.

I just finished The Light of Paris by Eleanor Brown. The main character Madeleine ends up visiting her mom with whom she has a strained relationship to escape from her controlling husband and unhappy marriage. When she arrives she finds out her mother is preparing to sell her home in order to downsize. While there Madeleine happens upon her grandmother's journals in the attic and makes some surprising discoveries about her life. The chapters in the book go back and forth between Madeleine's current life/struggles and her grandmother's brief few months in Paris in the 1920's before she returned to America. I loved the switching back and forth between time periods because it was literally two stories in one and felt almost like time travel.

The Light of Paris

I'm currently reading Once Upon A River by Bonnie Jo Campbell. This is one of those random books I grabbed off the shelf at the Library the other day. Margo a teen girl, who has grown up living on a river in Michigan in the 1970s, is a quiet outdoorsy type who likens herself to Annie Oakley which fuels her interest in guns and hunting. After an unfortunate chain of events accompanied with bad decisions she has to struggle to survive on her own as she sets out down the river to find her mother. Some parts of the book are disheartening and make you feel for the girl, want to take her and be her mom yourself. That's all I'm going to say as I don't want to give too much away. Apparently there is a book before this one that would shed more light on her mother's story called Q Road. Maybe I'll read it after I finish this one.

Once Upon a River

I purchased the next two books from the "Friends of the Library" book sale to bring along on our upcoming beach trip. I may not get to both of them since I'll be wrangling two little boys on the beach all week but I'm hoping I can sneak in some reading time! 

The Language of Flowers

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

Have you read any of the books I mentioned? What books are you reading? Let me know as I'd love recommendations! I'm open to nonfiction as well. 

Happy reading!

Mandy

Kick off to Summer 2017

School is out for Summer! 

Yesterday was our first official day of Summer break and we've already been to the pool twice. I don't know how the kids stand it, the water is still freezing cold. You won't catch me jumping in just yet. I can't believe the school year has come to an end, it feels like it just began.

Noah's first & last day of 1st grade.

     Noah had a great school year. He loved his teacher this year. You could tell she really loved her students and poured a lot into them. She e-mailed in the middle of the year and encouraged us to sign Noah up for the Trike theater (a local children's theater program) or at least creative writing at the library because he is so animated even when it comes to his writing. Turns out Noah has quite the sense of humor! This year he is going to attend a new school (new to him) that focuses more on the arts along with regular subjects. When we told his teacher she was sad that she wouldn't see him at school anymore but extremely happy about our decision as it will be a perfect fit for him! Noah loves math, reading non-fiction books, playing mine craft, playing with his buddies, and playing baseball.

Henry's first and last day of PreK 3's

     Henry, as you can see from the photo on the left, was not a fan of school at the beginning. He really really really didn't want to go! He attended school Tuesdays and Thursdays this year and made it known each morning how much he didn't want to go to school. Poor little fella cried every time at drop off; however, I know he loved his teacher and his time at school because every time I picked him up he was all smiles and always had a great day. He was so happy on his last day knowing that he was about to spend an entire summer break away from school at home with mommy and Noah. Henry loves hanging with his big brother and playing Minecraft, Lightening McQueen, Wonder Woman and the rest of the super heroes, riding his glider bike and battery operated gator. We discovered recently he also has an affinity for baseball. 

Happy Summer everyone!

-Mandy

Back after 5 years of radio silence!

I'm back and I'm pretty sure the last time I posted anything was in 2012. Yep I'm positive the post below this one is dated as such. Why am I back? I don't really know! Boredom? Maybe! Because as a SAHM you always need one more thing to do, am I right? For some reason it's never enough to be pregnant as well as taking care of two little boys, hauling them to school/baseball practice and on top of that starting college classes this summer. Why not lather more to do's on the already growing list? Right? I don't know what's wrong with me! I'm just in the mood to do more More MORE! I think I may be in a nesting crisis in the midst of it all. So far it's all a party, a do-see-doh (sp?) if you will. On a side note, why am I only able to start sentences with prepositions right now, is this a symptom of pregnancy?

Anyhow exciting things are coming this year and I can't wait! While I'm still trying to decide what this blog will narrow down and focus on I'm thinking most likely motherhood (duh), art projects I'm working on, what books I'm reading, and fashion/beauty. I may not be the fanciest of ladies but I am interested in all the beauty hoopla. I'm trying to embrace my status as Queen in a household where I'm overrun by testosterone (in case you were wondering we're 90% positive the new kid is also a boy) and become even more of a lady.

Well, that's all for today so I'll leave you with some fun pictures!

The new Estes bundle (due November 1st)

The kid I had since the last time I posted. 

His name is Henry, he's 4! My baby?! 

He's getting too big.

Both of my minions: Noah (7) Henry (4)

Until next time! Hope you all have a fab weekend!
xoxo
-Mandy

Christmas Gift Tag Tutorial

Are you ready for Christmas?! It's almost here! 

I came up with some cute DIY gift tags so I thought I'd share with you how easy they are to make!

Can you say helllloooo glitter paint and polka dots?!!

Supplies:

paper punch of your choice

hole punch (not pictured)

jute (string, yarn, whatevs)

glitter paint

stamp {the hello stamp pictured is from Perrodin Supply Co. on etsy! Love them.)

ink 

I just use a pencil eraser to put the glitter polka dots on my tag. 

When the paint dries on the eraser it just peels right off...no harm done.

And voila you have yourself a cute little gift tag.

I'd suggest putting to and from on the back side. 

Hope you enjoyed!

And here's a little extra because it's the season of giving after all.
Check out those gift tags in action:

Would you like to know how to make the felt holly too?
They make wonderful gift box decorations as well as inexpensive ornaments for your tree!
Check out the tutorial <<here>>

Now go and make your presents pretty!

-Mandy

$15 and Under Gift Guide // Cyber Monday

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We sure did!

In the spirit of Christmas I thought I would share some neat shops that offer great products at $15 and under. The items from these wonderful shops would be perfect for your best friend, for a gift swap, or for any person on your list! Check out these awesome shops for fantastic products and great deals!

Andrea of Bubblewrapp'd on etsy offers cute painted wood blocks for home decor! She has some really cute Christmas themed blocks right now if you still need a few more items on your mantle. This 'you are so loved' block is listed at just $11!

Use "CYBER15" for 15% off of your order for today only!! :)

blog  etsy

Chealsea blogs over at Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles and she has a shop on Storenvy called Sunny Sprinkles where she sells braided headbands. She offers them in an array of beautiful colors and they only cost $8 plus free shipping!! Can't beat that!

blog    storenvy

Jacky blogs over at The Sweetest Petunia and she has two shops: Petunia Blooms on etsy and Petunia Blooms on Storenvy. She sells pretty yo yo hair pins, fabric flower clips, zippered pouches, and earrings. The yo yos pictured are listed at just $6!

Coupon Code: CYBERMONDAY for 20% off in her shop (good until midnight 11/26)

blog   storenvy   etsy 

Emily blogs over at Emerging Em and she sells pretties on etsy like the ones pictured above for your hair, ribbon rose necklaces, knitted items and rings. These pretty peach rose pins are only $8!

*CYBER MONDAY SALE: Take 25% off your entire order with the code HOLIDAY25!*

blog  etsy

Marquia sells awesome handmade embroidery hoops in her etsy Shop alt3! She has beautiful sets as well as single hoops like this lovely burlap heart hoop that's listed at just $10! This would be a wonderful gift for a lover of handmade home decor.

etsy

Tricia blogs at Mama Marchand's Nest and sells her whimsical handmade jewelry in her etsy store called Mama's Nest Designs. I absolutely adore these earrings entitled 'indian summer'. And they're listed at just $11!!

*CYBER MONDAY - use CYBERMONDAYROCKS for 25% off or SHIPITFREE2ME for free shipping, anywhere! Feel free to use whichever gives you a bigger discount. Begins at midnight EST on 11/26!*

blog   etsy

Lastly! I have a couple new products in my shop that would be PERFECT for stocking stuffers including glitter headbands and crochet fingerless gloves. And guess what!! I'm offering 25% off in both my etsy and storenvy shops. That means you can get yourself a pair of handmade gloves that are normally $16 for just $12 (plus shipping)!!!

COUPON CODE: 25% off with PUMPKINPIE (ends TONIGHT @ midnight)

etsy   storenvy

Now go shopping! Woo! 

WIWW

Well, look at me I'm back again for another installation of What I Wore Wednesday! Woohoo! I actually wore this outfit yesterday to run errands and wolf/bear hunt with my two year old by the cow pasture near our neighborhood. You know how we mama's of boys do. Anyway, I hope you're having a fantastic Wednesday!

(24 week baby bump!)

top: target

skinnies: motherhood

shoes: toms

necklace: handmade

some day i'll clean that mirror. 

someday i'll take better photos too. :)

Want to make this necklace too? Little Miss Momma has a wonderful tutorial!

Check it out here!

 

After we returned from our bear hunt we made a tent in the living room.

This was the first time we've ever made an inside tent! And I have no idea why we haven't done this before. We had too much fun. 

This is a pic from a previous bear hunt that I thought was too cute not to share. ;)

On another note: Yesterday I took a break from checking twitter, facebook, and instagram because I have noticed them becoming a problem for me (maybe even an idol...eek). I had been checking them constantly looking at what everyone else in the world was up to. I have wasted a lot of precious time sitting and hanging out on social media when I could have been doing something (anything) much more valuable. I even think they can can be creatively draining. Know what I mean?

Do you ever find yourself constantly checking a social media outlet? Is your smart phone always in your hand? Just something to think about...

Hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving with your families!

-Mandy