Birmingham's Read & Romp

An event was held a few Saturdays ago @ Birmingham's Railroad Park.

(If you've never been there, and you live in the area, you should definitely check it out.  Especially since the weather is cooling off.  Lots of places for the kids to just run wild!)

Several area businesses and groups set up tents/booths with fun reading activities, arts and crafts, and even some animals.  Upon arriving, you were given a "passport" for the day.  You simply visited each booth, participated in the event they were holding (or just watched) and got a stamp on your passport.

After 6 stamps, you could turn your passport in at the checkout booth and get a BAG FULL of books!

This event was targeted toward younger children, under the age of 5, and it was lots of fun!

Here are some pictures from the day:

All of our books we got!!!  So exciting... we love to read!

Week 17 Update

It's getting close.... 2 more weeks and we'll know what this bundle of joy is:  Boy or Girl???

I'm still leaning toward boy, but we shall see.

Here's this week's update:  

Not much change.  Do I sound like a broken record?

Really, though, I've gained about 5-6 pounds total (WOOHOO) and starting to feel little flutters.  I can't wait until I feel them ALL THE TIME!  

Baby this week:

-Skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone.

-Umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker.

-Baby weighs about 5 ounces now - the size of a turnip - and measures 5 inches from head to bottom.

-Sweat glands are starting to develop.

-It can now move all joints!

Mommy this week:
(don't mind the terrible picture - but I thought I'd post a picture since I haven't the past few weeks)

A Great Giveaway!

There's a great giveaway I learned about this morning...

Head on over to Savvy Season's blog to find out more info.

Savvy Seasons by Liz

She is a great blogger and AWESOME decorator.  Not to mention she has the cutest little girls.

You'll love what you see, and you'll have a chance to WIN some great prizes!

If you enter the giveaway, please mention my blog and that I sent you there... I would appreciate it. :)

Naked Inspiration - Look #2

I decided last week to start sharing makeup looks using Urban Decay's Naked Palette.  

Last week's was kind of dramatic, but today's is more casual/neutral.

It was still a little out of my comfort zone, since I don't do many looks with gold.  But I really like how it turned out.

Hope you like it, too.

I used the following:

#6 Half Baked - all over the lid

#3 Naked - in the crease to soften & along inner, lower lashline

#9 Toasted - in the crease

#7 Smog - in the outer corner & along outer, lower lashline

#1 Virgin - inner corner

Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller

Maybelline Super Stay in Sand Beige

Merle Norman Cover Up in Warm Light

e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer

MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study (on lid)

e.l.f. highlighting stick in Golden Peach

Dream Mouse blush in a Peach Satin

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Underground on bottom lashline (love this color!)

Merle Norman Soft Touch eyeliner in Java on top lashline

CoverGirl Lashblast - the pink is a new mascara I'm trying out (I'll let you know how I like it)

Maybelline lipstick in Sugared Almond

Merle Norman Delites lipgloss in Cafe Royale

Here's the look:

Hide & Seek???

This is Jase's version.

Bless his bones... he's not very good at this game.

But he tries.

Finished... Finally!

My mother helped me complete my Pandora Bracelet last weekend.  

She bought me this cute little addition, and it was all I needed to fill it up!

It's time to start a new one... that'll be first on my Christmas wishlist!

Week 16 Update

Yesterday's doctor appointment went great!  Except for the fact that Jase and I have been sick since last week.  The verdict: Walking Pneumonia.  But we both got Z Packs and are hoping to feel better soon!

Baby's heart rate this week was 146.  That's a LOT different than the 170 reading we got last time.  She assured me it was normal for it to jump around.  So, everybody that was calling "girl" after my last visit might be changing their vote.  

(I'm still secretly hoping for a boy - but, of course, I'll be happy either way.)

Baby this week:

-Baby's getting ready for a major growth spurt.  In the next few weeks, baby will double in size and gain several inches in length!

-Right now, it's about the size of an avocado - 4 1/2 inches from head to rump and 3 1/2 ounces.

-Eyes and ears have moved much closer to their final position.

-Baby has started growing toenails, and hair patterns are forming on his bald little scalp.

Mommy this week:

Not much change... just a little weight gain.

Doctor's scales said 5 pounds.  I can live with that!

 EXCITING NEWS:  Ultrasound in 3 weeks to find out what the little munchkin is!!!

Naked

I've had this lovely gem for a while now, but I don't believe I've ever told you how awesome it is.

When I first purchased the Urban Decay Naked Palette, I wasn't that impressed.  It had been hyped up on YouTube, sold out EVERYWHERE, and I was so excited to finally get it... but then I was kind of disappointed.  

But after several months of playing with it, I've decided I DO really love it.  It's so versatile.  This could be your only eyeshadow palette in your collection, and you'd be just fine.

So many options.  

I decided to start playing around with the different looks, and here's one I created recently.

(I'm not really great at photographing myself, so the pics don't do the look justice... but trust me, it's soft, yet still a little dramatic, and easy to do!) 

These are the colors in the palette... I used 5 of them.  Seems like a lot, but I promise it was easy.

I used:

 Hustle #10 - all over lid and up into crease

Toasted #9 - on top of hustle to soften and give a sheen

Naked #3 - to soften crease 

Sin #2 - on inner half of lid (this is my FAVORITE COLOR!)

Virgin #1 - tear duct/inner corner

I also used MAC's Brule as my highlight color - it's a matte shade.  However, you could just use Virgin, which would give a little shimmer under your brows.

Here's the look:

             Here's everything else I used on my face:

-Garnier Dark Circle Eye Roller - AWESOME - This product has pretty much done away with concealor under my eyes.

-Maybelline Super Stay in Sand Beige

-Merle Norman Ultra Powder foundation in Ultra Neutral

-e.l.f. Countouring Blush and Bronzing Powder duo

Sonia Kashuk flat top brush for foundation

e.l.f. Complexion Brush for powder/bronzer

Merle Norman blush brush - not pictured

-e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer - just as good as Urban Decay P.P. and it's $1

-Naked Palette/MAC's Brule

-Urban Decay 24/7 liner pencil in Whiskey

-Covergirl Lash Blast mascara in Black

-Merle Norman lipstick in Caramel Apple

-Eyeshadow brushes are combo of Sonia Kashuk, Merle Norman, and random brushes I've accumulated.

Hope you enjoyed this post.. I look forward to doing more looks using the great palette!!!

I would definitely suggest buying Naked Palette if you have a chance!

Dinner Date

The night I picked up the Leaves candle, I also had dinner with my little man.

Daddy was working late, so we just had our own little date night.

Stix was calling our names.

making shadow puppets as the sun went down.

Dinner on the patio = perfection.

Love Love Love

I bought this candle last week after hearing much love for it on YouTube.

And everyone was right... it's fabulous!

I can't wait to try other scents (they were out when I went to the store) like Fireside Marshmallows.  YUM!

My house smells like Fall, and I LOVE it!!

Head on over to Bath and Body Works and see for yourself!

Week 15 Update

Another week has passed... this is going by much faster than I anticipated.

I have so much on my to-do list.... and I can't wait to tackle it!  One thing at a time.

This week's update:  not much has changed!  HA.  I know I say that every week, but I promise, it's true.  My next doctor's appointment is a week away and I can't WAIT to hear that little heartbeat.  It makes all your worries melt away... it says, "everything's okay, Mom... I'm just hanging out."

Baby this week:

-Baby measures 4 inches long, from crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces - the size of an apple.

-Lungs are beginning to develop, legs are growing longer, and all its joints and limbs are "moveable."

-Although the eyelids are still fused shut, baby can sense light.

-Taste buds are forming on that tiny tongue.

Now, this is NOT our baby, but it amazes me that this is what our baby could look like at this very moment.  It's amazing to know that this little 2 1/2 ounce, 4 inch long creature in my belly is just a miniature version of what he/she will look like in a few short months when we meet face to face.

Amazing.

We shall never forget...

Unfortunately, September 11th is a day we, as Americans, will never forget.  

The magnitude to which that date holds meaning in our lives, and the impact it had on our entire nation.

We will never forget the lives lost.  And those lives changed forever.

Little Miracle

If you remember, one of my inspirational posts a few months ago was about technology.  

I posted this pic of Baby Khloe in her mommy's belly.

Well, here she is!!!

After several months of trying to keep her sweet little self where she was safe and warm, it was finally her time to shine!

She graced us with her presence last week, and we got to meet her the day after she was born!  

She's just perfect!

And Jase LOVED her!!!