Leah Tackles

EASY DIY HALLOWEEN TREATS! Part 2 of 2

October 13, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you enjoyed the treats from last weeks post, Easy DIY Halloween Treats! Part 1 of 2, and today I have a couple of more easy Halloween treats to share : ) Please share this post if you enjoy it!!

#1 Boo-nanas

What You’ll Need:

Bananas (note: 1 good banana should make 4 boo-nanas..just be sure it isn’t too ripe!)

Popsicle sticks

White chocolate chips

Rasins (or chocolate chips)

Directions:

Peel your banana and then cut into half and then slice that half in half lengthwise. Carefully put the popsicle sticks into the banana pieces and then place onto a wax paper lined plate or cookie sheet. Place the banana pieces into the freezer until frozen. Once your bananas are frozen, you can melt your white chocolate chips. I melted my white chocolate chips in the microwave for 15 second at a time in a large coffee mug. *Tip: do NOT microwave too long!! Be sure to stir every 15 seconds. You can then either dip the bananas into the cup or use a spoon to cover the frozen banana in chocolate. Quickly, before the chocolate begins to harden, put your rasin eyes onto your ghosts. Put BACK into the freezer until the chocolate completely hardens. Enjoy!! : ) My 3 year old had an especially fun time with these!!

#2 Witch Hat Cookies

What You’ll Need:

Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies (or similar chocolate cookie)

Hershey’s Kisses

Fine tip orange cake or cookie icing or gel (I found mine in the baking section)

Peanut butter or frosting

Directions:

Flip your Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies over so that the chocolate side is facing up. Use a small dab of peanut butter or frosting to “glue” an unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss onto the center of the cookie. Use the orange icing to to decorate the witch hat however you’d like. I like to go around the Hershey’s Kiss and then make little tassles coming off…but Hailey likes to decorate with the orange all over the cookie!! ; ) And that’s fun too! These are easy and SO yummy!! I think Hailey will be making these again to take to her schools pumpkin carving party!

What are you dressing up as on Halloween? Or, what are your plans for the holiday? I would LOVE to hear about your plans!! Commenting is easy, promise ; ) Have a GREAT week!!

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!).

Easy DIY Halloween Treats! Part 1 of 2

October 6, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

With only a few weeks left until Halloween I wanted to share some easy, festive, and tasty treats with you today! I really like all of these because you don’t have to do any baking…you’re just piecing together the ingredients to make a fun fall treat. These recipes are great for little ones, and my 3 year old LOVED helping me make these!! If you make any of these, please share pictures with me! All of my social media links are below : ) And I would love if you “pinned” them on your Pinterest as well!

#1 Spider Crackers

What You’ll Need:

Ritz crackers or similar circle cracker

Small pretzel sticks

Rasins (chocolate chips are fine for those who don’t like rasins)

Peanut butter (or cream cheese or frosting if you have nut allergies or dislike peanut butter like my 3 year old…crazy I know!!)

Directions:

Spread a small amount of the peanut butter onto a cracker and place 4 pretzels on each side to create your spiders legs. Then put a little bit more peanut butter ontop of the “legs” and cover with another cracker. Use the peanut butter to attach the spiders eyes. My 3 year old insisted that one of our spiders also needed a mouth : ) These are a yummy and fairly healthy treat.

#2 Frankenstein Pudding Cups

What You’ll Need:

Vanilla pudding

Green food coloring

Oreo cookies

Black permanent Marker

Clear small plastic cups

Directions:

Dye your pudding until it’s a green of your liking. Crush your oreos (I just place mine in a plastic baggie and smash! But a food processor also works well). Draw your best frankenstein faces onto the cups with your marker…be sure to have fun with it! Scoop the green pudding into your cup and then top with the crushed oreos. Stick these in the fridge if you don’t plan to eat them right away : )

#3 Jack-O-Lantern Orange Cups

What You’ll Need:

Orange fruit cups (peaches or mixed fruit cocktail will also work, but oranges are the most pumpkin-y)

Black permanent marker

Directions:

Draw a jack-o-lantern face onto the tops of the fruit cups and pack into school lunches or have as a fun surprise for lunches at home!!

That’s it! Pretty easy and a lot of fun : ) Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss next weeks post where I share more fun fall treats!! Happy Fall Ya’ll!

Drugstore Beauty Haul!!!

October 1, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday! And Happy October : ) This month means Halloween, and after Halloween?! In my mind, go ahead and decorate for Christmas!! ; )

I haven’t done a haul in awhile, and today I want to share a small but collective haul from two shopping trips. There are some great things out in the drugstore right now, and if there is anything new that you are loving (or new to you!) please let me know so that I can check it out!! Commenting is easy…just click the link by the title of this post : )

Drugstore Beauty Haul:

Maybelline “The Nudes” Palette:

I shared my love for this gorgeous palette in my September Favorites. I think that most of these colors are beautifully pigmented, and I love that this palette is set up in quads, trios, and duos. I think that this is great for anyone who loves neutral eye shadow looks, and it is a fantastic price point! If you have been holding off on Urban Decay Naked or other high end neutral palettes, definitely give this a shot!

Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in Porecelain Ivory:

This is the powder that replaced the Maybelline Dream Matte when it was discontinued, and it is my favorite pressed powder to set foundation with.

Maybelline Color Show in Dressed To Kill:

This nail polish such a gorgeous blend of a dark purple, brown, and burgundy! Check this out the next time your in a drugstore or supermarket, because even with my *extensive* nail polish collection, I didn’t have anything quite like this! I am loving this color for fall and winter.

Wet n’ Wild Color Icon Trio in Silent Treatment:

I love the Wet n’ Wild eye shadows and this is a trio that I have been wanting to try. The pigmentation is wonderful and I think this will be a great little trio for both everyday looks and a slight smokey eye.

Hard Candy Single and Loving It Eye Shadow In Attraction:

Hard Candy Cosmetics are exclusive to Walmart and there are several items that I love from the line. I think that this eye shadow will make a beautiful crease or outer corner color, and I LOVE the sparkle that it has! I can’t wait to start playing with this color : )

Hard Candy Top Ten Trendsetters Eye Shadow Palette in Birthday Suit:

This is a BRAND NEW item from Hard Candy for the fall of 2014!! Hard Candy Cosmetics has several of these “Top 10 Treadsetter” palettes that just released and I wanted to try this neutral one. I wish the eye shadows were softer and slightly less powdery, BUT with that said I did find that they blended well and lasted all day for me with a primer underneath. I was impressed! I think these palettes are a great option to try colors that you aren’t comfortable with as well because the price point is so low.

Hard Candy Brows Now! Brow Fiber Gel and Highlighter in Light Medium:

I am a big fan of the Benefit Cosmetics Gimmie Brow and I am thrilled to see a fiber brow gel in the drugstore. This can be used alone on your brows or to help set a pencil or powder. The brush isn’t quite as small as the one from Benefit, and more product comes out with the brush on the Hard Candy wand. I love the highlighter end of this product, it is a gorgeous pink-y champagne and it blends beautifully! It reminds me a little bit of the Benefit Cosmetics High Brow, but at a lower price point. I am excited to continue using this!

Thank you, as always, for reading my blog!! And if you have subscribed, thank you so much!! Don’t forget to check out my other social media links which are at the top of this page!! Again, thanks!! XO

September Favorites!

September 29, 2014 & 5 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope you all had a great weekend! One of my good friends visited, and we had a wonderful time with beautiful weather! And my alma mater won big at our homecoming game : ) I am combining my beauty favorites and lifestyle favorites into one post this month. Let’s get right into it…

September Favorites:

1) M.A.C Paint Pot in Bare Study

This isn’t new to my collection, but I have been using it a lot lately and have fallen back in love. I love this as an eye shadow base or on days when I want a super natural look, alone.

2) Wet n’ Wild Coloricon Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana

This is definitely NOT a bronzer, but it is part of the Coloricon Bronzer collection from Wet n’ Wild, and what it is is a *OMG* gorgeous highlighter. The price cannot be beat, and it comes with a huuuge amount of product. Love it!

3) Maybelline “The Nudes” Palette

I had been holding off buying this because I have so many neutral palettes…but when I saw it was buy one get one 50% off at Walgreens, I went for it because I needed some other Maybelline products. If you do not have this yet and you love neutral eye makeup, or if you have been holding off getting the Naked palettes by Urban Decay or other neutral palettes from high-end brands, YOU NEED THIS! It has had some mixed reviews, but I absolutely love it! I have worn it more than any of my other eye shadows this past month, and think it is definitely worth the $10-12. On the back it shows how you can break it up into quads, trios, and duos which is super helpful for people who maybe don’t know where to start with an eye look, and I find the quads especially to be fantastic! The pigmentation overall is good, although I will say that they wear and swatch much better with an eye shadow primer used first. The packaging is simple, not bulky, and very sleek for drugstore, but my one complaint is that there is no mirror. I could gush on and on about this, and if you’d like more information please let me know because this palette really could have its own post!

4) The Balm Shadow/Blush in Down Boy

This is a perfect baby pink blush! I love this because it looks great with so many eye shadow and lip combos! You can’t go wrong with it, but it is HIGHLY pigmented, so you only need a tiny bit!

5) Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in Porecelain Ivory

This is my go-to everyday pressed setting powder ever since the Dream Wonder line replaced the Dream Matte line. I like that it gives an ever so slight coverage in addition to any foundation or BB cream you might have on.

6) EOS Lip Balm in Pomegranate Raspberry

I love the EOS lipbalms! And so does my 3 year old ; ) I like to apply these while I’m doing my makeup so that my lipsticks have a nice base…and this lipbalm is even thin enough that my matte lipsticks still appear matte but have a little moisture underneath.

7) Dual Ended Brow Brush with Spooli

Brand really doesn’t matter too much here, there are great low cost options as well as more high-end brushes, but I have been using powder for my brows lately and loving a dual ended brow brush with spooli.

8) NCLA Los Angeles Nail Polish in Rodeo Drive Royalty

I adore this nail polish! I mentioned it in my “Leah’s Friday Five” on the Pearls and Pastries Shop Blog, and it has been on my nails almost all month! I keep re-applying it because I can’t get enough of this gorgeous color!

9) Bauble Bar Arc Pendant Necklaces in Rose Gold

I have been loving my plain rose gold arc necklace layered with my pavé rose gold arc necklace! So simple and beautiful! This necklace from Bauble Bar is similar.

10) Gorjana Viceroy Necklace in Yellow Gold

This is such a beautiful simple piece! It goes well with everything!

11) Minnie Mouse Coffee Cozy

I found this adorable crochet Minnie Mouse coffee cozy from LNRCrochetDesigns on Etsy! The seller is super helpful and shipping was very fast. How cuuuute is this?! Seriously! Cute!

12) Name Bubbles Small Contact Clothing Labels

This is mostly for all the moms out there! Or maybe if someone is stealing your jacket off your chair at the office or your food out of the fridge at work, you too ; ) These labels are WASHER AND DRYER SAFE! And just STICK ON! Amazing. And they come in really cute designs, too. I was able to use a coupon code “B2SNB” for 10% off as well.

13) “Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids” by Laura Markham on Audible.com

This book is amazing! Stephan and I are only halfway through listening to this book, and it has changed our relationship with our kids (and eachother!!) for the better. I don’t think you need to be struggling or think there is a problem at all to gain a great deal from this book! I really think this book would be benefital to anyone, with grown kids, or without kids at all! We plan to pick up a paper copy as well to highlight our favorite parts. Seriously, READ THIS IF YOU HAVE KIDS!

Phew! That was pretty long! If you read all that, thank you so much! What things have you been reaching for and loving this past month? I would love to know! I hope that you have a great start to your week, and don’t forget to subscribe!! : )

Ipsy Glam Bag September 2014!!

September 24, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!!

Well, I *finally* caved! I have been a reading and watching reviews and unboxings of the Ipsy Glam Bag for a looooong time and after some heavy debating between Birchbox vs Ipsy, I decided to ~~go with~~ start with Ipsy. Today I will be sharing what I got in my bag as well as my thoughts/mini reviews. When you sign up for Ipsy you create a profile so you get items that are supposed to be catered to your preferences, as well as skin type and hair type. Ipsy sends deluxe samples and full-sized products for $10/month. If you are interested in signing up for the Ipsy Glam Bag you can do so here.

September Ipsy Glam Bag:

Swatches of NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Burlesque, Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eyeliner in Fringe, and Cailyn Art Touch Tinted LipGloss in Basic Instinct:

The Bag:

The bag is a cute silver/chrome faux leather with stud details. This bag is cute and a nice size to slip into a purse so that your essentials are easy to grab!

Cailyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in Basic Instinct:

At first I was really excited for this product, and I really do like the lip gloss formula…the color is just not for me! This is a really pretty nude, but the color isn’t the most flattering with my skintone. I *do* like the lip gloss though, and would like to try it in another color.

NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Burlesque:

This is my first NYX single shadow, and I think it’s a beautiful color. The eye shadow has nice color payoff and will be beautiful for fall and winter. I would like to de-pot these into a Z-Palette, and I think they would work well stored with M.A.C single eye shadows.

Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eyeliner in Fringe:

This is a basic brown eye pencil, and I like brown eyeliner for a more natural look. I do NOT think that this eye pencil is waterproof, but I will continue to use it and enjoy the color.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask:

I haven’t tried this yet, but I am VERY excited to try this! I love deep conditioning treatments, and I am always looking to give my ends some love!

Crown Brush C476 Crease/Shadow Brush:

I have never tried Crown Brushes before but I am excited to try this one out! Duo ended brushes aren’t my favorite, because they aren’t as easy to store, but I do travel at least one or two nights a month, and this will come in handy for that!

I am very happy with my first Ipsy Glam Bag, and although I’m not in love with all of the products, I can pass them onto family and friends who may like them better, and I’ll still get more than $10 worth. What subscription boxes are you loving? What boxes are you lusting over? Let me know in the comments!! : )

Popsugar Must Have Box September 2014!

September 22, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

It’s POPSUGAR TIME!!!! Today I am reviewing the September 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box.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 LOVING this months box, so let’s get into it!

September 2014 Must Have Box:

Stereo Earbuds by Nicole Miller

$20

I needed a new pair of earbuds, and I can’t wait to use these! I love the dark blue color that I received, though I’m not sure if everyone got the same color. If you are subscribed to PopSugar Must Have Box, what color earbuds did you get? Let me know in the comments!

Superfine Purse Size Hairspray by Orbie

$21.50

I like the sleek packaging of this hairspray, and I will definitely use this for travel! It smells pretty nice, too.

Almond Brownie by Urban Remedy

$6.99

I thought this might be kind of strange…it’s a 100% raw and organic…but it was REALLY good!! It wasn’t the same as biting into a chocolate fudge brownie or anything, but it was a nice dense bar with a nice dark cacao chocolate-y taste. That said, would I pay $6 for one of these? Probably not.

Gold Foil Arrow Pencils by Letter C Design

$7.50

I *looove* the sleek black pencils with the gold details! I haven’t used these yet, but they look gorgeous on my desk! I love that they threw in a small pencil sharpener too, because I haven’t used a pencil that wasn’t mechanical in ages.

Modal Gradation Scarf in Raisin by Tilo Scarves

$125

This is far and away my favorite item in the box this month!!! I looooove this scarf! When I first glanced at it, I only saw charoal, but once opened it is a beautiful mix of grays and a raisin brown…GORGEOUS! Seriously, stunning! This makes the most basic tee look beautiful.

Garance Doré Assorted Girls Set by Rifle Paper Co.

$18

I love having blank notecards to send to friends and loved ones! I also will use these for giveaway winners : ) Super cute!

Special Extras:

Milk Chocolate Sea Salt and Almond Minis by Ghiradelli

This was an awesome “extra”! I am ashamed to say how quickly these disappeared, but hey at least I can blame it on the pregnancy…right??! SOO yummy!

$20 Nike Giftcard

I don’t reeeeally count this, because you have to make a purchase to use this, but I will definitely hang onto it and it’s nice to have on hand.

This is one of my favorite PopSugar Must Have Boxes in awhile! And with a total of $198.99 it is clearly WELL worth the $39 price point since I have already been using most of the products! As usual : ) Have you subscribed to any subscription boxes or bags yet? I would love to hear about them in the comments! I finally caved and got my first Ipsy Glambag and I will put a review up on Wednesday, so be sure to subscribe to see that if you haven’t subscribed already : )

Super Cute Apple Donut Holes!! Fun Fall Treat!

September 17, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Last year I found these adorable donut holes in a magazine, I think Parents Magazine, and my daughter and I had a great time making them together! This year we wanted to make them again and share them with all of you! If you like these, please “pin” them to your Pinterest! Just scroll or hover over any picture until the pink “Pin” button appears : ) Or, click the pink “P” social media button at the bottom of this post!

Here is a picture of Hailey making these last year : )

Apple Donut Holes:

Ingredients:

Plain donut holes (I really like this recipe for donuts, or you can use store bought which I did this time!! Tip: If you can only find glazed store bought that is okay too)

1 1/2 Confectioners (powerdered) sugar

3-4 tablespoons water

Red and/or green sprinkles

Brown or black candy for the apple stem (I used Chocolate Twizzlers)

Green candy for the leaf (I used green Fruit Roll-Ups last year but this year couldn’t find them so I used Green Sour Rips)

Directions:

In a large bowl mix 1 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar with 3-4 tablespoons of water to make a simple glaze. There are a couple of ways to do the next step: 1) Dip donut holes into the glaze and then roll into either the red or green sprinkles or 2) Use a metal BBQ skewer and then drizzle the donuts with the glaze and then sprinkle the sprinkles onto the donuts while you spin the skewer. Next, place the donuts onto a wax paper covered plate or tray. Cut the Twizzlers into small stems for the apples and press into the top of your little donut apple (this is very easy if you used the skewer method mentioned above). Next, cut the green candy into little leaf shapes (don’t worry, they don’t have to be perfect!) and press gently into the donut next to the step. Ta-da! You’re done!! Let the donuts dry so they aren’t sticky from the glaze, and then devour!!

Action shot! This is a messy dessert, but a really fun one for kiddos!!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! I think these make adorable and impressive treats for a party or just getting together with friends : ) Get excited for some subscription box giveaways next week!! And on Friday don’t forget to check out my column “Leah’s Friday Five” on the Pearls and Pastries Shop blog!!

BABY #3 GENDER REVEAL!!!!!!!!

September 15, 2014 & 12 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Today is the day…are you ready?!?!

We are SO thrilled to officially announce that we are welcoming a BOY in just a few months!! I was SUPER surprised! I thought for sure that this baby was a girl…but we are over the moon to be having another boy!! Hailey is excited to have two brothers, and she has been calling them her “minions”…she is a big Dispicable Me fan ; ) And Connor will make such a sweet big brother!! Thank you to all of you who have congratulated us and participated in my gender guess poll!! 23 +3 weeks down and 16 +4 weeks to go!!!

How to De-Pot a Candle!! EASY DIY PROJECT!

September 10, 2014 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I *love* to burn candles, so most evenings when the little loves are asleep Stephan and I like to have candles going! My favorite candles are the Bath and Body Works 3 Wick Candles, but this technique should work for any candle in a glass container.

What You’ll Need:

A candle that is done burning (*Tip: I always wait until it won’t burn/stay lit at all…use up all that yummy smelling goodness first!)

A freezer

A sharp knife

Dish Soap

Hot Water

Optional:

Plyers

Step 1:

Once your candle is done burning or will no longer light, let it cool and then place it in the freezer. If you candle comes with a lid, you do *not* need to place the lid in the freezer. Leave your candle in the freezer for AT LEAST 24 hours. I usually leave my candles in for several days to a week before taking them out.

Step 2:

Take a sharp knife and *carefully* break the wax up. The longer the candle has been in the freezer, the easier it will be to break the wax up and get it out of the candle. The wicks sometimes need to be pulled up with plyers, but if the glue that holds the wicks down has is frozen then they will just come out with the wax. The label stickers will just peel off, but there may be some residue which will wash off in the next step.

Step 3:

Let the glass get back to room temperature and then place it into a HOT bubble bath in the sink! *Note: Be sure the glass isn’t still freezing or it will crack!!

Step 4:

Dry off your new glass container enjoy one of the many uses!!

Some of the Things I Have Used My De-Potted Candles For:

Shown:

Candy

Bangle or wrap bracelets

Lipgloss

Q-Tips and cotton rounds

Not Shown:

Confetti/bling decor display (similar to the Easy Apothecary Jar DIY I did)

Homemade treats for gifts

Pretty change jar

Nightstand catch-all

Lantern

The possibilities are really endless with this DIY and it’s sooo easy!! Have fun with it!!
I hope you have a fantastic weekend! Please subscribe if you enjoy my posts and don’t forget to share : ) It honestly does make my day when I see new subscribers!!

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