March Seasons Box

Season's Box Monthly subscriptions are $34.90/month + s/h.

You can purchase them on a one time/ or one gift or as a monthly subscription.

You get full sized luxury products. Most of the products I have never heard of, so it is a great way to try new things that normally you might not have a chance to try!

Many of the products are all natural, eco friendly... good for the earth  kind of products. Many products from past boxes have become some of my favorite!

I love when Season's Box show up on my doorstep. It is always a delightful surprise!

This month's box was 'green' themed for St. Patty's day....and lucky for me, that means a lot of peppermint! I love the smell of peppermint. Aside from it being a natural relaxing, stress reliever... it's suppose to help with nausea and morning sickness!

These are the items that came this month!

Dublin Mint Irish Soap

Natural soap that is handcrafted using the cold process method. a Leafy, Minty Irish freshness that is awesome for a pick me up in the morning.

Seriously smells fresh!

Ecoverse Compact Umbrella from ShedRain

The greenest most storm-sturdy umbrells! Shedrain has been around since 1947 and has a reputation of being the most knowlegeable umbrella company in the United States.

Ok... I live in Southern California...where, let's be honest it doesn't rain that much. Unlike Vancouver, BC where I am originally from and there could not be a cloud in the sky one minute and it is downpour the next. So, I don't even own an umbrella here.. or didn't until now. I have to say the last couple of times it rained and hailed I wish I had an umbrella. Especially transporting my little ones from the car to the house. So this will go in the coat closet for such days as that!

Organic Gourmet Tea from Octavia

Apparently the Irish drink more tea per capita than anyone in the world!

This tea contains no artificial ingredients and no chemicals.

Made from real tea leaves that cleanse the body, lift the spirits, ease anxiety and restore overall health.

I'm just straight up excited to drink it! I love green tea..and peppermint. So I have no doubt that it will be delicious! and who doesn't need a little cleanse, lift, ease, and restoration?! I sure do!

Natural Incense Cones from Vance Kitira 

15 incense cones, a ceramic burner in a lovely rosewood box.

I don't like incense. Never have. It always reminds me of the stores you walk in... and kinda get a creepy feeling. I usually get a headache right away too. So I was reluctant to burn this thinking it would make my house smell headachy. This one doesn't have that strong, musty, incense-y kind of smell. 

It actually smells a lot like a campfire, on the beach. So I was pleasantly surprised. It reminded me of happy relaxing times roasting marshmallows and having fun. I had never burned a cone before so I wasn't sure how long it would last. It burned for about 15 minutes and quickly filled the room with its aroma. I'm glad I tried it!

*Seasons Box was graciously provided for review

March Favorites!

Hey everyone~ I know I'm early...

but here are some products I've been loving in the month of March.

a little bit of this.. a little bit of that... a little about a lot! pahahha!! 

Tommee Tippee Sippy Cups and Bottles

I remember the first time I saw Tommee Tippee stuff at Babies R Us. I have to say I'm a sucker for new and cool/new packaging. 

Tommee Tippee was nice enoughh to send us some more bottles and sippy cups to try... so I thought I'd share my favorites. 

The more nobby sippies (on the very right in top picture) are great for older kids, but for my 1 year old the water seems to come out a little too fast for her.

now these sippy cups... GENIUS. I have always thought it was a bit gross carrying around a sippy cup with the mouth part exposed. especially when they drop them and who knows what can touch them. I love love love the flip cap. Its tight enough to not flop around, but easy enough to open that my daughter can open it herself. The lid stays in its little compartment too, so it's not bonking her in the nose while she drinks.The actual spout is firm, but soft. Which she really likes... and really liked when she was cutting teeth. I would put ice water in the cup and I feel like it gave her some relief to rub her gums on the little spout. I love these cups and want to buy them for all my friends with kids! 

So after 3 kids and trying every bottle at Target... seriously. EVERY kind of bottle... I had settled on using just Avent bottles with the others. I was kind of like "meh, its not going to be that great". But these are awesome! I love that there are just 2 pieces. The bottle and lid, which makes cleaning a lot easier. Since my daughter was strictly breast fed I wasn't sure how she would transition to the bottle. I like that this nipple area of the bottle is wide and comfortable. She drinks out of them no problem. Because they are wide it makes them super easy to clean to.  And for any mommy that is  a huge plus.

I was looking at the bottles to put on my registry for baby in my belly and noticed they had other ones now too. that are "closer to nature". I'm gonna have to investigate more and report back to you!

*alittleaboutalot receives sponsored products  for review. all opinions are 100% honest and my own

Updated Eyebrow Routine

Here is my updated eyebrow routine (hi unni!)

what you will need:

a face (har har)

l'oreal infallible eyeshadow in continuous cocoa, or whatever shadow brow powder you have

angled brush

You are Enough

talk about a reoccurring theme in my life!

I feel like I go through phases, moments, days... where I just feel like I'm not good enough.

at being a mom, wife, friend, daughter, cook, housewife, teacher... whatever it is, I've felt it.

self pity? somewhat...

reality... yes.

I think every person goes through it. Maybe at different degrees and frequencies, but we all have those moments where we feel like our best isn't good enough.

I just wanted to tell you.

YOU ARE ENOUGH.

nobody is perfect. and if they seem perfect, they're not.

We are all a work in progress. 

Do your best and be open to growth.

but allow yourself not to be perfect and be okay with it.

as a mom I often feel like I need to do better, be better.
more patient, kind, fun, active...a better cook blah blah blah.
BUT you know what? I love my kids as much as I can. I learn from watching other moms and I am open to correction (even if sometimes reluctantly). Today I will be a better mom than I was yesterday.

My kids are loved, protected, safe, well fed, clothed....and somewhat clean...so today I will tell myself and believe that I am enough.

little miracles

So a friend of mine went into knee surgery a couple of weeks ago. Right before she went in, they asked her if she was pregnant. "No"... of course not. She had scheduled an appointment to get her tubes tied weeks later. Before undergoing anesthesia they made her take a pregnancy test... and yep. pregnant!!

she went in for a doctor's appointment, still in shock of being told she was pregnant... the doctor told her she was having TWINS!!!

now..if that isn't shock enough, she went into for another appointment today...and guess what. another little guy was hiding the first time... so yep, TRIPLETS! 

I could not believe my ears when she told me. Since I've gotten off the phone with her I cannot stop thinking and googling and basically being in awe and shock of God's amazingness. 

The odds of having triplets naturally is something ridiculous. 

But then I started thinking about this lady... who is already an AMAZING mom, wife, woman... she works full time with autistic children and genuinely loves her job, her kids, and everyone else's!

If anyone could, should, would have triplets, it is her. I often have the thought that great people like her should have lots of kids. Kids who grow up with good values, know how to love others... 

Sometimes our planning isn't God's planning. And often when He steps in it shakes us and scares us because all of a sudden we are no longer in control and what we had pictured in our minds has now turned into fragmented pieces. All I know is that His plan is always better than mine. His vision is always greater...and whatever He comes up with, I could never have imagined.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Cannot wait to see all the great things to come!

Sometimes I feel like I get so excited for other people I can't even sleep, I swear its a disease.

Anyways... so like any other crazy person would do, I've been googling triplet stuff all day. 

and then of course, came across so many little pictures that just melted my heart! so I thought I'd share. hehe. are these not the cutest babies ever?!?

NEW China Glaze Holographic Polishes

These are the NEW holographic polishes by China Glaze that will be available in stores and salons April 2013. There are 12 color in total.

Colors shown from left to right:

don't be a luna-tic, take a trek, galactic grey, get outta my space, infra red, not in this galaxy

I've seen a lot of holographic polishes that only seem to be available online. These polishes aren't quite as 'holographic' as some that I've seen, but are gorgeous in person. Especially when the light hits they are super shiny and dimensional. 

These were the colors I tested out on my nails, and although it is a pretty metallic, you can't see the holographc quality quite as much because I put top coat on top. Before I put the top coat on it definitely looked more holographic. So my suggestion would be to put 2-3 coats and skip the top coat.

*alittleaboutalot receives sponsored products  for review. all opinions are 100% honest and my own

Spring Fashion Haul

Spring is upon us! 

I cannot believe how hot it was here in Southern California last week. We visited the desert and it was 98 degrees! lucky for me and my hot flashes it is suppose to be cooler this week.

I don't go shopping enough to do regular hauls, but I actually used my 'fun money' on fun this time! 

found some cute things and good deals so I thought I would share! Hope this helps you in your hunt for  spring outfits. (I love watching shopping hauls to get ideas, but hate them because it makes me want to go shopping! haha!)

All the of the things I got were from: Forever 21, Marshalls, Ross, Nordstrom Rack and some random store in the mall :)

Denim Floral OOTD

Here is a quickie outfit of the day. If you like these please let me know and I'll do more of them!

Denim Dress: Ross $15.99

Boots: Ross $12.99

Sunglasses: Forever 21 $5.90

Black Tights: Old Navy Athletic Wear (free with a coupon!)

NEW Hard Candy Nail Polishes

Left to Right:

little bo pink, lil lilac, crush on gold, crush on amethyst, peach pop, sugar rush, celebrate sequins, 

fun n' festive, tinsel town, mermaid magic.

I am so in love with these polishes!

From what I know there are 45 polishes total.

These are the 10 that I got. all of these swatches are with 2 coats, no top coat.

The pictures really do not do justice to how pretty they are in real life.

the first four (little bo pink, lil lilac, crush on gold, crush on amethyst) Are almost like crushed foil on the nails. So pretty and delicate. The only way I can describe them are like a sparkly, feminine metallic.

The next two (peach pop and sugar rush) are like milky glitters. The base is milky with glitter dispersed.

Celebrate sequins IS AMAZING! There are various sizes of glitters an the individual glitter is holographic so they shine so pretty. 

The last three ( fun n festive, tinsel town, mermaid magic)

are dense glitters that unlike other glitter polishes, you do not need a polish underneath. I LOVE these as well. I wish you could see them in real life!

I went to walmart yesterday to look at the other colors and stood in the aisle drooling!

on my nails: lil lilac, on accent nail: crush on gold and celebrate sequins

*alittleaboutalot receives sponsored products  for review. all opinions are 100% honest and my own

WE'RE HAVING A......

Wowee. I just realized I never posted about what we are having!! (click the video to find out!)

I am so excited about this new baby and new phase of our lives. Its weird knowing that this completes our family  and this is what it will be. 

Adding a chunk of color

gone are the scrunchy wearin boring moms. 

I often think I'm too old and too "mom" to do these things... then I think.. who am I kidding? 

Once in a while you need a little bow chica bow wow in your day, and your hair.

This is an easy way to add a pop of color and spice to your every day!

what you will need:

hair

gloves

bag or tin foil

hair clip

dye brush

dye (i used manic panic semi permanent in turquoise)

My hair was already pre-lightened. The Manic Panic will not work on dark hair.

If you need to lighten your hair, I would look for a bleach powder with blue or violet undertones (available at Sally's Beauty Supply)

to do:

apply Manic Panic to dry, pre-lightened hair

cover with foil or with a plastic bag and clip closed

leave on for allotted time on packaging

when you rinse, rinse in cool/cold water.

have a towel you don't mind coloring!!

top 25 mom and 14 week blog

please click the badge and vote for me!

it only takes a few seconds and you can vote every 24 hours. 

ok with that said. I am so behind the other moms that are internet phenoms and have been in the race much longer than I have. I know it is a long shot, but I figured... what do I have to lose? nothing!

So I'm gonna try! woo!!

Did a quickie vlog and 14 week update... I think we will go in soon to find out what baby is. 

Any guesses?

DIY Minnie Mouse sneakers

We love Disneyland...

We try to go as often as we can, but no one loves disneyland more than my sister in law. 

The last time we were there a girl walked by wearing some minnie mouse-esque sneakers and she said "ooh, those are cute!" and a ding!! went off in my head...those wouldn't be hard to make at all!

So today is my sister in law's birthday, so for her birthday I thought I would make her some of her own. 

Things you will need:

a pair of red sneakers (I got these at Target)

white fabric paint

round paint sponges

bows (any minnie mouse-y color. white, red, yellow)

Fabric Fusion glue

As with most things, I didn't really plan out a pattern...I just kind of eyeballed where everything would go. If you are not a comfortable eyeballer, you can make little dots with the fabric paint to show yourself where to go. 

Make sure the sponge is evenly coated with paint and dot. I pressed gently and turned from side to side. 

If you lift the sponge and the dot isn't even all the way around, add more paint and carefully place the sponge in the same place.

I went around the whole shoe. In retrospect it would be easier to get a consistent pattern if you take out the laces. 

at the end I glued the bows on the back. Since you need to hold it in place for 2-4 hours you can just lean the shoes up against something that isn't going to move.

I left them leaning against a box overnight.

and the next morning.... voila!!

Simple and easy minnie mouse shoes. 

My daughter wants some now too so I'm on the hunt for some kids sized canvas shoes!

Good luck!

New Hair and February Seasons Box

I am on a roll! I haven't posted anything in a while and I feel like I'm going overboard! hahaha.... I figure I need to do as much as I can when my body allows. 

So I did dye my hair the other day (and am having a mild allergic reaction... boo hoo on the itchy scalp)

But I do love it. I darkened it all over and added turquiose where it was blonde. I might show you the products I used in the future if you are interested.

I also received another amazing Seasons Box for the month of February. I absolutely love this box! and I love that I get to try products I probably would have no way of discovering on my own.

Hope you enjoy.

If you are interested in Seasons Box please check out their website!

http://www.seasonsbox.com

*alittleaboutalot receives sponsored products  for review. all opinions are 100% honest and my own

February Favorites~

Here are some products I've been loving in the month of February!

a little bit of Chit Chat

Hey everyone. I hope everyone is doing well! 

Not going to lie. Its been a rough 3 months. I am determined and hopeful that I will start feeling better and better. I've been forcing myself out of bed (and even the occasional shower! wooo!) 

Just a little chit chatty video about whats been going on, sharing a little advice and asking for some too!