mom vlogger

FALL FASHION POST! HOW TO LOOK GOOD, BE COMFORTABLE, AND NOT BREAK THE BANK!

September 14, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

We are starting to slowly but surely starting to get chillier days here in the midwest, and that means that I’ve started wearing some of my favorite fall pieces again. I love clothes and I love fashion, but I’m also very realistic about my fashion choices because I am a mom of little kids and whatever I wear on a daily basis needs to withstand a lot! I need a wardrobe that is fashionable, affordable, and comfortable *without* looking frumpy! Whether you’re a mom like me who needs clothes that can go from the store to the park and maybe, just maybe, out to eat, or you’re just settling into your career and you haven’t quite made it to your dream clothing budget I want to share my favorite places to buy clothes!

HOW I SHOP:

I like to have a mix of high quality never-go-out-of-style pieces and trendy pieces. My style is classic and I love girly details. I like to throw in more trendy and edgy pieces that I’m drawn to, but I don’t wear every trend that comes down the runway. I often mix and match high end things, and very budget friendly things. I think that if you truly only buy pieces that you LOVE, you can make a $20 pair of boots look like a $200 pair and you can feel like a million dollars without going into debt. I try to buy things that are easy to wash at home and that I am comfortable wearing, but I definitely like dressier things for the rare occasions that I do get to go all-out. And, I would always rather be slightly “overdressed” than underdressed.

WHERE I SHOP:

Basics:

Classic:

Trendy:

Dottie Couture Boutique

Boots:

Dresses:

NEED A LITTLE INSPIRATION?:

I post outfits on my Instagram account and if you tap the picture once I always link all of the outfit details! If you tap the picture twice you “love” the picture and that makes me happy, too ; )

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I hope that you enjoyed this post! If you would like to see a fall look book or outfit inspiration post or where I find my jewelry and accessories, please let me know and I will definitely do it. And let me know you’re favorite websites or stores to shop for clothes in the comments! I would love to get more ideas : ) If you liked this post please don’t forget to share it and subscribe!!

Labor Day 2016

September 5, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

And if you’re in the United States or Canada, Happy Labor Day! I hope that most of you have the day off of work, and if you don’t I’m sorry! Both my husband, Stephan, and myself worked in retail management after graduating from college and we know the struggle!

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from this summer because I’m getting a little (a lot!) sad thinking about my daughter, Hailey, staring kindergarten & my son, Connor, starting pre-school because we had such a wonderful summer together! Thankfully Logan has to hang out at home with me for a couple more years ; )

I hope all of you have a wonderful Autumn! Technically I know not quite yet, but once school starts? Come on, it’s Bye bye summer!

SIMPLIFY YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? NIVEA IN-SHOWER BODY LOTION REVIEW

August 31, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I, like most women I know, have A LOT of skincare products both lining my shower and on my counter and while trying the Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion to my shower rotation increased the number lining on shower (much to my sweet hubs delight I’m sure), I thought it would be worth a try to see if it could eliminate one of the bottles in my bathroom cabinet.

NIVEA IN-SHOWER BODY LOTION:

WHAT IT IS:

This is an in shower body lotion that claims to have 24 hour + moisture with no sticky feel. You apply this, like a lotion, to your skin AFTER you have already used soap or a body wash and then rinse it off before getting out of the shower. This is not a body wash, but only a body lotion, so it isn’t a 2-in-1 product which I think some may think it is without a little investigating!

MY THOUGHTS:

This feels like regular lotion, and so using it in the shower was different because you couldn’t tell for sure where you had applied it and the lotion itself is very thin feeling once you’ve got water in the mix. I wasn’t sure if I had gotten it everywhere and I certainly hadn’t rubbed it in or anything, but sure enough after I rinsed and then toweled off my skin felt very soft! I love the almond oil because it is a light but heavenly scent! They also have cocoa butter and shea butter options available. The fragrance is totally up my alley, and definitely gender neutral. I will say that I felt like I had to use more, because I wasn’t sure where I put it and the water is starts washing it off before I felt like I’ve gotten it everywhere it needs to be, but I don’t mind that on the days where I really don’t have it in me (dramatic, but so true!) to apply lotion after showering.

BOTTOM LINE:

Will this replace my body lotion and give our cabinet some much needed space? Definitely not! What can I say? I love having options! But, I love this for the days when I want a slightly shorter routine.I think this would be a fantastic option for those who really don’t like that lotion-y feel, too. Overall I love this and I will continue to buy this, especially now that fall is on the way and winter will be following right behind!

I hope that all of you have a wonderful weekend! We are excited to spend one last weekend together as a family before school starts!! Thank you, as always, for reading! Please subscribe! xx

Quick & Cute Hairstyles For Working Out! And The Best Headband Ever…with Promo Code!

August 29, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!
I hope you had a great weekend! We had a fun weekend soaking up what is left of summer as a family : )

Hailey, our oldest, keeps us busy with soccer, cheerleading, and dance. She has hair just like mine was at her age; super baby fine but lots of it, and it isn’t easy to find a hairstyle that will hold it out of her face when she’s running on the field or twirling in dance class. I wanted to order Hailey a headband for her soccer games that matched her uniform, so I checked on Etsy.

On Etsy I found SassyGirlHeadbands which I liked instantly because Donna was fast with communication and had tons of adorable choices. SassyGirlHeadbands are awesome because the velvet side means they do not slip, even on baby fine hair! This is the first time I’ve been able to use a headband on Hailey without using clips with it. I can do a run or a cardio workout video without having to fix my headband and I even forget it is there! I love that it is adjustable! I also love that adding this to a ponytail or messy bun not only keeps the hair out of my face, but makes it a cute look instead of something that took zero thought or effort. Donna was kind enough to send me not only the soccer ribbon headband that I ordered, but a precious pink dance headband that is adjustable for Hailey, an adjustable headband for myself, and an awesome heavy-duty but cute key fob that I can wear around my wrist to be hands-free when I am out and about with the kids. SassyGirlHeadbands also had really nice grosgrain bows that are perfect for cheerleading or dance and really nice lanyards.

If you’d like to save on some practical cuteness, use the COUPON CODE: leahtackles to save 10% on any order. Thank you so much to SassyGirlHeadbands for providing me with these for consideration and review. I can’t wait to order more to match her dance outfits and different holidays ; )

SASSYGIRLHEADBANDS:

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Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! If you enjoyed this post, please share! And don’t forget to subscribe!

HOW & WHY TO USE AN EYESHADOW PRIMER OR BASE

July 25, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you’re having a wonderful start to your week! For years I didn’t prime my eyes or even know what it meant to prime my eyes before applying eye shadow, but now it’s an essential part of my routine that I want to share with you incase you are skipping this step of your makeup routine.

WHAT IS AN EYE SHADOW PRIMER?

An eye primer, like Too Faced Shadow Insurance, is used to prep your eye before you apply your eyeshadow. An eye primer gives you a smooth surface before you apply eyeshadow, and also help prevent the natural oils in your skin from breaking down your eyeshadow during the day. Primers also neutralize any discoloration on your lids which helps eyeshadow colors to appear very pigmented when applied. Primers also help make your eyeshadow easier to blend, which is a huge benefit!

WHAT IS AN EYE SHADOW BASE?

Primers help for your eyeshadows to appear more intense and pigmented. An eye shadow base can be many different things, but the general term means something that is a little moist or sticky that helps the shadow stick to your eye. A base does not always help with creasing like a primer does, but a lot of things that can be used as a base, such as a M.A.C Paint Pot or Maybelline Color Tattoo, can also be used as a primer for an easy 2-in-1.

HOW TO USE THEM:

I always use an eye shadow primer of some kind, but often when I’m hurrying I use something that can perform as both a primer and a base. I also will sometimes use only a base, such as the Maybelline Color Tattoos! I actually was wearing a Maybelline Color Tattoo with nothing else on top on my eyes the morning my youngest son, Logan, was born and it lasted all though labor and from the day before…good stuff, huh?

SOME OF MY FAVORITES:

My favorite primer is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance, but I also like the Urban Decay Primer Potion. You can often get these primers in a deluxe sample size with holiday sets or other kits which is great because a little tiny bit goes a long way and they last forever!

My favorite eye shadow base products are the Maybelline Color Tattoos (there is also a stick form available!) and the M.A.C Paint Pots.

I hope that you found this helpful! As always, please let me know if you have any questions! Also, feel free to share this on social media using the easy share buttons at the bottom of each post : ) xx

OUR WEEKEND IN PICTURES | FORTH OF JULY 2016

July 5, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday! And, Happy 4th of July!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful day with your families celebrating! Happy Birthday U.S.A! And if you’re an international reader, I hope you’re having a great day as well : )

I thought it would be fun to share some pictures of our weekend festivities! We had a lot of family fun on Saturday, Hailey had her first lemonade stand on Sunday, and we enjoyed decorating Hailey’s bike and the boys wagon today! Hailey placed second in her age group for her bike decorating, and the boys also placed second place for their wagon : )

Thank you, as always, for taking time out of your day to read! Let me know in the comments something fun you did over the weekend!! And please don’t forget to subscribe : )

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY STEPHAN!

June 27, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Yesterday my husband, Stephan, and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary!! I *almost* didn’t write this post because I gushed on my public Instagram and in our Daily Vlog already about my love for Stephan, and about our wedding, but I thought that looking back I would want to have this post : ) So, I hope that you enjoy these pictures from our wedding! If you’re married, or planning a wedding, let me know in the comments how long you have been married and what month you tied (or will be tying) the knot!

June 26th, 2010:

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Thank you for reading! Have a fantastic week! Don’t forget to smile ; ) xx

HOW I GET MONEY FOR SHOPPING ONLINE (REALLY!) USING EBATES!

June 15, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I do a large part of my shopping online because I love shopping small and local when I can, but with three young kids and living in a small town that can be near impossible. I try to shop smart with sales and use coupons if I have a great one for something I actually need, but that’s always been pretty much the extent of money saving savvy for me. I kept hearing people talk about Ebates but I was skeptical because I thought I didn’t spend enough to actually get anything back, or thought that they would have some super involved sign up that would leave my head spinning. I made my account about a month ago, and have already gotten almost $20 plus a $10 giftcard! WHAT?! Below I will tell you how you can too! EVEN if you hate coupons : )

How To Sign Up for eBates:

I love eBates because signing up was EASY! I created an account in a couple of minutes without having to link a bank account or anything else that might leave some people uncomfortable. You can sign up for eBates here.

How It Works:

Before you make an online purchase you go to eBates.com and log-in to your eBates account. Once you are logged into your account you will search for the store that you would like to do a little shopping at. And then you click “shop now” and you will be redirected to the website of the store you want to make a purchase on. Right now Sephora, one of my personally favorites, has 8.0% CASH BACK on eBates! That is awesome! And the list of stores they have is incredibly long and diverse. You can get 8.0% cash back today at stores like Nike, Under Armour, American Eagle, and Sears. They are also beginning to do in-store cash back with a linked card, but I haven’t tried that *yet*.

How You Get Paid:

You can pick if you’d like to get a paper check in the mail to the address you provide on your account OR you can link your PayPal and be paid into your account directly. You also get a $10 giftcard to Walmart if you make a qualifying $25+ purchase within the first 90 days of joining. You can also share your link with friends and earn money if they sign up using your link. The biggest thing is to REMEMBER to go to Ebates first before you shop! I bought the kids new shoes from Stride Rite and kicked myself later because I forgot to use Ebates!!

Do you use Ebates or other websites or apps to get cash back? Be sure to let me know in the comments! I like to save money whenever I can : ) Who doesn’t! I hope that you have a wonderful rest of you week and weekend! Tomorrow Stephan and I head to Mackinac Island for our wedding anniversary! We are leaving all three kids for the first time EVER!! Be sure to follow along on our Daily Vlog channel! xx

OUR WEEKEND IN PICTURES | JUNE 2016

June 13, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that all of you are having a great start to your week! We had a very busy, but very fun weekend! Hailey had four performances in 48 hours for dance recitals! She did a fantastic job, and I love watching her dance : ) My parents came to see Hailey’s recitial which was too short of a visit, but very fun. We also spent time with Stephan’s family and said goodbye to a place where we all spent a lot of time. Don’t forget to watch our Daily Vlogs to see all the fun memories that we made!

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Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you did over the weekend in the comments : ) Don’t forget to enter to win a pair of Babiator’s Sunglasses for a little love in your life! Have a wonderful day!

MY FAVORITE CONDITIONER! UNDER $15 AND AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

June 8, 2016 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you’re all having a wonderful week! I get A LOT of questions on my hair, especially when people watch my YouTube videos, so I thought I would share one of my favorite hair products that I never hear people talk about. And the best part about this hidden gem is that it’s fairly inexpensive and you can order it on Amazon!

A Little About My Hair:

I have very fine hair, but I have a lot of it! My hair is naturally straight. My hair is color treated. I use heat on my hair most days, but I very rarely blow dry my hair.

Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Mask:

Argan Oil is fantastic for hair because it helps to make it softer, silky, and it gives it a great shine! Who doesn’t want that? I use this in place of a regular conditioner and leave it on for five minutes minutes. It’s easy to wash your hair, then apply this as a conditioner and leave it on while you shave because that takes me about five minutes. I usually will wash my hair every other day, or sometimes every third day.

If you have any questions about my hair care, feel free to ask! Have a great weekend!! Be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already! It really does make my day to see new subscribers : )