As promised, I’ve pulled together some of the things that I found at Target today. So many good finds you guys…so many! I actually found a couple other dresses, but they aren’t online yet! I didn’t even know that was possible…but I’ll post them when they are available to link! Anyhoo…I hope you’re able to snag some of these Target goodies before they sell out. I’ve always loved Target (especially as a MN girl), but they have upped their fashion game A LOT! Loving it!
The only image I was able to quickly snap is the one up above with my new fave sunnies. Haha! I’ll try to get some pics in my fave new dress – with the bag from my stories. Keep an eye out! Happy weekend ya’ll – and happy holiday weekend SALE shopping! xo
The perfect bag for warmer temps needs to be versatile, can be dressed up or down, is on trend, and doesn’t break the bank. I’ve pulled together some of my top picks to make it easier to find your perfect bag. I have several of these, and I know you’ll be surprised when you see how many are under $40, are from places like Amazon and Target, and how designer they look!
Many are actually designer dupes – so you get a budget friendly version and no one will be the wiser! You’ll see bags like these popping up all over the place (like Saks Fifth Avenue) for a lot more $$$ – so keep scrolling and I hope you love these affordable options as much as I do! xo
I’ve finally done it! I promised to write a post on getting longer lashes – and this is it! Not sure why this one took so long…ok I do know…life happens. I’ve been so busy with the kiddos and I really wanted this post to be good, so it took a backseat until I had enough time to write it in peace. 🙂 Let’s dive in.
I get asked about my lashes daily. On my blog, on Instagram, and on the street by total strangers. That is why I want to share my thoughts on lash extensions, top lash serums and do a comparison of the 3 serums I get asked about most. This post will do a breakdown of the price, time to see results, what your expectations should be, what I’ve personally tried, and what I use today. I hope this is helpful and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! Scroll on and I hope you find some helpful lash answers below! xo
Longer lashes have always been a goal for me. In my teens and 20’s I was an eyeliner girl all the way – everyday. It was like lipgloss to me – necessary before walking out the door. In my later 20’s I started to get lash extensions. It was fun, they looked gorgeous, but they were $$$ and took about 60 minutes out of my day to get (more if you include travel time and parking). As a mom of young kids, I barely have time to shower let alone go get lash extensions. I also didn’t like how they thinned out towards the end of the month, so there was always a lot of upkeep. I understand the appeal, but I also think there are better options out there.
Fast forward to my 30’s – the discovery of eyelash serums! As mentioned above, I wanted longer lashes. They make me feel more put together, more awake looking, youthful, and I just feel better overall about my appearance. It’s amazing how something like lashes can give you a boost of self confidence! I found eyelash serums to be much more appealing because of the long term effects, less upkeep, and ability to have my OWN long lashes vs. falsies or extensions.
I’m going to do a breakdown of the following serums so you can decide what the best fit is for yourself:
1) Latisse
2) Monat – Eye Wonder
3) Rodan and Fields – Lash Boost
Latisse
Latisse was the very first eyelash serum I tried. I had to wait until I was no longer pregnant, then I had to meet with a special esthetician who was able to sell it to me, and then I had to cough up a lot of $$ for the actual serum. I gave it a try and had mixed results. The thing is, everyone reacts differently to different things.
Personally, Latisse gave me longer lashes, but they weren’t full and healthy looking. They looked sort of irregular and I didn’t like that. I read about other women who had a similar kind of growth with their lashes. Length yes – thickness no. They were sort of scraggly looking, but they also cost a lot. Latisse is around $140 per month (some places charge more or less – and many have deals for your first month. You are supposed to apply it once daily, to the top lashes only, for 16 weeks to see full results.
One other thing is that I got a dark mark on my eyelid where I was putting the serum. I didn’t like the side effect, I wasn’t getting what I wanted from Latisse, and even if I did, the expense was a lot each month. Scroll down to see an image from the Latisse website. You can see what I mean about them looking a bit irregular but definitely longer. Click on the image to see more on the Latisse website.
In any case, I stopped using the product and my search continued for the right eyelash serum.
Monat - Eye Wonder
Monat specializes in hair products, so it is no surprise that they came out with Eye Wonder. I have not personally used Eye Wonder, but I do have friends who have (who shared their experience with me), and I’ve done research on it as well. This is what I can share with you about Eye Wonder.
The cost is much more budget friendly than Latisse. At $59 it is no wonder people are excited to give this a try! It also works! The friends I spoke with, along with the reviews I’ve read, and research I have done – all support the fact that it does work. However, Eye Wonder is going to give you better and healthier lashes, but they will not have that dramatic effect that some are looking for. They give more of a natural look.
If you struggle to grow lashes and you want more growth but don’t want them to look too long – this may be a good option for you. You apply Eye Wonder 2 times a day (morning and night) to a freshly washed face, letting it dry for 15 minutes before applying any lotion or makeup. You can also use it on your eyebrows, which is great! Though it is only $59 per month, you may need to purchase it more frequently given it needs to be applied 2 times a day.
Again, I have not used this one personally, but have heard great things about it for those looking for longer but still natural looking lashes. I’ve also spoken with 2 gals who used both Eye Wonder and Lash Boost (keep scrolling for that review below) and they did see a difference in how they worked. Both work, but they are not equals in terms of length – Lash Boost (see review below) does have a more dramatic effect.
The image below is a real before and after of someone who used Monat for 8 weeks and now has much better lashes. You can click the image to read her review about Monat products (Eye Wonder and more).
Rodan and Fields - Lash Boost
Lastly, I’m going to tell you about Lash Boost by Rodan and Fields. I am currently using this eyelash serum and LOVE it! I have been using it for a good long time now, and am obsessed. I’ve posted several images of my lashes in this post (and on social media in general). I have reacted very well to this particular eyelash serum, and it has given me very long, healthy, full lashes.
To use Lash Boost, you apply it to the top eyelid (as if applying eyeliner) to each eye. Less is more – you don’t need a lot of product to see results. I personally wash my face each night, apply my lotion, and do Lash Boost last. I keep it by my face lotion and it is part of my nightly routine.
It retails for $155 – though you can get it at a discount which I can tell you more about – so reach out to me for more info! It also lasts 3 moths, which means it comes out to about $51 per month (less with the discount). That is very cost effective and a big win!
I will say that Lash Boost works – and it works beautifully! The image below shows my lashes with only mascara on. Throwing on mascara in the morning – and having these lashes, makes me look and feel way more put together…without the extra effort! I get asked if I have lash extensions all the time – and I get to tell people the truth – that these are MY REAL lashes!
If you keep scrolling down you’ll see a photo I took on Mother’s Day with Sofia at brunch. I had eyeliner on since I wanted to dress up a bit more. These two images should give you a good idea of what it looks like with only mascara (which is my more daily look) vs. with eyeliner.
No more eyelash extensions, falsies, or extra expense for me! I’m a huge fan of Lash Boost, how easy it is to use, and the results it has given me. I also like that the serum lasts 3 months, making it a lot less $$$ than many alternatives out there.
For more on Lash Boost – look at the images below and READ THIS for more details. You can also reach out to me directly to learn more about Lash Boost and how to get it for yourself at the discounted price! I hope this was helpful and please don’t hesitate to write me (comment on this post or DM me on IG) with any questions!
Who doesn’t like an easy meal that pleases the whole family? Well this chicken chili is a total win! It’s super easy to make, involves ingredients that you can keep on hand in the pantry and freezer, and it takes almost no prep at all. Did I mention it makes fantastic leftovers? My 3 and 5 year old love this recipe – and so does my hubby. By all accounts, this recipe is a must try. Now, if you’re like me and don’t eat meat, you can skip the chicken and add some extra veggies, like bell peppers, to hearty it up a bit more. You’ll cut the time in half as well – so another win! 🙂 Keep scrolling for the full recipe – and after the photos you’ll find some of my fave tools for meal prep (more budget friendly than many name brands). Enjoy and happy cooking! xo
Ingredients
- 1 small yellow onion (chopped)
- 2-4 cloves of garlic – more or less depending on preference (minced)
- 1 cup frozen mushrooms (Whole foods frozen mixed mushrooms is the BEST)
- 1 cup frozen corn (Whole foods frozen fire roasted corn is my favorite)
- 1 15 ounce can pinto beans (drained)
- 1 15 ounce can great northern beans (drained) – Any white bean will work
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth/stock
- 1.5 pounds chicken thighs
- 1 28 ounce can diced fire roasted tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp Chili Powder – I love the Simply Organic blend best and Whole Foods does carry it
- 2 Tbsp Olive oil
Instructions
Put the olive oil into your Instant Pot or Multi Pot, press sauté and heat for 30 seconds or so. Add your chopped onion and stir.
Sauté until translucent and then add minced garlic. Continue to sauté for another minute but don’t walk away for long or your garlic will burn.
Press cancel so the heating element stops so you can add your other ingredients without anything burning onto the bottom of your pot.
Add corn, then mushrooms, drained beans, and half a cup of chicken stock. Stir well.
Place the chicken thighs on top of your veggie mixture in a single layer (see image below).
Top the chicken with the entire can of fire roasted tomatoes. Gently mix 2 Tbsp of chili powder with the tomatoes (only the tomatoes) on the top of the chicken.
Pour a half cup of chicken stock on top of the tomatoes to help create steam.
Close the lid of your Instant Pot and make sure the valve is set to sealing not venting.
Pressure cook for 16 minutes and let the steam slow release for 10 minutes.
Release the remaining pressure by turning the valve to venting (make sure to protect your arm from the steam).
Use a large spoon to mix well and break apart the chicken. It will shred as you stir the pot, giving you a shredded chicken chili.
Enjoy and top with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, diced jalapeños, tortilla chips, etc. So many fantastic options! My kids love shredded cheese on theirs – and you can see Sofia in action below. Both kiddos devoured this chili tonight! 🙂
Keep scrolling for my fave multi pot – which is a lot cheaper than the name brand one – and it comes with a lot of accessories without paying extra. I’ve also included a couple other fave items to make your meal prep or just general cooking easier. If you’re new to the Instant Pot or Multi Pot world – read my post with the Top 5 Multi Pot Issues and How to Troubleshoot them.
Happy cooking! xo
Don’t palm prints just make you feel like going on vacation? I recently went to Sonoma for a weekend away with a group of my girlfriends. One of them is a local, so she kicked her hubby and kids out for the weekend and we took over the house! 🙂 Don’t worry – they had fun at grandmas house. This photo was taken out back by the original Williams Sonoma. If you haven’t been there yet – go! It’s a beautiful home that is now a store!
This dress was so much fun because it had that vacation feel, was easy to wear all day long, and the price was right. It is no longer in stock (VICI Dolls from last Summer), so I’ve pulled together some other options that are pretty, have that vacation vibe, and won’t break the bank. You’ll also find some palm prints for little girls below (I’ve ordered 2 of them for Sofia).
Don’t forget to check out the bags below. I have 3 out of 4 of them and have used them for 2 Summers now – so they’ve held up well (and the price is right)! Have fun, happy shopping, and have a wonderful weekend! Muah! xo
Womens
Kids
We’re dancing and celebrating as warmer temps are on the way! Sofia’s romper is a total deal at $12.99 – but I’ve included a couple others that are just as affordable and SUPER cute! Heads up that for Sofia’s romper – I sized up and would recommend you do the same since it pulls on.
I’ve gotten lots of questions about our new planter and plants – and they are FAUX! Yes – I am all about faux plants because they don’t die, my kids can’t pluck the flowers and leaves off, and I don’t need to water them. #winning You’ll find our exact plants and plater linked below. Let me know if you have any Q’s – and have a wonderful rest of your week!
