Skincare Favorites

After receiving a compliment on my skin today I decided to post my current skincare favorites. I have been using a cleanser sample from Clarins that received great reviews and now I love it even more that I got a compliment (of course!). It is the Cleansing Milk with Gentian.

My daily cleanser has always been Cetaphil:

Lancome products are one of my favorite skincare lines. I love their Absolue moisturizer in the winter months. It is so rich and creamy. It feels amazing on my face. I have only ever used samples of this product because it's just too expensive right now. Lancome gives out the best samples though and if you order directly from their website and become a member they will include samples with every order. I have even gotten full size lipsticks for free. My favorite product is their High Resolution Eye Cream. I use it every morning and night and it lasts at least six months.

Another one of my favorite products is Eucerin. I use the daily lotion for both morning and night moisturizer during the warmer months. It's also great for hands and body. My Mom's and I dermatologists have both recommended using Eucerin as a daily face moisturizer. Both have said it's just as good as the expensive stuff and does wonders for your skin over time. My Mom's skin is an example. She uses the Eucerin cream every night and her skin is amazing.

Please share your skincare favorites!

Spring Favorites at Gap for Girls

polka a dot one-piece / print top / flutter dress / eyelet top

piped dress / dandelion dress / ribbed cardigan

chambray dress / leopard swimsuit / cardigan

Some of my favorites right now at Gap for baby girls. I keep picking out yellow tops. I think I am ready for the sun! I also love the little flutter dresses and leopard swimsuit for both of my girls.

Luscious List

What do you think of my new play on words title? This will be a weekly post and will include items I am loving at the moment. A new fun element to my blog.

1) I received a Garnet Hill catalog last week for the first time and am loving this welcome mat. It is 20% off today. Also, love the lanterns pictured.

2) I am working on a gallery wall in our upstairs hallway. I'd like to include white and natural wood frames. I was hoping Crate and Barrel would have this one in white, but it's not online. I'm planning a trip to the store this week so I'll check there, too. Since it is a large wall I'd like to add a large collage frame and surround it with single frames. I like this one from Target and this one, too.

3) I've been wanting this cookbook ever since I checked it out of our local library, which includes gourmet meals with healthy ingredients. I love Pinterest, but it's nice to still use traditional cookbooks once in a while!

4) This Pottery Barn gold pull.

5) These wall decals. I follow Urban Walls on Instagram and they are always posting fab spaces with their decals. I'm thinking they would be a fun addition to Summer's closet that I am planning to paint.

Stars

Mini Hearts

Weekend Recap

Saturday I met a friend for coffee at my favorite cafe, Velvet Sky. We worked together about 8 years ago, lost touch, and saw each other again while touring a preschool last week. We had great conversation and I'm so glad we reconnected. Plus, it's nice to have another Mom to have a play date with. The girls had a friend's one year birthday party, but unfortunately we had to miss it because of the weather. Instead, we went to Barnes and Noble (we hang out in the kids section with the books, train table, and Lego table), then got a quick dinner at Elevation Burger. Luckily I had Mum-Mums with me to keep Summer occupied while we ate. Here is she looking oh so cute in her leopard cardigan:

When we got home Ellie helped me feed Summer for the first time. She is such a great help and an awesome big sister. She had Summer laughing while eating. Too cute.

Today we had another 1st birthday party for my cousin's son, Nate. His nickname is "Nator Gator" so they did an alligator-theme party. I wish I got some pictures of the decorations, but I snapped one of the adorable and very generous party favors. The girls had a lot of fun and it was a nice afternoon spending time with family we don't get to see often.

Our favorite baby monitor suddenly died last week (Summer Infant Video Monitor). We cannot live without it. It has been one of our best baby purchases. So, we headed over to Babys R' Us on Friday. We had been using two different monitors for each Ellie and Summer so we wanted to buy a double monitor this time. We ended up buying this Motorola Digital Baby Monitor with two wireless monitors. It is amazing!! We can use the monitor to rotate, zoom, or tilt the cameras while the girls are sleeping. Since there is one monitor we can switch back and forth to each bedroom. The features are awesome and we are loving the upgrades from the Summer Infant. 

My in laws brought over some cute Valentine outfits for the girls from Carters, as well as a cute outfit, jean jacket and sunglasses for Ellie and shoes for Summer. I love the white jean jacket. She had a Gap one last year and it went with everything. I also love the matching heart shirts. This definitely calls for a Valentine's photo shoot!

And, a picture of me and my girls today:

 (Summer, 8 months, and Ellie, two years, 9 months)

 Summer: Gap dress

Ellie: Gymboree dress

Me: J.Crew zipper sweater

Recent Purchases

Last weekend I stopped in Old Navy to check out their clearance rack for the girls. I bought Summer two tops for a total of $5. They are 6-12 months so I'm thinking these will be great for the spring with skinny jeans.

I also bought myself a new pair of jeans after the button came off of my favorite Forever 21 jeans. These were one of my favorite pair of post pregnancy (Ellie) jeans and were only $10 so they were well-loved. I bought a new pair on sale at American Eagle- the High Rise Jegging. Loving them!

I ordered these shorts (also AE) last weekend when their clearance was an additional 20% off with free shipping. I live in jean shorts during the summer and I love these two additions, especially the one with the flowers. I can see myself wearing both with a white blouse and sandals. They are both still available online.

Floral Denim Shortie

Colored Denim Midi Short

I also scored these red skinny jeans for only $10 at Gap. I wore them last weekend with boots, but I will also wear them with flats. I love the zippers at the ankle. I love great deals like these, especially when I know they will gets lots of wear.

I was disappointed this year with the winter sales at the Gap for the girls. The past two years I found amazing deals after Christmas for Ellie and Summer, but not this year. Anyone else? I feel like it's because they had so many great deals over the Holiday season that there isn't any stock left. So far I have nothing for next fall or winter for the girls. Anywhere else I should look?

Snow Days + Homemade Granola Recipe

Yesterday and today were snow days. We got about a foot of snow. My husband, being a teacher, had early dismissal yesterday and was off today. Ellie and I did lots of puzzles, played with her flash cards (practicing letters), and did arts and crafts while Summer napped. We also painted with watercolors, which I could do for hours. So fun.

Summer watching the snow before her nap!

Ellie and I got dressed and played in the backyard for a bit before I went out for a run. It was beautiful out and I love running in the snow. Such a great workout, too. I wore my favorite cold weather running items and put on the only long socks I own (VS Pink). I had a friend ask (on Instagram) if I wear Yaktrax. I do not and have never tried them, but I ran in the fresh snow in the street, which was not slippery. The snow that had been driven on was too slippery. The worst part was running into the snow. My face was so cold that I ended up turning around and running backwards against it. Much better and a fantastic leg/butt workout! It was a good 25-minute run.

Nike Pro Tights / Under Armour Tank / Nike Pro L/S Top 

Brooks Running Jacket / J.Crew Hat / VS Pink Socks  

Asics Gel Kayano Sneakers

We dusted off her toys (she loves this), went down her snowy slide, played soccer, threw dusty snowballs at each other, and I pulled her up and down the street in her sled. Can you tell we like pink?! Ellie's snowsuit and jacket are Gap and her pom pom hat is Target.

I like when I have time during the day to cook. While dinner was cooking in the crock pot, I made my favorite kale salad for lunch with a Smart veggie hot dog. I also made homemade granola inspired by this Pinterest recipe.

Homemade Granola

adapted via

 Ingredients:

1 cup old fashioned oats

1/4 cup shredded coconut flakes (reduced-fat)

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup sliced almond

1/4 cup ground flax seed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all ingredients. Refrigerate for thirty minutes. I experimented with my own measurements. Next time I will add a little less honey. My husband and I ate this right out of the bowl and I used as a topping on my Greek yogurt. Delicious. I love that I made it healthier (and added filling fiber) with the ground flax seed. You could also substitute chia seeds. Enjoy!

I have been looking for more recipes to use old fashioned oats since I have a few containers of them in my cabinet. My husband and I use the quick oats for our oatmeal in the mornings. Last week I made crock pot oatmeal and yesterday I tried a new version of energy bites. Next time I will make them into balls. They would make a perfect quick snack for Ellie and I during the day.

Five on Friday

1) I picked up these cookies from Trader Joe's while I was buying more coffee and they are so good. I love gingerbread cookies. They are soft and chewy and a perfect combination with my coffee in the morning.

2) I finally finished painting this monogram my friend, Lauren, gave to me for my birthday. It will be hung in our bedroom this weekend!

3) Three of my favorite things: gold, pink, and leopard. Love these note cards, by Made by Girl:

4) Ellie is loving this new wall art I added to the playroom bathroom. Both the frames and postcards are from Ikea. I love the colorful animals. I hung them with small command strips.

5) I am just about finished my office wall gallery. I just have to print a few more pictures and it will be complete (for now):

 

Love this quote, "Life is a Beautiful Ride," via Lily and Val. Happy weekend!

Inspiration

I am not a fan of the Kardashians, but I do love their sense of style in their homes, especially Kourtney's. In Style featured her home and I love it, especially her daughter's nursery because it reminds me a little of Summer's room with the pink and aqua and tassel garland. I also love the dark chevron in the window coverings and wallpaper in the kitchen. I like the black/white/gold color theme throughout her home. I like that she extended the paint to the ceilings in some rooms and added surfboards to the playroom ceiling.

via