3D Mascara LOVE!!!

Uh-mazing mascara review!

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In one of my bouts of "I need a creative outlet", I happened up this AMAZING mascara.

Check this stuff out!  

https://www.youniqueproducts.com/KatieMcQueen/

These are my eyes!  I am blonde.  Have very little lash and have

Also a pic of ME and my lashes!

always wanted a full, longer lash.  In fact last year when the hubs and I went to Mexico I tried falsies and ended up throwing them in the trash.

This mascara is simply AMAZING!  

The process is an easy 2-step.

1. brush with gel (provided in kit), much like the mascara we are use to using.

2. brush with 3-D fiber wand and repeat for fuller longer lashes.

Easy and I am never going back to my ol stand by.

Younique is the seller of this mascara.  The price is $29 plus shipping and handling.  Most of us have paid that if not more for mascara.  But, I would guess that none of you have ever used anything like this.

Washes off like mascara with soap and water!  EASY! 300% Fuller!  WOWZA!

Curious?

This is an example of how much length you get!  WOWZA!

I want every lady to have the same awesome experience i have with this "magic" mascara!  It is truly AMAZING!  

THIS IS ME!

Here is a link to my site!

https://www.youniqueproducts.com/KatieMcQueen/

Gel Stain-fireplace redo

Honey....we need to get rid of the Honey!

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Our house was built in 2001, when honey oak was headed out the door.  I have always envisioned painting or staining the oak and we have a lot of it. It usually takes about 20-30 years for trends to roll back around, so I think its safe to say, the honey oak can go.

This process was so easy!  I stained a bathroom cabinet about a year ago with gel stain and it took the beating from my kids.  I guess that's what I was waiting for, to see if in fact the stain would hold up to our family and most of all, the 3 year old.

NO sanding required!  Just brush it on.  

Minwax has a variety of gel stain colors.  I used mahogany for that old world feel.  

Part of the fireplace transformation included popping off the old tile and replacing with slate.  You will need a tile cutter and a good friend for this project.  My friend Sarah came over and helped with the tile removal and replacement. One day project.

Before

                                          After

  ~Would say this was a photo bomb, but I think it requires a little effort~

Look at the difference! 

*I bought the slate tiles at Lowes.  Pretty cheap and they come in sections, so easy to install. 

I'm also in the process of staining the hand rails for the stairs.

Before

After

Next project....the kitchen!  

Homemade Lip Balm, Sugar Scrub and Body Butter

Perfectly 

Wonderful 

Party

My friends and I had a little get together and made gifts for this holiday season.  I will be gifting these to teachers and friends.  We made lip balm, sugar scrub and body butter.  All the recipes were simple and most we got from Pinterest!

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Me applying a little lip balm on Amy's lips.  *peppermint kiss*

We did plan a few weeks ahead and purchased:

*Containers- 8 oz deli from amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Reditainer-Deli-Food-Containers-Lids/dp/B007V2M7F6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1386269149&sr=8-5&keywords=deli+containers

*Lip balm containers from  amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Cosmetic-Containers-Eyshadow-Container/dp/B00AKYYSCM/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1386269703&sr=8-7&keywords=lip+balm+containers

Is also purchased a few items such as cocoa butter, sweet almond oil and essential oils from www.pipingrock.com    Great prices and customer service.

Coconut oil from Costco seems to be the most economic, $15.99 for a 54 oz container.

I also found some great tapes at Hobby Lobby to put of the top with labels we printed from avery that I also purchased from amazon.

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So...here is a list for the lip balm, scrub and body butter

` essential oils (whatever scents you like)

`coconut oil

`bees wax
`local honey

`shea butter

`vitamin E oil

`sweet almond oil

`lip balm containers

`8oz deli containers

`cocoa butter (smells like chocolate)

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Lip Balm

Peppermint kiss

Coconut kiss

Orange kiss

*pouring the lip balm*

We used a recipe from the blog "food for my family"

http://foodformyfamily.com/manic-organic/homemade-lip-balm-and-lip-gloss-for-your-valentine

Homemade Lip Balm

Print me!

1/2 ounce beeswax
2 teaspoons olive oil or jojoba oil
2 teaspoons coconut oil (solid at 74º F)
1 teaspoon shea butter or cocoa butter
1/2 teaspoon pure aloe vera
1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil
5-7 drops essential oil (like peppermint or grapefruit)

In a double boiler, combine the beeswax, olive oil, coconut oil, and the shea/cocoa butter. Heat over low heat just until oils and beeswax are melted. Remove from heat. Stir in aloe vera, vitamin E, and the essential oils.

Pour the mixture into small 0.15-ounce tubes. Allow to cool completely to set.


Makes (7) 0.15-ounce lip balm tubes.
Copyright © Food for My Family.

The body scrub recipe is pretty simple.  We just used raw brown sugar and or white sugar combos as the base and added honey, vitamin E and a carrier oil such as olive oil or sweet almond. Add whatever essential oil for your scent. Be creative and add what you want.  We even added orange zest to one of the scrubs and lip balms.

Tis the season for spending time with friends and making fantastic homemade gifts!

Kara making sure Amy pours it just right....

Traci sporting her "naughty" shirt for the holiday season.

Master bath #goodbyehollywood

~Master Bath Update~

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When we bought our house in 2003 I was not a huge fan of the gray tile and never a fan of the hollywood lights!  Glad to say adios to the ugly lights and hello to serenity.

BEFORE

AFTER_______________________________________

I painted my cabinets gray with a black glaze.  Now I'm ready to tackle my kitchen cabinets.  I also chose sconces for lighting in the bathroom.  Kind of an out the box light above the mirror and way cheaper.  I bought these for $20/light at home depot on clearance.  The sconces are glass, not plastic which was a huge sell for me.

~B U F F E T~with...my favorite FREE stencil

BEFORE

This is your typical ugly dresser/buffet

Thrift store buy~ $49.99

AFTER

Painted with "aquarium" blue from sherwin williams.  Sanded the top and painted with my fav. free stencil from: The Jones Design Company  http://jonesdesigncompany.com/

I used scrapbook paper and modgepodged the outside of the drawers.

Fantastic glass knobs from hobby lobby.

This pic shows the scrap paper on the front of the drawers.

I traced the stencil, then traced the pencil lines with paint.  I then applied a gel stain mahogany, let it set for 8 min. then wiped it off.  

Winter decor

Birthday party fun!

REHAB R&R

R&R

My husband says I need to get back in school.  I have the summer off from grad school and the projects just keep coming.  Since May I have replaced all the flooring in our upstairs with hardwood (blog later), finished some furniture and rehabbed by master bath. This may sounds like a lot of work to some, but this is truly my R&R....not school!

Before

I always get started on something and forget to take good before pics.  I had already sanded the top.  Paid $20 for this piece at a garage sale.

Look really close.  I drew the flower on top with a pencil.  My inspiration was a plug-in from Bath and Body.

I painted stain on top of the wood after sanding it down.  Love the look and wish the end product would have been as bold.

 love this look

After!  

Next time I will try a different type of stain to keep the dark, bold look.  

Done!

CHEVRON

CHEVRON WALL

Love this look and the colors.   Painting a pattern really updated my upstairs hallway and added a little character.  Notice my faux wood doors.  I painted these doors earlier this year.

This only took about an hour since the wall was already painted a gray color.

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Love the look of wood without paying wood prices.  

 Base coat for the faux wood doors.

 Before

 Doors side by side

Faux wood vs white

Cubby in the  upstair hall painted with a free stencil online and leftover paint from another project.  Nothing beats free!