Monthly Favorites - August and September 2017

Beauty

if you haven't tried l'oreal's lash paradise mascara, you need to get to a store NOW! This stuff is amazing! It makes your lashes look full and long without looking clumpy. It retails for $8.99 and worth every penny. 

My other beauty favorite is Soap and Glory's Body Buttercream with the hint of lime in it. I rub it after I get out the shower and it leaves my skin feeling so soft. My girls also love this lotion and beg to use it after their bath. It does retail for $15 at Ulta, so I try really hard to detour them to another lotion. . . . . . It never works. Bonus - that hint of lime leaves this subtle scent that lasts throughout the day. My husband always tells me that I smell so good! 

Book

I randomly picked up this book in target, and thought it looked like a good read. The author is Emily Ley from simplified planner. It is all about giving yourself a break from perfection. I read this book when I was feeling really overwhelmed with life. I felt I was being stretched in all these different directions as a wife, mother, and homemaker. I felt like I was failing all of them! This book helped me see the beauty in simplicity, and the power of having a little more grace with myself

Movie

Spiderman Homecoming was an obvious choice for this category; however, last week I really wanted to watch The Family Stone, and I love it!

This is a Christmas movie (I know it's not Christmas yet) about a family that is celebrating Christmas together. There is love, laughter, and a lot of drama. This movie is hilarious!! Luke Wilson's character, Ben has all the best lines and has me laughing the entire time. 

It is also really touching and will make you cry. 

My Mum and I love watching this movie together, and it is one of the few movies she watches all the way through. 

Music

Is anyone else obsessed with Take That!? 

I have been a fan for years, since they first started. When I went back to England on vacation in 2007, I rediscovered them and fell back in love. 

The thing I love most about their music is how happy it is. I pop it on in the car and look like that weirdo singing and dancing in the car. The thing I love the most is my girls sing along as well. Our favorite song is Shine and Rule the World.

TV Show

My little brother recently got me back into watching The Office.

This show is so funny! However, I only really watch the episodes with Michael Scott in them. After he left, the show kinda (no did) go downhill. 

My favorite season is probably season two and season six, although I have favorite episodes sprinkled all throughout the show. 

I am really hoping that Netflix's doesn't take them off

Podcast/Video/Webinar

My sister sent me a link to a webinar by Power of Moms. 

It was entitled 3 systems every family needs. They talked about things we want our children to learn, positive behavior, teaching kids about money, and family traditions. 

There was some great advice and tips which I have already started to implement into our home. 

One of my favorite points about the webinar was that great families don't just happen, they are created. We can create the family we want to with love and a little bit of planning.

Website

I have been loving the challenges Jordan Page with fun cheap or free has been doing. I also love her tips and advice on budgeting and getting the best deals.

She has the simplest and easiest to follow budget idea which I have been following for years, but have just recently figured out how to make it work for our family. 

I love that she stretches my budget and my creativity.

Youtuber

I have been watching Emily Noel's beauty videos on youtube for years. . . . . almost six to be exact. I have learnt so many different tips on how to apply makeup and what all those different brushes are for. Before watching Emily, I had no idea what concealer or bronzer was.

Mostly, I love how honest, real, and original she is. You can always trust her opinion, and never does sponsored videos.

Random

These blankets from Costco are the BEST! 

I have . . . . . . (should I tell you) six! I have six of them! I have also got my family addicted to them as well. 

They are seriously the softest blankets ever!

They feel amazing and keep you  nice and cozy on a chilly day. 

Quote

"Some things matter, some things don't. A few things last but most won't."

I love this quote and it's message. 

Find out the things that matter most to you and forget about everything else.

links to everything mentioned above

lash paradise 

soap and glory lotion

grace not perfection

Spiderman Homecoming

The Family Stone

take that on spotify

the office

power of moms

fun cheap or free

emily noel - beauty broadcast

costco blanket

Monthly Favorites - July 2017

July flew by which is good because August is my birthday month!!!!

Here is a list of all my favorite things (and links) from the past month

T.V Show: Grantchester - I have my Mum to blame for this one. While I was visiting her for the past couple of weeks, she introduced me to this show and now I am hooked! We ended up watching all three seasons in about a week maybe two. We couldn't stop! It was so addicting!! But hey when the temperate outside is over one hundred degrees what else is there to do? You literally have only one choice which is to plop down on the couch and watch TV while the fans blows directly on you. Anyways, getting back to the show, it is so good. Sidney Chambers is a vicar in the village of Grantchester, and helps his detective friend, Geordie Keating solve murders. This show also dives into their personal lives, and love, marriage, and the choices we make. You can watch it on pbs.org or on amazon instant video. If you like a little drama mixed in with your murder mystery, then you won't be disappointed. 

Music: I have been a fan of Celtic Thunder since the beginning. I went to the very first tour they did in the United States. It was amazing. Neil Byrne and Ryan Kelly, were and still are, members of Celtic Thunder, but tour the United States as a duo. There album Echoes has been playing on my phone over and over. I love listening to it in the car, and now my girls will sing along. It is seriously the best. Their voices are so unique and blend so well together. Bonus you can really hear their Irish accents coming through the music, and it is beautiful. I wish they would do a concert here in Utah. I think a lot of people would love this music. I listen to this album on spotify I also follow them on facebook which is where they give updates about upcoming tour dates and album releases. 

YouTube Video/Podcast - I just recently watched another gospel solutions for Mormon families on their YouTube channel and loved it. This one was called How to Teach Your Kids that Scripture Power is Real. There were great insights and ideas about how to teach your kids about the power that comes from reading from the scriptures. I also loved the stories that were shared. I have lots of idea about fun ways to read the scriptures with my kids. They also mention that it isn't easy with little kids but just to do your best and the blessings will still come. With time, and lots of patience family scripture will be a positive light in our day. 

Random - is anyone else addicted to Malteasers? When I go to my Mum's house I eat a ton of them! They sell them in this giant bucket at Costco, but for whatever reason, they don't sell them at my local Costco (which is probably a good thing.) I could, if I wanted to, eat that whole bucket in one sitting. They are seriously so freaking delicious! If you find them at your Costco stock up cause you will be mad you didn't get two. 



Quote

and that is it!

let me know what some of your favorites from the past month were

Monthly Favorites - June 2017

here are a list of all my favorite things I have been enjoying this past month

Books : In June I finally finished reading, Beloved Emma : The Illustrated Life Story of Emma Smith. I really enjoyed learning more about her life, and the things that she went through. She really went through more than anyone needs to in a lifetime. I will be writing an individual post all about it really soon.

T.V Shows : Besides the usual Everybody Loves Raymond Replays, my husband introduced me to a show called Impractical Jokers. I love this show! It is about four lifelong friends who compete in different hidden camera pranks. For instance, in one challenge each guy had to take turns getting a member of the public to help them bury something. The catch was they

had no idea what they were burying. If they couldn't find a member of the public to help them they lost. At the end of the episode there is one overall loser. That person then has to do a punishment challenge that other the guys thought up. Just go watch it cause it is hilarious! It plays most days on TruTv

Movies : There has been only one movie playing in my house this past month, and that has been Beauty and the Beast. I love everything about this movie, the music,

the actors, the costumes and so on. I love that I can watch it on my own, and with my kids.
My family is probably tired of hearing me sing the songs, but I don't care.

Music : I have literally been listening non stop to The Beauty and the Beast soundtrack. Love it!

Website : I recently got back into doing The Women in the Scriptures Challenge. Heather's website is

a great reference. She has listed out all the women named, unnamed, and referenced in the Old and New Testament, and the Book of Mormon. Since restarting this challenge, I have seen an increase in my desire to study the scriptures, and learn about all these women.

Youtuber : I have been subscribed to Aileen with Lavendaire for years; however, lately I have been loving the videos she has been putting out. The video about the Law of Attraction was amazing! It has inspired and motivated me to refocused my goals, and work hard to get whatever I want from life.

Youtube Video/Podcast : Taming Technology in the Home. This half hour video was extremely eye opening. It discusses the dangers of constant technology in our homes, and some great alternatives to tame it.

Quote : "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals". Zig Ziglar

Random Stuff :

Bath and Body Works Products. They smell amazing! My favorite are the island margarita candle, Maui mango

mai tai foaming hand soap, and the lavender and apricot body cream.
I have the Maui mango mai tai (gosh that is a mouthful) foaming hand soap in a candle as well. I love these fruity smells. They smell so fresh and make the house, and me smell so sweet!

Becoming Minimalist : This is a page I like on Facebook, and it shares inspirational quotes and articles to inspire minimalism. I encourage anyone looking to de-clutter all aspects of their life to go and check it out.

and that is it!
Let me know what some of your favorites from this past month were.