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Gifts For Her | Pearl Statement Earrings

October 28, 2024 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

A Timeless Gift: Bridesmaid Pearl Earrings

There’s something magical about the jewelry we wear for a friend’s wedding, especially when it’s a carefully chosen gift from the bride herself. At my best friend’s recent wedding, each bridesmaid received a stunning pair of earrings as a thank-you for standing beside her on her big day. These weren’t just any earrings; they were real freshwater pearls delicately set on a slim, gold chain—a statement piece that’s as timeless as it is elegant. Pearls make a wonderful gift and while timeless they are very on trend now, too.

A Gift to Treasure

The earrings make a gorgeous addition to my collection, and every time I look at them, I’m reminded of the special day we shared. There’s a joy in knowing these earrings were selected with such care, meant to be worn not only on one beautiful day but for years to come. The soft, subtle glow of the pearls catches the light in a way that feels both luxurious and refined—perfect for any occasion that calls for a touch of sophistication.

Thinking Ahead

Beyond their beauty, these earrings hold sentimental value. Someday, I hope to pass them down to my daughter, Hailey, sharing with her the stories of friendship, laughter and love that these earrings represent. There’s something special about passing down meaningful jewelry—each piece holds memories, lessons, and warmth that can’t be replaced.

Thank you and congratulations, J! Congratulations!

Do you wear pearls?

Skwad Skincare Review | Skincare For Teens

September 23, 2024 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Hailey, our thirteen-year-old, is very interested interested in skincare. I knew she’d be the perfect person to help me review the Skwad Skincare for Teens. We both used four products for over a month and today I am going to share my thoughts.

Skwad Skincare Review Skincare For Teens

I received the Starter Skincare Set with a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and a shaving cream/mask combo product. I love the ease of this set, and I think it’s the perfect starting point for pre-teens and teens who are just learning about skincare.

SKWEEZ Gentle Exfoliating Face Wash 100ml

Containing a bio-friendly exfoliant, this face wash cleanser is gentle and effective while also visibly brightening and softening skin. The skin barrier is protected for it to stay moisturized.

SKWIRT Hydrating and Exfoliating Facial and Body Toning Spray 100 ml

A hydrating, exfoliating toning spray that helps clarify and refresh the appearance of skin. This innovative sap can be used as a toner or on its own. Mom may use this on the quiet because our ingredient combination can also help reduce fine lines and even skin tone. This is my FAVORITE of the four products.

SKWISH Hydrating Moisturiser 100 ml

An easy-to-use, fast-to-absorb, protective, and hydrating moisturizer packed with non-greasy nutritious oils for teen skin, combined with heavyweight antioxidants that feel as light as a soufflé. Gentle yet effective ingredients protect the skin, increase its barrier function, and improve hydration.

SKRAPE Nourishing Face Mask & Shaving Cream 100 ml

A revolutionary dual-function mask packed full of vitamin-rich ingredients. It can be used as a shaving cream or a face mask. Whichever way it is used, it hydrates and protects the skin.

SKWAD Toiletry Bag For Teenage Girls and Boys

The toiletry bag is made from recycled grey RPET canvas (one of the most sustainable, recyclable, and circular materials) and a recycled white waterproof polyester lining with an inside pocket.

What skincare does your teen love?

What’s Next? A Life Size Game and What’s Next a Life Size Transition Game

August 12, 2024 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday! Happy Birthday to my husband, too!

I was offered the chance to review the game What’s Next? A Life Size Game and What’s Next a Life Size Transition Game and while it is different than my usual content, I was excited to share it because I am a parent and I thought you might enjoy this post, too.

M & J Games a Life-Size Game and M & J Games a Life-Size Transition Game

This game has soft foam pieces, a giant die which our whole household got a kick out of, and a simple way to set it up that we used both indoors and outdoors. We also tried the version with transition pieces you can add, which is meant for people on the spectrum.

I enjoyed this game so much that I plan to gift one to the resource room teacher who works with one of our children. I love that it doesn’t take too long to play, and is simple for the whole family to catch on and modify to their needs.

This is a fun family game and definitely different and a way to get outside!

Have a great weekend : )

Maybelline Lifter Gloss + Hyaluronic Acid

February 22, 2021 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Has anyone else bought fewer lip products this year than any other year since middle school? Me too. Mask lyfe. But, I do like to pop a little lip on for Zoom meetings, and today I want to share with you the Maybelline Lifer Gloss.

Maybelline Lifer Gloss + Hyaluronic Acid

About Maybelline Lifer Gloss

Delivers hydration, shine and fuller-looking lips; formula with hyaluronic acid
A moisturizing lip gloss formula visibly smooths the lip’s surface and enhances lip contour with high shine for fuller-looking lips
XL Wand to enhance lip contour with shine and transform lips in one swipe

Why I Love Maybelline Lifer Gloss

The packaging is a bit large, but looks sleek and high end, and I like that the wand is shorter but the doe foot applicator is large and makes it easy to apply quickly. I can use a bit in the center of my lips to plump, or I can apply alone as my only lip product. I purchased the shade Reef, which is a pinky-nude without shimmer. I haven’t tried the Fenty glosses, but many are saying this is a look-for-less option. I will definitely continue to purchase this, and can’t wait to try other colors. The next shade on my list? Moon!

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Have you tried this lip gloss? What is your favorite drugstore lip gloss?

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Not Your Mother’s Way to Grow Leave-In Conditioner | Affordable Leave-In Conditioner

July 18, 2018 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope you are having a wonderful week so far! My hair is something that I work hard to take good care of, and whenever I find new haircare products I love to share them with you. Today I want to share a leave-in conditioner that was a purchased on a whim but is now a staple in my haircare routine.

Way to Grow Leave-In Conditioner

Product Claims

This salon formula leave-in conditioner is infused with procapil, a breakthrough combination of ingredients that’s been clinically proven to help your hair grow stronger and longer faster, Not Your Mother’s Way To Grow Leave-In Conditioner will moisturize, detangle and smooth hair while building the strength you need for healthy hair.

My Thoughts

I purchaed this because I had run out of my grail leave-in conditioner (It’s a 10) and wanted to purchase a larger size on Amazon instead of paying more for a small bottle in the stores. My first impression was that it didn’t detangle as well as It’s a 10, but it did make it much easier to comb out after showering than using no product. I kept using the product and noticed that I liked how light the spray is, how it doesn’t leave a residue or weigh down my hair, and how smooth and shiny my hair looks. I don’t notice my dry split-ends as much and my hair feels healthy! Is it making my hair grow faster? I am not sure, I am admittedly skeptical, but so far I have definitely noticed it making a healthy difference. The reviews on Ulta seem to show that it works great for those with curly hair and frizzy hair, too.

My Routine

I was my hair about three or four days a week, depending on weather and activity, and so I have been using this product several times each week. Once I am out of the shower I lightly towel dry my hair, being carefully not to rub back and forth but rather lightly squeeze out the water, and wear it in a hair towel until I am ready to comb out my hair. I like to use a Wet Brush to comb my hair, and before I do I spray my Way To Grow Leave-In Conditioner into my hair, focusing on the back and ends.

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Have you tried this? Have you tried any other Not Your Mother’s products? Do you have any favorites? I would love it if you shared them in a comment so others can hear your thoughts too! Have a fantastic weekend! xx

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NADINE WEST SUBSCRIPTION REVIEW | CLOTHING SUBSCRIPTION BOX

June 20, 2018 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a great week : ) I have shared my outfits from Nadine West before on my blog (read the posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) and I have been wearing some items from my last several boxes a lot lately, so I was so excited to receive a new box in the mail from them. Nadine West sent me this box for my consideration for review but I was not paid to write this post and as always all opinions are my own.

What is Nadine West?

NadineWest.com is a company that sends you an outfit to try on and you keep only what you love. The outfit is a surprise, but you take a style quiz and the stylists get to know your style more each month. The outfits are affordable with pieces costing about $10-$30 each, which is very affordable compared to other similar services.

How Does It Work?

On the Nadine West website, you take the style quiz so that the stylist can get to know what you are looking for in an outfit. You will receive a pink package in the mail with your personalized outfit. Try on the outfit and keep what you love and send back what you don’t.

My Thoughts

The style quiz was super easy to do, which was great because I wanted something that didn’t take too much time but I was still able to make notes to make sure the stylist knew my preferences. I really loved the surprise aspect of this, and it was like opening up a girly gift from a really stylish friend. I cannot stand having to return things, it is such a bummer, but I LOVE the way this company does it because your outfit comes with return shipping.

Discount Code

Use the referral code “Nadine” on NadineWest.com (not an affiliate code for me, just sharing the one they currently have on their website) to waive your shipping fee which means you’ll get your outfit in the mail without paying anything!

What Did I Get?

This month I received a long rose gold leaf necklace, gold bangles that are all connected, a dark red tee with a choker cut, black lace shorts, an olive green open cardigan, a peach floral colored shirt with cutout sleeves, and floral athletic shorts.

My Outfits

Did I Keep It?

Yes, everything! I instantly put on the bracelet because I love it so much and goes with everything! It is so pretty and I’ve received compliments on it already. The leaf necklace is very delicate and the leaf seems like it could break easily, but I really did like the way it looks on. The dark red tea is a great basic that looks really cute tucked in or knotted. I love neutral colors, and lace is so in style for 2018, so the black lace shorts are going to get a lot of wear! I really like that the lace shorts are pretty short, but the lace part goes longer than the lining, so they don’t seem too revealing. The olive cardigan is very similar to one I received from Nadine West before, but it’s actually one of my favorite ever Nadine West items so I don’t mind. The peach floral colored shirt is really pretty, but it is probably my least favorite item in this box only because I’ve been gravitating to neutrals lately. The floral athletic shorts are super soft and perfect for doing yard work, bumming around the house, or wearing with a white or black tank on casual days.

Final Thoughts

I love getting my Nadine West box each month! Each month I get a few things that I love, but I do wish that there was a simple form to update style preferences or check-in each month to see what I’d like to find in my box. I have been liking my boxes more and more lately, which I am pleased with.

Have you tried any fashion boxes like this? Have you tried Nadine West? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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EASY CONTOURING TUTORIAL | HOW-TO CONTOUR 2018

June 18, 2018 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend! A subscriber messaged me on my LeahTacklesBeauty Instagram asking if I would do a blog post and contouring video tutorial. Today I will share my tutorial how-to for beginners with you, and if you ever have blog post requests, please let me know : ) What can I do for you?

WHAT IS CONTOURING AND WHY DO YOU CONTOUR?

Contouring is when you use a matte powder, liquid, cream, or stick product that’s a few shades darker than your skin tone to shade (contour) the areas you want to chisel out and define or reshape. People most commonly contour their cheekbones, forehead, chin/jaw, and nose.

PRODUCTS USED

For this tutorial, I used the Benefit Hoola Lite Bronzer, which works well for me because it is a matte color that doesn’t look muddy on my very fair skin. The original Hoola Bronzer is also a great choice, or you can use any matte bronzer or even a matte pressed powder that’s a few shades darker than your skin tone. I have a double ended Tarte brush that I like to use for contouring because I use the smaller side to apply the product exactly where I want it, and then the fluffier side to blend the color out. You can also use an angled blush brush to apply and blend the contour.

MY ROUTINE

I contour my face almost daily, but my routine is typically a few quick version and then on days when I want a full face I will do more contouring. I start by contouring my cheekbones and the easiest way to do this is to suck in your cheeks and apply the color just below that cheekbone. I always put the brush down first close to my ear and then go down to just below the apple of my cheek which lines up with the outer corner of my eye. I put the brush down first wherever I want the most pigment to go. I always blend the cheek contour color up to help get the high cheekbone look. I then contour my forehead, which I don’t spend a lot of time on because my forehead isn’t a problem area for me, but I do a little contouring on the sides into the hairline to help soften the angles of my face. I then contouring my jawline, blending the color down onto my neck. You can contour right below your lower lip to help make your lips look more full and forward. I also like to contour my nose, which depending on your nose shape and size can vary, but I contour the sides of my nose to help thin it out a bit, and I contour around the tip which helps shorten the appearance of the length of the nose. After contouring, I apply bronzer on the apples of my cheeks and blending up to the hairline and then a little blush concentrated on the apples of my cheeks. You can then apply any other makeup you wish! Ta-Da! Contouring completely! *Note: I know, this sounds like a ton, but on an average day I probably spend 2 minutes doing this ; )

VIDEO TUTORIAL

SHOP

Was this post helpful? What can I do for you? Let me know! I’ll chat with you soon : ) xx

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7 THINGS YOU CAN DO EVERY DAY (FOR FREE) TO BE MORE BEAUTIFUL!

June 13, 2018 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Whew! We have made it to the middle of the week! I am so excited for the weekend, as always! Do you have any special plans for this weekend? Are you doing anything special for Father’s Day? Let me know in the comments!

This is a beauty blog, and I share lots of product reviews and beauty tips, but today I wanted to share something a little different. I have certain habits that I have created for myself that cost no money and I believe make myself, and anyone who chooses to apply them, and beautiful!

#1 No Screen Morning Routine

When I wake up (always on the first alarm, a life-changing habit I started thanks to The 5 Second Rule) I turn off my alarm and check the weather but then I do not check any news, emails, texts, or social media until I’ve been awake for at least 30 minutes. I like to listen to affirmations for peace, calming anxiety, and confidence on YouTube. If you’d like my picks for these, please let me know in the comments. Having this no screen rule when I first wake up helps me decide how my day starts instead of news or things others are doing, and I believe this helps my attitude for the duration of the day to be happier, and more beautiful.

#2 Get Ready

I get ready every single day which to me means I apply some makeup and do my hair every day. For some of you this may mean just some mascara or lipstick, and for others it may mean a full face, but some amount of makeup makes me feel “ready” for anything. I also do my hair, always, which is sometimes just a braid of a messy bun, and sometimes a full curl styling or straightening. I feel more confident, social, and happy when I take a few minutes to get myself ready.

#3 The Rule of Three

When I get dressed I always try to remember the Rule of Three even on my most casual day. A tee shirt and a pair of jeans is just clothes, but if you tuck in or knot your tee, cuff your jeans, and throw on an amazing hat, necklace, or pair of shoes? It is an outfit. I try to stick to the “rule” that you need three pieces for it to be an outfit. If you’d like me to go into more detail with this, I would be happy to do so!

#4 Journal

I am a writer and have been a writer since I was a young child, but I’ve never been good at keeping a diary or journaling. I have started many but never created habits. In the beginning of 2018 I decided to begin a gratitude journal and started writing down three things I was grateful for (ranging from simple things like coffee to major things like my marriage and my children). You can do this in any old notebook you have lying around, but a pretty journal may be more fun to keep on your person daily. I have now switched over to The 5 Second Journal adore it so much! I highly recommend it for those of you who don’t have the time or patience for traditional journaling. By taking a few minutes to set my goals and remember what I am grateful for, I am able to give the best of myself to those around me and let go of what doesn’t matter. Being calm and less anxious helps me to feel happy and in turn, more beautiful inside and out.

#5 Eye Contact and Smile

Alright, I get it, everyone *knows* eye contact is important and smiling makes anyone more beautiful. However, until I made it a little game I play where I try to hold eye contact until the other person looks away (all of the people I know in real life reading this are going to look for it now…oh well!), I never realized how, frankly, bad most people are at eye contact. I also am a big proponent of smiling because it makes you look so confident, approachable, and if you keep smiling you actually become more positive and happy. You know when you see or meet someone with a fantastic smile? Be that person!

#6 Workout

I am a naturally slim person, but over the past two almost three years I have really focused on my strength and toning by working out five days a week. People ask me a lot what workouts I use and how I do it, but really it isn’t all that fancy. I use this mat on the floor of my bedroom and simple hand weights (5, 8, and 12lb) like these. I have an easy curl bar and these resistance bands. Some days I workout for an hour and have a fantastic workout! Other days I have a full face of makeup on and don’t even change into workout clothes, but still do an upper or lower body workout because some is better than none. I think with working out you just need to start! You’ll never regret a workout (unless you get injured!). I also do simple cardio like walking on a high incline on our treadmill and doing some jogging. I also love to chase around the yard with our Little Loves. Working out is something I do for me as a stress release and something that makes me feel good about myself. I LOVE the way it feels to get stronger and notice muscles developing. I also do it for those around me because I am a much better wife/mother/human when I get my workouts in. Plus, working out is so good for my short and long-term health.

#7 Evening Routine

I think everyone should have an evening routine that they can look forward to throughout the day. It could be something like a hot bath, meditation or yoga, or journaling. My nighttime routine is a small snack like my favorite popcorn, a cup of tea, and watching a show on Netflix or YouTube. I think about this time when I feel anxious or stressed during the day, and it helps me to calm myself. I feel like a much happier person knowing I have quiet me time to look forward to and being happier makes me more beautiful.

What are some of your ways to make yourself feel beautiful? Do you have any tricks you could share with others?

Thank you for reading and have a great weekend! xx

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SUNGLASS WAREHOUSE REVIEW | PRICES TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

June 11, 2018 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that your week is off to a fantastic start so far! Today is my daughters last day of school (HOW is she going to be in second grade next year? How?!) and that means in a few short hours we will officially be on summer vacation! I know they’ll drive me crazy, but I love having my Little Loves home with me!

I was contacted by someone who works with SW Sunglass Warehouse and asked if I’d like to pick out a few pairs of sunglasses for my consideration for review. I was excited to try out some different styles, and because I tend to prefer more expensive sunglasses, I thought the affordable price point of SW Sunglass Warehouse would be a great way to test them out.

My Thoughts

I pride myself on always being 100% honest with you, because without your trust what would this blog be? A whole lot of nothing! So, I am going to remain 100% honest and say that overall I am not impressed. My first impression was that they seemed flimsy and cheaply made. I will say the plastic frame pair is nice and will probably survive far after the others have hit the wastebasket. I do think that if you are interested in a specific look or style of frame this *could* be a way to try it out before splurging on a more expensive pair. I honestly have seen sunglasses at gas stations and Walmart that are the same price but seem of better quality. I will list some of my other sunglass suggestions below.

SW Sunglass Warehouse Sunglasses

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Where do you shop for sunglasses? Do you wear one pair all the time or change it up?

Thank you, as always, for reading! I hope you have a fantastic week!

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CLOTHING SUBSCRIPTION BOX | NADINE WEST OUTFIT SUBSCRIPTION REVIEW

May 14, 2018 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you are having a great start to your week : ) I have shared my outfits from Nadine West before on my blog (read the posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) and I have been wearing some items from my last several boxes a lot lately, so I was so excited to receive a new box in the mail from them. Nadine West sent me this box for my consideration for review but I was not paid to write this post and as always all opinions are my own.

What is Nadine West?

How Does It Work?

My Thoughts

Discount Code

What Did I Get?

This month I received a gold layered necklace, a pair of gold earrings, a pair of mesh side cropped leggings, a pair of black floral shorts, an orange smock top dress, a lace black shirt, and a casual red shirt.

My Outfits

Did I Keep It?

I liked both the necklace and the earrings more on than I initially thought I would at first glace. The leggings aren’t as comfortable as the pair I got last month (and no pockets!) but I do really like the mesh side and lace-up leg details. I will wear the leggings casually, but not for workouts. I love the floral shorts, they are super soft and look cute on! I love neutral colors, even florals! I wish so badly that the smock dress was a top instead, because it is super cute and I love the smock style in tanks, but I am not crazy about it as a dress and likely won’t be reaching for it. I really like the black lace top as well, but I will pair it with high rise shorts or pants next time. I absolutely LOVE the casual red top, the pictures don’t do it justice (I was dealing with atrocious lighting this day, whoops) but it’s perfect for casual days.

Final Thoughts

Have you tried any fashion boxes like this? Have you tried Nadine West? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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