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Leah Tackles CHRISTMAS! Series Intro!!

October 8, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Okay, I know, it’s only October, but I want to introduce my Christmas series now so that if things I share interest you, you’ll have plenty of time to do them before the holiday season really creeps up on us!! I want to share gift guides, how I plan, DIY projects, how I budget, how I put aside extra money for the holidays, Elf On the Shelf ideas, holiday fashion, holiday traditions…the list goes on! If there are things you are interested in or would like to suggest that I post on, please let me know! I want to do what you want to read : )

Today I want to share where I start every year with my holiday planning: lists!

#1 iPhone Notes (or similar phone app)

I use the notes feature on my iPhone all year long and if I see things that the kids love, if they mention toys to me, or if I randomly think of something it goes onto a note on my phone. I don’t do anything fancy with these notes, but they a good basic that I start with every year as I begin to shop.

#2 Paper Lists for EVERYTHING

*Note: These pages are EXAMPLES and I have not included all of my lists or my lists in their entirety.

I use a large legal pad or notebook to write out a list the old fashioned way for EVERYTHING Chirstmas you could imagine. Here are some of the things I like to make lists for:

-Gift ideas

-Who we need gifts for

-DIY projects I want to do

-Recipes I want to do

-Elf On the Shelf ideas

-Decoration ideas

-“To-Buy” list for Christmas items we need that are not presents (ie: lights, decor, cookie cutters, etc)

#3 Buying Timeline List

I know some people buy a year in advance, some do it ALL on Black Friday, and some people do it the last shopping days before Christmas…and none of those are wrong! There is no wrong way to shop, you just have to figure out what works for you, your budget, and your family. For me, I like to slowly pick things up as I go but do the majority closer to the holiday. I also will store gifts that the kids may have recieved for birthdays or the Christmas before but weren’t quite ready for, because those make great gifts as well.

#4 Christmas Outfits List

I like to begin planning our Christmas outfits in fall so that I have plenty of time to gather what we need and it doesn’t break the piggy bank. I may do a seperate post on Christmas fashion, but for the most part in our family we do this:

-Christmas Eve Outfits (these are our dressy outfits)

-Christmas Outfits for Santa and other holiday events

-Christmas Jammies…oh yes, we are those people!

And just for fun, here are some pictures of some of our projects AND memories from Christmas 2013 : )

I hope that you don’t think I’m *too* crazy for titling a post about Chirstmas already and that you enjoyed this : ) Please don’t forget to let me know what you’d like to see for Christmas or holiday posts by commenting (click the link by the title of this post!).

Gallery Wall and Desk/Vanity Overview!!

August 20, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Today I want to share a tour of my gallery wall and vanity with you. Because of limited space, my desk functions as my workspace and also has my vanity mirror and makeup brushes on it. I keep all of my makeup in a seperate storage unit next to my desk and that is a post for another day! Before I launched Leah Tackles I knew that I needed a space that was filled with beautiful things that I love, with a great chair and an inspirational gallery wall where I could work…oh, and also a desk ; ) Below I will share pictures as well as websites for some of my favorites things from my gallery wall.

MY GALLERY WALL AND DESK/VANITY SET UP:

MY FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP FOR PRETTIES FOR MY WALL:

1) Pearls and Pastries Shop

This is where I get most of my gorgeous prints and where I get my sequin hangers!! Plus, Lauren is the sweetest : )

2) White Faux Taxidermy

This is where I got my *adoreable* jackalope…isn’t she the cutest?!

3) Studio Mucci

How gorgeous are these tassle garlands?! I need about 10-15 more of these and then I’ll be set ; )

4) Ooh La La Finds

My “Press For Champagne” frame is one of my favorite pieces! My sweet hubs knew I was swooning over them and got me one for Mother’s Day this year : ) Thanks bugs!

If you have any questions of any of the other pieces on my wall or vanity please ask away in the comments below and I will be sure to get back to you!! To comment, just click the link by the title of this post!! It’s easy, promise : )

PopSugar Must Have Box August 2014!!

August 18, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!! Annnnd Happy PopSugar time!! This is one of my favorite posts of the month to share with all of you!!

Before we get started: Don’t forget to check out my column Leah’s Friday Five on the Pearls and Pastries Shop Blog! This past Friday was all about my favorite fall boots and where I shop for them!!

Today I am reviewing the PopSugar Must Have Box for August 2014!! The box contains full size items in all different categories:food, beauty, fashion, home, and sometimes an extra goodie too! The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10th-15th of every month for me…it ships from California via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. I am really enjoing this months box so far, so let’s jump into it!

August 2014 Must Have Box:

I want to mention that I did think that the packaging was not done very well this month : / And I have heard from others that there boxes also were not packed very securely. I thought for sure one item that is made of glass would be broken, and the most delicate thing in the box had slipped out of it’s packaging and was loose : ( I have only ever had 2 boxes with a damaged item in the 20 months that I have had the subscription, and PopSugar is always great about replacing things, but I hope the packaging is back to normal next month!

Celebrate Cookie Mix from The Mason Jar Cookie Company:

$12

My 3 year old LOVES to bake in the kitchen with me, and sometimes it is so nice to have the mix pre-made so that I save some clean up and time!! My daughter still gets the joy of mixing and working in the kitchen, so it’s a win-win! We haven’t tried this one yet, but I love the packaging and with sprinkles and chocolate what’s not to love?!

Lush Fruit Lip from Bite Beauty:

$22

I have been swooning over the Lush lipsticks for months now, so I was super excited to find this lip gloss in my box! The color was created especially for PopSugar subscribers for the 2 year anniversary of the Must Have Box. It is a nice hint of color, and it is a bit sticky but I actually like that to a point because it stays on the lips longer. I love that this lip gloss is naturally nourishing with strawberry, coconut, and avocado oils.

Purple Meal and Dipper Set from Goodbyn:

We already have one of these bento style boxes, but it gets tons of use, and with my daughter starting pre-school (ah!!) soon we are happy to have another. This is dishwasher safe, and I love the seperate little compartments.

Ocean Tide + Sea Salt Mini Jar Candle from Paddywax:

$10

I have burned this several times already and I am really impressed!! I usually gravitate towards 3 wick candles exclusively because I want a candle that will have a throw that will really fill the room, but this is a powerful little thing! It smells SO good, it’s hard to find a beachy scented candle that doesn’t overwhelm you with suncreen or coconut, and this candle is able to with the nice sea salt scent.

At Last Perfumed Shower Gel from Lollia:

$22

I haven’t tried this yet, but I always love getting fancy bath products in my box : ) This smells nice and I am excited to try it out.

Elle Earrings in Slate from Kendra Scott:

$52

This are easily my favorite item in the box which is really saying something since I rarely wear dangly earrings (2 little kiddos and another on the way…so maybe in 3-4 years I can wear them more!) but these are stunning! I think they’ll look great with so many things and can’t wait to wear them for a date night with Stephan : )

Special Extra:

Brownie Crunch High Protein Bar from thinkThin:

I originally tried a thinkThin bar because of Pop Sugar back in February of 2013, and they are a great option for a high protein bar. I haven’t tried this one yet, but I love tossing these in my bags for those “I-need-energy/food-now!” moments! Having a healthier option stops me from making a bad decision (ahhhhm candy bars!).

Overall I am really excited about this months box! I am so excited for fall this year, so I am hoping that next month has some fun things as well that are more fall geared. I was disapointed by the packaging, but the items made up for it! And as always, this box is WELL worth the $39 price point! This box totals $126 not counting the special extra.

Do you subscribe to PopSugar? What other subscription boxes do you enjoy? I love hearing what other people subscribe to and what they are loving!!

Before you go, don’t forget to enter the TWO giveaways that are currently running on the blog!!

#1 Arbonne Sea Salt Scrub

#2 Chloe + Isabel Jewelry

I hope you have a wonderful start to your week!! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog : ) XOXO

All About Our Michigan Girls Blogging and Social Media Meet Up!!

July 21, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I am still swooning thinking about how magical this weekend was for me! I got the opportunity to co-host a meet up for bloggers, social media rockstars, and all-around AMAZING women! Lauren, of the fabulous Pearls and Pastries Shop, asked me to help her organize a meet up and we made it a reality! I am *so proud* of that! Lauren and I met on Instagram ourselves, tried and failed to meet up before (hey, life gets so crazy!!), but we had only talked via phone, text, and email before this weekend! The room was filled with so many talented girls, and I feel so blessed to be to have spent a lovely afternoon mingling with them : ) I will stop myself before I gush on and just share some pictures ; )

I hope that you enjoyed seeing these pictures!! I am still on cloud nine! Lauren and I got dinner afterwards and were already chatting about next year!!! We want it to be bigger, better, and just as sparkly!!

How To Organize and Store 1,500 DVDS in a Small Space!!!

July 14, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi There!! Happy Monday!

When my husband and I first moved in together we were fresh out of college living in a small apartment. We stored our now huge combined collection of DVDs on a floor to ceiling bookcase and that worked fine….for awhile! Fast-forward to living in our first house with two toddlers…the DVDs on a bookcase wasn’t going to cut it! For one, I don’t like the way it looks in a room that is a central focus in our home. But even more importantly, DVDs left out where the kiddos could reach isn’t an option! At first we just had all of our DVDs in a giant bin in our basement, but we ended up never watching any of them or when we wanted to we had to dig through all of the unorganized DVDs. Finally, I decided to tackle the DVD project. I knew that we had close to 1,500 DVDs ( I know, I know….craaazy!) to store and that I wanted it to be organized….so today I share what I did to organize a LOT of DVDs.

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR DVDS:

1) I bought 3 cases off of eBay that were very similar to this although I can not find the exact case anymore. I do know that sometimes eBay stores/sellers will give you the option to “make an offer” and TOTALLY take advantage of that!! Obviously you don’t want to make a super low-ball offer, but especially if you’re buying 2 or 3 cases, it is worth seeing if you can get a little bit knocked off.

2) I seperated all of our DVDs by genre (you can do as many or as few categories as you want) and then alphabetized the DVDs. Alphabetizing them is optional, but I love the way it turned out and it didn’t take too much extra time.

3) I put the DVDs into the cases by genre and in alphabetical order.

4) I typed up all of the movies, printed out the sheets, and put them in clear page protectors to have at the front of the cases for quick reference. This step is totally optional!! I do realize that as we buy more DVDs there won’t be spaces to put them into and that they won’t be on the list, but for now my plan is to just add them (overlap the DVDs where needed) and write the title in pen wherever it would alphabetically be on the list. I don’t think it will be too big of a problem since we hardly ever buy DVDs anymore. We are BIG into Netflix and Hulu Plus, so we rarely add to our hardcopy collection. If you have any better ideas for what to do when I add more DVDs, please let me know! I would love ideas!! : )

5) Enjoy your perfectly organized DVDs!! I know this project make seem super time consuming, but I did it all over a couple of evenings while watching TV with my husband, Stephan. I *love* the way that this turned out and it is so nice to be able to easily find a movie or show on DVD to watch!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! How do you store your DVDs? I would love to hear what other people do! I hope that you have a fabulous start to your week : )

DON’T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY FOR A BEAUTIFUL BRACELET FROM ELL AND EMM!! A $42 VALUE!!

5 Great Summer Hostess Gift Ideas!!

June 27, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Friday!!

Whenever you are invited into someones home for a party or over to dinner it is kind to bring a gift to show your appreciation.Today I want to share 5 ideas for hostess (or host!) gifts that will make sure you’re always on the invite list! My column, Leah’s Friday Five, on The Pearls and Pastries Blog today will also be featuring 5 more ideas for hostess gifts!

#1 Pie or Other Dessert

A pie is such a nice gesture, and something that can be shared at the dinner or party. It would be so sweet to include the recipe, or to bake it in a pretty pie plate! My favorite pie plates are the ones with the recipe written on the plate…so retro and cute!

#2 Serving Plate

A decorative serving plate that can be displayed or used is also such a nice gift! The one shown was a gift and I adore it! Along with that, I think everyone likes pretty much anything that has their schools mascot or logo on it…I know I do!

#3 King Cube Tray or Other Cocktail Trinket

I have talked about the King Cube Tray before, and that is because I love this thing! It can be used for cocktails, but it’s also great for lemonade and iced tea!

#4 Go Vino Go Anywhere Flutes

These are SO awesome! I think anyone would appreciate these because they are so unique and would be perfect for a picnic or out on the boat.

#5 A Candle

I am a big fan of the 3-Wick candles from Bath and Body Works, but I finally got a Diamond Candle from a sweet sweet friend which I’ve been wanting to try for a loooong time now.

What do you like to take to parties to thank your host or hostess? I would love to hear your ideas! You can click the link by the title of this post to leave a comment : ) Have a wonderful day!!

APRIL LIFESTYLE FAVORITES AND BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!!!

May 2, 2014 & 1 Comment

Hi There! HAPPY FRIDAY!! : )

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!
I am THRILLED to announce that I am going to be writing a bi-weekly column for Pearls and Pastries Shop blog!! I wrote a guest post, Guest Blogger-Leah Tackles, and am so excited to be a part of it regularly now! My column is called Leah’s Friday Five, and my first post went up today! I will still be posting on the same Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule on Leah Tackles. Please check out my column as well as the rest of Lauren’s blog and her AMAZING Pearls and Pastries Shop on Etsy!

Now today as promised I want to do a quick and to the point post on my lifestyle favorites for the month of April!

APRIL LIFESTYLE FAVORITES:

iPhone App:

Groovebook

This app costs $2.99/month and you can print up to 100 photos from your phones photo albums! I love this for scrapbooking and because I am horrible about not printing photos for months at a time!!

TV Show:

Hart of Dixie

I have loved Rachel Bilson since her days on The O.C (I bonded with my college roommates instantly over that show!) and she is just as lovable in this. The show is about a doctor, Zoe (Rachel Bilson), from NYC who ends up living in a tiny town in Alabama…hilarity ensues ; ) But my favorite part of the show is the fashion! Oh my goodness I love it!! I want it all!

Book:

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I am in the middle of listening to this on Audible.com and I think it’s such an awesome idea! Even if you only take a way a few pieces of advice or ideas, I think it’s worth a listen. The book is about her journey each month working on different aspects of her life over the course of a year to make her life happier.

Girl Power Favorite:

Gretchen Rubin

She is the author of The Happiness Project, and I just think it’s pretty gutsy for someone to admit that they are happy but could be happier : )

Workout:

C25K iPhone App

I did the Couch to 5K early last year and loved it! I recently had been trading in my 30 minute runs for walks and needed a way to get back into running! And this app works! I hadn’t been running since having my daughter in 2011 and when I first used this app I was skeptical. I love it!

Song:

Dark Horse by Katy Perry

I.Can’t.Stop.Singing.This!

Movie:

Frozen

My 3 year old just got this for her birthday! HOW CUTE! I already loved the songs, now I am hooked on the movie too! It’s SO good!

Food:

Blue Diamond Natural Oven Roasted Almonds in Dark Chocolate

One of my best friends sent me some of these in a care package over a year ago and I have been hooked ever since! I like chocolate at night, and these really do the trick! I count out servings (yes, seriously) most of the time so I don’t go too crazy…but you really don’t need to because a few go a long way!

Kale Chips:

Oh my goodness! These are amazing! I have made 3 batches since last week! I am a nighttime snacker! Stephan and I usually stay up pretty late getting things done and getting some kiddo-free time while they are sleeping, so I always want a snack after dinner! I am going to make a kale chip recipe post soon!! : )

Home:

King Cube Tray

This is a silicone ice cube tray that makes giant ice cubes! It is suggested for use in cocktails, but can also be used iced tea or soda. It’s awesome because it doesn’t dilute your drink nearly as much as traditional ice cubes.

Copper Milagro Heart

This is a beautiful rustic copper heart that we got recently as a gift from my mom (thank you!!). The Spanish word “Milagro” means “Miracle” and it’s a beautiful handmade reminded of the miracle of love. I am going to be hanging this over my desk on my gallery wall.

Favorite Moments:

1) My son, Connor, walking!
2) My daughter, Hailey, blowing out her birthday candles!
3) Watching Frozen with my hubster, Steph, while the kids were asleep!

Okay, that’s it : ) I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!! If you have any questions or comments, please let me know! What have been your lifestyle favorites lately? I would love to hear about them! You can comment by clicking the link by the title of this post, or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! And if you enjoyed this post, please subscribe!

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX APRIL 2014!!

April 14, 2014 & 5 Comments

Hi There! Happy Monday!!

I hope you’re having a wonderful start to your week! If you want to make my day, be sure to follow me on social media! The pink button links are at the top of this page! It’s LeahTackles everywhere!

Today I am very excited to be reviewing the April 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box! I have been receiving this subscription service since December 2012 and it is like Christmas every month! I personally love being surprised by what’s in the box, so I steer clear of spoilers! If your April box hasn’t come yet and you want spoilers, keep reading! Here is a little bit about Pop Sugar: The box contains full size items in all different categories…food, beauty, fashion, home, and usually an extra goodie of some kind, too. The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10^th-15^th of every month for me…it ships via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. Today I will quickly go over the March items so you know what I loved and what was maybe so-so for me. When I go over the May box in a post next month I will do a mini review of the items from this month and talk about what I used, didn’t use, liked, or maybe didn’t like as much.

Product titles are also links for more information or to buy online.

Okay, here we go…

MARCH 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX OVERVIEW:

Must Have Food:

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps

$3 Value

Verdict:

I ate these up quickly and really liked them! I was happy to find them shortly after receiving them in my box at my local grocery store. The listed value is $3, but I found them for less than $2, so keep your eyes peeled!

Must Have Beauty:

Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum from Jurlique

$30

Verdict:

I really like this serum! It is a very thin consistency, but I find that only 1-2 pumps is enough to cover my face, neck and décolleté. I have only been using it every few days at night, but I think I am going to be brave and test it during the day on my combination/oily skin to see how it goes! The serum seems to absorb into the skin quickly, so maybe it would work on me for daytime as well.

Must Have Fashion:

Lucky Horseshoe Necklace from Dogeared (*Similar)

$28

Verdict:

I love it! Very cute! I need to remember to wear it more often.

Must Have Fashion:

IKAT Scarf from Brokedown

$72

Verdict:

This is such a fabulous scarf! I have been reaching for it a lot lately, and it’s a great transition piece for spring!

Must Have Fitness:

Mini Stability Exercise Ball from Fusion Pilates (*Similar)

$9.95

Verdict:

I used this only once, right before writing this post so that I could tell you all at least a little something about it. The workouts for this Mini Stability Ball were fairly basic, but as most workouts not quite as easy as they looked! Now that I know how to use it, I need to grab this and give it a try with my exercise routine! I tend to get in exercise slumps where I do the same type of work out over and over! Time to change it up!

Must Have Home:

Elephant Ring Tree Holder from Bauble Bar

$12

Verdict:

I love this still! It looks so cute sitting on top of my jewelry box, and I have two little rings sitting on it looking pretty.

Special Extra:

Whole Wheat Fig Bar from Nature’s Bakery

Verdict:

This was yummy and came in handy when I needed a snack on the go! Would I run out and hunt down this exact bar? No, but it was tasty and I would consider grabbing again if I saw it at the store.

Okay, now onto the good stuff!! This months box!!

APRIL 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX:

Must Have Food:

Pop Sugar Must Have Mix from Nature Box

$5 Value

I have been curious about Nature Box for quite awhile now and was really excited to see something in this PopSugar Must Have Box to try from them. The mix is dried cranberries, corn, soybeans and almonds in it, and it wasn’t something I would have reached for myself, but I really liked it! I almost always have a snack while watching our favorite TV shows with my husband after our kids go to bed, and having healthy snacks like this around keep me from wanting chocolate or other not-so-healthy treats! The fat content is pretty high, it is a trail mix/energy snack after all, but otherwise it’s definitely a healthy option. They also included a coupon for a $9.95 trail month of 5 items, and I am definitely tempted! If you subscribe to Nature Box, do you like it? I would love to hear your thoughts! Let me know by commenting (click the link on the title of this post! Super easy!) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Must Have Home:

Caldrea Rosewater Driftwood Liquid Hand Soap

$10.50 value

I love seeing things like this in the box! I would feel guilty spending too much on hand soap, it’s a spot where I can cut corners or at least get the deals at Bath and Body Works, but I LOVE the little luxury of using them! It is a very nice rose smell, not too overpowering and not at all a fake floral smell that some soaps have.

Must Have Beauty:

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

$36 Value

I was SO excited when I saw this in the box!! I love Too Faced bronzers, lip products, and mascara but I have never tried the eye shadows! Speaking of their eye shadows, I am currently lusting over the Chocolate Bar Palette and know that eventually that must be added to my collection! Has anyone tried either of these palettes? Let me know by leaving a comment (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram ! Anyways, I love neutral eye shadows and was super excited until I noticed powder covering the box while I was opening it : ( One of the eye shadows broke! I know I could try to repair it, but I also sent PopSugar an email to see about sending it back and getting a replacement. It wasn’t wrapped at all sadly, which I was surprised about because I haven’t had that issue in the past. I have only had one other issue in the 17 different boxes I have had since December 2012, so as long as it’s replaced I am not concerned about it, and PopSugar has always had great customer service.

Must Have Fashion:

(XO) Eco Shopper Collapsible Tote Bag from Lauren Conrad for Blue Avocado

$24.99 value

I wasn’t thrilled initially with this bag because I figured it would just be another bag that wasn’t any different than others that I have. However, upon further inspection it’s simple to use and an adorable print! This bag makes me so excited for warmer weather and hopefully heading to some farmer’s markets with my family! So many bags advertise that they fold up “easily”, but this one really does fold up without a struggle. I think it will be functional for so many things, for day trips or barbeques I always have extra stuff I want to bring along and this is a great way to look stylish while doing it. The company Blue Avocado works with other companies and they upcycle by using plastic bottles to make the Blue Avocado products. The Lauren Conrad line from Blue Avocado also has lots of beauty and travel items that are just adorable! She can seriously do no wrong!

Must Have Home:

Pocket Notes from Graphic Image (*Similar)

$20 Value

I LOVE this so much! It says “Run The World” (how CUTE!) on a small periwinkle leather notebook with silver glit edged pages and a little ribbon bookmark. I am already using this, and it’s a perfect addition to toss into my bag or have displayed on my desk.

Must Have Home:

TOTALLY AWESOME: 80’s Sayings Tea Towel Set by Fresh Pastry Stand (an Etsy.com site)

$18 Value

These are cute, and I will definitely use them a lot this summer in the kitchen. They are big enough unfolded that they can be very multi-functional, which I love! I think they’re a fun way to liven up and lighten up the kitchen for spring.

All in all it is another great box from PopSugar! The total value was about $115 (each month $100 value or more is promised!) and for $39 it is well worth it since I will use the products. I am not as excited as I was about last months box (I LOVED last months box, so pretty stiff competition), but I still think I will enjoy and use all of the products in the box! I will keep you posted and put a note at the bottom of this post when I hear from PopSugar about my broken Too Faced palette. If you liked what you saw here, you can subscribe to PopSugar Must Have Box and join in the fun too! It’s the only subscription box I have tried so far, but I am *SOCLOSE* to trying more! Everybody loves fun mail, right?! If you subscribe to any subscription boxes that you love, tell me about it commenting (click the link next to the title of this post), or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! As always, thank you so much for reading this and please subscribe! It’s easy, just enter you email and receive emails only when I upload a new post, and it’ll make my day!

***UPDATE*** PopSugar has emailed me back and are replacing my Too Faced palette! I am SO happy with the customer service and once I have my palette in my hands I think this will bump up to being one of my top boxes so far!! Makeup? Eeek! Too Faced makeup? EEEEEEK!

***ANOTHER UPDATE*** PopSugar sent my replacement and it arrived carefully packaged this time! So excited : )

Easy Contact Paper DIY Project!!

March 17, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!!

Today I want to show you a super simple diy project using contact paper. Contact paper is a thin paper like material that usually has a decorative design on one side and a sticky adhesive on the other side. This weekend was my first experience with contact paper and I want to show you a photo step-by-step how-to. I bought this contact paper several weeks ago, but kept putting off lining my desk drawers because I was intimidated since I had never used contact paper. I was worried I would waste the paper or damage my desk, but I was making it out to be scary and it really isn’t.

I lined my desk drawers, but I have seen some amazing projects on Pinterest doing all sorts of things with contact paper. I really want to do a bookcase next!

SUPPLIES:

Contact paper (I got mine from www.interiorplace.com)

Scissors or a paper cutter

A ruler (a clear one really makes it easy)

A pen or pencil

A small plastic squeegee (*optional but it REALLY helps!)

STEP 1:

Measure the size of the item you want to decorate with contact paper

STEP 2:

Use your ruler and pen or pencil to mark how much contact paper you will need.

STEP 3:

Carefully cut your paper out.

STEP 4 (the most tricky and important step!):

Peel off the first couple inches of the backing on the roll of contact paper and put the corners into the corners of your drawer or whatever you are decorating. Slowly unroll the contact paper and smooth it down as you unroll.

STEP 5:

Use the squeegee to smooth over the paper…this helps with any bubbles or wrinkles that may have happened while unrolling the contact paper.

STEP 6:

Enjoy your masterpiece! How adorable is that?!

COST:

This project only cost me the price of the contact paper (around $12) because I had all of the other items on hand at home.

What diy projects have you tried recently? Are there any projects that you are intimidated by and still want to attempt? If you have any questions or if there is a project you’d like to see on leahtackles.com; Tweet me, find me on Facebook, Instagram or comment at the top of this post! If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe.

PopSugar Must Have Box March 2014

March 14, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi There! Happy Friday!

Today I am very excited to be reviewing the March 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box! I have been receiving this subscription service since December 2012 and it is like Christmas every month! Some people read spoilers (is that why you’re reading this?!) but I personally prefer the surprise! The box contains full size items in all different categories…food, beauty, fashion, home, and usually an extra goodie of some kind, too. PopSugar is one of my favorite websites and I also love their youtube channels for fun diy projects, style tips, cooking, interviews…all sorts of stuff. The PopSugar box usually arrives between the 10^th-15^th of every month for me…it ships via FedEx Smart Post, which means it goes out FedEx but arrives to my P.O Box. Sometimes I get my shipping notice on the day the box arrives…but I’m not complaining! I am always happy to see the box waiting for me!!

When I go over the April box in a post next month I will do a mini review of the items from this month and talk about what I used, didn’t use, liked, or maybe didn’t like as much if any of you are interested (comment at the top of this post!)

Product titles are also links for more information or to buy online.

Okay, here we go…

Must Have Food:

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps

$3 Value

I saw these, and I won’t lie, I was thinking no way!! At first glance, they reminded me of one time back when my husband was my fiancé and we bought snack sized baggies of “veggie chips” and they sat unopened for months because after one bag was opened we never touched them again! But I tried these Snapea Crisps and they’re GOOD! Really good! If you close your eyes, they taste like a healthy, crunchy and nicely salty chip. They however did not pass my almost 3 year olds taste test…but I am betting that has more to do with the look than the taste.

Must Have Beauty:

Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum from Jurlique

$30

I tried this serum right away and it’s very floral/herbal smelling, but I am not bothered by that and actually enjoyed the perfume, but it is quite strong when you initially apply it. I am happy to give this a shot because it claims to help with the beginning signs of aging, improve dullness and give the skin more radiance, all things I can definitely get on board with! I will probably use this exclusively at nighttime.

Must Have Fashion:

Lucky Horseshoe Necklace from Dogeared (*Similar)

$28

I was very excited to see something from Dogeared in box because I have been interested in the brand for a while now. I am interested in their custom necklaces online, has anyone had experiences with those? Anyways, the idea of this necklace is that you wear it until the silk thread breaks and then whatever wish you made when you put the necklace on comes true. I think it’s a cute idea and fingers crossed my wish comes true.

Must Have Fashion:

IKAT Scarf from Brokedown

$72

I LOVE getting scarves in my PopSugar box because as much as I love them, they aren’t things I would usually pick up on my own. This is just so pretty and is definitely one of my favorite items in this months box!! This scarf is soft, lightweight, and beautiful for spring.

Must Have Fitness:

Mini Stability Exercise Ball from Fusion Pilates (*Similar)

$9.95

This looks like an itty-bitty exercise ball…and that’s basically what it is! There is a website with exercises that I still need to check out. It comes with a straw to inflate it easily without a pump and I put a pen next to it in the picture below for a size reference. This isn’t my favorite item right off the bat, but I want to try to use it! We have a treadmill at home, and that along with exercise videos has become my “gym” since having kids. Speaking of kids, I am sure they will try to “borrow” this! I like the fact that it is small and won’t be an eyesore or something I have to hide away. If anyone is interested, I will try it out and be sure to do a review on this! Just let me know.

Must Have Home:

Elephant Ring Tree Holder from Bauble Bar

$12

This is my favorite item without question! I just can’t help myself; I am powerless to the cuteness and pretty much anything from Bauble Bar, I love! It is just so adorable, plus it is functional. It has black velvet on the bottom so it won’t scratch your tabletop or vanity. I don’t wear a lot of rings besides my wedding bands and engagement ring, but it’s such a sweet way to display some of my other rings on my vanity. I think this would be an adorable gift for woman from 10-110 years old! This just makes me happy!

Special Extra:

Whole Wheat Fig Bar from Nature’s Bakery

This is a nice little extra that I’m going to toss into my bag for a snack in a pinch. I am hoping it tastes like a Fig Newton. I love having a healthy snack available at all times to try to cut down on junk food cravings.

I am very happy with this months box! The total retail value was over $150 and the items were all things I think I will use, so it was well worth the $39 monthly cost to me. Do you subscribe to PopSugar? If you don’t subscibe yet and are interested you can find out more from here. Do you subscribe to other monthly bags or boxes? So far I have only subscribed to PopSugar, but I’m itching to try ipsy or birchbox! Let me know your thoughts in the comments at the top of this post or find me on Facebook, Twitteror Instagram! If you enjoyed this post please subscribe!

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