Shoes, glorious shoooeeeessssss

Sung to the tune of ' food, glorious foooooooood' from Ice Age.

For a few weeks I've been on the look out for a pair of really good, comfortable walking shoes. Mainly for our trip to Sweden this summer, because I will be walking around all day most days (one reason why I LOVE Europe.)

I have the most comfortable tennis shoes that i wear on long walks- but let's face it, I will be wearing lot's of cute summer dresses, and my tennis shoes added won't exactly make for a cute outfit.

I also have a couple pair of nice leather sandals that I love to wear with dresses and can walk just fine in them for a long time. But this is Sweden in the summer, rain during our 2 week stay is inevitable, and leather sandals + rain, puddles don't mix.

Two weekends ago we were at the mall and I decided to take a look through The Walking Company. I ended up finding TWO pairs that I loved, were super comfortable AND relatively cute. I ended up going with a pair of taos. Apparently I have a super high arch- and need the added support.

Last Friday they finally arrived- and I decided to test them out at the zoo on Saturday. Normally I wouldn't try out new shoes if I'm going to be walking in them for hours at a time the first time- but these were Perfect! Unbelievably comfortable. After hours at the zoo pushing Jasper in the stroller, having part of Jasper's juice spilled on the front of them- they held up amazingly. Comfortable- cute-durable. What more could I want in a shoe??

I think these shoes will serve me well when I'm walking around Stockholm this summer.

A few of my favorite things...Jojoba oil

When I was back in Iowa over Christmas break I made a point to go to Des Moines (30 min. from my mom's) to check out the new Trader Joe's. While I was there I of course bought several bought of ridiculously cheap wine (THREE DOLLARS FOR A BOTTLE) Can you believe that?!?!?

While wandering the isle I found a bottle of organic jojoba oil- so I decided to give it a shot. Let me start off by saying I've got pretty 'normal' skin, not too dry, not too oily- but in the Colorado winters it can get a little dry from time to time. Since I started using it? Not a single dry spot. Amazing right? Also? The hubbs has been having a little dry scalp issue (sorry Drew) but two nights of this, and it;s completely Gone. A few drops of this oil did what Heads&Shoulders couldn't do. Amazing.

Here's what I use it for:
As a Moisturizer, for my hands, a tiny bit on my face from time to time when I'm feeling extra dry, on my scalp if needed.

As Make up Remover- i put a little bit on a cotton ball- and use it to take off my mascara (really the only make up I use) it works Great!

As Cuticle Oil- my cuticles had been looking pretty nasty lately- I need a manicure BADLY- but the last two nights I've rubbed a little oil on them, and they are seriously looking way better.

As Conditioner- I've mixed a little oil in w/ my regular condition. I've only done it twice so I can't tell a difference yet, but it feels nice!

As Massage Oil--last week I conned my hubby into giving me a massage. This oil happened to be on my nightstands, so I had him rub oil in...and let me say it was Nice.

So far I haven't found much that I Can't do with this oil! My impulse buy is turning out to have been a great one! So if you have a Trader Joe's near you- I recommend that you rush to your nearest one and stock up on some jojoba oil! I've already requested that my mom pick me up some more so I can grab it when we are home for a friends wedding next month.

**Can you believe I'm NOT getting paid by jojoba OR Trader Joe's? I Really just love the product and wanted to share with you.

A few of my favorite things.. Lbri Facial Masque

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to win L'Bri products from a blog giveaway. I did some research on the company after I received my package in the mail and was really excited to find out that they use natural ingredients in the products. Big bonus

One of the products I received was L'Brie Pure n' Natural Facial Masque. This product claims to be an instant non surgical face life, tones tightens and firms your skin, removes dead skin and smooths your skin among other things. All of those things sounded great to me!  The first time I used it I spread the gel like substance on while watching TV. I wasn't really paying attention. All of a sudden my skin started to feel like it was tightening. And it sorta hurt. After the ten minutes (ish) wasn't really paying attention to the time very well, I went to go rinse my face off. When I looked in the mirror I almost screamed out- except I couldn't because my face was covered in this hard plastic like substance. I wish I would have taken a picture- because I resembled a burn victim or something. Scary looking. It felt like I had undergone botox(not that I know what that feels like..yet) but I was unable to really move my face. I scrubbed the gunk off instantly- which hurt a big. Cursing myself for not reading more about this product. After I got it off my face was red for about 20 minutes. I vowed never to use this product again....

About 30 min. later I went to check to see if my face was still red. It wasn't. But honestly now my face felt, and looked cleaner, smoother and possibly even tighter. I only say possibly because at this point I had only used it once. But my face looked and felt great!

I tried this product a few days later, this time making sure to only leave it on for ten minutes, and it still felt a little tightening and it dried on my face, and didn't exactly feel great coming off either, but if it's doing what it promises (tightening and smoothing my skin while getting rid of dead skin cells) then a little discomfort is totally worth it! Beauty is pain ladies!!

Time will tell if this really does do all that it promises, but after a few uses I feel like I look younger and fresher, and my skin hasn't felt this great in a long time! This will definitely be a regular product of mine during the long, harsh Colorado winter!

My Skin Care routine: Part One: Face Smoothing Polish

Friends are frequently asking me what I Do with my skin to make it ' so perfect' those are seriously their words- frequently. Having great skin is honestly not something I ever thought about growing up. I remember in Jr. High actually being jealous because all my friends were always complaining about zits and pimples and I had Nothing to ad. I felt left out of those conversations--laaame I know. In college when I moved out to CO my skin became SO dry- there was a huge spot on my face that was seriously so dry that I would sleep with a huge gob of vasaline on my face. Everyone told me I would end up with bad acne by doing that- but having never had a pimple I said I didn't care. Well the vasaline never did give me a pimple.

And then I got pregnant. And all of a sudden I would randomly get zits- and they HURT! Now I get what people have been complaining about. When I was pregnant I got about a zit a month- which may not seem like anything to some of you, but when you go 20 yrs w/o one and all of a sudden you have them? I thought it was the end of the world.

Obviously I'm not pregnant anymore and my skin went back to be 'perfect' except a random dry spot, but  I've started taking better care of my skin. I used to go to bed with make up- never ever wash my face..seriously, and never do anything except the random slab of moisturizer. Now I'm almost obsessed with my skin care. So I thought I would share some of the products I've tried.

My first product I want to share- Organic Face Smoothing Polish from Target. I think it was like $8 and as soon as this is up I'll be heading back for more.

I use it about twice a week in the shower- and it never leaves my face feeling dry AT ALL- and this is Colorado people.

It's a gentle exfoliater (is that even a word??) and removes dead skin and crap. It leaves my face super smooth and even toned. That's the one problem I'll randomly have, I feel like my skin isn't always the exact same tone through out my face and THIS seriously solves that problem.

Bonus? It feels really awesome on your skin as you are rubbing it in. It's like Christmas morning every time I use it.

A few of my favorite things..

I love finding products- ANY products that I end up loving. I  waste a LOT of money on products that I end up hating- so I figured I'd start a segment featuring products that I Love. Anything form toddler gear, make up/lotions cooking gadgets, household stuff--if I find it and Love it I'll let you know so hopefully you won't waste your money on unsatisfactory products.

The first products I want to rave about is....


Dior Show Iconic Mascara

First off let me say I've never bought the same mascara twice- every couple of months I like to try a new one- and I've never been in Love with a mascara. And since most days thats my only make up ritual I'm always on the hunt for a new fabulous mascara- and THIS IS IT!!

When shopping for make up for my upcoming wedding someone suggested this so I decided to give it a try even though the price tag is a little more than some- but a good mascara is priceless!! I don't have any good shots of my eyelashes the day of our wedding- but here is Kind of one, but you might just have to take my word for the fact that my eyelashes looked amazing.


What I love about it: Its NOT clumpy
                                 One coat is all you will need
                                 I didn't even need to curl my eyelashes- this did it for me!
                                 Made my eyelashes look even thicker/longer
                                 Even though I don't think it said water proof there was def. some tear shedding that                       day and none smeared or came off! I applied ONE coat at 2:30 PM and when I left our reception at 1:30 AM it still looked amazing