Monday, September 23, 2013

I have so much to catch up on and so many photos to post.  The rest of summer, school starting and now fall!  Just too much to do and too much going on!  And in just two short days I will be leaving for Japan with my sister to see our new nephew Noah born in August.  So excited.  So for now I will just load pics from my iPhone (camera has better ones).

The garden produced lots of zucchini, tomatoes & carrots.

Hannah left, and me, her Mom age eight right.  I guess we look a little alike.

Camping trip to Lake Cascade. LOTS of card playing!

I sure love this kid!

Cute boys

Still playing cards on the way home from camping.
We got to have my niece Lizzy come stay with us for a week. What a sweetie.



Birthday Build A Bear Trip

Karten turned 4!!


Trip with all the kids and the boys to the water park!

We celebrated a fun picnic and swimming with Taylor's Tae Kwondo group and he earned his blue belt!

First day of a new school, grade 5

First day of grade 8

Taylor and I went on a hike together.

This beautiful boy was born to Sean and Chinatsu on August 27. Noah!

Garden bounty

We enjoyed Labor Day weekend at the Boatwrights: BBQ, croquet, a fire and so much fun!

Hannah got her room painted-turned out pretty.



Hannah really wanted a pixie cut-here is her long hair!

We donated 8 inches of hair.

Isn't she so cute?

My Mom left for Japan and we are dog sitting this one.

Watching Hannah's soccer game :-)


Monday, July 8, 2013

Let's get one thing clear...I HATE the heat.  If ever someone was designed to NOT flourish in warm weather, it would be me.  I feel sick, sunburn easily, and sweat a lot (sorry if that was TMI).  I faint when I get overheated.  How dramatic is that?  My body just shuts down and there I go.  It's happened several times, ever since I was little.  So when the weather turned to 108, I about died.

We had already made reservations for a quick weekend trip to a little amusement park in Utah during a monstrous heat wave.  The kids had a great time, just give them a hotel pool and a bed and they are super happy.  We went to show the kids and Mike Salt Lake City and walk around, and it was a mere 105.  I was sweating.  The next day we went to Lagoon, I sunblocked, watered everyone and made sure we had TONS of ice water.  It was fun and there were water rides and a water park area to cool us down, but after about 5 hours we were totally drained.  I offered to come back later but everyone was happy to cool down and swim at the hotel.  I was more than happy to spend time inside with the AC blasting.

It cooled down to a chilly 98 degrees a couple days later for the fourth of July.  We had a laid back day since Mike had the entire week off.  We went to downtown Boise to view the cool chalk art and later watched fireworks. It was pretty quiet.  We usually plan a BBQ or last year we went camping for the 4th so this year was mellow. Mike took the kids swimming the next day and we went bowling Wednesday.  A little stress-free staycation and time with Mike, which is what the kids really needed.  It was nice week of hanging out with the kids and no schedule.  Yay!

And here are the photos in a very haphazard, sort of way.  I didn't get any pics at Lagoon!

4th of July nails!  Hannah said mine were not matching and I couldn't do hers!

Bowling



Taylor climbing at Boise depot

Chalk art festival in downtown boise



happy 4th!


My red, white and blue girl!
From my own rose bush!!

because every dog should have a pillow when napping

silly Dad during a hot game of Phase 10

my starry girl!

All the cousins together for Monsters U.

Shoshone Falls with not very much water




Are we done yet?  Because it's about 110 out here and we want AC!!!


Thursday, June 27, 2013

Soooo a couple months ago, I found this store called Ulta and I came across this blog. I love the blog-it has really awesome hair tutorials and the very sweet lady behind it who is a stylist reviews make-up and puts together some pretty cute outfits. Normal things for some people who know how to do that stuff and for others like me who can't blow dry their own hair right, a saving grace.  Then there's Ulta, the best of beauty supply stores (kicks Sephora's butt), it carries everything from Revlon to expensive brands.  I got a facial in there for $20!  They are all so nice, will recommend products, put them on you...I have to go with a sponsor!!!  So, I've become a quite the product trying queen.  Don't mistake, I am a pretty low maintainence girl.  I just got my hair cut yesterday after 7 months.  But as I get older (I just turned 37 gulp!) I am appreciating good makeup, skincare and haircare products.  So I thought I would share my favorite items, it always helps hearing what other people use and what they think of it.

1. BirchBox: this is a subscription that you pay $10 a month for.  Every month I get a super cute box full of sample sized beauty products.  I really hate buying a big bottle or full size of something and then not liking and being stuck with it and out the $$$.  So they send makeup, skincare, & fragrance samples that are pretty good sized that I can try before buying.  Genius!  It's like getting a gift every month and I love all the packaging and pink lined box.

June's box contained dry shampoo, lipstick, free cute postcards, orange nail polish, hair tie and perfume sample.
2. The BEST foundation: my skintone has always been uneven (pink cheeks, pale skin and dark circles) and combined with new sun spots (yuck) I decided to venture out of the Bare Minerals and try something with a little more coverage.  Urban Decay, Naked Skin was pricey, $32, but I only use a little bit, it covers amazing, but it feels like I have nothing on.  Lasts all day.  I've tried many brands and this one is the BEST!  I also broke down and bought a really nice foundation brush.  I had never heard of the thing but again, LOVE it.  It is much better than using your fingers and apply it evenly.
This foundation will transform the way you think about foundation...or you will just like it a lot.


3.  Dry Shampoo-I've always heard it's not good to wash your hair every day, but my hair gets a little oily at the scalp and temples and combine that with no volume and I don't like it. After trying 2 different brands, my hair stylist recommended Loreal Professional Hair Texture.  It's a powder you apply to your scalp and blend in-amazing! It absorbs all the oil and adds texture and volume at the roots.  This would be great to use when traveling, camping or just when you don't want to wash your hair for a day. $16.50

4. Primer with Sunblock-Tarte's products I'm realizing are all pretty good.  Since my foundation didn't have sunblock in it (bad!) and I have really fair skin, I need protection.  Enter Tarte's 12 hour primer. This stuff is so soft, only takes a small amount and helps the foundation stay.  If I want a minimal look, I can just put this on instead of foundation.  I love how it feels and it's got SPF 30.  $29 (I think)


5. Mascara-I'll never use another brand.  I was running out of mascara and went into Ulta and asked the sweet girl there which mascara she would recommend.  She said Benefit's They're Real! was not only her favorite but the WORLD'S best selling mascara.  Well ring me up!!  I got the small tube that was $10, a little pricey but my eyelashes are worth it.  The brush has a million bristles and this stuff thickens, lengthens-you name it!  It's the all in one of mascaras.  LOVE IT!

6.  Perfume Let me first say I. don't. wear. perfume.  Until now, that is.  I have a super strong sniffer and most perfume's leave me with a big fat headache. So normally I am a user of Bath and Body Works scented lotions and sprays or the ones by Victoria's Secret.  However, my last trip in Ulta (I told you I go there a little too much) had me in the Philosophy section trying their perfumes.  Amazing Grace was awesome but their Love Sweet Love was really light, sweet, a little floral, feminie and very underwhelming.  My nose approved and I've been wearing it everyday for a week headache free.  It was my birthday present and with it came a free sample set of their face cleanser and shower gel.  The face cleaner, Purity, is fabulous.  It can clean off the eye make-up as well.  I might be switching from Clinique.  I'm probably slow on the Philosophy thing but I believe I'll like the product line.  $44

7.  Eyebrow wax from Benefit (Available at Ulta) I knew my eyebrows were really out of control, it had been about 2 years since they were last shaped.  Wow, the Benefit lady, Ciara, was AMAZING.  She spent like 30 minutes on my eyebrows.  She drew lines, and more lines, conditioned, waxed, clipped & primed. I never knew you could do so much with eyebrow hair, but my brows got a much needed makeover. Sorry I won't share pictures of my before and after-I was a little too Groucho Marks. $20


So there you go, if you have any questions, PLEASE comment, just remember I am NOT an expert.  I'm still amazed I know what dry shampoo is and foundation primer!!