These are a few of my favorite things...

As most of you may already know, I have a serious addiction to beauty products... especially nail and foot care products. These are a few of my favorite things...

#1: Pedi-Scrub Buffer by Spongables (available at CVS) 

These are awesome. No kidding. Absolutely genius and I send thanks to the inventor. Simply wet the loofah until the foam and aroma starts to begin. The soft side is for cleansing and massaging. Whereas the rough loofah side is for exfoliating and scrubbing. These contain vitamin E, lavender, tea tree oil, and other amazing natural products that are so good for our skin! Seriously. Try these out. 

#2: Sally Hansen Nail Whitening Pencil

This is a water based pencil that literally looks like a white eyeliner. You wet the tip and run it underneath the nail tip. It results in white tips that look clean and solid white! Amazing. My fingers look like I have a french manicure when really all I have on is a clear coat! LOVE LOVE LOVE! 

#3: Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle

This is something I apply every night. I am obsessed. After wearing gel nails for months to help me quit biting my real nails, my nails were thin and brittle. This stuff is tough as diamonds. No, seriously. While this is on your nail you couldn't bend it if you tried. I love love love this stuff. Not only does it produce a hard nail while it's applied but it also helps strengthen your nails from the inside out. 

#4: Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Cream w/ Vitamin E

I heart this stuff. It is super greasy (but smells like heaven) so be prepared to wear socks while it's on. I usually apply it before bed and (although I cannot stand it) I sleep with socks on. Renews your feet. As in, it makes my feet feel like a baby's ass. It's THAT good. 

#5 Sinful Color 'Easy Going' 

New fave color! Completely 100% obsessed with 'Easy Going'. You could mistake this color for white because it is truly the softest pink I have ever seen! This has been the typical color gracing my nails for about a month now. Could not love it anymore. I'm really into the super light pastels and grays right now. (And I hate to say it because it makes me feel 80 years old, but I reallllllly dig the nude color polish). 

So as of now... these 5 things are my favorite products as far as my feet and nails go! Seriously check them out. I promise they will not disappoint. 

Empty Frame Initial DIY

I wanted to have Parks initials in his room, but I wanted to do something different. I came up with this... I wanted to have Parks initials in his room, but I wanted to do something different. I came up with this... 

I got the large frame at Hobby Lobby for 50% off (frames are typically 50% off, if they aren't just download the weekly 40% coupon to your smartphone or print it online). I bought his initials in the largest size wood letters that Hobby Lobby carries (which were also 50% off), and some acrylic paint. 

I painted the letters in his rooms colors and simply hung them in his room, above his bed! I did them monogram style with the last names letter in the middle and slightly higher! 

LOVE!

This project cost me about $35.00. And I love it! Now let's just cross our fingers that Sir Parks doesn't try and rip it off the wall (which I see as a great possibility!).

Typical Trip To Target

Target is my 1st love. Literally. I mean that completely. I go there just because. A ton of my clothes come from Target, most of my kids "decor", and all electronics... I have an addiction to Target, like I have an addiction to Hobby Lobby. It's not healthy. But let's face it... it's better than being addicted to heroin, right? That's what I thought.

We took a Typical trip to Target today. Just for a few basics that should have come to $20.00:

• Clorox Wipes
• Laundry Detergent
• Razors

And $236.13 later... We left with...

• Clorox Wipes
• Laundry Detergent
• Fabric Softener
• Razors
• Ceiling Hooks
• Fishing line??? 
• 20 pairs of panties
• New Pajamas
• 2 pairs of shoes for the kids
• 2 movies
• 2 books
• 1 picture frame 
• Cotton Balls
• Nail Polish

Yeah, it's bad... I can admit that. However... I saw something I had never seen before and thought it was pure genius. Look at this cool little end of isle display rack! 

They had a little canvas pack for everything: aching body, cuts, blisters, nausea, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, sleep aid, etc... Cutest little packages, awesome colors, and simply brilliant! Kudos to the inventor of THAT!

Also, we had to buy Ponyo. If you haven't seen or watched 'Ponyo' with your kids, you must! It's by a Japanese producer and has been translated into an American version (staring Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Betty White, and MORE!)

There is also: 'A Castle in the Sky', 'The Secret World of Ariety', and more! Amazing films that absolutely capture my children's attention. They LOVE these movies. It's like Magic! I put them on, and they are.... wait for it.... quiet and in a trance for HOURS! It's amazing. So instead of continually purchases them OnDemand or trying to find them on Netflix I went ahead and bought Ponyo, seeing it's their fave!

Not sure what it is about a little fish that turns into a girl but they adore her and her best friend Sousuke, and I must admit I also love this weird, different, and absolutely precious film.

Happy Monday, Y'all!

Lovely Lamps:)

After much deliberation I decided to do away with my awesome, hot pink, girly, lantern lamps that graced the side of our bed for what feels like... forever. With our bedrooms "style" they simply did not fit. Although it was heartbreaking to do away with something that made me feel "young & cool", I have to say our new lamps ROCK! I'm obsessed. 

With a slight Cat in the Hat feel to them, they are still modern and super amazing. These lamps seriously put the finishing touch on our room! 

In love is an understatement. It is much more than that... it's fate. These lamps were made for me. Seriously. 

Now I think my room is complete. Of course I am sure I will "altering, tweaking, adding" here and there... for the most part, it's finished. I walk in and feel happy. It's the room I have ALWAYS wanted.

With that said... a lamp (or two) can make a GIANT difference in the feel of a room. Who knew?! 

Lamps: Hobby Lobby ($79/each - 50%off = $80/for both!) 

Stop & Smell The Roses Vlog linkup!

Mandy, from house of Rose has a vlogging link up every Wednesday! Super cool, right? This is my first link up with Mandy! This is what I am thankful for this week....

#postofficeproblems

I don't particularly like things that I don't or can't understand. Foreign waters weird me out. I like simplicity and I like familiarity. Therefore, with that being said... I can say this... The post office is like foreign waters to me. It's a scary place in the middle of the Amazon in my eyes, and because of that, I don't like the post office.. AT ALL! 

I learned in the 3rd grade (maybe 4th?) how to mail a letter. That my friends I am good at. Fill, seal, address, stamp, mail.... No problemo! Now as far as packages go I am lost. Actually, anything having to do within a post office baffles me. I make it a point to stay as far away as possible from any mailing facility for the simple fact that I just don't get it. Everything about the mailing systems confuses me. Let me count the ways....

This is how I feel while in the post office... Not even kidding.

• How do they sort all that mail? It's like MAGIC!
• How do the mailmen/women know how to keep it organized inside that little doorless box they drive?
• How can something get from Oregon to Florida in one night? [The mail is like Santa. For real. All around the entire world in one night. Amazing.]
• Why are there so many boxes at the post office? There is red, blue, brown, striped, and plain white. And they ALL have different meanings. 
• What's up with all the forms and slips? Can't you just give me a stamp? 
• Why are the post office people so sullen and scary? Very institutional in that place.
• And why can't I get some help up in here? Seriously. They provide NO assistance. A large instruction manual on the wall would be great. 
• And enough with the machine implementation. If I can't mail something myself without having a panic attack, I am pretty sure that using a machine to do it for me will just confuse me even more! Like those stupid self-checks at the grocery store! Ugh! I like simplicity, not the ridiculous "do it yourself machines".

With that being said, I have to go today and I am dreading it. I am mailing three separate items, to three separate addresses, in three separate states. I am wigging out! I need a glass of wine, possibly a Valium, and an assistant for these types of situations. I seriously hate the post office. If you are expecting a package from me, please be grateful; because if I manage to actually do this right you will OWE ME! 

It Works Global Fat Fighter Demo!

As you know, I am an Independent Distributor for It Works Global! If you have heard of us, you probably associate the name with the Ultimate Body Applicators or Wraps. I want to stress that the wraps are not the only amazing product sold by It Works. Another super, amazing product is the Advanced Formula Fat Fighters with carb inhibitors. And for all your diet cheaters, or those of you who can't go through the week without a Big Mac (I, myself am included in this statement).. these little pills are something that you should keep on hand! 

 These little pills can be taken up to an hour after a large, fatty meal. The Fat Fighters will absorb some of that yucky bad fat that will end up sticking and being soaked up by your body. Instead of absorption, the Fat Fighters will pull that bad fat from that meal and allow your body to naturally excrete those fats. Here is a quick Demo that I did a few minutes ago to demonstrate how and what these pills will do inside your tummy!

For more info, please contact me @

houstonhousewife@gmail.com

 

Thank God I Wore a Bra!

For some random reason I figured 4pm was a good time to get grocery shopping done. I left the house and it was a beatiful, bright, sticky Houston afternoon. An hour into our expedition we were checking out and there it comes... the rain. Not "typical" rain mind you, but rather a full force hurricane rain. The kind where you can't even see your hand in front of your face, and lucky unlucky for me my car was parked waaaayyyyy on the opposite end of the lot. Fan-freakin-tastic.

After standing there for a good 5 minutes getting bitch slapped by massive rain drops and gale force winds I weighed my options and prayed that I would not get struck by lightening on the way to the car. Off we went...

This is where you must "visualize" these next five minutes of my life....

I take off in a full on run with two children, in a massive "car shaped" grocery cart, in a torrential downpour, hoping there wasn't a car coming or the lightening would not pin point me (because THAT would be my luck).

Made it to the car, and literally threw my children in the front seat. By this time we were soaked; as if we had taken a shower with our clothes on. Parker is laughing hysterically, and Teagan is pissed that her hair was messed up and her clothes were wet.

I get to the back of my car and try and open the back, it was locked. Fantastic! So I make my way back around to the drivers side and have to DIG through my purse to find my keys. Why I didn't just hit the "hatch button" I have no idea. By now, my groceries are literally floating in their sacks. Awesome.

Now, I had been in the rain for five minutes. Parker had tried to drink a 2-day old Starbucks coffee in the cup holder, and Teagan was just sitting there angry. I tried to laugh it off even though I knew anything that was packaged in a paper, or a cardboard package was officially ruined. The flour had basically made muffins in the sack, so it just stayed in the cart.

I can only imagine what I looked like to the onlookers. In my mind I was 18 years old in Cancun winning the Summers Best Wet T-Shirt contest! Thank GOD I decided to wear a bra today.

And these are the days of my life....
Enjoy....

Men are definitely aliens...

Saturday was the hubby's 35th birthday. The first thing that went through my brain was:

"I have been with this annoying man since he was 26! NINE whole years!" 

The second thing that went through my brain was:

"How is he 35, six years older than ME and looks 10 years YOUNGER than ME!?"

Kinda' annoying, I must say! How do men age so well? What makes it about their fine lines, and gray hair so sexy? I am 29 and feel like I need a heavy round of Botox, an entire body lift, and hormones. Women age and actually look older, whereas men age and they actually look... BETTER? So unfair. 

Why do my boobs sag, and his balls don't? Why do my fine lines make me look like Rapunzel's mean mother when she has no hair to brush, but his look attractive and add character? Why am I terrified of gray hair, but his makes me wanna jump his bones? I seriously don't understand. 

Men must have some strange "I'm sexy and I know it" gene, because no matter how old they get... they still look good. 

Examples: 

Johnny Depp - 48 years old (I like to pretend that he's the father of my children)

George Clooney - 51 years old (I would do very bad things to this man!)

John Travolta - 58 years old (AND DELICIOUS, I might add!)

Morgan Freeman - 75 years old (and probably the cutest old man, EVER!)

Sean Connery - 81 years old (what? Seriously? I would totally still "do him")

Anyway... these are just a FEW of the beautiful older men. Men just have "it". That ability to look good, even in the grave. Jealous.

Regardless, Happy Bday husband! 

I'll take a fish facial with a side of backwash, please....

I always look forward to Friday. I skip Parks nap time, and let the kids play super hard so they will be out by 7pm. Friday's are MY night. I like to take an hour long hot shower, give myself a pedi and facial and watch a scary movie. ALONE. Not last night. Teagan refused to go to bed, and after continuous bribing and pleading she still refused. At one point the conversation went something like this.... 

Me: "Teagan, good girls go to sleep early so they can wake up and be in a good mood"

Teagan: "It's against my religion" (Mind you, this child is four. Where does she come up with this stuff?)

Me: "What's against your religion? Going to bed early or being in a good mood?"

Teagan: "Both."

By this time I was over it, and just let her sit up with me which resulted in our night looking like this...

We dressed up, acted like fish, and let Mommy cleanse her pores all at the same time:) Attractive, right? I am more than positive that this is sexy, but I could be mistaken. 

BACKWASH.... EWWWWW......

I have this weird thing about mouths. Not just some mouths, all mouths. Let's face it, they are dirty. If a dogs mouth is cleaner than ours, it's safe to say the the human mouth is a disgusting place. I don't like drinking after people. Kissing while eating is grody (yes, I still say grody), and to that couple in the corner booth:

"Please stop taking a bite of food and then open mouth kissing your mate. It's absolutely uncalled for." 

I see all these moms who drink after their kids, and every time I just cringe. I can't handle it. And let's face it... kids backwash. Please see Exhibit A:

What the F*&% is that? 

I think it's apple juice, a little bacon, and a bite or two of pancakes. Basically a goulash of whatever Parks was chewing. 

No Thank YOU! 

Parks always tries to share his drinks, and I have to politely say no. I know there is food in there, and I refuse to drink it. Makes me quiver. So yes, I am that mom that refuses to share drinks with her kids. I just can't do it. 

Nuff' Said. Backwash is inevitable with a toddler and I will not partake. 

Our Breakfast Guest... Poppy

A good portion of breakfast this morning was focused around a friendly intruder, a lady bug. 30 minutes of quiet, amused babies, intensely focused on a little red bug. It's the little things in life :)

Teagan and Parker sat here like this... for a good 30 minutes. I wish more cool, little bugs would come in more often. It gave Mommy some quiet time! 

Meet Poppy? I don't know. You will have to ask Teagan. She's SUPER random. 

Of course, of course! We must TOUCH the bug. Not SQUISH it, Parker. Gently. 

Happy Friday Y`all! 

Love: Teagan, Parker, and "Poppy" the Lady Bug.