On Saturday my friend Niki, who I met through blogging, came to town for the Cotton Bowl.  She is from Little Rock.  It was so good to see her and meet her hubby!  They are the sweetest couple and I hope they come back to see us soon!  Niki and I share a love for paper stores, cupcakes, and fun crafting 🙂

Yummy cupcakes at The Cupcakery

I wanted to take Niki to one of my favorite stores called The Brownstone.  I always say it reminds me of an Etsy on land instead of online.  This place is full of little booths and shops with some of the cutest ideas.

I got this glittery LOVE sign….and guess what I love???  Ha ha!

I want one of these big metal candles to put in the yard for birthdays.  How cute!

Connor found some mini school buses and he’s been OBSESSED with them.  I think it’s because the bus fits perfectly in his little hand.  He won’t sleep without this thing!\

Not your average noodles

I wish I knew how to make this paper heart shadow box, but I have no idea how they made this?

Pretty cross candles

He didn’t stay in the stroller for very long….

And these were probably one of our favorite things.  It’s paper lanterns with cellophane around them and they look like candy!  Love this idea!!!

Kristin is a mom to three kids and she really enjoys doing this in her free time!  I’m so excited for her!

Here are some of the goodies she’s made Connor :

3.  Tweet about this giveaway!!!!

I thought about doing a recap of our 2011, but I honestly don’t know how I could whittle through the past year and pick out just a few things.  Every moment of this past year was a blessing, it was another year spent with my family.  Loving my husband.  Watching my son grow into his own.  I like how he’s able to communicate more now.  I can’t say I loved the infant stage.  I like being able to interact with Connor and he’s so sweet and loving at this age. 

I don’t make resolutions.  Well, maybe I do, but they aren’t just because the calendar says it’s a certain day and the newspapers are filled with diet and workout ads.  I don’t think I am really a “gym” person.  I do like getting outdoors and doing things with my family like hiking.  That is why sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live some place where the temps aren’t 115+ degrees in the summer! Ugh!

I think about the future a lot.  I have dreams, hopes, and ambitions of my own.  I want my son to have all the things I never had as a child….what parent doesn’t?

I want to lose 20-30 pounds and lose this Jello jiggler belly.  It’s there trust me.  I don’t feel has hot as I once did, but I do feel comfortable and I enjoy life.  Terence and I both try to motivate each other to be healthier and keep one another on track.  I know I couldn’t do this alone because I am not as disciplined as he is.  I couldn’t live this life without my boys. 

So my resolution is not really a resolution at all….I just want to slow down…enjoy the small things.  Quit stressing if Connor drops a crumb on the floor, or if Terence doesn’t put a dish in the dishwasher.  Try and tame my OCD a little bit eh???  Not let my anxiety get the best of me. 

Try and be the best wife and mother I can. 

Speak positive words & not negative ones. 

We are not promised tomorrow.  Live, laugh, love, rejoice with your families and make the best of the life you have.  It’s YOUR life.

Own it.  Live it.  Be present.

Breathe.

We need to say a thank you to Granddaddy for all our new cars!

Oh and become I am a lover of all thing GAWDY…love this link up!

 Link up and see all the other lovely ladies bling!

This is my engagement ring and wedding band my honey gave to me over 10 years ago!

Engagement Ring:  Platinum cathedral band with 1/2 carat princess cut diamond

Wedding Band:  Platinum with baguettes

I still love my ring with all my heart <3
And let me tell ya platinum has gone WAAAAAY up in value over the last 10 years!
Score for me 🙂

Do you keep a pair of tweezers in your purse? Are you constantly checking your face for the occasional hairy straggler? When someone says “peach fuzz” do you think of your chin, cheeks, and upper lip instead of a fruit? Ahem…guilty.

I recently got to try the New Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo.

I have dreaded unwanted facial hair I know all you gals envy! Ha! Even my husband notices sometimes, and it doesn’t make me feel attractive at all. I’ve tried several hair removal products in the past. I’ve used creams and waxes galore.

The creams have always had an awful smell and left my skin feeling raw. Waxing hurts like crazy, and I’ve even been burned from waxing before! Who wants to go through all that? Not me.

I want to feel smooth and pretty without the hassle.

That’s why New Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo was the perfect solution. First of all ladies, it smells GREAT! I didn’t have to sit there and hold my breath while the cream was working on my face.

My skin felt soft, smooth, and moisturized afterwards, not raw and dry. I was left with silky smooth skin in 6-8 minutes with no hassle at all! It takes just two easy steps:

1. Condition your skin with the skin guarding balm. This keeps your skin from drying out and getting red.

2. Rub on the Hair Removal Cream and leave on for 6-8 minutes. Gently rub off with a wet wash cloth. You’ll have silky, smooth, hair free skin in no time.

I feel better about how I look, my makeup goes on smoother, and I don’t feel like every time the sun hits my face my “beard” will show. I love this product, and it was so easy to fit into my busy weekly routine.

If you have unwanted facial hair on your chin, cheeks, or upper lip then you will want to try New Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo! I promise you’ll love it! It worked great for me and I know it will work great for you too!

How would like to win a $50 gift card, courtesy of BlogHer and Olay?

Leave a comment to be entered for your chance to win. Tell me how what inspires your inner beauty, and let me know how your beauty routine reflects that.

Rules: No duplicate comments. This sweepstakes runs from 1/3/2012 – 2/3/2012. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.

Be sure to visit the Promotions & Prizes page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

While we’re on the subject of looking good, you might want to check out the “Looking Your Best” posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great tips and expert posts!