decor

OH CHRISTMAS TREE! | 2015 |

November 9, 2015 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a fantastic weekend! Our Christmas tree goes up November 1st every year, and this year was no different, but because I was sick that day we didn’t decorate the tree until this past weekend. I know it’s pretty early, but as a family we enjoy decorating so much, and savoring every bit of holiday magic. For the past 5 years our trees have been themed, and this year Hailey, our 4 year old, picked the theme: FROZEN! I can’t say I’m surprised ; ) When do you decorate? Do you have any special Christmas or holiday decorating traditons? And of course the big debate: is your tree real or fake? Our tree is fake, because we do decorate so early and travel so often, but I adore the smell of real trees! We buy scented things to tuck into the branches that really do smell like a real tree and I love them!

Have a beautiful week!! Check back Wednesday and if you’re subscribed my posts will be emailed to you : )

HOME DECOR ITEMS YOU’VE BEEN MISSING OUT ON!

August 31, 2015 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I haven’t talked much about home decor on here and that is simply because we are in our starter home on a limited budget. Someday, whenever the time is right and we move, be sure that I will be posting LOTS of home decor things because I*CAN’T*WAIT! However, I do have certain pops that I use in our home, especially for my corner office (read: desk/vanity combo in our bedroom corner) and for filming my YouTube videos. There are SO MANY fun things out there, and here are a few hidden gems that I wanted to share because they are too fabulous not to.

1. White Faux Taxidermy

These are AHHMAZING! I have this one on my gallery wall and adore it.

2. Studio Mucci Tassle Garlands

Amina, the artist behind the amazing tasstle garland I have in my video backgrounds that I get constant questions on in the comments, is nothing short of amazing! Everything she posts is inspiring, uplifting, and fun! Shes so bright & bubbly, and such a confident woman!

3. Ikea Alex Drawers

If you aren’t storing your makup in these and you have a big collection RUN to your nearest Ikea! My nearest Ikea is 4 hours away, so I had my parents run there for me a couple of years ago, because shipping cost double the price of the drawers…um no! I do know that you can find them on Amazon.com with more affordable shipping. A lot of people like the Alex 9 drawer unit for makeup, but I prefer the Alex 6 because you can lay your makeup out flat so you can actually see what you have.

4. Anthropologie Moroccan Wedding Pillow

This is a lust item for me, it definitely has a steep price tag, but oh how yummy and gorgeous!

5. TwentyEight12 Pillow Covers

I adore the gold sequin one and the black and white stripe! These could be popped on the throw pillows that came with a couch and gift it a whole new look!

I would love to hear what you’ve been loving lately! Let me know!! xo

Valentine’s Day 2015

February 11, 2015 & Leave a Comment

Happy {Early} Valentine’s Day!

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Lipstick in 885 Vibrant Mandarin

NYX Matte Lipstick in MLS17 Sweet Pink

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Lipstick in 865 Fuchsia Flash

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in 69

Maybelline Color Sesational Vivid Lipstick in 900 Hot Plum

NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in LSS511 Chaos

Thank you for reading loves!! Muuuuuah! Sending kisses to all of you for Valentine’s Day <3

Gallery Wall and Desk/Vanity Overview!!

August 20, 2014 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

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

MY GALLERY WALL AND DESK/VANITY SET UP:

MY FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP FOR PRETTIES FOR MY WALL:

1) Pearls and Pastries Shop

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

2) White Faux Taxidermy

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

3) Studio Mucci

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

4) Ooh La La Finds

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

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

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

May 2, 2014 & 1 Comment

Hi There! HAPPY FRIDAY!! : )

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

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

APRIL LIFESTYLE FAVORITES:

iPhone App:

Groovebook

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

TV Show:

Hart of Dixie

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

Book:

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

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

Girl Power Favorite:

Gretchen Rubin

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

Workout:

C25K iPhone App

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

Song:

Dark Horse by Katy Perry

I.Can’t.Stop.Singing.This!

Movie:

Frozen

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

Food:

Blue Diamond Natural Oven Roasted Almonds in Dark Chocolate

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

Kale Chips:

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

Home:

King Cube Tray

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

Copper Milagro Heart

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

Favorite Moments:

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

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

POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX APRIL 2014!!

April 14, 2014 & 5 Comments

Hi There! Happy Monday!!

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

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

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

Okay, here we go…

MARCH 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX OVERVIEW:

Must Have Food:

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps

$3 Value

Verdict:

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

Must Have Beauty:

Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum from Jurlique

$30

Verdict:

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

Must Have Fashion:

Lucky Horseshoe Necklace from Dogeared (*Similar)

$28

Verdict:

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

Must Have Fashion:

IKAT Scarf from Brokedown

$72

Verdict:

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

Must Have Fitness:

Mini Stability Exercise Ball from Fusion Pilates (*Similar)

$9.95

Verdict:

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

Must Have Home:

Elephant Ring Tree Holder from Bauble Bar

$12

Verdict:

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

Special Extra:

Whole Wheat Fig Bar from Nature’s Bakery

Verdict:

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

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

APRIL 2014 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX:

Must Have Food:

Pop Sugar Must Have Mix from Nature Box

$5 Value

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

Must Have Home:

Caldrea Rosewater Driftwood Liquid Hand Soap

$10.50 value

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

Must Have Beauty:

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

$36 Value

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

Must Have Fashion:

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

$24.99 value

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

Must Have Home:

Pocket Notes from Graphic Image (*Similar)

$20 Value

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

Must Have Home:

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

$18 Value

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

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

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

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

Easy 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!

PopSugar Must Have Box March 2014

March 14, 2014 & 2 Comments

Hi There! Happy Friday!

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

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

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

Okay, here we go…

Must Have Food:

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps

$3 Value

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

Must Have Beauty:

Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum from Jurlique

$30

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

Must Have Fashion:

Lucky Horseshoe Necklace from Dogeared (*Similar)

$28

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

Must Have Fashion:

IKAT Scarf from Brokedown

$72

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

Must Have Fitness:

Mini Stability Exercise Ball from Fusion Pilates (*Similar)

$9.95

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

Must Have Home:

Elephant Ring Tree Holder from Bauble Bar

$12

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

Special Extra:

Whole Wheat Fig Bar from Nature’s Bakery

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

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