New favorite beauty products

I wanted to share some of my favorite beauty products I'm using and loving with you. 

1. Bobbie Brown eye corrector: I've been using this under eye concealer for years. It is amazing, conceals my under eye circles like no other! I have not be able to find anything else that works as well. Believe me I have tried. I have used other higher priced concealers and drugstore brands, but nothing compares. It's creamy and blends in amazingly! Worth every penny. $24 from Nordstrom. 

2. Andalou beauty balm: I have been looking for a new all natural day time lotion with SPF. This can by tricky to find! I like a day lotion that feels good on my skin and not to thick and greasy with zinc oxide in it for sun protection. Others I have tried don't smell good and feel too cakey on my face. This BB cream has SPF 30, smells wonderful, is tinted, and goes on smooth without feeling heavy. Plus, it's filled with antioxidants to fight fine lines and signs of aging. I like that you can use this lotion without makeup and your skin will be even-toned. $20 from Whole Foods.

3. Tarte clean slate eye primer: Use this to prime your eyelids before you apply eye shadow and under eye concealer. Works very well! No creasing and makeup stays in place for 12 hours. I like that I can use this primer under my eyes to waterproof my concealer and decrease the look of fine lines! I've used other eyelid primers, and I like this one for its dual purpose! $20 at Ulta

4. Anastasia Beverly Hills prefect brow pencil: I have learned the improtance of eye brow maintenance and appearance.  I spent years over plucking my brows and now they are thin and sparse looking. Having fuller, more defined brows helps make your face look polished, put together, and enhances your eyes! So I order to achieve my prefect brow I use a pencil, and brow shadow to shape and fill in my brows. I love the Anastasia Beverly Hills products. I don't mind spending a little more money for brow products because I use them daily in my beauty routine, and others I have tried don't work as well for me. The shade I found matches prefectly with my natural brows and blends easily. One end of the pencil also comes with a brush. $22 at Ulta

5. Jason Cocoa Butter body lotion:

It smells wonderful! It is thick and intensely moisturizers my dry skin. I am really picky about my body lotion. Here in Colorado it is very dry and I must moisturize daily to maintain soft skin. I also like using more natural products on my skin. This lotion has no parabens, SLS, petrolatum, artificial colors or phthalates! $10 Whole Foods or Sprouts Market.

Give these products and try and let me know your thoughts! 

Blessings,

Sarah 

Date night

Date night with my husband is a special and important time for us. Getting away just the two of us and enjoying each other without baby is such a gift and blessing to our marriage. It can be difficult for us to do often, since our families all live in other parts of the country, we don't have many babysitters! But we try and make it a priority to go out on dates as often as we can. Even if it's having date night at home together, after baby is in bed.

We are able to be better parents to our son if we are putting our marriage first and making our relationship a priority, even in this busy season of having an infant. 

I love to get dressed up and looking good for my man when we go out on a date! Here are my outfit details:

Jacket: Gap

Tee: JCrew

Skirt: Loft

Flats: Target

Bag: Urban Outfitters 

Blessings,

Sarah

Summer time means fresh strawberry rhubarb pie

I am one lucky lady today to receive some delicious, fresh, rhubarb picked with love from my mother-in-laws garden! She flew it all the way from Iowa just for me!! 

 My husbands favorite pie happeneds to be to be strawberry rhubarb. So, some pie baking was in order today, since I received fresh ingredients!! When I make this pie I usually just buy frozen rhubarb. It is hard to find and has a short selling season in grocery stores. So it's a wonderful treat to make a fresh from the garden pie! 

I am excited to share a family favorite 

pie recipe with you! 

strawberry rhubarb pie recipe: 

Crust: (This is a 2 crust pie)

1& 1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix ingredients, roll out your your dough and place it the bottom of your pie dish.

Pie Filling: 

1 1/2 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons flour

1 cup sour cream

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups chopped rhubarb 

1 cup chopped strawberries

Mix all ingediants together then put in pie dish over the crust.

Then make the second pie crust and place it on top of the filling. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. 

Then mix together the topping and add to pie after it's been baking for 40 minutes. 

Topping:

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 butter

Mix together and spread on top of pie. Back for an additional 10 minutes.

 

We think it's best to enjoy when the pie is warm. It also tastes delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! 

Give it a try! 

Blessings,

Sarah

Why shorter is better!

Shorter hair that is! I chopped my hair last week and I am loving it!! Talk about easy. It takes only minutes to blowdry and style. Cause let's face it, I don't have much time to take a shower, let alone style my hair!! So a short bob is the perfect style for me these days. As a mom I feel put together with this hair cut. And the fact it's easy and chic is a bonus! 

The picture above was my hair inspiration photo!

I'm not one to take many "selfie's" but since I was just raving about my haircut, I figured a picture was in order :)

So ladies, I dare you to be brave and try a new hair style! Whether it's chopping your hair, or trying a new color, have fun with it! 

Blessings,

Sarah

My summer bucket list

Well, summer is already halfway over and I just realized there are many things I was still hoping to do! I am a list girl. I love to make a list or set some goals and cross them off when I accomplish them! It helps keep me motivated and acountable  to myself.

 I figured with it already being the middle of July, I needed to make a summer to-do list. That way it's written down for me to see and check off! The days just fly by, especially since my son was born last fall. If I am not intentional with my time with my family and with myself, it's going to be fall before I know it! 

So here is my summer bucket list: (and in no special order)

1. Get my son into swim lessons

2. Have a picnic in the park

3. Take a family hike in the mountians

4. Take Drake to story time at the library

5. Grow herbs in my garden plot

6. Read and finish a book

7. Complete a DIY project I've pinned

8. Take a family day trip to a new place

9. Scrapbook my son's first year photos 

10. Make smore's 

11. Host a BBQ 

Try wiring down your own bucket list for summer! Just make sure you get out there and enjoy your family, and friends, and the beautiful summer weather! Each day is truly a gift from God. I urge you to think about how you want to live each day you are given!! 

Blessings,

Sarah

Summer Outfitting essentials part 2

Here are a few more of my summer essentials! I am all for easy, comfortable, and chic. Yes, an outfit can be all of those things. Getting dressed for the day and feeling put together is important for me to do as a mom! But keeping it simple is key! 

I love my Birks!! I got them a few months ago and have been wearing them almost daily. They go with everything and are incredibly comfortable to wear all day long. I remember wearing them back in middle school in the mid 90's, and boy am I glad they are back!!

Top: JCrew

Shorts: Target

Belt: Target 

Necklace: Forever 21

Sandals: Birkenstocks

30 Day challenge

I came across another 30 day challenge on Pinterest that I started on July 1st. It's called the 30 day Guns , Buns and Abs challenge! Each day you are doing a specific number of squats, push ups, and  leg lifts. These exercises only take 5-10 mins to complete and can be done at home, no gym required! I love that I can do this while my son is napping or whenever I can find a few free mins throughout the day. 

I have definitely been seeing results, especially my legs/quads, glutes, and tummy! It is called a challenge for a reason, by the end of the 30 days you will be doing 260 squats!! If doing all the exercises at once is too challenging, break them up into sets and do them throughout the day. It has become part of my daily routine to do these exercises, knowing that I made a commitment with myself to do this challenge. I can't go to bed without doing the reps for that day, even if that means I'm doing them at 10pm before bed. 

Getting exercise everyday is very important for me as a wife and a mom. I want to be my best and the healthiest I can be, so I can be the best wife and mom I can be for my family! So, that means taking the time for myself to exercise. Even if your exhausted, if you get a little workout in, you will feel energized!!

Give this challenge a try! I promise you will see results and feel accomplished after 30 days!! 

A special Sunday to dress up for!

Today was a special Sunday for us. We dedicated our son to The Lord. In doing this my husband and I pledged as parents to raise our son to know The Lord and follow and teach his word! What an honor and humbling experience it is to be a parent. We had time to pray over our son, Drake alongside a few close friends, and enjoy the company of other families with little ones doing the same. 

It was a wonderful morning and a great reminder for me as a mom and Christ follower, to always be seeking The Lord in everything I do, as I continue to learn how to be a mommy and wife to my husband. It can feel overwhelming and hard some days, and I can become discouraged and exhausted, but The Lord will sustain me and not give me more than I can handle, if I am continually seeking him in those hard moments! 

It truly was an awesome morning worth celebrating and putting on our Sunday best!!

Dress: Anthroplogie

Beaded belt: Anthropolgie

Ankle boots: Anthroplogie

I guess is was all decked out in Anthro wear today!

Happy Sunday!

Blessings,

Sarah

Timi and Leslie Diaper Bag

I think I won the shopping lottary a few weeks ago at Notdstrom Rack! I have always been on the hunt for a cute backpack. They are easy to carry, especially while juggling the many other things always in my arms, including my son! 

I found this espresso colored diaper bag made by Timi & Leslie. It's called the Hart Convertible Backpack. It is super functional, has a ton of pockets to hold all my baby goodies, and is fashionable enough for me to use for any occasion. Let me tell you this diaper bag comes loaded with goodies inside! 

The Backpack comes with: matching changing pad, stroller straps, detachable/adjustable shoulder strap to make a shoulder bag, a matching wristlet for Mommy essentials, insulated bottle holder, and dirty clothes sac! Oh and did I mention is it adorable!! Like I said, I hit the shopping jackpot. Who would have thought diaper bags could be so chic?!

Kale chips

I have been making my own kale chips for quite a while now. It has taken some trial and error to get them to bake just right. But I have found the perfect way to prepare them and I would to love to share it!

Organic lacinato kale is my favorite to use. It's not as bitter as other kinds. Make sure to wash the kale well and dry thoroughly. This is the key to making your chips bake  to perfection. Cut into smaller pieces and toss with olive oil, sea

salt and pepper. Place kale on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 mins.  

Enjoy these crispy, delicious, healthy chips as a snack or a side dish. 

Summer outfitting essentials

My summer outfitting essentials:

1- cut off denium shorts (Lucky Brand)

2- patterned tee's (H & M)

3- slip on sneakers (Reef)

I can't go wrong with these pieces! This is my typical mommy outfit for running errands with my son. It's comfortable, casual, yet still put together! I'm pretty much in this outfit combo 5 days a week. 

Printed skirt and scarf for church

A simple outfit like a skirt and top with sandals makes an easy, dressy outfit for summer! Adding pattern and accessories takes the outfit from basic to interesting. I love that I can throw this outfit on in a few minutes as we are running out the door to make it on time to church! 

My favorite accessory for this outfit is of course my son!! I love that baby on my hip. Makes every one of my outfits feel complete!!

Tank: Old Navy

Skirt: Anthropolgie 

Sandals: Taget

Belt: Anthroplogie

Scarf: Urban Outfitters 

Sunglasses: Dior 

Bracelets: vintage