Leah Tackles

How To Stretch Your Shoes?!

April 29, 2015 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

A few weeks ago I shared a beauty trick I that love (Milk of Magnesia Primer? Yes or No? My Thoughts) and after doing that post, I decided that I would share some more tips here and there. The trick I am sharing today is one that I read about several years ago, but until now hadn’t tried it out. I did a Target haul awhile ago, and one of the pairs of shoes I got is a bit snug. Now, if you buy a pair of nice shoes that are too tight you can go to a cobber (yes, they still exist!) or buy a shoe stretcher, but I decided to go with the “freezer method”. We know that when frozen water will expand, so it makes sense that it’ll give your toes a little more room, right?! : ) You can also simply wear your shoes around the house (duh!) or wear them with a pair of thick socks.

Freezer Method:

1. Fill a 1 quart freezer safe zip lock bag with water about 1/3 of the way and make sure there isn’t any air in the bag.

2. Put the bag into your shoe stuffing it all the way up to the shoe. You may use more than one bag if needed.

3. Keep the shoes in the freezer until completely frozen.

4. Remove the bags and see if the shoes feel better!

5. Repeat again if needed.

Now, I wouldn’t suggest buying a pair of shoes that are three sizes too small, but if you happen to get a pair that just feels a tad tight, this may be a great option for you! Have you ever streched your own shoes? Please let me know if you’ve done this or if you think you may try it out now!! Please be SURE the zip lock is sealed and has no tears, I don’t want any gorgeous shoes ruined on my account ; )

Happy 4th Birthday Hailey Doll!

April 27, 2015 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Yesterday our Hailey turned 4 years old!

Hailey you inspire me to be a better person, to be a strong female role model, and to enjoy precious moments even when I’m always seeming to be running from one task to the next. You are smart, kind, curious, funny, polite, charming, clever, sassy, and beautiful! Happy Birthday Hails! We love you so!

Here are some pictures from our sweet girls first “friends” or “big kid” party! Her custom outfit information at the bottom of this post.

Hailey’s FIRST bike!!

Hailey’s brothers got to spend some time together while she partied with her friends ; )

OUTFIT DETAILS:

Hailey’s custom outfit is from the fabulous Kelly of Whisper’s By Kelly! I have bought 3 custom pieces from her(so far), and she is not only affordable and talented, but efficient and kind! She has awesome communication and is super friendly!! Every detail is lovely and I just love her work. I will be sharing more custom outfits as we prepare for our Disney trip later this year! Eeeeek!

Thank you all for reading and letting me share a glimpse of the most precious things in my life with you! Please subscribe!

Let’s Talk About Breastmilk! Breast Pumping Blog Post

April 22, 2015 & 5 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Last week I shared What I Eat In A Day and How I Increase My Milk Supply and I was thrilled once again that people were interested to hear more about my pumping schedule and tips. This post is mostly about pumping and not breastfeeding itself. Once again, I am not a doctor or a lactation consultant, these are just my own opinions and what has worked for me.

*Note: I love breastfeeding but I absolutely understand that not everyone can or wants to breastfeed and I am totally okay with that!! My middle child, Connor, had some pumped breastmilk but was unable to breastfeed. : )

Logan Cuteness:

My Breast Pump:

I use a Medela Pump In Style Advance and love it! I bought it when my daughter was born in April 2011 and am once again using it. I also have a manual hand pump for car trips, or when I don’t want to lug out the big electric pump. I really liked having a manual pump when he would only eat on one side during a session instead of eating on both when he was a newborn but my other side needed some relief from engorgment.

Pump Maintenence:

Obviously you need to wash the bottles and pump flange/breast shield, but you also should replace the membranes of your pump! I have had issues not pumping as much and just replacing the membranes makes a huge difference! You can buy them online, at medical supply stores, or at Target for only a few dollars for several of them in one pack. Also, be sure to replace your pump tubing every once in awhile, I have also noticed a great difference with that! I also let my pump run for a minute or so after each pumping session so that the tubing stays clear. You *can* clean it yourself with rubbing alcohol, which I did once following an online tutorial, but it was a huge hassle and it’s much easier to let the pump run to keep them clear and then replace them every so often in my opinion.

Pumping Schedule:

Initally, if your baby has a hard time nursing at first, PUMP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! It is exhausting and a pain in the butt, but it will make a huge difference in the long run. I was very lucky with Logan because he latched on right away, and I think that is largely do to the fact that I knew what I was doing this time. So, with Logan, I have only pumped once a day from the beginning. Hailey had a very hard time breastfeeding for the first several weeks, and I would say we didn’t have it down completely until 6-8 weeks. So, with Hailey I pumped several times a day those first few weeks to establish a supply.

Once you and your baby have established a routine decide when and how often you want to pump. With Hailey I pumped every single night after she had eaten and every single morning after her first feed. Now, because Logan is such a good eater and because with 3 kids under 4 is a lot busier than just 1 kiddo, I pump only in the mornings BUT I pump Every.Single.Morning. Ideally you should pump at a time when you want your body to produce more milk because your body will start to produce when your baby nurses or when you pump on a regular basis. Try to stick to a similar window of time that you pump each day if possible. I wake up every day at 5:30 to feed Logan and then I have coffee and get ready and by 6:30 or 7 I am pumping. I often pump while doing my makeup 🙂 See below for information on a hands-free-pumping-bra a.k.a a lifesaver!

Hands-Free-Pumping:

I don’t suggest using one of these right away, because at first you’re still getting used to pumping, and sometimes need to read, watch tv, or look at a picture of your baby so you are able to relax. I even downloaded some free relaxation apps to listen to although I typically just watched tv. Once you are comfortable pumping, I definitely suggest making or buying a hands-free-pumping-bra. I have this one and I love it! Even if I am just sitting watching tv when I pump, I can wear it and eat breakfast, drink my coffee, or even type a blog post ; ) I am not pumping right now, but I could be! haha : )

Power Pumping:

I had never “power pumped” until I switched up my diet with Logan too suddenly and my breastmilk supply plummeted. Power pumping is a technique that is used to trick the body into releasing more prolactin which is the same as when a baby goes through a growth spurt and wants to eat more often or cluster feed. Power pumping will tell your body that you need more milk! I used this website to help me power pump and it absolutely worked! I pumped from 6:30a.m to 7:30a.m for 5 days in a row and I saw results in 3 or 4 days.

To power pump, pick one hour each day or night and pump using this routine:

Pump for 20

Rest for 10

Pump for 10

Rest for 10

Pump for 10

This provides 40 minutes of pumping in an hour. It is not as awful as it sounds because during the “rest” periods I would go get breakfast for the kids, switch a load of laundry, etc so I wasn’t just sitting…I am not good at just sitting ; )

Breast Milk Storage:

This is definitely a matter of preference! I love my Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags, but I know other people love other brands. I have heard great things about the bags made by the Up and Up brand from Target as well. I store my milk in 4 oz bags with the occasional 2 oz bag for when baby is very young or for when the baby is older and may need 6 oz (this way you don’t throw away good milk by combining 4 oz bags and potentially having extra). I freeze my breastmilk flat and then use boxes to store by date starting with the oldest milk so that is what gets used first. We purchased a deep freezer chest when I was breastfeeding Hailey because I pumped SO much breast milk. Hailey was weaned by 13 or 14 months, but she had breastmilk daily (along with cows milk) until 18 months because I had pumped so much.

Breastfeeding Supplements and Diet:

If you have questions about any of the supplements I take please see this post where I explain what I use, and if you have further questions or want to know something specific please ask in the comments!! : )

Thank you as always for reading! Please consider subscribing if you haven’t already and sharing with your friends! You can use the share buttons at the bottom of this post!! : )

IPSY GLAM BAG APRIL 2015!

April 20, 2015 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Last month instead of writing a blog post for my Ipsy Glam Bag I did an unbagging first impressions video on my YouTube channel. I decided that this month I wanted to write a blog post on it, but if you missed seeing last months post you can watch the video. I did originally plan on doing a video unboxing, but it turned into a hilarious bloopers video for my channel : ) Please don’t forget to let me know what you got in your Ipsy this month if you’re a subscriber, and what you thought!

Ipsy Glam Bag March 2015:

My April Ipsy Glam Bag:

Bag and Theme:

The theme is “Beautifully Bohemian” and the bag is an adorable straw bag with colorful stripes. I *love* the bag! It is so cute and summery, and the inside is lined so even though the outside is straw it can still function as a makeup bag.

JulieG Nail Color in Damsel:

I love nail polish. This is a beautifully creme midtone pink color. I have a really embarassingly gigantic nail polish collection that I justify because I do my own nails and switch the colors often. I have not used this brand before, but hopefully it’s as pretty as appears in the bottle and wears well.

Hey Honey Good Morning Honey Silk Facial Serum:

I am excited to try this out! I am really pleased with the generous size of this sample because I will actually be able to get a good feel for the product. I am thinking even though it says “Good Morning” in the name that I may prefer it under a night moisturizer because I do tend to worry about getting oily in the daytime. I will check it out.

Starlooks Lipgloss in Cuddle:

At first glance I do not like this color. It seems a bit matronly, but once swatched I think it could have potential over nude lipsticks. We will see. Not a fan of the packaging, but the formula seems okay, and I love the small size with a nice doe foot applicator for tossing into any bag.

Nude Dude Volume 2 Eyeshadow in Fit:

I was SO excited to see something from The Balm. When I had my makeup done for my wedding the makeup artist used mostly The Balm and I have adored the brand ever since. I own the nude ‘tude palette from the balm, and now I really want the Nude Dude. They are reasonably priced, especially compared to other high-end neutral eyeshadow palettes, and very highly pigmented! Also, how cute is the packaging? They also offter a “clean” version if you don’t like the suggestive packaging of the Nude ‘Tude, but I am not sure of the Nude ‘Dude options. I got the color “fit” which is a beautiful copper color with gorgeous shimmer. I love that we got an adorable package magnetic closure which is such a nice touch.

Aromachology Rollerball Perfume in Sophisticated & Sensual:

At first sniff I wasn’t that into this, but after wearing it for the past couple of days I actually am really growing to love it. And, Stephan commented that I smelled good when I was wearing it (and he didn’t know it was something that I was reviewing or something new) which is always a bonus ; ) I love a rollerball for traveling and for my bag!

Overall I LOVED this month! I will use everything, and I see myself reaching for these products on a regular basis. Once again to me this was definitely worth the $10 that Ipsy costs/month. If you are interested in Ipsy, you can find out more here. Let me know what you thought in the comments or what products you got in your bag!!

Have a wonderful week and thank you for reading loves!! xo

What I Eat In A Day! {WITH VIDEO} AND How I Increase My Milk Supply!

April 15, 2015 & 5 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

As promised, today I am going to be sharing an exmaple of what I eat on an average day. On my post Logan Sullivan is 3 Months Old!! Baby and Body Update! I was plesantly surprised by messages and comments asking me for more information on what I do to increase my milk supply so that I can pump and store lots of breastmilk. So, I have added down below what I take to increase and maintain a good milk supply. If you have any questions please *comment* and I will be more than happy to help in any way I can : ) Messages or asking on social media is totally fine, but commenting is preferred because it’s benefital when reaching out to companie for giveaways for things that interest you guys!! ; )

*Note: I in NO WAY eat perfectly and I definitely “cheat” except I don’t consider it cheating because I just try to eat well overall and eat lots of protein, but I don’t deprive myself : )

WHAT I EAT IN A DAY IN PICTURES/VIDEO:

Here is my YouTube video showing an example of what I eat in a day:

(If you like this please click that thumbs up button & the red subscribe button!)

Here are some pictures of other meals that I eat on a typical day:

WHAT I EAT ON AN AVERAGE DAY EXPLAINED:

Coffee and Water:

I wake up at 5:30 every day (yep! Except Sunday’s when sometimes I go back to sleep) and ALWAYS drink some coffee after having a big glass of water. When I have a few extra minutes, sometimes I have lemon in my water, but quite honestly I haven’t done that in months.

Breakfast:

I usually have a protein shake every morning made by my awesome hubs, Steph. He has had them for years, but I only recently started drinking them and now I’m hooked. My shakes have: carton egg whites, protein powder, oatmeal packed (uncooked), flaxseed, brewers yeast, and water. It may sound gross, but protein power flavors can cover basically anything! The flaxseed and brewers yeast are to increase and sustain my breast milk supply.

Snack:

I usually have apples with peanut butter, almonds, trail mix, or sometimes if I need it a PB&J.

Lunch:

Chicken and rice with soy sauce. I like too much soy sauce. Because I am breastfeeding, I often eat this same meal in small portions twice/day so I have lunch and “second lunch”. I also have greens or a salad with lunch or some sort of veggie or fruit.

Snack:

I love Blue Diamond Oven Roasted Dark Chocolate Almonds and I buy the big bags. They are AMAZING! My friend gave me some in a care package more than 2 years ago, and it’s been one of my go-to snacks ever since.

Dinner:

This is where my meals vary the most, but I do have something that has some protein but also quite a lot of fat. When I cut out more fat my milk supply dropped almost overnight. I was shocked, but adding back in calories and fats helped almost immediately. We do a lot of taco nights (those torrillas pictured above are fantastic!) and at least once a week lately we have been having a Digorno pizza. The Garlic Bread Pizza to be specific. It is delicious and I joke that it’s milk magic because I always seem to pump a lot after eating it (more so high in fat than magic haha!).

Snack:

After dinner I am usually up for a long time, and I do allow myself another snack here even if it’s late at night.

Drinks:

I drink water almost exlusively! I do drink low calorie gatorade to help with milk supply. Some nights I have a glass of wine.

WHAT I TAKE TO INCREASE MILK SUPPLY:

Fenugreek

Blessed Thistle

I take 6 fenugreek and 6 blessed thistle/day. I take them 3 times a day so 2 pills at once isn’t two bad. I personally notice a much bigger difference with the Fenugreek and if you’re only going to do one I would pick it. *Note: PLEASE be careful with supplements like this, talk to your doctor or lactation consultant, and follow the directions on the bottle. Also, Milk Thistle is not the same as Blessed Thistle, and Milk Thistle is NOT good for aiding milk supply.

Brewers Yeast

Flaxseed

When I was breastfeeding my oldest I made lactation cookies every week…yummy! But now I find it easier and more skinny jean friendly to simply mix these into my protein shakes each day.

Olive Oil

My friend suggested that I take shots of olive oil when my milk supply crashed when I changed my diet too fast with Logan, and gross as it sounds it really works. It is good fats and isn’t as bad as it sounds though I did plug my nose the first few times.

Gatroade:

This works. It really works! Be careful, gatorade is quite high in calories if you’re trying to calorie count or watch your intake.

Oats/Oatmeal:

I have this every day in some form because it’s healthy and filling, but it also aids in milk supply.

OTHER OPTION:

Mother Milk Tea

This is very popular, and although I am not using it this time I did take this when I breastfed Hailey.

PUMPING? SCHEDULE? STORING?

If you are interested in what I do as far as a pumping schedule, pumping tools, power pumping, storing my breastmilk let me know! I can also share when or how I use the supplements and foods mentioned above in my diet, so please comment and I will happily do a part 2 of this post! I really hope this is in some way helpful to you, and if it is please share with your mommy friends!!

As always thanks so much for reading!! It really does make my day anytime someone subscribes or comments!! THANK YOU!!

: )

Logan Sullivan is 3 Months Old!! Baby AND Body Update!

April 13, 2015 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Logan turned THREE months old on Saturday! I can’t believe that my last baby is already 1/4 of a year old. AH! Today I want to share an update on how he is doing (spoiler: he’s awesome!) and how I’m doing after baby. If you have any quesitons about the newborn-3 month stage as far as baby or postpartum for mom, feel free to ask in the comments. If you enjoy these types of post, let me know as well because I can do some sort of baby/kid/mom series if there is interest : )

LOGAN UPDATE:

Stats:

Logan weighs about 15 lbs!

Length? He is definitely getting longer!

Size 6 month pants

Size 6/9 month tops

Size 3 diapers (he now shares with his older bro!)

Likes:

Laughing

Eating (nursing)

Smiling

Rolling front to back (or halfway rolling most days)

Watching his siblings

Riding in the car

Being worn in the Ergo (work like a CHARM for tears!)

Kicking his feet

Watching mommy on the treadmill

Dislikes:

Being hungry

Wet diapers

Being set down

LEAH UPDATE:

Body:

I fit into my clothes, but my body is nowhere near where it was or where I would like it to be. I would like to lose some weight, but more than that I would like to get toned again. I finally got back into the gym, but with three little little kids at home, it is very hard to get there regularly. So far I have been going once/week and I just started running (well sort of running!) on the treadmill this past week. My first time back on the treadmill was NOT pretty! I decided to do the Couch to 5K again, and if anyone would like to do it with me, let me know : ) I always feel SO much better after a run, it is so good for my stress control, and my thighs like it too.

Diet:

When you have a newborn (especially if you’re breastfeeding) you are really hungry and the LAST thing on your mind is fixing healthy meals. For the first month I pretty much survived off PB&J sandwiches and Digorno pizzas. True story. About a month ago I decided I couldn’t go on this way, it wasn’t good for my body or attitude, so I overnight switched to a super high protein diet and my milk supply plummeted. You wouldn’t think it would make that big of a difference, I wasn’t calorie counting and I was still taking in a lot of calories, but way less fat. I added fat back in, both good and bad, by taking shots of olive oil (not quite as awful as it sounds, but you’ll need a chaser!), eating nuts, and adding back in some cheesy pizza on occasion. Adding fat and calories back in worked and my milk supply thankfully went back up. I could easily do an entire post on the things I do and supplements I take to increase my milk supply if there is interest in that also. I store lots of breastmilk. LOTS.

On Wednesday I am going to be sharing what I eat on an average day, and I also am making a quick YouTube video on my new Leah Tackles YouTube channel showing what I eat. I am not a dietitian or doctor (but my mom and dad are respectively– haha hi parentals!) but I am more than happy to share what I personally do.

General:

Three kids under four is hard. NO JOKE. But I am really enjoying so many special moments with them, and I am *so* excited for lots of summer for as a family of 5! I find myself feeling very confident in my parenting decisions now, and that is somehow so freeing. I can’t wait to get to know Logan’s little personality just like I got to do with Hailey and Connor.

Husband:

Thank goodness Stephan is a huge help. Single ladies: Marry a guy who will pitch in! People say to marry a guy who loves kids, but Stephan wasn’t a kiddo whisperer or anything before becoming a dad, but he is AMAZING with our kids. I think marrying a guy who will help you out is key. He changes diapers, wipes boogers, does dishes, rocks babies, fixes boo-boos, puts away laundry, the list could go on and on. Right now he is making Hailey dinner and feeding Connor. Seriously! The difference it makes is huge. I love that it is 2015 and our kids get to see us parent as a team.

And now, the PICTURES:

: ) : ) : )

<3 <3 <3

As always, thank you so much for reading! If you like my posts, please subscribe to my blog! I love you all!

*EDIT: Hailey painted her nails (completely on her own without me knowing! Whoopsies!) and told me she wanted me to put them on my blog!!! She doesn’t really know what it is, but she hears me talk about it a lot. Hails, this is for you! I love you so!!

Lilly Pulizter for Target Favorites & Info!

April 8, 2015 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I love Lilly Pulitzer. I love Target. Now, if you haven’t heard yet, these two *beautiful* things are coming together. Yep, a beautiful beautiful collab is happening here folks!!! On April 19th the Lilly Pulitzer line for Target is launching!! I’ll give you a minute incase you didn’t know

…

Ahhhhh!!! Right?!? I am SO excited! I adore Lilly but the prices totally kill me, and I have don’t have much because of that. But the look book for the Target collection show completely reasonable (in my opinion) price points which is making this even more exciting. I want to get a few of the online only items AND make the trip to Target (most of you know it is actually a trip for me…”boo” to no close Target!) on the 19th. Is that nuts? Whatever, it’s very likely happening ; )

Today I want to share a few of MY favorites with you, links included, and get you excited for this fabulous collection! But in all honesty, pretty much the entire collection is my favorite soooo yeah, there is that. Also, they have a girls collection, and I have an almost 4 year-old…yeaaaah that’s also happening! Mother/Daughter matching outfits may be happening!

Lilly Pulitzer for Target

My Favorites:

Baby Items I Didn’t Know I NEEDED!

April 6, 2015 & 7 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Logan is going to be 3 months old in a few days (ahhhhh!!!!) and we have a nice little groove now…kinda ; ) So, I thought today would be a good time to share some of my favorite baby items that weren’t as obvious initally. I have had three babies in three and a half years, so I feel like now I really have figured out the items that *I* find essential.

First, I want to say that I have definitely learned that every baby is different, and so some things that I did need for one I didn’t even use for another. Also, all families are different, so what fits your schedule and lifestyle may be totally different than what has worked for our family. If YOU (yes YOU!) have input I would love to see your comments, and maybe they could help out parents-to-be who are reading.

Second, I know a lot of parents laugh about how they bought x, y, z for their first baby but didn’t use it or it was a waste, but I don’t completely agree. I think that with the first baby you’re figuring out what works for you and your family, and that is the time to get all that big stuff if you want to do so. I got a swing, bouncer, jumperoo, exersaucer, bumbo, playmat, etc for my first and I am glad I did it then. And no, I didn’t need ALL of that baby gear, but we did use it all in one way or another. My one tip would be buy gender neutral if you plan to have more kids in the near-ish future, or plan to keep nice for resale. So let’s be nice to first time moms and dads and if they *need* a wipes warmer, let them (I actually never used a wipes warmer for Hailey, my oldest, but used it for months with Connor, my middle child!). Okay, let’s get on with it!

BABY ITEMS I DIDN’T KNOW I *NEEDED*:

Ergo with Infant Insert

I love this thing! I picked a gender neutral tan color that Stephan can also wear comfortably. This is so much easier than a stoller somtimes, and also awesome for around the house when you need to get things done but baby wants to be close to you (aw!). I have also heard amazing things about the Tula carrier.

My Breast Friend Nursing Pillow

This thing kicks Boppy butt in my opinion! I had a really hard time nursing Hailey initially, and this helped so much! I use this for every feed with Logan, too. This will save your back, your boobs, and is worth every penny.

Rock n’ Play

This is the only major item that is new to us with Logan and BELIEVE the type! This thing is wonderful for home, but also folds up in a second for travel! I love this for when we head over to my in-laws for the day. We have a simple one that just vibrates, and it was worth every single penny!!

Snap n’ Go

If you choose to skip the travel system and opt for a different stroller (I went with a Britax B-Ready and it’s THE BOMB), consider getting one of these, too! I LOVE being able to snap the carseat in when running into a store or when I’m not wanting to take the big stroller.

Bottle/Food Bag

We love this! And we use it for so much more than just bottles! It is also fantastic for taking baby food out and about with you, or really any food! We got ours when our almost 4 year old was a baby, and it’s held up perfectly!

Snack/Formula Stacker

This is amazing for taking snacks on the go. I love that you can take the whole stack or just one, it’s compeltely customizable. I’ve seen them used for formula as well.

White Noise Machine

I love having a fan or some white noise while I sleep, and I’m making my kids love it too ; ) But in all seriousness, this works SO well for us. I like that this one can be plugged in or you can use batteries. We own two of this same one!

Burp Cloths

Buy lots.

Small Hair and Nail Kit

We had two or three big fancy-smancy first aid type kits when Hailey was born, and while those are definitely great to have in your closet and emergency kit, for every day use buy something like this. I got one for Hailey and STILL use it for her nail clippers, and hair ties when we travel. I use the boys for travel sized lotions, diaper cream, and nail clippers.

Diaper Bag Organizers

You don’t need these, I don’t have these exact ones but I am kind of drooling over them now, but get some small wet bags or even zip locks if you don’t want to spend the money on this set! It happens EVERY time I go somewhere; I perfectly organize and pack the diaper bag only to have it completely disheveled after one diaper change or one boo-boo. I have a diaper bag with clear interior pockets, and that is awesome, too. But, no matter how awesome your diaper bag is, I definitely suggest having bags organized so that everytime you need something you’re not flustered while juggling your kid(s) and a disorganized bag.

Boon Drying Rack with Flower and Tree

This is a no-fuss way to dry bottles! And, even if you’re breastfeeding exclusively, it is also awesome for pump parts. We have two “lawns”, one “grass”, two “trees”, and four “flowers” and I’m proud! Someday we will have a clear counter, babe! ; )

Thank you for reading! Please subscribe if you aren’t already! Just enter your email into the box below “subscribe” on the right side of this page! You’ll get an email to confirm and then just get emails when I upload something new!!

Drugstore Contour Kit?! Makeup Haul!

April 1, 2015 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Thank you so much for reading my blog! And if you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my *NEW* YouTube channel! I have been uploading two videos a week and would love it if you would each check it out. Subscribing can be done with the click of a button, and if you have a Gmail account you have a Youtube account because YouTube is owned by google. If you are signed into your email, you can like, subscribe, and comment on any video!

Today I have a few drugstore makeup goodies to share with you, including a $3 contour kit! Whaaaat?! I’ll stop rambling on and let’s get into it : )

Drugstore Makeup Haul:

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 006 Really Red:

My sweet hubs got me 3 drugstore lipsticks as part of my birthday gift because he researched M.A.C lipstick dupes for me because he thought it would be a good blog post!! <–Yes, seriously! I had no idea. How cuuuute is he?!I love this classic red lipstick! This one is supposed to be a dupe for Russian Red. It is matte, so it seems a tad drying, but not anymore so than any matte lipstick. I usually gravitate to blue toned reds, so I am excited to add a true red to my makeup collection. Also, I love the Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks in general! Sleek, classic packaging, and a huuuuuge color range.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 013 Smoked Peach:

This is a dupe for Ravishing by M.A.C and I am really glad Stephan got me this because I would have NEVER chosen this color on my own for me. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the salmon-y peach color on me! I thought it would be too orange for my light skin, but with a bare face it worked almost like one of my favorite nudes but a bit fresher…perfect for spring! This is a matte, so again it is going to be a bit drying, but I found this to be less drying than the Really Red mentioned above.

Wet n’ Wild Lipstick in Pinkerbelle:

This is supposed to be a dupe for Viva Glam Nicki. This is a SUPER bright in-yo-face pink and I think it will be so fun for a statement lip in the summer. It does seem a bit drying, but I think with a little balm it will be great for occasional use.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in Brightener:

I love this salmon-y brightening under eye concealer! I repurchase this over and over again! When I want to really cover my bad dark circles I use this first and then a skin toned concealer over this.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in 10 Porcelain Ivory:

I love this powder! It is soft and has a buildable coverage, but I like to just use a little bit of it to finish my foundation. Be careful, it can be cakey if you reapply too much/too often. I buy this again and again!

Covergirl Ink It! Eye Liner in 250 Charcoal Ink:

I have a hard time getting eyeliner to stay on the waterline, and I was hoping that this would stay for me but it doesn’t : ( Wah waaaah. I do think that this glides onto my lid smoothly, and would be nice for a smokey eye, but that isn’t a look I do often. Still, a nice pencil eyeliner with a precise tip. I do like that this doesn’t need to be sharpened.

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Palette:

I love this!! I am a huuuge fan of the Urban Decay Naked 3 and this does have some comparable shades. A few of the lighter shades are a bit powdery and sheer when swatched, but I find good pigmentation with more colors than not. I love the way this is set up, just the The Nudes palette from Maybelline, in quads, trios, and duos which they show on the back of the package! It is very user friendly and if you don’t have the Naked 3 and you’re on a budget or a beginner, I definitely suggest this. I found this at my local Walart for $9 and I know it’s been sold out almost everywhere, including my store, but I just happened to be there right when it was stocked. If you’re interested in a comparison post or more information, please let me know in the comments!

eos Visibly Soft Lip Balm in Coconut Milk and Vanilla Mint:

I love eos lip balms and I was excited to try these new visibly soft ones. I can’t really tell THAT much difference from the original eos balms, but the packaging is adorable and I still use them every day before applying lip color. I prefer the Coconut Milk and would repurchase that over the Vanilla Mint.

Wet n’ Wild Coloricon Contouring Palette in 750A Caramel Toffee:

I am sooo excited for this one! I love love love the hidden gems that Wet n’ Wild offers (hello amazing cheap eye shadow!) and am so happy they’ve decided to offer a contouring product. I think it’s genius that it only has two colors because there is no picking which contour or highlight shade to use, you just have one option for each. My Walmart only had one shade, but I have seen online that there are in fact two avaliable. I love that these are matte and I love how much product you get. I will say that it was a *tiny* bit powdery, and not crazy pigmented, but I think you can definitely build it up as needed. I think this is something that would be perfect for contouring beginners, and a great option for anyone who loves to contour and wants to try something new. You really can’t lose when it costs about $3!

What items have you been loving from the drugstore lately? Please let me know in the comments! Commenting is SUPER easy, just click the link by the title of this post! Don’t forget to subscribe (pretty please!) and check out my LeahTackles YouTube channel!! I appreciate each and every single one of you!! XOXOXO

Milk of Magnesia Primer? Yes? No? My Thoughts!

March 30, 2015 & 1 Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Thank you for stopping by! I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend : ) Mine was jam-packed as always, and lots of fun! But yesterday, it SNOWED! I mean, come on spring! Does anyone else still have snow?

Today I want to talk about using Milk of Magnesia as a primer for oil control because the information out there for this beauty hack is so conflicting. I am keeping it SUPER basic and explaining to the best of my knowledge. So, let’s get into it!

What IS Milk of Magnesia:

Milk of Magnesia can be used as a laxative and an antacid. It its liquid form, it is a white suspension of hydrated magnesium carbonate in water.

Why It Works For Oil Control:

Magnesium carbonate effectively breaks down wax esters (if you took chemistry, you may remember esters which are a chemical compound that break down acids and if you haven’t taken it yet here is a fun preview–haha). So, Milk of Magnesia works as a de-greaser when applied to your skin.

Why You May Not Want To Use It Daily:

To put it simply, it is alkaline. Alkaline means that something has a pH greater than 7. Remember how I said it can be used as an anacid? Well it does the same thing when applied on your face, so it breaks down your skins natural acid which you need to fight off bacteria.

How I Use It As a Primer:

After I put on my moisturizer but before my foundation I apply a tiiiiiny bit on any areas that are oil-prone. Only use a tiny bit, because it is white and will leave a white film. I rub it in really well, and really quickly, and then apply my makeup as usual.

Do I Use It?:

Yes, I use Milk of Magneisa on my face, ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS ONLY! If you have an event, such as a July wedding, to attend and you need your makeup to stay on all day long, I *personally* say go for it! It truly works, and coming from a girl who gets an oily nose or t-zone by noon, when I use this I don’t have to use pressed power at all! I have used this trick probably 5 times in the course of several years. I would LOVE to find a makeup primer that would do this for me everyday, however I am not about to mess with my skins pH levels in that way. I definitely discourage the use of this regularly because it can mess with the chem class going on on yo face, and make you breakout <–nobody wants that!

*Note: I am *NOT* a dermotologist, I am just a girl who heard a tip a few years ago and has used it on a few occasions.

I hope that this was helpful and that you enjoyed it! I have a few more beauty tricks that I use on occasion up my sleeve, so stay tuned for that! We can turn this into a little series : ) Who doesn’t want to get those awful sunless tanner faux pas hands clean?

Tell me your favorite beauty tips in the comments below! And if you get oily, especially in the upcoming (I hope they’re coming..!) summer months, what is your favorite way to fight it? I would, as always, LOVE to hear from you!!

Be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already, every single subscriber means so much to me! Thanks loves!

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