The Milk Man Did It!
Classic, right?
My pregnancy Halloween costume won an award and was featured on a list of "Best Pregnancy Halloween Costumes" on a popular website... and I'm pretty proud of it! Since Halloween is this week, I thought I'd share my slightly famous (in my mind) costume and give some printables to those interested.
 If you're attending a Halloween party this year, or just want to get a few laughs from your friends, this is the perfect, most scandalous (and super easy!) costume.

I Got A $300 Hollywood Facial... Here's My Thoughts!

I've never been one to shy away from talking about the cosmetic procedures that I get. Although I do understand the secrecy, I like to be transparent about those kinds of things; it's such a hush-hush topic and sometimes, well, things need to be discussed! Here's a little factoid, too: anytime I post about getting Botox, or lip fillers, or cosmetic surgery, I get tons of private messages from other women interested in the procedures. For as many of those "I can't believe she would post that" people, I get five times the amount of private DMs from people who want to do it and didn't have anyone to talk to about it, and if I can inform and help others who may be pondering the idea... then I don't mind being that person!

So, last month I received an email from my favorite skin care and laser boutique here in Greater Seattle, they are introducing a new facial spa treatment and were hosting a facial party this week to talk about the new procedure and lure in interested clients. The facial is called a Hollywood Hydrafacial, it's the latest facial trend to hit the market and I was able to try it first!

Ipsy Glam Bag Review: August 2018

It's been awhile since I did an Ipsy glam bag review and lately I've been in the mood for makeup, so I thought I'd throw a splash of color in and do a review!

This is a review of the August 2018 Ipsy Glam Bag (yes I'm fully aware it's October, don't judge me). This bag has been sitting at the top of my staircase for over a month waiting on me to open it, I procrastinated so much... that my September bag arrived! Oops. You guys procrastinate too, right? Tell me you do!

Time To Break Out The Fall Decor... and DECLUTTER!

October has arrived, and while typically my home would already be dazzled in foliage decor and reeking of pumpkin-scented-everything... I'm currently giving one of my living rooms a makeover, that of which has totally sucked most of my free time up, so things were scooted last month and my Fall Decor party got the short end of the stick.

With that being said- Happy October, lovers, it's never too late to begin decorating! As I mentioned last week, Fall is a huge time of change for me, and this year is with no exception. Breaking out my Fall storage bins and throwing orange-&-brown-everything all over my house brings deep feelings of calm and nostalgia, it is an almost sacred time as I make my house feel more like a home with warm, welcoming decorations and quality family time. The Earthy tones of Fall are warm, inviting tones, and I think it's such a fitting characteristic of the season to spend time at home with my family.

One thing I like to do before adorning my home in seasonal decor is to clean and declutter the whole thing... to rid of the unnecessary and give it a fresh revamp for the upcoming season. Like a tree releases what it no longer needs, it's time to let go of the old and start fresh.

I always begin by removing all my bright, sunny, pretty decor that I keep up throughout the warmer seasons and putting it into storage.

Removing all the current decor, making room for Fall

After getting my house naked, I go through places that don't get much love nor attention and I declutter them completely... this year I purged my linen closet (this was actually my first time doing this space since buying this house 2 years ago!), master bedroom closet, master bathroom cabinets, and my kitchen baking & seasoning cabinet. I get in these moods where I want to keep NOTHING and can clear out an area in a jiffy, stripping it down to the necessities (and OMG does it feel good). 

I don't know why, but I cannot stand to have stuff, I just... I'm not a clutter person. Less is more. If you struggle with clutter and would like to work on it, I highly recommend reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.

After I purged my junk and reorganized everything more efficiently, I did a top-to-bottom cleaning sesh... I'm talking scrubbing baseboards, walls, cabinets, bathrooms, fireplaces, heck I even cleaned the garage! Not only do I like to dip into the holiday season with a fresh house feel, but I also know cold season is right around the corner and thus I want to be on top of things while I can.

Keeping your house clean and organized, for me, is the difference between feeling calm and cozy... and feeling stressed, uncomfortable, and inadequate. My first apartment was a complete disaster, I despised cleaning and systems and structure; I neglected a lot of things back then! I spent my 20s teaching myself how to cook, take care of my health, and be a good mom; I've spent my 30s learning how to clean, organize, and make my house into a home. Becoming a good housekeeper was life changing, and it impacts your family's experience, too! If I can do it-- anyone can.

Although most have heard of Spring Cleaning, I think it's nice to have two times of year dedicated to really going through your junk and thoroughly scrubbing the place down. This week I've been busy with my Fall cleaning routine, followed by putting out all my Fall decor... and I will give you a tour of some of my favorite Fall decorated spots in my home this weekend, including my front porch tour!

I hope everyone is enjoying these lovely little crisp Fall mornings, the sunsets are arriving faster and the air is getting chilly here in Seattle... I love every moment of it!

Fall Is A Time For Reflection & Change

Ah, Fall... my favorite time of year. And it's not my favorite just for the 'basic' reasons, like cute boots & pumpkin spice lattes (but, let's be honest, yes to all of that!). Fall is a big time of change for me.
I will never forget the day that Fall became magical for me, it was 2015 and I was living in LA, I hadn't felt true crisp-air-changing-leaves-sweater-weather-Fall in years (for those not in the know, LA is pretty much sunny + perfect weather year-round). I had been doing the same thing for years, same routine, same stagnant attitude, same me. On that particular day, which was the first day of Fall, I felt ready for change, and instead of doing my normal routine of going to the beach and doing the same thing I did everyday... I decided to try a new route; I went to an art store and got an acrylic paint set, came home and turned on my now-favorite indie Fall music playlist, and I spent the rest of the day creating Autumn-themed crafts with my 3 year old. Although this doesn't sound like a life-changing day, it was unbelievably so...it was a day of decided change, a day where I chose to make memories, a day where I made one small change and it domino'd into a big deal, that day was a day of positive light, a day of peace, a day I was a better Mom, a better person... it was a day I turned a new leaf, and it is forever tattooed in my mind. Something so simple as a slight change can shift your life.
Every single year now on the first day of Fall, I look forward to hearing that playlist, burning pumpkin scented candles, reflecting on the year, and deciding what changes I want to see in myself from this point forward.
As the leaves of the trees transform into bold & vibrant tones and begin the process of change, so do I.

Two Little Band-Aids

A personal story about my journey with eczema.

Minimalist Best Friend Tattoo Ideas

I have something truly special in my life that I cherish with every ounce of my very being: I have a best friend.
Not just any best friend... a lifelong best friend.
We met in 1999 during high school art class and were instant best friends; it just clicked, she was the sugar to my spice, the yin to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly. We passed notes between every class in high school, we shared lockers, we drooled over Blink-182 together and spent countless nights having slumber parties and meeting at the mall. We're now both mamas, and although we may not giggle about cute guys & punk bands like we once did, we still talk on a daily basis and indulge in each other's lives. We are part of each other, she is a pillar in my life.
I still remember the moment we met, what we said, where we were sitting, what we were wearing... the day is tattooed in my head. From that point forward, we basically grew up together, and still are. She knows everything about me (perhaps too much! haha), anytime I need to vent, or need an ear, or have to gush about something that happened, anything... she's right there. We've been through it all; together.
Although I only have 2 very small tattoos, and got them both before I was 21, I still find myself dreaming about what I would get should I take the plunge and go for a third.
I think tattoos can be purely decorative and artistic and have no significance behind them, and I think they can also be simple or not as artistic, but have great meaning (and all the shades of gray in between). I have one of both, and have to say that my tattoo with great meaning is much more special to me, and I decided that if I were to get another, it would also hold meaning.
After 20 years of building a friendship with my best friend, I cannot think of anything more appropriate than taking our 'friendship bracelets' to the next level with a cute, sweet, dainty little best friend tattoo.
We both agreed that this is something we are destined to do, and are currently contemplating what to get.
One thing I forgot to mention! We live three-thousand miles apart.
We spent the first half of our friendship inseparable, and the second half on opposite coasts of America. We are long-distance, but we talk every day, and are tighter than a cable knit sweater... we have never been so close.
I've created a list of possible best friend tattoos, and I wanted to share a few ideas with you. I love how powerful, yet minimalist they are... let me know what you think!

Pinky Promise