leahtackles – Page 37

THIS ONE IS FOR YOU, HAILS!

February 24, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

If you follow our daily vlog channel then you know that unfortunately our family has been living apart during the week due to some medical care that one of our sons is getting at a clinic far from our home. Because of this, I have been away from our biggest little love, Hailey, now more than ever before. I miss her so much and just wanted to say:

Hailey,

I am so incredibly proud of all the amazing things you’ve been doing while I have been away. FaceTiming with you is the BEST! I can’t wait to give you a giant, super, gigantic, tight, biggest hug EVER when I see you in a few days!

I love you so,

Mommy

And now, here is an adorable picture of her modeling her dance recital dress and a picture of her on the 100th day of school : )

Thanks so much for reading!!

My Travel Makeup Reality

February 22, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Today I thought I was keep it real and just share a picture of my hotel bathroom counter this morning while I was in the middle of putting on my makeup. Can anyone else relate? ; )

I hope you are having a fabulous start to your week!! Please don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for pictures of my life and loves every day!! xx

French Fries 2 Ways! Oven Fries and Brick-O-Fries

February 17, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Today I want to share two VERY different, but both very delicious and easy french fry recipes with you. My good friend and fellow YouTuber, Alyssa, from the channels BabyMakingStation and AlyssaAllDay has an incredible oven fry recipe that I use a lot! I change it up to make it my own, but her recipe is my starting point and inspiration. The second recipe, the Brick-O-Fries was created by my husband, Stephan, and inspired by an appetizer we had while out on a date.

Oven Fries:

Ingredients:

Potatoes (we like using golden or yellow potatoes)

Parchment Paper and/or Cooking Spray

Spices (I used Lawry’s, Garlic Salt, and Paprika)

Directions:

Set oven to 425 degrees. Wash, scrub, and slice potatoes. I like thinner fries, but wedges are fine too. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and either cook them with no oil or spray with cooking spray. Place your fries on the baking sheet and then spice to your liking. Bake for 20 minutes and then remove to stir before baking for another 10 minutes. Check the fries often, though, because the cooking times can vary. Enjoy with some ketchup!

Brick-O-Fries:

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend! Definitely let me know if you try either of these out!!

THE NEW MUST HAVE PLANNER ACCESSORY! byANGIEBOUTIQUE Planner Pouch

February 15, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Last year I got my very first Erin Condren Life Planner and I really enjoyed it but didn’t dive completely into the planner world but this year I’ve fallen back in love and I am all in. As many of you know by now, I am currently living away from home every week for the next couple of months (shameless plug: watch our Daily Vlogs to see our adventure!) and needed something to use to carry my planner and all of my planning goodies. I saw a picture of a byAngieBoutique planner pouch on Instagram and instantly was swooning! After talking to Angie we decided to coolaborate and I couldn’t be happier to be sharing her product with all of you. All opinions are my own, but I was gifted this pouch for my review.

The Rebecca Portfolio:

This is the absolute PERFECT pouch for any planner lover out there! My mom doesn’t have an Erin Condren, but she loves the concept for her coloring books, too. I love that I can easily fit not just my planner, but washi tape, scissors, pens, and other planning odds and ends. Plus, how adorable is this?! Angie has the cutest fabrics, too.

Construction:

This bag is not only super cute, but it’s extremely well made. The stitching is flawless, and the zippers and vinyl are both very good quality. I can really fit a lot in here without feeling like I’m going to jam it to the point of breaking. It also isn’t too giant, so I can slide it into a diaper bag or large purse easily. You could definitely fit this in a backpack or a lot of brief cases, also.

Features:

3 pockets (2 zipper pockets & 1 slip pocket)
Clear vinyl on both zipper pockets
Zipper closure on main pocket will not allow your planner to fall out or ‘pop out’ if bag is tilted or turned upside down
Fully lined with hidden seams
Includes a fabric tab on one side of the bag
Reinforced seams

Overall:

This pouch has made me plan more because it has made planning much more functional for me. I love that I can put literally hundreds of stickers, a bunch of washi, and a pack of pens easily inside along with the planner. I would truly suggest this to anyone who loves planning, especially if they ever plan away from home.

OUR ADVENTURE | PERSONAL POST

February 8, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you all had an amazing weekend! And if you watched Super Bowl 50 I hope you enjoyed the game, or at least the yummy snacks and the commercials. I didn’t watch the game because I am currently “on an adventure” as I’ve been calling it while my middle kiddo, Connor, attends a special clinic away from our home. I like to throw in a few personal posts, or picture posts once in awhile, but the main focus of LeahTackles.com is still beauty and lifestyle (the lifestyle includes my little loves!). However, if you’d like to follow along you can subscribe to Our Daily Vlog Channel: KwapisFamilyTackles to watch my husband, Stephan, my oldest, Hailey, Connor, and our baby (who is no longer a baby but will always be the baby), Logan, and myself living out our adventure each day.

Connor Wanting a Monday Morning Caffeine Jolt:

Thank you for reading!! xo

My Favorite Eyebrow Product!

February 3, 2016 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wesnesday!

I am constantly changing up my makeup, and lately I’ve really been loving my brows! I’ve used the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow on and off for about a year, but just recently I’ve been using it nonstop.

What I Do:

I comb my brows in the general direction I want them to be with a spoolie brow brush (basically a brush that looks like a clean mascara wand). Then I dip my brush into my Dip Brow Pomade in Taupe and hold the brush vertical to brush the brow hairs closest to my nose up in their natural direction. I then use the brush horizontally and outline the lower part of my brows and then use the brush to push that product up so that I don’t end up using too much or creating too harsh of a look. I then usually set my brows with a clear brow gel, just incase they decide to get crazy ; )

Why I Love It:

I can get big, full, and defined brows without them looking overly harsh or painted on. I definitely always go lighter than you would think you need and slightly lighter than your brows to avoid them looking too harsh. A lot of people think they should buy their exact brow color, but I have had much better results going a bit lighter than my natural brows.

As always, thank you for reading! I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

SOMETHING FOR ME | ADULT COLORING BOOKS?

February 1, 2016 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that all of you had a great weekend! I got to spend some great time with my husband and all three kids and that just makes my heart happy! I am a person who likes to be busy, and that’s good because I am very busy (in fact more busy than even I would like!) but I am horrible about making time for myself! I know a lot of you out there, especially moms, can probably relate! It’s hard to prioritize time for yourself! As I’m sure you’ve noticed, everyone and their mother is using adult coloring books (literally, my mom has some!), so I decided to jump on the bandwagon. If you’ve been watching our daily vlogs you know that in just a couple of days our life will be getting even crazier, so I thought this would be the perfect time to try these. I am fairly crafty, but I am not an artist at all, but I am excited! I think it’s important that we do something for ourselves that is just for fun and just for us! So, in the comments, tell me something you do for yourself! And, have you tried any adult coloring books?

Thank you so much for reading! Have a wonderful week and do something for you : )

PEACHES & PETALS SUBSCRIPTION BOX REVIEW! GET 50% OFF!

January 27, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that all of you are having a fabulous and productive week! My family has a lot going on currently, and if you watch our daily vlogs you’ll know a little about what I’m talking about, but I wanted to tell my readers that I will be continuing to upload every Monday and Wednesday as of now! In December I reviewed the Peaches & Petals box for the first time I was very impressed! The wonderful gals at Peaches & Petals asked if I would like to receive another box for consideration & review and I happily accepted. For the January box I decided to film an unboxing so that you could get my real first impressions and to make it a little bit more fun : ) I filmed this video a week ago and now have some thoughts on the items that I’ve been trying from the box, so I’ll also briefly share those below.

Peaches & Petals was kind enough to offer my followers 50% off their first box with the code LEAHPEACH so be sure to use that! This box is $19.99 a month, and I think that’s a very good deal if you’ll use these types of lifestyle items! I love this box because just like my beloved PopSugar Must Have Boxes, they can easily be made into gifts or passed along…not that I do that often because usually I want them myself ; )

PEACHES & PETALS

Fruit Infuser Water Bottle

I already LOVE this and think it’s amazing quality! I love that this is a glass bottle, because the infuser bottle I already have is plastic and now I have the option to use either depending on where I want to use it. I can’t wait to try more fruit waters with this.

Selfie Stick

I have had a blog for almost two years, and I have been on YouTube for almost one year, but I didn’t own a selfie stick until now! I had a little phone attachment, but never a selfie stick! I haven’t used this yet, but can’t wait to try it out! It is HARD to capture a family of five without one!

Adventure Jewelry

Okay, I thought this was adorable when I opened it, but I can’t get it to fit my wrist very well and the quality doesn’t seem as nice as the jewelry from last months box, however I will wear it when I stack my bracelets.

Healthy Cooking Cookbook

I love reading cookbooks and cooking magazines, so I was really happy to see this! I haven’t tried any of the recipes, but there are definitely a lot I would love to try out!

Inspirational Decal

How cute is this?! I gifted this to one of my best friends! Yay for Happy Mail!

What is your favorite subscription box? Do you have any you would like to see me review? Please let me know in the comments! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

IS YOUR UNDER EYE CONCEALER MAKING YOUR FINE LINES AND DARK CIRCLES MORE VISIBLE?

January 25, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

This morning I was thrilled to be volunteering in my 4 year olds classroom for a few hours, and her sweet teacher asked me about under eye concealer suggestions. First of all, thank you for asking! I absolutely love getting questions from all of you, and every time I take it as a compliment! So, ask away! I am also a huge fan of this topic, because I have (BAD) dark circles! I’ve talked about it before, but the combo of three kids under five and genetics (love ya mom and dad!) makes my dark circles situation rough most days. I also think it’s a super important topic because if you don’t apply or set your under eye concealer correctly it can cause the makeup to set into your fine lines making the lines and dark circles more visible! Let’s be real, none of us have time for that!

What I Do For My Under Eye Make Up and Dark Circles:

1. If you’re not using an eye cream, you should be! I really love using the Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream which you can find at Ulta or Sephora. It’s a little pricy, but I really like this and it has helped my dark circles to appear less drastic. I also like this because it doesn’t take forever to absorb into the skin, and it doesn’t feel heavy at all.

2. I always use some sort of pinky/salmon concealer to brighten up the dark circles under my eyes. My go-to favorite is a drugstore concealer! I use the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Brightener! Make sure you get the one that actually says “Dark Circles” because they also have a regular concealer that isn’t specific to the under eye area. I also really like the Benefit Erase Paste, it works so well on days when I want maximum concealing power, but it’s thicker and harder to work with when I’m in a real hurry.

3. I then use a concealer (Tip: Look for one that is one shade lighter than your skin tone for extra brightening power! But I am very fair so I just get the lightest shade offered) over the brightening concealer from step 2. I really love the Estée Lauder Double Wear Concealer or the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye! I like to make a triangle under each eye and then use either a damp Beauty Blender, or my Sigma F86 Tapered Kabuki Brush (any makeup sponge similar to this or tapered kabuki brush will work) to pat and lightly press the concealer into the skin. Don’t drag the brush in a painting motion! You want that product to stay there!!

*Note: Sometimes I go from step 2 to step 4 and skip this step altogether, but most days I include this in my routine.

4. I then ALWAYS set my under eye concealer with a loose setting powder, preferably a brightening setting powder, with my Sigma F35 Tapered Highlighter (or a fan brush works wonderfully too!). By setting your under eye concealer with a powder you are helping it to stay put, and also avoiding the risk of the product settling into your fine lines or wrinkles. I love the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder or for a much less expensive route, the E.L.F High Definition Under Eye Setting Powder is also fantastic! Who can beat $3?!

If You Enjoyed This Post You May Also Enjoy:

My Top 3 Ways To Apply Liquid Foundation

I hope that this was helpful! If it was please subscribe, share, or “pin” onto your Pinterest account! I have share buttons for social media at the bottom of each post : ) Have a wonderful week! Let’s chat again on Wednesday! xo

MY EXPERIENCE WITH BREAST MILK JEWELRY! HOLLYDAY DESIGNS REVIEW & PROMO CODE!

January 20, 2016 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

If you would have told me six years ago that I would own a piece of jewelry made out of my breast milk, and not just that I would own breast milk jewelry, but that I would would find peace and closure with it, and treasure it? I would have told you there was no way! But here I am today thrilled to be sharing my start to finish experience ordering breast milk jewelry.

When I found out I was pregnant in 2010 I did what I do for everything: research! I knew that I wanted to breastfeed, and that was on my “Must Do To Be The *Perfect* Mom” list. Now, breastfeeding is supposed to be the most natural thing ever, right? So I didn’t do any prep to breastfeed while I was busy researching and prepping for my first born. Fast forward to delivery day and the first week of Hailey’s life and I wished that I had! It took me SO LONG to be able to breastfeed Hailey well, and we both struggled with her latch, my nerves, but finally after ordering books, gadgets, and anything breastfeeding related I could off of Amazon we got the hang of it it. I went on to breastfeed Hailey for over 14 months and she had breastmilk for 18 months. Connor was unable to breastfeed due to medical reasons, but I did pump some breastmik for him. With my third, Logan, I was lucky because he latched perfectly immediately! My breastfeeding issues ended up coming later with him, so I fought to breastfeed him and turned to pumping most of his milk eventually. Logan stopped breastfeeding at around 11 months but thankfully I had pumped enough for him to have breast milk until his first birthday. Logan drank every single ounce I pumped except for about 1 tablespoons that I shipped to Holly Day Designs to have a charm made for my Pandora bracelet. My heart hurt so much when Logan wouldn’t nurse anymore, and any time I offered and he wouldn’t nurse I felt rejected and like our special bond had ended too soon. I was not able to let go of the sadness of my last little love ending his nursing journey until I ordered my breast milk jewelry and then as silly as it may sound a wave of peace washed over me and I felt the closure I had so needed.

*Note: I was provided my breast milk charm from Holly Day Designs in exchange for my honest review and consideration. I never accept payment in exchange for a positive review. I have a promo code below, but do not earn money if you order! The promo code is to pass on this wonderful treasure to my readers!!

What IS Breast Milk Jewelry?

It is a piece of jewelry of your choice (rings, necklaces, charms, bracelets, etc) where she will plasticize your milk and then encase it in a clear resin. There are TONS of choices! Check out the Holly Day Design Website or the Holly Day Design Facebook Page!

What is the process like?

Once you order you will get her shipping address on both the confirmation screen and via email! She has a great F.A.Q page, but I promise it isn’t scary! I wondered how in the world I would send milk, but it was as simple as sending my milk (fresh or thawed is fine but don’t send more than 1 ounce) that I double bagged in my breast milk storage bags and put inside a piece of thick cardstock in a bubble envelope! She has an awesome system where you can log in to your account and check the status to know when she has received your milk and when she has shipped your jewelry among other messages that I loved! My breast milk charm came a lot faster than I imagined, and I am absolutely in love with it! be sure to check her website for her current turnaround times.

What I ordered:

I picked out the European Bracelet Breast Milk Pearl in Solid

I knew that I wanted a subtle piece that I could easily wear. I love that this is something where nobody would know that it’s breast milk without me telling them (well all of you will know! haha!). I picked the solid option, but she also offers a beautiful swirled option for this pearl as well.

Get Your Own:

I have a unique coupon code just for my LeahTackles readers!! If you would like to order your own breast milk jewelry be sure to do so by February 15th using the code below to get 15% off your order of $50 or more!

LEAHTACKLES15

I hope that you enjoyed this! If you know a breastfeeding mama, please consider passing this blog post along! I couldn’t be happier with my decision to order, and know it will be something I treasure for years to come. My breastfeeding journey is over, and all of my milk is gone, but now thanks to Holly Day Designs I have a little keepsake to remember the struggles, the work, the labor of love, the pride I felt sustaining life with my body, and all of the special moments with my babies that I experienced nursing them.