Leah Tackles

“Bunny Bait” Treat Bag DIY and Free Gift Tag Template- Hopping Into Spring Series Part 3

April 16, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi There! Happy Wednesday!

I hope you are having a great week so far! Easter is only a few days away and today I want to share a super simple treat bag DIY for the third and final Hopping Into Spring Series post. I think that is perfect for a last minute basket stuffer, gift for friends, co-workers, church groups, or just to enjoy yourself! I have also included a free template PDF file printable if you’d like to print out gift tags for your treat bags. Please consider “pinning” this post to your Pinterest account by hovering over any picture until a pink “Pin” button appears and clicking on that.

BUNNY BAIT:

Ingredients:

Mini marshmallows

Small pretzel sticks

Easter candy (I used M&M’s and Hershey Kisses)

Treat bags

Directions: Fill your treat bags to your liking with all of the ingredients! I did marshmallows first, then Hershey Kisses, then pretzel sticks and then finally M&M’s just so I didn’t crush the pretzel sticks with the heavier items.

GIFT TAG PRINTABLE:

Here is my free gift tag printable that you can simply click and print!

What You’ll Need:

The printed gift tags

Paper cutter or scissors

Ribbon Eyelet punch OR regular hole punch

Step 1: Print out your free gift tag printable and cut the tags out with your paper cutter or scissors.

Step 2: Use your eyelet punch to put a grommet onto your tag OR use a regular hole punch to make a hole for your ribbon.

Step 3: Use the ribbon to attach your gift tags to your treat bags : )

I hope you have enjoyed this post! If you try this out I would love to hear about it or see pictures! If you have anything you’d like to see a post about, or have any questions or comments, let me know by commenting (click the link by the title of this post!) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! As always, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read this, and please subscribe!! I will talk to you on Friday!

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 : )

TOP 10 NAIL POLISH PICKS FOR SPRING 2014!

April 11, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Friday!!

I hope you had a wonderful week! Now that spring is here, I have been loving wearing all sorts of fun nail polish colors! I looked through my collection of polishes (I have a serious love for nail polish. Serious.) and picked out my top picks to share with you today. I created a Luvocracy Collection if you’d like more information on the polishes, want to add them to your own collections, or shop directly from the site.

Note: These are not listed in any kind of ranked order, they are just done in the order of a pretty spring-y rainbow! I also love my Megalast polishes dearly, and my spring picks I posted about previously: Wet N’ Wild Limited Edition Spring 2014 “And The Style Award Goes To…”.

1) Essie Madison Ave-Hue

This is a beautiful bright pink polish from the spring 2013 line from Essie. It has a beautiful pink and silver sparkle to it. It is very bright and has great color payoff. This shows 2 coats.

2) Lóreal Wishful Pinking

This is a very light pink polish that gives your nails a beautiful, clean look. It applies flawlessly and you really can’t mess it up. I love this when I’m in a rush but want something polished on my nails. This shows 3 coats.

3) Essie Mango Bango

This is a beautiful coral-y to orange cream polish. I don’t have many orange polishes, but I LOVE this one! Orange is so on trend for spring and summer, and it is a great way to get that pop of color if you aren’t ready to try an orange lip. This shows 3 coats, but you can easily do 2.

4) Revlon Colorstay Buttercup

Buttercup is a beautiful pale yellow cream polish. It is a unique color, as pale yellows can be hard to come by. I love it because it has good color payoff, especially for a yellow polish, and isn’t too streaky. I did apply 3 coats.

5) Revlon Zealous

When I first got this color last summer I remember being so surprised at how much I ended up loving it on my nails! It is a yellow with lots of gold shimmer that definitely gives off echoes of a chartreuse green. I love it! It’s sheer, but looks great with 3 coats.

6) Revlon Parfumerie Lime Basil

This is a deep minty green cream polish that smells just like a lemon lime soda! I was expecting it to smell more herbal, but all I get when I smell it is soda pop! But I like it. It is a beautiful color and it wore very well on my nails.

7) Zoya Blu

This is such a stunning, very light blue cream nail polish. It looks gorgeous on the nail, and I always receive compliments when I wear this color.

8) Essie Play Date

I love purple nail polish shades and this one isn’t like any others that I have in my collection. It is a bright purple cream polish and is very opaque on the nail.

9) Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Coin Flip

I love this for any season really, but I love the metallic look that this foil polish gives. It’s mostly gold, but in some lights looks silver as well. It reminds me a lot of Orly Rage. It’s more fun than a neutral (and I love a good nude manicure!) but I find that it really goes with so much.

10) Nicole by O•P•I Lips Are Dripping Honey

I love using this color from the limited edition Carrie Underwood line as an accent to other polishes. It is a beautiful glitter polish with tiny gold glitter and holographic larger pieces of gold glitter. The mix of holographic glitter and tiny specs of glitter gives the look in some light of a rose gold polish which makes me love it that much more! I LOVE rose gold! I don’t find that this is a pain to lay down on the nail, and it’s easier to work with than a lot of glitters.

Ta-da! That’s it! What are your favorite nail polishes to wear in the spring? I would LOVE to hear from you and try out some of your suggestions!! Let me know in the comments (click the link next to the title of this post) or find me on Facebook , Twitter, or Instagram! If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and subscribe (enter your email in the box on the right of the page and you’ll just get emails when I post!). I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

Simple 3 Ingredient Easter Candy-Hopping Into Spring Series Part 2

April 9, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi There! Happy Wednesday!

Today I want to share with you another recipe that I found in Taste of Home for the second week of my Hopping Into Spring Series! It is tasty, looks so sweet tucked into a gift bag or Easter basket, and best of all? It is only 3 ingredients! You really can’t beat that! I had my daughter, Hailey, helping me out in the kitchen and she was SO proud of her candy-making skills! If you missed last weeks Hopping Into Spring Series, here is the recipe for Easter Basket Cupcakes! If you enjoy either recipe, please scroll over any of the pictures in this post until you see a round pink “pin” button, and then click that so you can pin it to your Pinterest account.

Okay, let’s get started!

JELLY BEAN BARK (re-named Bunny Bark in my house!):

This is a great recipe where you can involve your kids or nieces and nephews, but it’s also a lot of fun to do with or for your friends! It takes almost no time to do and the result is a very nice looking, homemade springtime candy. I love the touch of whimsy that homemade candy has, especially tucked into an Easter basket or a gift bag for friends. It is very sweet, you only need a couple of bites, but it is a very delicious combination of flavors.

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon butter

1 1/4 cups of white candy coating, coarsely chopped (NOTE: I found this by the chocolate chips in the baking section, but I have also seen it by the specialty cake and candy making things)

2 cups small jelly beans

DIRECTIONS:

Line a 15 X 10 X1 (a close size will also work) with foil. Grease the foil with butter. In the microwave, melt the candy coating according to the directions on the package and stir until smooth. Spread into your prepared pan. Top with the jelly beans, pressing them down a little bit as you go. Let the bark harden completely before breaking up into pieces or cutting if you prefer.

I hope that you enjoyed the recipe and look out next Wednesday for the third and final Hopping Into Spring Series post. If you have anything you’d like to see a future post about, have any questions or comments please let me know! And if you try this recipe, I would love to see it! Comment (click the link by the title of this post) or you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! I am LeahTackles on all social media. I hope you have a great rest of your week! If you enjoyed this post, please remember to subscribe! You’ll totally make my day! Stay tuned Friday for another new post!!

Easy Apothecary Jar DIY Project!!

April 7, 2014 & 1 Comment

Hi There!! Happy Monday!

Today I have a super simple DIY project to share with you using apothecary jars. If you’re not familiar with the name, apothecary jars were originally used to mix medicines by an apothecary (a person who mixed medicine), but today are used as decorative displays that you would probably recognize if you saw them. I first started seeing all of the fun decor ideas out there using apothecary jars back when I was planning my wedding about 5 years ago. I loved them so much that I asked if they could be used at one of my bridal showers for a candy buffet. I know that lots of people use them for showers, weddings, or parties, so you may have some yourself or know somebody who has a bunch lying around. If not, they are available at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or other craft stores.

I am a lover of glittery, sparkly, beautiful things done in a grown up way! This can be hard to achieve and somebody who inspires me and does this so well is Lauren, the owner of Pearls and Pastries. Once I finish the gallery wall above my desk, I will talk more about her and her fabulous style. I have a cheap faux pearl necklace from Forever 21 that I don’t reach for anymore and that is what started the wheels turning for this DIY. I put the pearls in a mason jar on my desk and loved it! So I went out and bought a few supplies and created the newest edition to my desk. I also pinned other ideas that I love for apothecary jar displays on my Pinterest! If you like this post, please hover over any of the pictures and click the pink “pin” button to put it on your own Pinterest page.

SUPPLIES:

An apothecary jar (or a de-potted candle or mason jar would work as well. If you’d like a tutorial on de-potting your candles, please comment (click on the link by the title of this post) or ask me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Pearls, beads, rhinestones, and sequins

WHAT I PURCHASED:

Note: I purchased all of these at Walmart in the crafting section if you’re looking for the same items, but next time I plan to check out a speciality bead shop that is nearby for more choices. Any craft store or big box store would most likely have all of these types of items.

2 small tubes of gold sequins for $1.50 each

3 packs of pearl beads (975 beads) for $3.97 each

2 packs of plastic “princess” beads (approximately 450 beads) for $3.97 each

1 box of acrylic jewels (approximately 300 rhinestones) for about $6

1 apothecary jar that I already had (about $10-30 at Hobby Lobby depending on size)

STEP 1:

I took my time pouring the different beads and rhinestones into the jar, alternating them carefully so that there was enough of each layer to see them all.

STEP 2:

Once all of the beads and rhinestones were in the jar I used my fingers, a capped pen, and craft tweezers (all worked, but the tweezers helped the most for further down in the jar) to turn around the rhinestones where the bling side wasn’t showing. You could skip this step if you don’t use rhinestones or if it doesn’t bother you.

STEP 3:

Enjoy your new decoration! I put mine on my desk, with all my other girlie favorites, but this would also look beautiful as a centerpiece, on a shelf, or a bookcase. Please keep in mind if you have pets or small children that this is basically a jar filled with 1000’s of choking hazards, so keep it in a place that is out of reach!

I hope you have enjoyed this short and sweet DIY project! If you try this out, or another projects using apothecary jars I would LOVE to hear about them or see them!! Comment down below (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Stay tuned Wednesday this week for a simple Easter/springtime candy that looks as good as it tastes. As always, please share this post on social media if you’ve liked it and subscribe by entering your email in the box on the right side of this page! I hope you have a fantastic week!

Collective Beauty and Lifestyle Favorites!

April 4, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Friday!!

Yay! It’s Friday!! I am so glad it’s the weekend! For those of you without weekends, I sympathize! Both my husband and myself had jobs post-college where weekends didn’t exist! No fun! But no matter what you do, I hope you’re having a lovely Friday afternoon! Because of my excitement for Friday, I want to do a fun favorites post where I share all of the stuff I’ve been loving lately! Eventually, I plan to do a monthly beauty favorites post, and also a “lifestyle” favorites post where I show you all the other random things I love that aren’t beauty related. But today, these favorites are all going to be packed into one post! I made Luvocracy collection with the items listed below if you want more information or want to shop online!

Let’s get started!

LEAH’S FAVORITES:

Beauty Favorites:

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 001 Honey

These jumbo crayon lip products are everywhere right now, and this is a great basic to have. It is one of my favorite lip products of all time! I have been using it for about a year and half, I still find myself wearing it at least once a week! Sometimes I just don’t feel like fussing with a lipstick or gloss, and on those days this is an amazing thing to be able to reach for. I need to pick up a new one, mine has a crack in the cap and the writing it all rubbed off…and that’s because this has gone everywhere with me! It’s a beautiful “your lips but better” pink. I find that the color ends up getting a bit brighter after the “stain” part starts coming through, but it’s still just as beautiful. When I use this I only touch up a couple of times a day to keep the slightly glossy look. If you don’t have this yet, I really suggest picking it up if you’re in the market for an easy everyday lipcolor.

This next picture shows the Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey and the next item I talk about, the Lóréal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black:

Lóréal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black

This is a felt tip black eyeliner that can create thin lines to very thick bold lines. I am no expert at winged eyeliner, but I definitely have success when I use this eyeliner. It is very black and stays all day. I haven’t had issues with the pen drying out too quickly. What is your favorite staple eyeliner? Do you prefer liquid eyeliner over pencil? Let me know by commenting (click the link next to the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion

I just hauled this in my March 2014 Collective Beauty Haul, so I won’t spend too much time on it but I had to include it! This color is BEAUTIFUL! It gives such a lovely flush to the cheeks and I don’t have to wear a highlight when I have this on (but let’s be real, I usually still do! I love a good glow!). This is gorgeous, and if you can get your booty to Sephora to swatch these for yourself, I highly recommend it!

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Mint Sorbet

I really like the Xtreme Wear line from Sally Hansen because it is very inexpensive and usually wears well for several days without chips. My good friend and fellow nail polish lover (sorry for getting you hooked and enabling you!! You know who you are!) gave me this color and it is just the perfect mint polish! I love the color mint green anytime, but springtime is the perfect time to rock a mint mani.

Jewelry Favorite:

Bauble Bar Deco Strand in Mint Tortoise

I have loved tortoise since I was a really little kid. Once before we left for a vacation my mom and I went shopping and she ended up buying me a pair of tortoise sunglasses…I must have been 7 or 8 years old, and I’ve been loving tortoise ever since! So this necklace fulfills my love of tortoise, a pop of spring color with the mint, and a little bling thrown in for good measure. It looks cute with so many things: A basic tee, a dress, or a great collared shirt. I wore it this past weekend with a casual outfit shown above. It is a bit expensive, but I was able to use Bauble Bar Vault Points to get it for less. Keep you eyes peeled for discount codes and sign up for vault points

Food Favorite:

Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut Bar in Roasted Mixed Nut

I like to have granola or protein bars in my bag in case I get hungry or “something” happens! Maybe it’s the mom in me! These are a great mix of salty and sweet with lots of nuts and nutty butter on the bottom of the bar.

Exercise/ Wellness Favorite:

Life Factory 16 oz. Glass Bottle with Straw Cap and Silicone Sleeve in Peony

I got this while I was shopping in a small local children’s boutique for my kiddos. I drink lots of water and wanted a bottle that I can take everywhere without spilling. It’s a bit heavy, because it is made of glass but it is free of chemicals and easy to clean. I really like the silicone around the glass because it gives a great grip. It is pricy, but if you consider cost per use, it has stayed in perfect shape and I use it all day, everyday.

Website Favorite AND Book Favorite:

“Seriously…I’m Kidding” by Ellen Degeneres read by the author

My hubster has been using audible.com for about a year, but I just didn’t know if I would like it or when I would find the time. I finally decided to listen while I was doing random household chores one evening recently and I chose Ellen’s book for something lighthearted to begin my audio book journey. And I loved it! It didn’t hurt that I listened to this straight after Ellen rocked The Oscars, but she is just so charming. I felt warm and fuzzy after listening. I finished the about three hour long book in two days and it made my chores a lot more fun. We have an Amazon Prime account which makes it very affordable as well. I loved the book and I loved listening to it instead of finding the time to read it.

Girl Power Favorite:

NOTE: I thought this would be a fun way to share some props when I do a favorites post to any girl I think is doing great stuff and should be recognized. I am all about girl power, more than ever now that I have a daughter of my own! I think it should be encouraged and supported!

Carrie Rad has Youtube channel I found recently that I think is just lovely! She’s got whatever it is (okay, now I can’t stop singing that country song…), something about her is so fresh, and she is a joy to watch. I found her and then binge watched every single one of her videos. She has beauty, fashion, and more in her videos. I just want to grab a coffee with her and hang out. She has great ideas, shows such passion, and I just know she will do big things! Carrie Rad is rad!

Song Favorite:

All of Me by John Legend

This song is SO beautiful! I love it each time it comes on the radio and avoid talking too much until it’s over. LOVE!

Okay, I don’t want this to go on forever because I’m in a rambling mood today, and that could get dangerous! But I really hope that you’ve enjoyed this post! As always, if you have any comments or questions please comment (click the link next to the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Please let me know what type of posts you would like to see on www.leahtackles.com. Let me know what your favorites items of the moment are! I would love to hear about them! And if you like what you’ve read, please share and subscribe by entering you email into the box on the right of this page! You will only get emails when a new post from me goes up! Super easy! Thank you to all of you who have already subscribed!! I hope you have a beautiful weekend!!

Easter Basket Cupcakes-Hopping Into Spring Series Part 1

April 2, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I typically wouldn’t do two food posts right in row, but I decided to do a mini series: Hopping Into Spring. This series will feature springtime treats just in time for some warmer weather and Easter! I was flipping through my Taste of Home Magazine and browsing some fun websites recently and became inspired by all the springtime yummy cuteness. The next three Wednesday posts will be part of the series, that way they will all go up before Easter so that you can make them for your families, friends, or coworkers. If you don’t celebrate Easter, all of these treats are really just springtime goodies that can work for any occasion! If you like this post, please pin it to your Pinterest page, simply hover over any of the pictures until a pink “pin” button appears, then click on that to pin to your Pinterest account.

EASTER BASKET CUPCAKES:

I found these Easter Basket Cupcakes in Taste of Home Magazine and knew right away that I had to recreate them! I really like Taste of Home because they offer a wide variety of recipes, but it is always with ingredients that are easily accessible and simple directions. My daughter, Hailey, loved helping me stir and pour in the long list of ingredients for these! If you are pinched for time, you can buy a boxed cake mix or canned frosting but still decorate these sweet little baskets. This would also be a great opportunity to use my cupcake wrapper diy with a sweet springtime paper!

CARROT CAKE:

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup canola oil

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 lb carrots, grated

2 cups chopped walnuts, toasted

1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup flaked coconut

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

1 package (8oz.) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon grated orange peal

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

DECORATIONS:

3 cups flaked coconut

1 teaspoon water

6-10 drops green food coloring

Candy Eggs (jelly beans or small chocolate eggs, whatever type you prefer)

Candy Straw (Sour Punch Straws worked well, licorice would also work. TIP: Do not use any really thin candy because you need something to stick into the cupcake so the “handle” of your basket stays up)

CARROT CAKE DIRECTIONS:

Preheat your oven to 350°. Line 25-30 muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugars, canola oil and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, ground ginger and ground nutmeg. Add your dry mixture and your buttermilk to your egg mixture, alternating and blending after each addition. Stir in the carrots, walnuts, pineapple and coconut until well blended. Do not over mix. Fill prepared baking cups about 3/4 full. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing and cooling completely on wire racks.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until well blended. Beat in the orange peel and vanilla extract. Slowly beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Frost you cupcakes. Because you are going to be covering the frosting with coconut and then decorating them, the frosting doesn’t have to be perfect and you can use a pretty thin layer. I was able to quickly frost the cupcakes I made using a butter knife.

DECORATING DIRECTIONS AND TIPS:

To make the Easter Basket grass, simply put your flaked coconut into a large resealable plastic bag and mix in the water and food coloring. Seal and shake until the coconut is evenly tinted. Do this a little bit at a time because you can always add more drops of food coloring if needed. I then dipped my cupcakes into the coconut to evenly coat the tops. TIP: Put your candy straw about 1/4 inch from the edge of the cupcake and push into the cake. I made the mistake at first of trying this too close to the edge and it didn’t stay very well. Then decorate with your candy eggs. Ta-da! An adorable Easter or springtime cupcake!

I hope you have enjoyed this post! What desserts do you like to make this time of year? Is there anything you’d like to see me make on www.leahtackles.com? If you try this recipe, I want to hear about it! And if you have any questions or comments please let me know in the comments (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! I would love to hear from YOU! It’s “LeahTackles” on all social media. Thank you very much for reading this, and if you like this post please subscribe by entering your email into the subscription box on the right hand side of this page to receive emails only when I post something new! Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Easy Smoothie Recipes

March 31, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

The sun is shining here today which is making this week start off right! I hope the sun is shining where you are, too. I try to be reasonably healthy, and during the week it’s usually pretty easy for me, but the weekends are filled with a lot more temptation. Because of that, I start almost every Monday morning off with some sort of healthy breakfast smoothie. I have always loved smoothies, and would buy them occasionally, but that got pricy! My husband and I got a Ninja Professional Blender with Single Serve for Christmas this past year and I started making smoothies at home. If you would like a review or more information on the Ninja Blender, please leave me a comment (click the link next to the title of this post), or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! I like that I know what’s going in my smoothie when I make it at home. I also like that I can get so many fruit and veggie servings in so easily. Today I want to share two simple smoothies with you that I have been making on a regular basis.

SIMPLE YOGURT FRUIT SMOOTHIE:

Serves 2

Prep Time: 3 Minutes

Blend Time: 1 Minute

What you need:

A blender

A glass

A straw *optional

Ingredients:

1 cup of orange juice (any juice you prefer is fine)

1/3 cup strawberry greek yogurt (regular yogurt is also fine or a different flavor)

1/2 of a ripe banana

1/2 cup of ice

1/2 cup of frozen fruit (I used a strawberry and banana mix)

Directions:

Add everything into your blender and blend until smooth. Enjoying with a fun straw is completely necessary!

FRUIT PARFAIT SMOOTHIE:

Serves 2

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Blend Time: 1 Minute

What you need:

A blender

A glass

A straw *optional

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana

5 strawberries ( fresh is best but frozen is also okay)

1/4 cup raspberries ( fresh is best but frozen is also okay)

1/2 cup almond milk (regular milk is also fine)

1/2 cup granola

Directions:

Blend the fruit and the milk until smooth. Pour your smoothie into a glass and top with the granola. I usually eat this with a spoon at first before switching to a (fun!) straw.

Finally, take a mandatory silly picture showing how much you’re enjoying your smoothie!

Okay, that’s it! I hope you enjoy these easy smoothie recipes!! Please comment (click the link next to the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram if you try either of these recipes out or would like to see other smoothie recipes! I have some with veggies, protein powder…and I could always do a dessert smoothie as well! I hope your week is off to an amazing start! Thank you for being here as always, and please share and subscribe if you’ve enjoyed this post!

Wet n’ Wild Limited Edition Spring 2014 Collection “And The Style Award Goes to…”

March 28, 2014 & 8 Comments

Hi There! Happy Friday!!

Today I am going to be showing you the Wet n’ Wild Spring 2014 Limited Edition Collection “And The Style Award Goes To…” I FINALLY got my hands on the entire collection with the help of a dear friend. I want to share it with all of you while it is still available in stores if you are interested. If you enjoy seeing posts like this, please take a minute to subscribe (enter your email in the subscribe box on the right and you will get emails each time my posts go up! That’s it!).

COLLECTION BASICS:

What’s in the Collection:

6 New Limited Edition Megalast Nail Polishes

2 New Limited Edition Eight Pan Eye Shadow Palettes

Where to buy:

The Wet n’ Wild Spring Collection is not at every drugstore so it can be a little hard to track down, but I suggest trying CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens Pharmacy or Big Kmart.

TIP: If you frequent a certain drugstore, it never hurts to befriend an associate in the cosmetics section. It sounds silly but I always make small talk with my local Walgreens employees! It makes it a lot more likely that they’ll actually want to help you find something, or mention your interest in certain brands to upper management. It can’t hurt!

MEGALAST NAIL POLISH INFORMATION AND SWATCHES:

This is without a doubt one of my favorite lines of nail polish, and definitely my favorite drugstore line of nail polish. They have a large brush that makes application easy, and they stay on the nails really well. I was super excited when I saw these new spring colors because most of my Megalast colors are brighter or bold shades, so it will be nice to have some more neutral, pastel colors from the line. These polishes retail from $1.50-$2.00

Sophisticated Lady 34359

This is a very light pink pearly frost polish. At first I thought I might be disappointed in this color, but I don’t have any other pinks like this in my collection and I ended up really liking this color on the nail. Frost polish can be hard to apply without getting brush strokes showing on the nail, but you can use a sponge tip eye shadow applicator to avoid this. If you are interested in seeing the sponge nail polish technique let me know in the comments (comment by clicking on the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. This color is shown with two coats of polish.

Candid Affair 34360

This is one of my favorites! It is a beauty with a cream base and lots of shimmer! I love lavender nails in the springtime. This color is shown with two coats of polish, but I will probably do three in the future.

Silver Lining 34358

This color looks really nice in the bottle, a blueish gray color with a hint of shimmer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come off that way on the nail. It is very sheer and required three coats to get any sort of real pigmentation. With three coats it still isn’t what I expect by looking at the bottle and still isn’t opaque. I will still wear this, but don’t let the bottle fool you! This is shown with three coats of polish.

Valet Tag 34361

I love this color! It’s a gorgeous taupe cream with just a hint the right amount of shimmer. It applied very easily and was opaque. This is shown with two coats of polish.

Champagne 34362

This is a beautiful champagne pearly frost. It is not opaque, but I don’t mind that at all. I think this is a great neutral color that would look great with lots of different looks.

Elegance 34357

This is a white frost that is very pearly looking on the nail. I am happy to have this color because usually when you see true whites they are pretty plain.

Overall, all six of these colors are either shimmery or a frost, so be aware of that. I think they are very different for the Megalast line and I can’t wait to wear them for spring!

8 PAN EYE SHADOW INFORMATION AND SWATCHES:

I love Wet n’ Wild eye shadows because the prices really can’t be beat, and they are very pigmented. These retail for about $5. All of my swatches are shown without an eye shadow primer to try to show exactly what you get, but I would highly suggest using one with these eye shadows.

Flirting at the Afterparty 34356

This is a purple palette that I think is very on trend with the Pantone Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid. I typically stick with neutrals, but I think that this will be a lot of fun to play around with.

Walking the Red Carpet 34355

This is such a stunning neutral palette! This is perfect for everyday wear. The glittery gold shades were a little more sheer swatched than they look in pan, but if you packed the color on the lid I think you could still really build it up.

Do you like limited edition makeup collections? They kind of drive me nuts because they can be so hard to find, but I also love having new options out all the time. Let me know your comments, questions, or thoughts in the comments (click the link by the title of this post to comment) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

March 2014 Collective Beauty Haul from Sephora, Estée Lauder, and CVS Pharmacy

March 26, 2014 & 1 Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Today I have a collective beauty haul for you! My birthday was a couple weeks ago, so there are a few birthday gifts, and I also did a little shopping this past weekend. This haul has stuff from: Sephora, Estée Lauder, and CVS Pharmacy. Links to all of the items mentioned are in pink as always and I have created a luvocracy collection for more information on the products or if you want to shop for them online.

SEPHORA:

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes:

I have been in love with the Hourglass Ambient Powders since late 2013. I received a limited edition Ambient Lighting Powder set for Christmas that has Dim Light, Incandescent Light (limited edition), and Radiant Light. This set it no longer available, but you can purchase Dim Light and Radiant Light individually, as well as the other Ambient Lighting Powders in the permanent collection. I was so excited when I heard about their blushes launching, and at first they were very hard to find, but now they are readily available at Sephora. Each blush is swirled with one of the Ambient Lighting Powders.

Diffused Heat:

This is described on Sephora.com as “vibrant poppy blushed combined with Diffused Light for a subtle halo effect”. This is a beautiful pinkish coral color that isn’t too orange.

Dim Infusion:

This is described on Sephora.com as “subdued coral blush fused with Dim Light to add warmth”. I have a hard time with coral blushes, and often reach for more blue toned pinks, but this is the perfect coral! It isn’t orange at all. These blushes have a beautiful shimmer, but it isn’t chunky or too much. This shade is very light, but I was surprised at how pigmented it really is! I think that it would be a nice highlight or layered over other blushes as well.

Overall I think these blushes are beautiful! They are a bit pricy at $35 a piece for .15 oz. I really did my research figuring out which of the shades I wanted by looking at swatches online and at Sephora. They seem to last all day on my combination skin, and remain true to color. I think I will have them for a long time time because they are very pigmented and you don’t need to apply very much product per wear.

Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray:

I am a big fan of makeup setting sprays! I first used one for my wedding almost 4 years ago and have been using them ever since. I have only used Urban Decay All Nighter and De-slick. De-slick is meant to be oil controlling, but I find that All Nighter controls my oily spots just about the same. I like to use this after I have put on my foundation and concealer, and then again after everything but mascara is done. Using a setting spray like this one helps my makeup to stay on longer. I also love that it helps to give a more fresh-faced look, by helping to prevent a cakey or powdery appearance after applying lots of powder products. The one I got is a 1oz. travel size for $14 but the regular is a better deal at $30 for 4 oz. Urban Decay made an “XL” 6 oz. version when they had the old packaging, but I haven’t seen it since they launched the new packaging.

Benefit The Porefessional:

I will buy this primer again & again! I have combination/oily skin with my largest pores on either side of my nose. I love that this is a pore minimizer and primer in one. It is $31 for .75 US fl. oz. and I find that one tube lasts me a long time even with daily use.

Benefit They’re Real Mascara:

I received this as part of my birthday gift from Sephora for being a beauty insider. I love this brush and can’t wait to try this out! I do not like using the mini mascara sample tubes in general because I find it’s harder to get the brush exactly where I want it, but it’s great for travel or to toss in your purse.

Benefit Watt’s Up Soft Focus Highlighter:

I am a big big fan of highlights and couldn’t wait to try this one! This little baby is what made me pick the benefit cosmetics set for my free birthday gift for being a beauty insider. It’s a beautiful champagne color that is very soft to the touch cream-to-powder formula that applies in stick form. I really like the stick form, it allows for precise application and it is hard to mess up. It seems to blend well with the fingers, but I haven’t tried it with a brush yet.

ESTÉE LAUDER:

I finally was at a Macy’s this past weekend and was able to go to Estée Lauder to be color matched.

Double Wear Foundation:

I’m really excited to try this foundation! I love my Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + and have heard that this is also a great choice for people with combination/oily skin. They were out of my shade (I believe it is 1C1 Cool Bone) and are shipping it to my house, so I do not have a picture yet.

Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB Highlighter:

This is a new product for the under eye area that conceals, brightens, and highlights. I have very dark circles and was amazed at how well this concealed them. While I was being color matched the makeup artist also used the product to highlight the brow area and it looked beautiful for that as well. I only had this on for a couple of hours, but didn’t notice any creasing under the eyes (a total pet peeve of mine with lots of under eye concealers!). My shade is 1N Extra Light.

Lily Pulitzer free gift with $35 purchase:

This gift is so fun for spring! I was especially excited about the Lily Pulitzer print! It’s completely up my alley and oh so adorable!

You could pick your eye shadow quad, lipstick, and moisturizer out of a couple different options. My mom ended up taking the lipstick since they had a color she really liked. They also threw in an extra mascara and lipgloss duo ended wand because they didn’t have the foundation in stock and had to ship it to my house. You can see more about the limited edition gift Estée Lauder gift here. The sales associate also told me that later this spring they will have a larger Lily Pulitzer tote for those who might be interested in that! Do you ever buy something at a makeup counter just to get the free gift? Let me know in the comments (comment by clicking the link next to the title of this post) or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! I didn’t know about this gift ahead of time, but this is one that I might actually do that for! Especially because I could use the exuse of stocking up on a staple item and getting some freebies out of it.

Lily Pulitzer Makeup Bag

Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Black

Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion

Advanced Night Repair Serum

Pure Color Eye Shadow quad with lily Pulitzer packaging (60 Sugar Biscuit, 47 Nude Fresco, 35 Hot Cinnamon, 45 Lavish Mink)

DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15

Shimmer Lipstick in Sugar Honey

CVS PHARMACY:

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 001 Black:

I love my Scandaleyes eyeliner in nude for an everyday brightening look for the waterline and wanted to try out the black.

Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink:

I have been hearing about these Milani blushes for months and just now got around to picking one up! It has a lot of shimmer and sparkle to it, so if that isn’t your thing you would probably want to pass. I think that the gold shimmer is enough to skip a highlighter when using this blush, and it applies and blends beautifully. It reminds me a lot of Nars Orgasm.

Out The Door America’s #1 Super Fast Drying Top Coat For Nails:

I love this top coat because it is fast drying, inexpensive, and I don’t get the annoying shrinkage that can happen after applying some top coats (shrinkage is where the polish looks like it pulled away from the tip of the nail or when it looks like you have tip wear but just applied the polish).

Phew! That was a long one! If you are reading this, thank you VERY much!! I can’t wait to really dig in to all these new goodies! If you would like a review or more information on any of these items, please let me know by commenting (click the link by the title of this post) or find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

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