Beauty

November 6, 2018

Under $30 Holiday Gift Guide for Mom

Happy Tuesday, Friends! I have been doing some online browsing and putting together some great Holiday gift guides for all of you early shoppers this year! This is the first post of the series. I will be doing a short post with 6-10 options of great gifts at different price points -all great gifts for her! Here is my first roundup of 6 things all under $20! All of these would make great gifts for a white elephant party too (except maybe the hoodie because you wouldn’t know the size)! I hope you all like these items as much as I do!

1.Mainstays Sherpa Throw – Only $10.88 you guys and this thing is seriously SO soft! I snagged one the other day when I went for more Halloween candy because of course I ate all of ours before Halloween.

2.Marble Tray – $19.94 and I seriously think anyone would love this! You can use it to spice up your coffee table with candles or as a serving platter! So cute with the gold handles and looks much more expensive than $20!

3.Capri Blue Volcano Candle– I buy these every year for gifts from Anthropologie and seriously LOVE them! They make great gifts and last for a really long time! If you don’t have an Anthropologie near you, you’re in luck because they have them on Amazon prime!

4. Sherpa Hoodie – This hoodie is SO cute and under $30! I ordered this about a week ago, but haven’t received it yet as the one I ordered of course wasn’t on prime, but it’s this exact one and looks amazing!

5. Wine Socks – Everyone could use a funny pair of socks and these are under $11! These make great stocking stuffers!

6. Bath Bomb Gift Set – Someone gave me a bath bomb as a gift last year and I have to say I loved it! It leaves your skin feeling so soft and smelling so good! This is a great deal for a set of 6 for only $16.99 on Amazon prime!

7. Luxury Slippers – I also buy these slippers every year for my family as gifts. They are from Restoration Hardware and amazingly soft! Plus they switch up the style every year so you cant go wrong with giving them over and over! Amazing quality for the price you guys!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for the next roundup of items under $50!

October 24, 2018

Current Target Items I am Loving

Why is Target SO dangerous? They always have the best things at such affordable prices and when you get to the register you’re like WTH just happened here? It never fails. They have so much cute stuff right now and, considering there are only 9 more Friday’s until Christmas, I decided it was a great time to do a Target roundup! Some of these items probably won’t make it until Black Friday either, so now’s the time to shop!

PS: This post took FOREVER and it made me realize why I haven’t done many of these lately! I need to step up my blogger game so I apologize to all of my loyal readers here, but hopefully this one makes up for lost time! 🙂

Let’s start with the shoes..

Women’s Tall Scrunch Boots – My next purchase when I sell more ornaments haha! So cute to pair with sweater dresses & skinny jeans and long sweaters this spring!
Women’s Black Riding Boots – These are a classic and the quality of these is great!
Chestnut Target Booties – I am OBSESSED with these and they are currently sold out in my size. So sad.
Leopard Sneakers – LOVE. Can’t get enough leopard print in my life right now.
Laser Cut Heeled Ankle Booties – Such a staple for this spring!
Faux Leather Backless Mules – Okay so I think I own 1 pair of mules, but these may have to be the 2nd pair. So cute with the faux fur back!
Pink Sherpa Sneakers – I may be the only person who loves these, but I need them in my life. These are so cute and great to throw on with a cute sherpa hoodie, leggings and go!
Heathered Sneakers – These are a must have in my book! so great to throw on with a casual outfit and look cute!
Suede Sneakers – I love these! If they didn’t look so identical to the Payless ones I have (see here) then I would definitely own these!

Okay and now on to the home decor… There is seriously SO much of this I am loving at the moment. If I did a post about it all, it would take me days, but here are just a few favorites and the reasons why I’m loving them!

Airplane Sheets – Since we are currently in the transition of making Brady’s “big boy room” to make room for baby sister, I have been looking for some cute bedsheets for his big boy bed. I am loving these, but pretty sure he is going to win the battle with some paw patrol ones instead!
Ceramic Table Lamp – Loving this for the nursery – Haven’t decided on decor yet really, but this is definitely on the list of maybes.
Sherpa Throw – This just gets me all kinds of excited for Christmas! Drew and I love to get a new throw every year and last year we got one like this that I cannot get enough of and this flannel print is so cute!
.79 Cent Plastic Bowls – We bought these recently when in Target because thats what everyone does at Target right? You go in for a couple of things and walk out with a new set of bowls, a new wardrobe and room decor, but seriously these are AMAZING bowls for only .79 cents! Great for kids and snack time!
Throw Pillow – Since we are currently trying to decide on nursery decor, of course I have been browsing Target’s aisles like it’s my job and I am loving this bohemian inspired throw pillow.
Ottoman – Another potential nursery item, but would be great in any room in your home!
Mirror – I love this mirror! And again, I think this would be good in any room in your home, but I am really loving it right now for our nursery! It’s on our registry! 🙂
Hand Towels – Because you can never have too many and these are so cute!
Pumpkin Latte Candle – And this because a) I love the smell of pumpkin spice and b) such a cute classic candle!

And last, but certainly not least what you’ve been waiting for.. clothes!

Green Maternity Sweater – I saw these when browsing the aisles at Target the other day and I can’t stop thinking about it. Ugh so cute!
Chennile Open Cardigan Sweater – This comes in 4 colors and I love them all, but really love the mustard and pink!
Stripe Cozy Sweater – LOVE this so much!
Cozy Neck Pullover – This is so cute and non-maternity, but will be great if you are expecting too because of the length!
Fleece Sherpa Jacket – Can you guys tell I LOVE sherpa?! I love this in white!
Maternity Faux Leather Leggings – Okay seriously to all of my pregnant mama readers – You need these this fall! I just got these and LOVE them! So cozy and stylish and Faux leather is a must this fall.
Woven Poncho – This would be so cute with some faux leather leggings! Also great for nursing!

That’s it for today! Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post and found some inspiration for your holiday wish list and thank you all in advance for shopping through the links in my blog! 🙂

October 23, 2018

Amazing Finds from Pink Lily Boutique

Hey friends! I’m currently working on some fun blog posts for the coming weeks so stay tuned for some cute fall things I’m obsessing over at the moment, but wanted to quickly share the cutest top I recently purchased from The Pink Lily Boutique. And no this is not a sponsored post, but one of my favorite bloggers, Loverly Grey shared this top a couple of weeks ago in her Insta stories and I just had to have it. It is such a perfect date night top and it’s non-maternity. If you are expecting it works great to hide the bump! I sized up in this to a large just to have room to grow and it fits great, but I would say if you’re not pregnant then get your normal size! Once I browsed around on their website I found so many cute things that I wanted to share!

I have listed a few of my other favorites currently all from Pink Lily below!

The White Sweater I am wearing – I seriously love this! I apologize in advance for those who see me wearing this over and over the next couple of months! It is light weight so great for all of my California friends or those who live in the south where it’s still 80 degrees some days and 40 the next.
This Sage Sweater – This may be my next purchase. Obsessed.
This magenta sweater– I LOVE this color! Would be great for family photos!
This White Sweater – Would be so cute for Thanksgiving
Leopard Sweater – Give me all the leopard sweaters this fall! I can’t get enough!
Stripe Sweater – LOVE!
And last but not least – this pullover... I am obsessed! Needless to say I want ALL THE THINGS from there right now.

That’s all for today, but stay tuned for some more cute fall finds I will be sharing this week!

September 8, 2018

R+F Active Hydration Body Replenish

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Happy Saturday, friends! I normally don’t post on the weekends, but you know me and how I love discovering new beauty products. I recently posted my some of my favorite beauty products which you can read here, but I hadn’t discover the Rodan & Fields Active Hydration when I did that post. First, before I go into more detail about this, you should know I’m not a consultant and I didn’t get paid for this post. I just recently decided to give this a try because my friend Erin was raving about it and based on all the good reviews. So I gave it a try and let me tell you, it really works! I have been using it for a few weeks now and I have noticed a difference in how my skin looks like it’s glowing. It was voted one of the best new beauty products of 2018 by People magazine. See below.

AND it was also featured in Allure and Vogue so don’t just take my word for it!

So for the best results you lather in it all over (except on your face) right after the shower. I have showed you my routine for using in the video above. Not sold just yet? See these amazing before and after results below!

The body replenish is only $66 retail and a little goes a long way! BUT you can can click here to purchase through my friend Erin directly and if you become a preferred customer you will get 10% off + FREE SHIPPING! There is a one time fee of $19.95 but Erin will reimburse you AND send you a mini facial! While you’re at it, you should also try the lash boost! I am telling you, if you’re looking for some new skincare products you will definitely want to try this. It’s SO good y’all! I have been using the lash boost also by R&F and my lashes are getting SOOOO long! I will be posting some before and after pictures of my lashes soon, but waiting a couple of months so I can show you the best results! 🙂

That’s all for today! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

August 27, 2018

Beach Waves Hair Tutorial

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Happy Monday, friends! I know there are a million of beach waves hair tutorials out there, but I’ve had a few different people ask me how I curl my hair so since I actually fixed my hair today, I figured I would put together a short little tutorial for you guys! It’s super simple to do if you just follow these five easy steps below!

Step 1: Clip Hair Up Half-Way Up. I use this hair clip.

Step 2: Segment Hair – I do about 2 inches wide of hair.

Step 3: Curl away from Face. I use the hot tools 1 inch curling iron. You can buy it here.

Step 4: Run fingers through hair and spray with hairspray. I use this hairspray!

And that’s it! It is seriously SO easy. It takes me literally about 5-7 minutes tops. The key for the waves is to leave a little bit of hair out (uncurled) at the bottom and to curl away from your face. Hope you all liked this tutorial! Want to see more of these? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

August 21, 2018

Amazon Prime Finds of The Week – Sleepwear Edition

Cotton Robe – I love how thin this is! I don’t know about you, but when I am in a robe and drying my hair I get SO hot, so I love a good thin robe thats also cute! This one is just that and only $26! Did I mention it also comes in 10 colors?
Short Sleeve Pajama Set – Only $25 and comes in 16 different colors! I love the light pink, but seriously all of them are cute! A great option for those who don’t like to sleep in long pants!
Stripe Pajama Shorts– These are so cute and you can wear them around the house with a basic white tee! I would even wear these out of the house! 🙂 They are only $15 and come in 5 colors!
House Slippers – I may be the only person who loves these, but I love the quilted pattern on these! I think they are so cute and would be great to wear around the house or the hospital for you expecting mamas! Only $15 and also available in light pink!
Fuzzy Booties – Ok these look amazingly comfortable! I haven’t ordered them, but I think they are a great option for this winter! Also great for the hospital for you expecting mamas! Only $26!
Pajamas – Only $37 and available in 18 different color options! This set would make a great Christmas gift for all of you super early shoppers who are already thinking about that! 🙂

That’s it for this week’s Amazon Prime finds! I thought I would switch it up this week and I hope you guys loved what I picked!

As always, thanks for reading!

August 20, 2018

Head to Toe Under $100

Happy Monday, friends! So sorry I have been MIA lately with posting. This 2nd pregnancy is NO JOKE! I have been SO exhausted to say the least. Props to all of you mamas with multiple kiddos because I seriously don’t know how you grow a baby with that many toddlers in tow. Luckily, I’m in the 2nd trimester now and feeling somewhat human again! And don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining one bit because I feel extremely blessed and am loving it, but it’s definitely tiring! 🙂

Okay so now let’s talk about this outfit.. I obviously put it together around these new wedge sneakers from Payless! I found a very similar pair here that I almost bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but I just couldn’t justify spending the money because a.) we’re trying to be better about budgeting and b.) I hardly leave the house now days and let’s be real… when I do I’m normally in flip flops or tennis shoes. I must say though- these $30 Payless dupes are a great alternative for the $119 Caslon wedges from Nordstrom. Oh AND with the code ZZFALL20 you can get 20% off right now! I’m not sure how long the sale is going, so you better snag them up while you can! They also come in grey suede but of course they are sold out in my size. 🙁 *PS: I did size up in these. Normally I wear an 8, but I got an 8.5 and honestly, could probably do a 9 with thick socks so I would suggest sizing up at least a half size (if you wear thin socks normally).*

Let’s talk about the jeans.. My Sister-in-Law was in town a couple weeks back and we ventured out to Target while Mimi kept the boys. Going to Target kid-free now days seriously feels like a mini vacation! We strolled past the maternity section and Lindsay (My Sister-in-Law) said ” those are pretty cute maternity jeans” I thought “heck yes they are and I need them!” I looked at the price tag and only $35 – in the basket they went. I was already having guilt on my way to the register trying to justify it in my head that I REALLY needed these… Then I thought “okay i’ll just take them home and think about it.. I can always return them.” Much to my surprise, when they rang up guess what? ONLY $10!!! Say what?! I knew it was meant to be then! And I have pretty much lived in these in the last 2 weeks. And sorry guys, unfortunately, they aren’t available online so you will have to check your local Target to see if they have them! Here is the exact jean, but it’s a different wash and its full-price online.

I know I’ve shared this t-shirt before on my instagram and in this post here, but it’s honestly one I will have on repeat this winter. It would be so cute layered with a white, black, or grey sweater and booties going into the fall. It comes in 6 other colors in addition to the one I’m wearing and I love all of them! You can’t beat the price for only $16 and it’s great quality. I sized up in this and got a large since it’s non-maternity so I have room to grow, but I would normally wear a medium in this particular t-shirt. The flannel around my waist is old. I purchased it from Gap Factory last year for $20, but I found a similar option that I love here.

My backpack is also old unfortunately. I purchased this Steven by Steve Madden backpack from Nordstrom Rack so long ago. You know me though, I found you guys a very similar inexpensive option you can check out here and here.

That’s it for today! I hope you are all having a great Monday so far and I promise I will be better about posting more great finds this week so stay tuned!

PS: I would love to hear what you guys want to see more of on this blog? Stories, inspiration, recipes, outfits, current sales, clothing dupes, baby products, baby outfits, maternity outfits, amazon finds, target finds? You tell me! It helps me a lot when creating new content! 🙂 Thanks in advance for your input!

August 7, 2018

10 of My All Time Favorite Beauty Products – Every Mama Needs!

When it comes to beauty products I love testing and trying out new things, but when I find one I absolutely love and cannot live without, I will use it for a while. I decided to do a round-up of 10 products that I am currently obsessing over and I can’t live without right now. I have linked them all below and listed why I love it and why you should try it!

*Disclaimer: Yes this post contains some affiliate links which means if you purchase through the link, I make a very small commission. This is no extra cost to you at all, it just helps me tremendously so thank you so much in advance for purchasing through my link if you decide to try any of these products! Trust me.. you’ll think me later!*

St. Moriz Self Tanner- I LOVE this self-tanner. It’s hard these days to find one that doesn’t leave you orange or streaky and this one doesn’t do that at all! It is a mousse so it goes on so smooth and leaves you looking like you just spent hours at the beach (without the danger of course). I use the mitten to apply it and it works really well while not leaving you with funky looking hands!
Loreal Voluminous Mascara – I’m SO glad I picked up this at CVS a few years ago. Yes that is about how long I have used this and I am loyal to this mascara now. Did I mention its only around $6?! You seriously cannot beat that price and it makes your lashes look amazing!
Rodan & Fields Lash Boost – No I am not a consultant and no I am not making anything by sharing this, but my friend Erin sells Rodan & Fields though and has been telling me I need to try this lash boost for forever now. I finally gave in and so far I LOVE it! I just started using it recently, but I kid you not, I am already seeing results! I have taken before pictures of my lashes and plan on doing a blog post of before and after pictures in the next few weeks so you can all see! If you want to purchase some and try for yourself, you can shop through my sweet friend Erin by clicking here. They also have a ton of other great products I want to try… soon! 🙂
Chi Black Seed Leave in Conditioner – I have been needing some leave in conditioner for forever. My mother-in-law told me about this stuff so I decided to give it a try and I love it! It smells so good! A 4 oz bottle is only around $15 and should last a while because you only need to use a little at a time!
It’s a 10 Miracle Leave in Keratin Treatment- This stuff is AMAZING. I have used it for probably 6 years now. My hairdresser in San Diego, Tiffany, told me about it and I have used it ever since. It makes your hair SO soft. You can purchase a 4 oz bottle for around $13!
Baby Foot Peel- Can we just say wow? I mean what mom has time to get a pedicure these days? This product is the best alternative! This makes your feet SO SOFT! I will fair warn you- for about a week or so your feet will look like you have a skin problem bc it sheds the outer layer of skin off (if you don’t believe me just click on this link and read the reviews on amazon and go to the customer photos – can we say terrifying), but the results after are amazing. You can purchase one of these for about $18 on Amazon.
Moroccan Oil – I use this purely for the smell of it you guys, but it also leaves your hair SO shiny and soft! Also let me say if I use it’s a 10, I won’t use this or vice versa (just 1 or the other) but I rotate. I usually use this when I curl my hair and it leaves it so shiny and smelling so good! You can purchase a small bottle like this for around 0.85 oz for around $13! It lasts forever too!
Sally Hansen Gel polish- Because again.. for what I said above about the foot peel.. If you’re like me and don’t have time to get out to get a manicure every few weeks, this is a great and inexpensive alternative! I have this polish in so many colors! It lasts so long and it is like you went to the salon and got a gel manicure! You can get this from any grocery store usually for around $4-6 per bottle! I love it!
Make Up Forever Foundation – This is my go to foundation and has been for years. I was introduced to this back in I think 2008 by my roommate Emily! She used it and I tried it and have been a loyal ever since.. 10 years strong and I still love it! You don’t even need powder with this foundation, but if you do, it is still lightweight so it doesn’t feel like you have a ton of make-up on your face. And did I mention how amazing the coverage is?!
Moroccan Oil Hair Spray – Again…. the BEST. SMELL. EVER. I have also used this now for years and I LOVE it! It holds up your hair for hours and smells oh so good! You can purchase a 10 oz bottle for around $22!

I will be sharing more products in the future when I come across new ones I cannot live without, but that’s it for now! I hope you all try some of these and I hope you love them as much as I do!

As always, thank you for reading!

July 16, 2018

9 Amazon Prime Finds of the Week

Happy Monday, friends! I guess you could say I have an Amazon prime problem.. I know I shared a couple of these tops the week before last, but they are too good not to share again! I also found a few more pieces I am loving. I hope you love these pieces as much as I do! Also, most are under $20 (other than the denim and the handbag) so great for all of you mamas on a budget! I will be sharing some photos soon of me wearing some of these items so stay tuned and I hope everyone has a great week!

1. Floral Kimono – This thing is SO cute! I mean you could throw it on with some distressed jeans like in the picture above, dress it up over a little black dress and some strappy heels, over a swimsuit, or with some distressed shorts and a good tee shirt!

2. Distressed Denim – These are a staple! I love the fit on these and the wash is great! Every mama and woman in general needs a pair of these!

3. Straw Crossbody – This bag is SO popular this summer. I have been seeing it everywhere and when I found this one on Amazon prime for under $40 I couldn’t pass it up!

4. Stripe Color Block Tee – This tee shirt is SO soft and such a cute shirt for the price! It’s only $15.99 and comes in several colors! You could dress this up with skinny black jeans and a wedge or dress down with cute denim shorts and flats!

5. White Statement Earrings – I LOVE these earrings! They are a great dupe for only $10!

6. Grey Oversized Lightweight Sweater- Okay so I bought the one below in pink and I HAD to get this one too! It is lightweight and thin, but still is okay with a nude bra under. Great for this summer and is a great layering piece for this fall!

7. Pink Oversized Lightweight Sweater – What I said above.. I can’t get enough. I want this in every color.

8. Multi Color Statement Earrings– I could live in these! They go with so much! Pair them with the pink sweater above and some black denim jeans and wallah! Such a cute outfit!

9. White Button-Front Tie Top – Another great tee under $20 for summer that will transition into the fall! Comes in so many different colors!

June 26, 2018

Our Favorite Products for Mama & Baby this Summer

We’re the family that lives for summer time and spending it outdoors at the pool. Seriously – laying out by the pool is a weekend ritual (when we aren’t traveling). And let me tell you.. I used to be the girl that would go through almost a bottle of oil in a sitting (yes I hate to admit that), but now that I am older, covered in sun spots + scary looking moles, have to see the dermatologist on the reg, and have a baby of my own, I am WAY more paranoid about the long-term effects. I have turned into the girl that goes through a bottle of sunscreen in a sitting.

Since it is the 4th of July next week and most of you will be outdoors (and not to mention the fact that it’s currently 100 degrees in Texas) I figured it was about time to do a roundup of my favorite summer products!

I have pictured above and linked all of our favorite items below and the reasons why you need all of these things in your life and why we love them so much! And the good news? You can find ALL of these on Amazon prime! Wahoo!

Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen – My son has a very fair skin tone, as I’m sure many of you have seen. We have went through probably 30 different types of sunscreen because so many made him either break out, or made his skin turn red (almost as if it was sunburn) but it would happen immediately after applying. We FINALLY found our all time favorite one and it is seriously THE BEST! It’s so good that Drew and I both lather in it now and when we do we look like cast members of Twilight all day until we have to literally scrub it off in the shower. It does not come off on its own.
St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse – This is my new favorite self tanner! I have tried TONS and I mean TONS and most make me turn orange. I am definitely the type of person who loves having a good tan and with this one, it looks as if I just laid out all day in the sun. It doesn’t make you look orange like some of them do. It is a mousse so if you get this applicator mitt that goes with it, it makes it so easy to apply and it’s streak free! SCORE!
Neutrogena Beach Defense Body Spray Sunscreen – Okay because let’s be honest.. Sometimes we need to look cute at the pool and do not want to look like twilight cast members in our photos and lathering in the lotion we love above WILL do that. So we have this as a second alternative. We will spray this about 30 minutes before we head outside and it is definitely a good alternative to the lotion. Just don’t spray this on your babies face (even if you cover his eyes) I learned the hard way on this. I tried it and it did work, but when Brady got in the pool, it got all in his eyes and it was not a good situation!
Stearns Infant Classic Series Vest- This is probably the most important one. We have tried SO many different life jackets, puddle jumpers and a few different types of floats and floaties with Brady. Simply put – He hates all of them. BUT, my siser-in-law has this one and told us about it. Most of the ones we have tried don’t really keep his head out of the water. Sure, if he fell in, it would keep him from going to the bottom, BUT it doesn’t really allow him to roll to his back or keep his head out of the water. This life Jacket does allow them to roll to the back and prevents their head from going under. We have it in route to us now from Amazon prime, so I will let you know how it goes, but my sister-in-law swears by this! I also found this article super helpful when researching life jackets.
i play. Baby Boys’ Flap Sun Protection Swim Hat- Not gonna lie.. Brady will NOT wear a swim hat to save his life, but we did order this one a while back and it is amazing.. If only he would wear it. We have tried several different ones and I have come to the conclusion that if he won’t wear this one, he won’t wear any of them, because this one is SO light weight and so awesome. Dries so quick. If your toddler wears hats, I recommend getting this one and if you have any tips/tricks to make them wear one just go right ahead and leave those in the comments for me!
Stride Rite Water Shoe – Another thing we tested over and over haha! We literally tried around 6 different styles until we found a pair from Target that he would actually wear in the pool without having a tantrum! And then guess what? They gave him blisters! So I did some research and asked around and evidently these Stride Rite ones are amazing. They will arrive tomorrow, so I will let you know how they are. They also come in a ton of different colors!
Sunday Afternoons Women’s Riviera Hat – Because every mama needs a good floppy hat for the pool that also doubles as something to throw on with a cute basic tee and jeans when she doesn’t want to wash her hair. This one is a perfect combination for both of those and I LOVE it!
RayBan Folding Wayfarer Square Sunglasses – I have had these exact glasses now for like 5 years at least and they are seriously SO good! They are polarized and the absolute best. 🙂 And I swear this style looks good on everyone – men and women!
Maui Babe After Browning Lotion – This stuff is so good! I used to lather up in Maui Babe growing lotion to tan, but now I apply the after browning, after I am out in the sun and it holds your color all summer long!
Women’s Floral Chiffon Kimono Cardigan Summer Beachwear Swimsuit Cover- Up- Every mama also needs a cute Kimono this summer because not only is it a swim cover up, but you can also throw it on with a tank top, jean shorts and a cute pair of sandals and have a cute summer outfit. I have seen a ton of pregnant women wear these and it is cute too if you are expecting!

I would love to hear what your summer must haves are! Let me know in the comments and as always, thank you all for reading!

Xoxo- Julie