My favorite products…ask Santa for these!

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So one of my favorite things about the blog world is that I get real feedback on products.  I’m always interested in what people use and love…it always saves me money.  Since it’s almost Christmas I thought you may be like some ideas for yourself or other lovies.

First, I never spend money on makeup, but I scored some Bobbi Brown from a friend this summer, and fell completely in love.  I am typically a mineral makeup girl, but this is light and easy and feels like moisturizer.  I use it with my very favorite thing in the whole world, this setting spray from Urban Decay. I got it at Ulta for about $30…I know it’s a lot…BUT I never have to touch up my makeup. I have oily skin, like embarrassingly oily, makeup sliding off my face by the time I get in the car, re-apply 10 times a day oily; but this makes my BB stays put all day (I use Cover Girl powder in the morning too to soften and set).  If you don’t have an oil bucket on your face there are other Urban Decay products for you too!

 

I also have these jeggings from Mossimo at Target.  I fought this trend, I really did. I wore my skinnier jeans and let them twist 360 in my boots, and bunch around my knees, and squeeze my stomach so my muffin-top was loud and proud. Then I gave in on a $20 whim at Target.  I am in love. My friends are wearing them now:) I wash them inside out and add a little salt to the wash to keep the color dark.  They have real bum pockets and seams for the front pockets and zipper, so they look like jeans not PJ’s with printed on stitches (gag).  These beauties aren’t available online anymore, so you may have to actually fight the Christmas traffic, but it’s totally worth it.

Last, but certainly not least, are my favorite boots by Clarks. I actually have last year’s design, but this is so similar.  These lovies are an investment at the price, but 100% worth it because the color is perfect to match black, brown, gray and navy.   The design is sorta a hybrid cowboy style with a mid-height heel and plenty of sass. I bought the weather-proofer from Clarkes and they sloshed through icey-rain all year.  If anything they run big, but I have a super narrow foot. So you could do your true-size or half down in a pinch.  They broke in with no pain and I get compliments each time I step out in them.

If you have a fav product I need to try do tell in the comments!!

Have a great day ya’ll!

Celia’s new blog design

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I had such fun working on this blog design for my friend Celia.  She wanted something classy, sophisticated and colorful…so her…so cute.  You check out her blog here. Or better yet go here for my fav thing, her Swedish tea ring (and her tips on it here). She has amazing recipes, and such good photos and instructions:)

Here’s a better look at her pinterest board.

Learn more about blogs by checking out my blog design process.

 

Brown paper bag Christmas printable

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For all those awkwardly-shaped gifts that will need wrapping very soon, here is a nice brown paper bag printable.

It’s super easy, just download the image by clicking it below to open in a new window, then right-click and save it on your computer, set your printer paper size to 5.25″ by 10.75″, and load up your printer with a paper bag (feet first).  The image will print upside down so you can feed the feet through first, because feeding that frayed top through is practically impossible. And I like to print on the side without the vertical seem as shown above.  You may have to hand-feed each one while talking nicely to your printer:)

I added a folded tent of black paper, punched 2 holes and threaded some crazy raffia through to secure it. You could also use ribbon or add an ornament. Merry Christmas present wrapping!

 

For the People Project: mason jar candles

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Good Morning friends! You know how much I like to buy for a good cause…

So when I found these candles handcrafted by the For the People Project, I pounced right on them. Each candle is packaged in an American-made glass mason jar with handle and gives 100 hours of burn time. And that’s not all! Check out the cute kraft label with original artwork, explanation of the cause and scripture reference.


I love the rich color in the Harvest Blessings candle, which smells of pumpkin, cinnamon and gingerbread. yum. yum. yum!

Oh, and this one smells of buttercream. Yes please.

Candles are brand new to their product line, they also sell hand made cards, journals, and gift tags.  You can read more about them below and orders your candles here.

“For The People Project is part of a non-profit organization that employs recovering drug and alcohol addicts to individually hand paint and hand stamp its Hand Made Card, Journal and Gift Tag lines. We not only provide a job for those working to overcome life controlling addictions, but we also teach life skills that our employees will use as they transition back into society following addiction rehabilitation.”

A Listening Heart Etsy store header & button

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Jessica is a sweet friend who makes aprons to help pay her way through college.   She also writes poetry and we found, “A Listening Heart” in one of her recent writings.  Immediately it had to be the name of her crafty designs. I designed this Etsy banner for her upcoming shop and included a button for friends to promote her on their blogs.