February 2016

Beat In 5 Minutes

I use to wear a full face of make up every single day. However, now that I have Keenan I do not have time to go through the motions of that every day. At this day and age I need something simple and speedy for my day to day look.

These are all the things I need to keep my day quick and simple.

This tart powder gives me a light weight coverage and does not feel oily or look shiny by the end of the day.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder

Depending on if I want golden bronzed look or a light translucent high light I go between the Nars sheer blush hor the Sephora Bronzer.

This blush palette is from Forever 21 is fabulous. The first one is the one is the one I have but apparently they do not carry it anymore. The 2nd image is the one they carry now. This blush is amazing. A little goes a long way as it is highly pigmented and the price ain’t so bad either. Yes….I know I said ain’t.

Last but not least, this Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie lip gloss is everything. It goes on smoothly. It is not extremely sticky and there is mint in it so it tingles oh so good.

Below are some of the finished product. Sometimes I change the lip color but the regiment of everything else is all the same.

BLOCKED

20160228_085147

20160228_152913 20160228_085325

Today I am not going to tell you that I mastered this look as I am still trying to get color blocking myself. But, it is still a thing and the sky is the limit when you do it. I found the best way is to try and make sure your colors work well together. Well how do you do that? Pastel pink, black, and navy blue might not be a good choice. For one Navy and black are two similar and you have to very bold colors against a pastel. You don’t want to be to matchy-matchy but you don’t want a complete disaster either. You could use all pastel or all dark or you could mix light and dark but make sure the colors compliment one another. Like I said I am not the master at this so you tell me how we did.

Tie It All Together

On crucial piece of you outfit can be the foundation for it all. In this case Keenan’s hat is the foundation that ties it all together. Next time you get your little guy ready find a piece of clothing to be the focal point for everything else.

ZARA

When I want good original pieces this is one of the locations I love. I think I love the shoes here the most. I can always look here to find different and the quality is nice. The cost may be up for to some of you for a 3 year old but its compatible with Gap and I would say some of the finds may be more unique. This is also a one stop shop as mothers and fathers can find some nice pieces at this store gives you pieces that are quite a few notches above H & M. Catch them at sale time and you will have an even greater savings. Here are three of my favorite pieces.

These shoes with some shorts or cuffed pants would look great on a little boy.

With Spring on the way this is trench coat is a great addition to any rainy or chilly day.

YAAAASSSS… These pants are everythang’! This is how you can take a casual look to the next level. These pants with the a fitted v-neck t-shirt, a blazer, and the shoes above. This is a really cute pair of pants.

What Are Your Clothes Saying?

What is your fashion saying about you? I mentioned in the beginning that one of the reasons I focus on dressing Keenan the way I do is because I believe it can build his confidence. Some people dress to be vain, or to put on heirs, or simply to show off their place in society.

Me….I have always loved clothing. I use to watch my mom get dressed to go out as little girl and I would sit in awe of how beautiful she looked to me in her make up and high heels. My mother use to sew and she would make these high fashion suits in a day and walk out to a wedding or birthday party FLAWLESS!!! So, I have always loved clothing. I remember in high school someone told me one day, “you dress so much better than you use to”. At the time the person said that I had just started working and paying for my own clothes but before that I had to rely on my parents to dress me. As nice as my mom dressed, well, I was still a child and I needed to dress like one. But the minute I could do my own thing I busted loose. Now brands, I am not a brand whore. I do not want MK plastered all over me. I don’t do the coach shoes with all the C’s but if I could afford a Chanel dress good gawd would I rock it. Don’t get me wrong. I own a MK purse but all you see is a simple key chain that reads MK. Now a good LV, you can hand that to me any day. LOL!!! I love fashion lines that speak to the designer just by the cut or design with no labels to be posted. I try to keep things for Keenan that simple because I wan’t his fashion to express him and not the designer he is wearing.

Now I am not going to go as far as to talk about colors and what they represent, or how some may say gaudy or over done jewelry says your reaching…I disagree. I believe the sky is the limit. It is possible to have all types of colors, styles, and eras of clothing in your closet. The key is owning your choices and being safely unsafe.

As mother’s we get so caught up in our children and families that sometimes we lose ourselves. We let ourselves go, we stop caring, we give up. Why look nice at the dead end job that lets us wear jeans? Now I know some people who fall into this and they rock their work out clothes nicely. However, I see some who say they don’t care and they truly don’t. Looking nice does not mean you have to spend a lot of money. I get some of my best finds at the thrift store. A vintage dress with modern shoes and jewelry can go a long way. Even wearing jeans and a sweatshirt can be cute when done right. I follow a blogger, Beauticurve; she makes fashion from all price ranges look fab.

Now I have my comfortable outfits but I think I always look nice. Do I look like a million bucks…nope. I don’t have a million bucks. But I look nice. I find classic pieces at reasonable prices and I can make inexpensive pieces look nice. When I look nice, I feel nice. I carry myself with confidence. When I wear my heels I walk to the beat of different drum. The bright colors I wear help shout what we talked about last week; being happy.

This week I encourage you to apply a little effort if you don’t already. I know it may take a little more time in the morning, or a little more effort. It doesn’t always have to be dresses or skirts and heels. Switch it up and make sure it speaks to who you want to be. Below are a couple of ways I have kept things fashionable and motherly.

Stay motivated until net week

The Sophisticate Boy

Silver Dollar Winery

This post is for my locals. Sometimes Mom’s just need to get away and when that time comes you don’t want all the hype that comes with getting out.

For my birthday in November I celebrated at Silver Dollar Winery in Bedford, Tx. This small little quaint place has been a win for me ever since.

I have lived in the area for some time and I never even knew it was there but I enjoyed all the luxuries of a large winery in this small local location. They have wine infused ice cream and it is divine. Now many of you may not be able to visit the winery but you can find a place near you who sells this brand. Below were my two favorite flavors.

Per the site this is a fragrant red mulled wine known for it’s moderate sweetness balanced with the warmth of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

Per the site this is a sweet champagne and paired its perfectly with ribbons of sparkling strawberries.

My favorite wine was I’m Peached and this is a house wine for this little gem.

The site says this is a Sweet Peach-bold sensual peach infused wine so sensual and tempting you will be IM’Peached.

While you are there you can also enjoy some fruit and cheese trays that were reasonable in price. You can also do tastings if you simply do not know what you would like best.

It may look like a hole in the wall outside but inside its a nice getaway from the day-to-day. Below are some images.

Create a Little Controversy

Today we had church and a bowling party right after. I did not feel like totally changing his clothes for the two different locations so when you have a situation like this….create a little controversy. Pair two different looks and layer to make a easy comfortable transition for your little one. Both are comfortable and while he may need to be a little dressier for church it works to me.

Metro Style

Toddlers can rock a metro style just as good as any man. My dad was a little hesitant about the scarf but the key is to add all the little necessities to make the look rugged enough for a little boy. In this case the ripped jeans and boots make the look more than the scarf. The scarf is just an added accessory as it should be. Below are two more ways Keenan has rocked a scarf in the past. Notice all the different ways you can wear it!

Thred UP

We have discussed Once Upon a Child and Kid to Kid. This week let’s discuss Thred Up. Thred Up is an online resale shop and they have items for women and children. They have even expanded to have some luxury/high end purses and shoes.

I have ordered from Thred up quite a few times. The main difference is of course it is online. Their prices are a little higher than the other two stores but I wouldn’t say drastically higher and there is a savings compared to buying the items brand new. Remember, you can always search for coupon codes and deals online. One thing I like about Thred up is they have a huge variety of brands. Sometimes I just look around to see what brands are out there and then go directly to the site or specifically google search that specific brand.

Another thing that I failed to mention before is that one advantage to resale shops is the findings. Sometimes Keenan has pieces that I fall in love with and when I go to the resale shops I can find them in the larger size as he grows. I have found quite few on this site.

Thred Up does work to give a luxury experience when you shop with them so the higher price can be worth it. Every time I have ordered my items come in a large box with their logo on the top. The items are wrapped nicely and there is a card just to say, “Thank You”. If you didn’t know already you wouldn’t feel like you ordered used items. You can sell back to this site. I know if you request, the company will send you a bag and you can ship your items to them free of charge and they will review. They do have a list of brands that they accept so don’t think that you can just send them anything. If you want items that they did not accept returned to you the cost is $ 12.99 and for that reason I must admit that I have never sold to them. I know enough little ones that I would much rather hand my items down to them in addition to the fact that I want my cash in hand. However, they do donate unused items to charities.

Overall, this is not my favorite resale shop but I have had some nice buys from here and I appreciate what they have to offer. The quality is always very good and I normally get a speedy delivery. However, not as speedy as going directly to the other stores. Thred Up does have some very high end pieces though, so if are in to luxury brands for your little one this is a good place to start.

Good luck with your new threads from Thred UP!

Be Happy

Did your life turn out how you planned it? I’m sure for some of you all the stars aligned and everything happened according to your plan. I see some peoples life and it appears to be that way. Did mine turn out like that? NOPE!!!! Not at all. I had dreams and plans for many things and so far none have turned out the way I hoped or dreamed for. Does it mean that I didn’t work as hard as you or that I didn’t follow directions. Not at all. What directions? This is life we are talking about. Even if I followed the bible to a “T” it does not mean life was not going to happen. We all have our paths and roads to take us to our end and none of ours paths are the same. We may cross each other in moments of unity but overall we walk different walks.

When I look at others peoples paths it works my nerves when people say stop wanting what other people have. I mean don’t get me wrong I have looked at other peoples lives and had a twinge of jealousy because they had what I didn’t but in the same thought they had what I wanted. I was never clueless to my own desires and the life I wanted. Its not really wanting the life they have when I thought at 6 years old my own life would look similar to theirs. However, we do have to love the skin we are in and the cards we are dealt. As many times as I look back over my life NOTHING looks as I planned but does it look so bad?

I am alive and doing well. My family is alive and doing well. Have I lost a few loved ones in the past, YES but I still have family who loves and supports me. My sister is a rock for my son and though 15 years younger she is still there for my son in ways I could not have ever fathomed. I have a sitter who adores my son and watches him like he is her child. When I say God sent the woman who cares for my child…GOD DID IT, and not only does she watch my child she watches half the babies at my church. Speaking of church….my foundation there is beyond my wildest dreams.

I remember being a child wanting and longing to go to church. I mean I visited here and there but I did not have the core foundation of a church home. My mother felt like she knew God well enough on her own and was burnt out with attendance and church folk. However, God blessed me with an extended family that is awesome beyond my wildest dreams. Most visitors think we are a cult and that is so far from the truth. We have our ups and downs but learn how to push through and come out on the fantastic end of Love. In addition, my foundation of scripture is phenomenal.

My spouse works my last nerve in every way possible. But when I reflect…..where would I be without him? His is my constant and he loves me beyond measure. He comes home every day, he is a growing dad and spouse, and he tries to learn. None of us are perfect and I know the challenges I can present from day to day. (In the middle of my typing this he is putting Keenan to bed in an effort to help me focus on this post. I just had to come back and add that in).

Lastly but not last at all, my child is the greatest thing in the world to me. He is 3 years old right now so he works my extended last nerve but there is never a day that goes by that I do not miss him and long to see his smile. He is alive and well, smart as a whip, and outside of his attitude he cares for me just as much as I do for him. Every morning he is running down a list of things I need to make sure I have. Mom you got our glasses, ….keys, ….phone, ….purse? As I am typing now he is on his table learning how to write his letters and numbers all on his own.

I didn’t finish college when I was supposed to. Since I did graduate I have not found a better job. The bills keep pilling up. I lived with my husband before I got married. I had Keenan before I got married. I had a small wedding when I wanted a destination wedding. Ummmm….that’s about it.When you put things into perspective that list seems short and irrelevant compared to all the other things I listed above. I know your list may be totally different than mine….and maybe your cons do outweigh the pros and if they do I’m sorry. However, like I mentioned last week the people I know whose cons are greater are still more grateful than the rest of us.

Remember in the beginning I told you that you all are growing with me. I am not saying this is easy. I fall into the rut of feeling sorry for myself from time to time but every time I do these list come back and its not so bad. The difficult part is not letting the thought cross my mind. However, we have to choose to be happy. Easier said than done huh? Well I really have been trying this out and it is a work in progress but I will say its working. So these are some things that I have done to try to learn happiness.

Stop looking at other people! – Yes. Its not that I want what they have as I didn’t know what I wanted for my won life but regardless of the reason that was not the life God planned for me or that I planned for myself. Their life is their life and my life is my life and it is what it is. In addition, you don’t know their story or even if what they present to you is happiness. They could be in a living hell while smiling and posing for Facebook.
Be honest with yourself – I said above that was not the life God planned for me or that I planned for myself. If you remember last week we briefly discussed being honest with yourself. Some of my failures were my choice. Did I think they were going to lead to failure in the beginning. No, but it did and it was still MY CHOICE.
Let go of the plan – Screw a plan. I mean yes you set goals and you work toward them but if they don’t come to pass get over it. Sooner rather than later. A plan in regards to everything and everyone following accordingly is going to fail you every time.
Work towards things – Although life cannot necessarily be planned you do have to set goals. If you have thrown yourself off track it is going to take a little hard work to get back on track. For example; saving, investing, getting a home. etc. Those things take planning and a little bit of work and dedication.
Stop chasing money rather than happiness – If you worked as hard at being happy as you do at getting paper you probably would have stopped reading a long time ago. Money makes the world go ’round but it does not have to define your happiness. People I know that make serious money work so hard they don’t have time to enjoy it or the people they are probably working so hard for. Don’t get me wrong, we all want enough to be comfortable with no struggles at all and even I struggle with the fact that God has given enough. But be content with what you have now until more comes.
Give back – I mentioned in past post that I have taken over the community events at church. This was in an effort to find happiness in my own situation by realizing how blessed I am compared to some others.
Embrace the small moments – I discussed in the very first week taking the time to embrace small moments with your kids. Really embracing the little things. This should be done with children, your spouse, family, and yourself.
Practice what you preach – Listen to the things you tell your kids. I mean if you are trying to teach them anything listen to what you say. Quite often what comes out of your mouth to them is the same things God is still saying to us at our age.
Be selfless – Now I ain’t gonna lie. When it comes to my immediate family this is difficult. Heck, even a few acquaintances. However, we need to take on the mindset everything we do is for the other person and truly expect nothing in return. We probably need to treat strangers like our family and family like strangers.
BE HAPPY! – Wake up every day and try to be happy. Listen to your happy song. BECAUSE I’M HAPPY!!!! Yep you know it. Start every day off with something that is going to get you in the mood and remind you that its a new day to take on new challenges and accomplish your goals.

This is my ten step program that I am still trying to figure out but I hope it helps. I also hope it didn’t sound typical to what you normally hear. Work hard at it, don’t give up, and it will come to pass.

Stay motivated until net week

The Sophisticate Boy