Hawaii Wedding Inspiration

These are pictures from a WEDDING I attended in April. All I can say is GORGEOUS! Destination WEDDINGS are so much FUN! If you are considering a destination WEDDING I say go for it.

Click here to read about our Hawaii Family Vacation.

Makeup: 7 Minute Summer Look + 3

Remember how I got this look? If not click here.

Well, this weekend I JAZZED it up.

Here’s How:

Just like on the original look, line the entire top lash line. This time just thicken up the line a little. When you line the bottom lash line, instead of just doing the outer corner, line it from corner to corner and smudge with a cotton swab.

When applying your eye shadow, do everything the same except apply a little more of the Nars color Ondine in the crease and corner to darken it up. Make sure to blend well.

These extra steps will add on a little time, but will make your eyes really POP! Have fun.

My favorite HEALTHY SNACK

It’s always hard to find a good snack that is healthy yet portable. Protein bars are a healthy snack, but I consider them to be SUPER GROSS. My choice for a great snack is an APPLE & ALMONDS. Not only is this a great on the go snack but also a great pre-workout snack.

{via}

Let me break it down for ya.

1 APPLE: Carbohydrate for energy. Great nutritional value. It contains Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants, a MODERATE amount of SUGAR and the super special Pectin Fiber. (I’ll explain why this is key in a minute.)

A HANDFUL (1 dozen) ALMONDS: Just the right amount of Protein & Fat for a snack.

The Pectin Fiber and the Almonds help slow the entrance of the sugar from the Apple into the bloodstream giving you a SUSTAINED ENERGY LEVEL & SAIETY (fullness).

Need to keep your APPLE safe on the go? Dress it up with a COZY!

By SWEETBRIERS

Friday Night FEVER

I spent my Friday night watchin’ Princess B and her little cousin J go completely crazy. Cousin J pulled out the works as far as toys are concerned and then put a few back because “Hers” (that’s what he calls Princess B) was gonna break em’. He even tried to swaddle her in one of his old Halo Sleep Sacks and then decided it worked better as a mini cape. Cousin J tried to teach Princess B her letters, but she thought it would be more fun to eat them.  At the end of the night Cousin J tried his best to give hugs and kisses and Princes B graciously gave hair pulls!

It’s pretty amazing how two kids can keep five adults entertained for three hours. There was A LOT of sugar involved on cousin J’s part, several almost mini falls on Princess B’s part (she just barely started crawling and is now trying to pull up on things) and Grandma thought she was a helicopter (hovering constantly), but it was SUPER FUN and we are going to hang out with cousin J again soon!

Princess B’s Outfit: Carters

Princess B’s Flower: Boutique Store (I can’t remember the name.)

Fall Color Inspiration {BAMBOO}

Say “Yes Please” to BAMBOO this fall according to www.PANTONE.com. BAMBOO is the FIRST color listed on their PANTONE FASHION COLOR REPORT FALL 2011.

I am LOVIN’ these items all found on ETSY in this {HAWT} color. Check these out and help support HANDMADE!

Ring barberry & lace

Headband by Poppy Row

Mini Pouch by LiReca

Baby Booties by Tilly Whistle

Eye shadow by PURE natural minerals

Tie by Me and Matilda

Pillow by Bed Buggs Boutique

Skinny Headband by Too Too Posh Couture

Necklace and Matching Earrings by Kimberly B. Jennings

Sign by the big harumph

Keep checkin’ back for more of what I’m LOVIN’ on ETSY in the rest of the colors from the PANTONE FASHION COLOR REPORT FALL 2011. Happy Shopping and thanks for reading!

I HEART Princess B’s RuffleButts Swimsuit

I searched high and low to find the perfect first swimsuit for Princess B. I ended up buying her a RuffleButts Red Polka Dot bikini in 3 – 6 months. I absolutely LOVE it, so I thought I’d share!

Here is why I LOVE it:

• Two-piece – Easy for changing the diaper and not too skimpy overall for a baby.
• Top design - Criss-cross back on the top keeps it in place. No straps falling off the shoulders.
• Bottom Design -  Somewhere between a bloomer bottom and a bikini. Perfect for covering a diaper on a little one. Not to mention the ruffles. Could it get any cuter?

Princess B is just over 7 months now and the 3-6 months suit still fits her pretty good. Honestly, it would probably last her a few more months. These suits are so stinkin’ cute though, I’m headed over to the RuffleButts Website today to get her THIS swimsuit in 6-12 months.

Gift Idea: “Scrappy” Recipe Book

Do you know someone who has a recipe book that looks like this? Well, I did.

This recipe book is my mother-in-laws. You wouldn’t know it from looking at the above two sad, sad pictures, but this recipe book is beyond special. Not only is it full of years and years worth of only the best newspaper, TV, magazine, internet, friends recipes etc., but also Italian family recipes passed down from generation to generation. You could call this recipe book the “Recipe Bible.” Seriously.

My mother-in-law loves to cook, like most Italian women do. This year for her birthday we figured we get her something she could use when doing her favorite hobby, cooking. The only problem with this was she has every cooking utensil, pot, pan, appliance etc. that one woman should have. So, we thought and thought and then it came to us… we (that means I in hubby language) should organize her outrageously, overflowing, unorganized cookbook. That way it will look as special as what’s in it. Okay, I figured, I can organize it.

So, by the time we (I) decided to start the project of organizing the “Recipe Bible” for the birthday present it was T-minus 6 days. On day 2 of my just organize it project the hubby dropped a bomb on me. He came home from work and said “You know what would be really cool? If you could make the recipe book, you know, scrappy.” Although a very good idea, my husband has no idea the time it takes to make something like this “scrappy.” When he suggested this, I thought to myself at first, “Why don’t YOU make it SCRAPPY Mr.” Well, as daunting of a task it was to complete in the remaining 5 days, I did organize it and make it “scrappy.” And guess what? I’m glad I did, because it turned out awesome!

Here is the finished product.

My mother-in-law LOVED this present! After she opened it, she couldn’t stop looking through it and even took it to work with her and showed it off. I think it was, in her eyes, the best gift we have ever given her.

Sometimes the gifts that are from the heart and just take a little time and elbow grease are without a doubt the most appreciated and treasured.

If you want to make your own scrappy recipe book here are my tips:

• Gather all the recipes you intend to scrap.
• Gather scrapping supplies. (Scrapbook, Solid and patterned scrapbook paper, plastic page covers, ribbon, glue, plain and decorative scissors, hole punch and whatever stickers/embellishments you chose.
• Separate the recipes into piles for the different sections in your book. My sections were as follows: Family Traditions, Appetizers & Snacks, Beans, Rice & Grains, Beverages, Breads, Cakes & Frostings, Cheese & Eggs, Cookies, Candies & Bars, Desserts, Fish & Shellfish, Meat, Pasta, Pies & Tarts, Poultry, Salads & Dressings, Soups & Stews and Vegetables & Fruits.
• Make all the section title pages at once. After I was done with the title pages, I put them in their plastic page covers, punched a hole and tied a ribbon in the hole to designated a new section.
• Scrap one section at a time. (So you don’t get overwhelmed)
• Leave room for more recipes in each section. (This way it is something you can build upon.)
• The rest is up to you. There really is no wrong or right way. Let your heart and your creative noodle guide you!

Happy Scrapping!