My Favorite Self Tanning Products

It’s that time of year again. Really already!? Where legs can no longer hide behind maxi dresses and colored denim. It’s beach season. And for me, that means lots of self tanner in my future.

I have to be honest, I have been using some form of self tanner since I was in middle school…probably. But definitely since high school. Maybe this means that I will have fabulously young looking skin because I don’t try to pretend that I could actually tan on my own. I am white. No peach. And I go from light peach to medium peach to well, I think that’s about it, on my own at least.

Every spring and summer without fail the magazines are filled with the best tanning products to try. I find it’s really hard to find one you like, and you can really spend lots of money trying to find the one that works for you.

Here are my picks.

My Tried and True

Clarins Self Tanning Gel. Clarins makes excellent self tanning products. This was the very first self tanner I tried, and have been hooked on the company ever since. I love the consistency of the gel and it dries very quickly. The color is great. 

The Newbie

St. Tropez. I love that this smells nothing like a typical self tanner. I literally can put this on in the morning and wear all day. The color is subtle. But you MUST use the St. Tropez mitt. It is a tinted foam, and trust me you will be sorry if you don’t have that mitt. I feel that it also helps with the application. Sephora sells a kit with the foam, mitt, and this pretty gold illuminator, that's the best deal.

The Cheapo

Neutrogena Build-a-Tan. I like this because the consistency is light and the scent is mild. Every time I put it on my husband says I smell good. It’s gradual color but can repeated once dry to achieve a darker color. I find if I use this for a few days in a row I get a nice color.

The Staple

Jergens. Everyone has used the Jergens gradual tanning lotion. It genius. And idiot proof. But the Natural Glow Express is awesome too. If you’re like me and want it when you want it, then this is a great one to try. Its nice and thick and moisturizing. I use the Medium to Tan skin Tones (which I clearly am not) one because it acts more like a true self tanner giving you instant color.

The Faker

Lorac TANtalizer. Lorac makes this bronze illuminator. Its light like a gel but gives you a lot of color. It washes off so its great for a night out or to enhance your tan. I usually mix it with lotion, because a little goes a long way. One bottle will last you forever.

So what are your favorite tanning products? I’d love to try out some new ones.

Oh and PS, I’ve ordered the Birchbox!!! Yep, I finally made the cut. Can’t wait to tell you all about it!

DIY Pacifier Clip

Ok I admit it. My daughter is addicted to a pacifier. Or “paci” as we call it. It’s a real love/hate relationship we have. At first it was cute, especially because I blinged out her paci’s with Swarovski crystals when she was a baby. Then it was funny, the way she had to have one in her mouth, and one in each hand. But now, it’s a little scary. She’s an addict. Maybe there is a baby 12 step program out there? Mommy and me pacifier anonymous?

I’m not quite sure if I’m “officially” an enabler or if I’m just sick of frantically scouring the house/car/purse for a pacifier. So in order to stop this madness, I made her a paci clip. A pretty one, if I do say so myself! And you can too. If you are sans baby, it would make a really cute shower gift.

 

You will need:

• Beads (I got mine in a single strand, ready to go from Michaels)
• stretchy jewelry cord
• a suspender clip
• a keychain clip
• *optional* button, scrapbook thing-a-mi-jig (Can you tell I don’t scrapbook?), or any other decorative object to cover your suspender clip
• Glue Gun if covering suspender clip

 

First you will tie a knot on the keychain clip. This is probably not called a keychain clip. Thank God for pictures, so you know what I’m talking about and don’t have to decode my jargon.

 

Then you will string your beads and tie a knot on the suspender clip

 

Then just add the decorative thing-a-mi-jig if using with a glue gun.

 

Yep, it’s that EASY! And looks so adorable!!

The princess was pleased!

DIY Face scrub

Hey everyone!

Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. Jhett loved her basket. Mostly just the iridescent grass I used at the bottom of it. Like me she is easily distracted by shiny things!

But it was a good weekend, maybe a little too good, in fact. I think I’m recovering from a food hangover! Yes, it’s real! Very, very real!

My food hangovers usually make my face all puffy, not cute. But they can also make me really sluggish. I get them when I eat too much (like on Holidays where all you do is eat and drink). Or maybe I just eat too much of the wrong things, I mean, come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever had a food hangover from salads? But the coconut key lime pie I made was totally worth it!

So, continuing with my Pretty in the Pantry theme, I want to tell you about the simplest face scrub you will ever try.

I have been searching for an exfoliator but haven’t found one that I’m in love with. I also had someone ask me about using my sugar scrub for the face, which I thought may be too harsh, so I new I wasn’t the only one out there looking.

So what’s the secret?

Wait for it…Wait for it…

Baking Soda!

I know, I’m clearly not a genius here with this concoction. Women have been using this for all kinds of things since, well, since forever!

But as an exfoliant, it’s Ah-mazing! Trust me. Its simple, cheap, gentle, and gets the job done. Just add a little to your face wash and that’s all you need. The face wash I use, which I’m addicted to is by Skinceuticals, it’s called Simply Clean, and that’s exactly what it is. I usually get the itch to try something different, but I’ve been using this for years. I also use the Clarisonic face brush, it’s an awesome little gadget to use on your face and body! But I have sensitive skin, so I would not recommend using the Clarisonic with baking soda, that may be a little bit too much. The baking soda is very gentle just be sure not to overdo it, I’m sure using it daily is fine, I probably use it about 3 times a week.

So if you have any good face scrubs you like, let me know. I’m still looking. :)

This baking soda trick (and lots of water) is helping me get over my food hangover today! Hope everyone is off to a good week.

Easter Cuteness

Yay, It’s Easter!

Ok, humor me. I am really excited because this year I was able to really get into it. Even though technically last year was Jhett’s 1st Easter (it seems like she had just hatched!) this year she’s old enough for me to have a little more fun with it. And by fun I mean, me decorating and filling her basket with “cute” things she really doesn’t need!

Here’s some Easter things I love.

Peep Tini’s….What?!!!!

A DIY Chevron Easter Tray….really anything Chevron!

Bunny Bait! Made it several times, so yummy!

A cute Easter Table.

Bunny Printable I heart this!!

Pretty Eggs Trying this next year!!

Easter Subway Art Printable

 

DIY Easter Candlesticks

Easter Strawberries. How adorable are these?!! (One day I’m going to have to learn how to properly melt chocolate!)

Egg Topiary that would look so cute lining a walkway.

An Eggcellent Kids lunch 

Of course Pinterest makes it oh so easy to find all these fun Easter creations. If only there were more hours in a day.

Hope everyone has a very Happy Easter!!

Toddler Friendly Easter Basket

Maybe the title of this should have been Easter Basket for your monster terror diva “energetic” child! Please tell me I’m not the only one with the “energetic” one year old. And by “energetic” I mean we don’t really eat out in public anymore!

But that’s totally normal, right?!…Bueller? Bueller?

So I wanted to find a basket I could use year after year, and fell completely in love with the Pottery Barn everything Easter Baskets. The one I ordered was a pink tutu one. Girly. Pink. Easter Perfection! I started searching for little goodies to fill it before it even arrived, non-candy goodies that is. Trust me, the last thing Little Miss Sassy Pants needs is candy! She gets all hopped up on fruit squeeze pouches, I can’t even imagine her on Peeps and Cadbury Eggs!

Finding things to fill it was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. This is what I ended up with:

• an Easter Bunny Book
• swim cover-up. Tulle trimmed and adorable
• a bunny straw sippy cup, Straws symbolize independence for her, so this is very “big girl!”
• A Boo Boo Bunny that I made for her
• Beach & water toys
• The cutest sequined purse from the cutest shop, in Rosemary Beach (Fitz & Emme)
• Toothbrushes, because hers always end up in the toilet
• Sunglasses, so maybe she can stop stealing mine
• First words flashcards
• and I also bought her some wooden musical instruments that I will most likely regret. Hello Tambourine! I plan on wrapping them in this adorably messy glitter wrapping paper…just looking for more fun ways to torture myself! 

I think it came together nicely. Cute right?

 

I have got to learn how to take better photos, these pictures do not do it justice. We even have a nice camera, but it’s big and scary and stresses me out so I use my little hot pink “point & shoot”, much more me.

Oh yeah, back to the basket….

I did sneak a squeeze pouch in there, just in case she was wasn’t as excited as I was about a bathing suit cover-up and toothbrushes! The Cinnamon Applesauce will definitely push her over the edge!!

Well I was hoping to post this earlier, but life got in the way. Better late than never. So what’s in your Easter basket???

Birchbox

I recently saw something on The Small Things Blog that was AMAZING! If you haven’t checked out that blog, it’s necessary! Does the Pinterest hair girl ring any bells?

Well none the less, I had the chance to meet Kate in person and she’s super sweet and beautiful, and well has just plain fabulous hair. She recently blogged about a Birchbox. Something I’ve never heard of. I wondered if this was something for my backyard, because in that case, I wasn’t interested! But oh no, it’s Good. Real Good!! Let’s just say this could be a gateway drug for people like me. It’s a monthly gift box filled with beauty samples. All for $10 a month! I can barely get lunch for that.

Ok now that I have your mouth watering, I’ll show you what I’m taking about.

Yep, it’s beauty sample insanity!! 

Deborah Lippmann, NARS, Samshbox….Oh My! So many great brands are a part of this, I can’t handle it! I feel like a kid in a candy store.

And they have taken it one step further. So when you get your pretty little box, and try out the samples, and shortly after fall in love with one or two (or four). All you have to do is head to their website to purchase them.

Genius.

Ok I admit, this is not the best thing for my resolution to get organized and declutter my life. But who am I kidding that resolution was out the window come January 2nd with one trip to Target. And it feels slightly practical, not spending money on full sized products you may or may not love.  

So as you can imagine, I was slightly eager to get my grubby little hands on a Birchbox of my own and what did they do…? Those little b******* waitlisted me! That’s right. I got all hot and bothered and they tell me they will email me when I am able to subscribe.

I know, I know, Patience is a virtue. Just not my virtue. But I will try to practice self control, and continue to refresh my inbox only every 5 minutes until they call on me!! And when they do I will be ready to enter mini beauty sample heaven! And most of all, I can’t wait to share my Birchbox experience with you!

Are any of you subscribers to Birchbox? (Maybe you put in a good word for me? Nothing wrong with a little name dropping!!) But seriously, I’d love to hear what you think it?

 

How to follow a blog using Reader

Hello!

So if you read my post from last Monday, where I showed you how my friend Amy explained how to follow a blog, this is a follow up to that. Some of you may already use something to follow your blogs, like Google Reader, but if you have no idea what I’m talking about, then your day is about to get a whole lot better!!!!

Google Reader will simplify your world when it comes to following blogs. It basically keeps all of your subscriptions organized for you in one place. Kinda like TIVO!…Now are you with me?! So all of the blogs you follow will be updated every time you log in.

And the best part is you can pick and choose which posts you want to read!

So if trying out the yummy cupcakes I made will send you into a sugar induced shame spiral or reading about my insanely cute find from Old Navy will trigger your shopping addiction, in which you frantically add 15 items to your online shopping cart because of Free Shipping, then by all means, stop yourself! But if you can’t stand to miss one single post, then this will help you with that too! It’s all about options people!

Now I’m going to show you what I’m talking about. Look for the Pink Arrow in my fancy-shmancy demonstration!

This part is a little repetitive from Amy’s post, so bare with me. First you want to subscribe to the blog by clicking on the RSS Feed symbol. That’s the button on the bottom left.

When you click the RSS Feed symbol, you will get a screen like this. It is asking you to add it to your feed burner, aka your reader. Click on the Goggle Button. You will need a Gmail account, to use Google Reader.

Ok, so now you have added a blog to your Reader. To get to your Reader and begin reading the blogs you have subscribed to, just go to the Google homepage, and select the More tab at the top. It will drop down a list of options and you can select Reader.

Once you have logged in and are in your Reader, it will look something like this! Super organized and easy to use. A little preview is generated on the main page for you. All of your subscriptions will be listed on the left.

I hope this helps you. I know I was so relieved once I started using Reader. No more bookmarking or Googling to keep up with your favorites. And if you really want to get hooked, add it to your phone. The app I use is called Feedler, but there are several to choose from. This is not the same as Google Reader, but you can sync it with your Google Reader account.

So now that everyone knows how to follow a blog and can read it in Google Reader, I’d love to know which blogs are your favorite. I’m always looking for new ones to follow.