Ava In Art Class

Ava is taking art classes at this wonderful art studio nearby. She loves it. She's a natural. She did a great job on her dinosaur and apple. We are very proud of her. Olivia will have a chance to take art when she turns three. Until then , she has to hang out with mommy while big sister gets to stay and paint. Ava loves to sing, dance, paint, and play soccer. She is also interested in playing the piano. We have a toddler piano book that she likes to sit and learn to play with. She is pretty good at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I see many lessons and drama classes in her future.
The verdict is still out on Liv. She is only obsessed with Dora and baby dolls so far. Although she IS pretty dramatic and has the memory of an elephant! Or is it a dolphin? The smart one! I drove through a taco place and ordered a cheese tortilla for them and an order of super nachos for me (so shoot me!!) and when we got home they wanted to eat my food instead of theirs! I always say something is spicy if I don't want them to eat it. (so shoot me!) I said "these are spicy nachos" and Olivia said "no they aren't, they are super nachos!!!" Ugh! The kid doesn't miss a thing!

A Few More Favs.

Wow! I'm flattered that some of you requested even more of my beauty favs and the ink hasn't even dried on my last post. Thanks!! Ok. You know I love to share any knowledge I may have, so here are a few more.

I am a DOVE SOAP SNOB! I refuse to use anything else. Even when I travel, I take my own Dove soap. I have used Dove since I was 16 years old!!!! It has lotion in it and it does keep my body moisturized. I never have that dry, itchy feeling some soaps can give you. Don't tell Victor I told you, but he is a Dove soap snob since we started dating 13 years ago. He even takes it to war with him! I spend the night with people and leave Dove soap for them. I truly, truly love my Dove soap and am so spoiled by it! It is my oldest beauty product that I've used the longest and been the most loyal to!

I discovered this lip balm about 2 years ago. I have a tube of it in both cars, all my purses, and tucked here, there, and everywhere. It feels like pure silk on your lips and has spf. I have it on now as I am typing this. I keep a tube by my bed and apply it every night. I use it every morning before I leave the house. My little girls are addicted to it as well. I will find them sneaking and putting it on. I don't mind because it is so nourishing and it keeps their little lips from getting dry.

 My new favorite perfume in the entire world!!! I get excited to put it on every morning and I enjoy smelling myself all day long. Real perfume that really lasts! Love it! It smells like roses and is very light and lovely. It reminds me of the perfume I smell in Italy as the Italian women pass me by. D&G is Italian! No wonder! Worth every "stinkin" penny! Ha!

 I have tried many shampoos.....trying to find one that doesn't make my hair dry and frizzy. I have even used the very expensive Kerastase. Loved it, but couldn't afford it. Then I did some research and discovered that L'Oreal makes Kerastase. I had an empty bottle of it and compared the ingredients to other L'Oreal products, and bam....this is it! It is sold in most pharmacy type stores. It would be worth ordering online if you can't find it. I use the one for color treated hair, but any of the Vive Pro is excellent. It really makes a difference. I buy up bottles at a time and have a stock pile of it in case it is ever discontinued. I use the conditioner as well.

This is not a beauty product, but I have to include this candle. It is a Tyler Candle and yes, I love the animal print....that is what got me to buy one in the first place....but this candle rocks!! It makes your entire house smell amazing!! It has a long burn time and  a very, very strong scent. I HATE to buy candles I can't smell burning! I love many of the scents. I would suggest Diva, High Maintenance, and my favorite, Sour Cream Coffee Cake. They also sell hand soaps that are a must have around my house. You will always find one in my guest bathroom. It smells STRONG and I like the Diva soap. Even Ava says it smells so good every time she washes her hands. It makes the entire bathroom smell amazing afterwards.

My Top Five Best Beauty Products

Those of you who know me well, know I am OBSESSED with beauty products!! I am always researching products and trying them out. As soon as my girls are both in school, I plan to become an Esthetician. I read every book out there on beauty from within and topical beauty treatments. I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorites that I find work and I can't be without!

 Bath and Body Works scared me this year when I went in to stock up on my favorite lotion...Cucumber Melon. They told me it was discontinued! I have worn this for at least 12 years! It is Victor's favorite and the smell of this means Markee is near. I got online and discovered they had not discontinued it, they had pulled from the shelves in hopes other scents would sell better because this is their most popular scent. I can still purchase it online! Whew! I bought like 20 of them just in case though! It smells so clean and really keeps my skin dewy. Love it! I've strayed here and there, but always return to this.

I have been using Obagi products for the past two years. I feel this line has transformed my skin! It is expensive though. I originally got it from my esthetician/spa when I was trying to clear up melasma from pregnancies. I used it religously for 6 months and was amazed at the results. The one product I swear by is the sunscreen. It goes on thick and white. It creates a canvas on your face and an amazing glow. It prepares your skin for your base and protects it as well as having some anti aging benefits. I order it at amazon for much less than the spa price!

I don't know how I discovered this product really. But, it comes in the most beautiful, real wood tube! The brush is extremely thick and it really delivers a nice, thick coat of mascara. It is Tarte Amazonian Clay Mascara. I use the black. It is organic and I find it does not flake. I order it from QVC and get two for the price of one!!

This is the holy grail of all my beauty products!! I cannot say enough about this! I have used it for 13 years! I don't wear base. I use this as my base. It is a tinted moisturizer. It comes in one color...blue! It adjusts to the color of your skin! I never have to worry about changing colors with the seasons. It smells like cucumbers...my favorite smell! It has spf and antioxidants. It has a glow about it. It is dewy. I love it!!

This oil has transformed my hair!! You put it on wet hair and then dry it and style it. It makes your hair shiny and silky. I am crazy about this stuff! I get the best price online at the moroccan oil website. I buy big bottles as well as small ones to travel with. This stuff is liquid gold for your hair. ALL the celebrities use it! You will thank me for suggesting this to you!

Countdown to Germany!

We are going to Germany soon for a two week family vacation! In order for the girls to grasp the number of days left until our trip, I made a number line starting at 14 days out. I put it on the upstairs railing. The girls are taking turns removing a number each day. It is a good visual for them and also a great math lesson. They get more and more excited as the numbers get smaller. Victor and I are excited too!!

We could not go on any vacation without the help of our amazing neighbors, the Szalas! They live across the street and come to our home many, many times a day to care for our dogs and keep things up and going around here! I want to thank Renee for all she does for us and her daughter Sydney for watering my plants and getting the mail! They truly love us and our dogs and we truly love all of them! They are the best friends and neighbors anyone could ever have! I want to always live across the street from them!

A Baby Shower For Annie!!!

Our dear, dear family friends, Annie and Danny...otherwise known as D'Annie by me.....a take on Bennifer and Brangelina.......are having baby number two! Their daughter, Sofia, is going to be a big sister! D'Annie don't like to find out the sex prior to the birth.....no way I could do that.....which shows you how patient, loving and kind they are. (what does that say about me?)
I gave Annie a shower and it was a ladybug, red, black and white theme because they call the baby doodlebug!
Annie was glowing! She looked so beautiful. She is due in March. Love ya D'Annie!

My Romantic Husband!

For Valentine's Day, Victor gave me a much needed spa day! Not to just any spa, but to Mokara Spa on the Riverwalk!

I stayed there from 9am until 5pm! I dined on the rooftop by the pool and ate an amazing lunch! I got a massage, facial and pedicure! I read a magazine in the quiet lounge, drank flavored spa waters, soaked in the whirlpool, sweated it out in the sauna, relaxed, showered, and shopped. It was a wonderful day at the spa and I thank my romantic husband for making it all happen! Next time, he's going with me! And the next time, some of you are going with me!

A Happy Valentine's Day!

The girls went to school on Valentine's Day, dressed to celebrate and excited to hand out those cards to the 7 Matties and 9 Pheonixs! Someone made these cute ladybug cupcakes for Liv's class. So creative!

 Our sweet Victor got us all roses! He also wrote us all love notes! He said some amazing things to our girls....things that made them beam with pride and me cry....I picked an amazing husband and great man to be their daddy!! I am lucky he's my valentine!

Mamaw and Papaw sent the girls gift cards to McDonalds. (A perfect gift for them!)The girls call it Old McDonalds. They took those gift cards to Old McDonalds and each ordered and paid all on their own! I am amazed at the self confidence these two little girls have. They are not afraid to speak up and do anything. I hope that never changes! To all of you....those we love so dearly....we wish you a happy belated Valentine's Day.

We have a fancy (said like Reba McEntire) Old McDonalds! The girls ordered happy meals and chocolate milk..........and promptly bounced off the walls the rest of the day!