Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Project Life: July 2014, Part 1


It's been so long since my last Project Life update!  I almost decided to just skip ahead and start showing 2015, but since that's what I did last year, going from April 2013 to suddenly it being the start of 2014 I thought I would continue showing the end of 2014 so the whole year will actually be blogged.

I'm picking up in July, after getting back from our trip to Chicago.  This is one of our busiest months of the year because we have four family birthdays besides the normal business of the summer.  I had a collection of random photos taken over July that I wanted to include didn't always have space for them chronologically.  So on the left side above, I've put them in sort of a monthly opening page.

On the left side are pictures from my daughter's over night stay at her Grandma's.  This was actually after the Fourth of July, but since I had enough photos for half a spread, I placed it here in the album.  I figure that since I date most things, it's okay to have things occasionally out of dated order.


On the Fourth of July we have been going to my son's Godmother's house and they come to ours on Memorial Day.  It's nice to kind know what the plans are for these patriotic holidays and not feel like I need to find something special for us to do.


Did you know that Simple Stories 6X8 pages fit right into WRMK albums?   This design can blend into the Design A page beneath it, so I put a paper tab on the right side to help it stand out.


Here is the left side of the July 4th spread.  Most of the supplies used on these pages are by Bella Blvd, the All American collection.  On top of the red "fun" letters, I even used the title part from a piece of paper and turned it into a flag.


The reason why the pictures from my daughter's sleepover at Grandma's didn't fit in chronologically is because right after we picked her up we went to my parents' house.  These photos took up a full spread and I thought the store was told in a more cohesive manner when it was all together on one spread and not with the start on the right side, with the rest on the back of it.

We had to spend the night at my parent's, right after picking up my daughter because my Godmother wanted the kids to help demonstrate motor development for a class she was teaching at a college near my parents' house.  It was early in the morning so I didn't want the stress of getting them up early and then driving for over an hour, probably longer with the morning commute, in the hope of arriving on time.

The day the kids were part of the demonstration, was also Brad's birthday.  After the kids helped out my Godmother, we had to get back home to finish preparing for Daddy's big day.  That's on the left side, followed by an insert and a 12X12 layout about Big Truck Day at our library.


I think Big Truck Day was one of my son's favorite days of the summer.  It's was part of the reading program and we got there early so he'd have plenty of time to sit in everything.  He loved it!  I wanted to use up some of the cute construction themed supplies I've been collecting so it was fun to break it out and do a very basic layout.


Since I had a full layout, I decided to do another on the other side but as you can see, for both layouts, I stuck with a grid theme to make it easier and quicker to put together.


I had a lot of low quality cell phone pictures from this trip to Ikea that I wanted to use but didn't want to devote that much space too.  A trading card page protector was the perfect way to include them.  I used Simple Stories Sn@ap supplies throughout this spread and insert to help tie everything together.  Lots of pictures and lots of color but I don't find the over all result too visually busy because it all coordinates.


For the last page in Part 1, here is a more typical weekly spread.  I'll be back soon with more from last summer's July.  I've got beach trips and birthdays to come!

I have linked this post up at: Day to Day: Project Life Monday.

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Monday, March 23, 2015

Mani Monday: Zoya's Loredana


I haven't done one of these in awhile, but that doesn't mean my nails have been bare!  Back when Ulta had their big clearance, I picked up four of Zoya's Matte Velvet's for less than five dollars a piece.  I know matte formulas are a trend in nail polish, but after seeing Loredana with a top coat, I don't think I'll ever be able to wear it in it's matte version!  This is so pretty, and the formula is really easy to work with.  I had to apply more layers than I'd like for opacity but totally worth it.

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Thursday, March 19, 2015

Birchbox March 2015: Creativity

*Referral Link Included


For the second month in a row, my Birchbox seemed to arrive super early, so I've had a chance to try out each of the products a little by now.  This month's theme is Creativity: Get inspired with this month's picks. Expressing yourself hasn't been this fun since finger painting.  I guess that explains the "handpainted" look of the Birchbox top lid design.


Inside I found five samples, plus a bonus Reconstructing Masque to go along with the Number 4™ Clarifying Shampoo.  Now before I get to my gripe, let me begin with saying that one of my favorite brands discoveries via Birchbox is a hair line, specifically Beauty Protector.  I enjoy getting new shampoos and conditioners because I do think my hair looks better if I switch things up from time to time.  BUT out of the last four months, I've gotten a shampoo/conditioner combo as my samples THREE times!  Enough already!  Plus, I didn't "love" the Number 4™ Hydrating Shampoo I got back in December so I didn't really care to try their Clarifying one.  Rant over.

On the plus side, I did like the masque a lot.  I wish it had been the sample and the shampoo the "extra" as I only got enough of the masque for one use.  The shampoo was okay, it worked, and moving on...

 (pretend there's a picture right here.  will update with one, soon!)

Next up is a sample of Elite Therapeutics Rosemary Eucalyptus Body Crème, full size $19.  I forgot to take a picture, and it's not even in the overview picture at the top.  My bad!  I think because I used it immediately and then put it up in my bathroom.  Anyway, turns out I hate the scent combination of rosemary and eucalyptus!  Like can't stand.  So even though this is lightweight and made with 70% organic ingredients, it's a pass for me.  It has been good for using at night on my feet, though!


I was pleased to see this Mirenesse Glossy Kiss in the shade Perfect Kiss, full size $22, but surprised to see that this particular color isn't actually listed on the Birchbox site for purchase.  Other colors are, but since this isn't, it makes me wonder...is this an older sample?


Regardless, I love lip crayons and this one felt nice and hydrating, or at least it didn't dry out my lips.  It had lovely color pay off, one swipe and it appeared on my lips, the same color as in the tube.  You don't have to built the color, but you can blot for a matte stain.  It also doubles as a cheek stain.  The sample size is pretty generous, so that's another great bonus on top of it being a good color for me.


This Mèreadesso® Tinted All-In-One Moisturizer, full size $48, has pretty smart packaging, it's a foil packet but is resealable.  It feel like there is a pretty fair amount inside, maybe two or three uses for me, since I apply this kind of thing with a light hand.  The frustrating thing is, I don't know what shade I got.  I assume light or medium, based on my Birchbox profile, but no where on the packaging or info sheet does it say which one.  So even though I do like it, I would have to guess on the shade if I wanted to purchase it.  At $48 I don't think I'd want to take the risk and order the wrong one.


Last up is my sample choice of the month, the amika Bombshell Blowout Spray, full size $24.  I like their dry shampoo and during the winter I blow dry my hair 99.9% of the time so I was very interested in this.  Based on the directions to: Divide damp hair into sections, and spray from roots to ends before blow-drying, it sounds like I might go through this sample pretty quickly.


Overall, this month is just okay.  I'm happy to have gotten the Mirenesse Glossy Kiss and the amika spray I requested but not overwhelmed with excitement for the rest.  I was kind a secretly hoping, since this is my birthday month that the March Birchbox would be a total hit but alas, not to be!  There's always next month!

As always, if you'd care to join me as a Birchbox subscriber, please consider joining through my referral link.  Thank you!

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