Fossil Rim- An Amazing Day!

Hey there!  Recently, we took a little day trip to Glen Rose, TX to visit Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.  It was amazing and well worth the drive.

Such a beautiful area of Texas.  I had never been to Glen Rose prior.

We have decided against taking a "big" vacation this year.  Instead, we have planned out several day trips to places here in Texas.  Fossil Rim was our first of the series.

Fossil Rim is an wildlife center on several hundred acres.  It houses several different types of wildlife including deer, buffalo, ostrich, rhinos and giraffe to name a few.

The way Fossil Rim works is, you drive your own car through the park and observe the animals.  You also can purchase ( animal) food to try to entice some of the animals to come closer.  

The boys had a BLAST!

I was worried they would be nervous... NOPE.

Big G took his animal food throwing job very seriously.  

This guy wasn't very patient.  He stuck his head right into the driver's side window.  I guess he was hungry :)

This little friend was super creepy and a little aggressive.  The boys were laughing so hard because he would not stop pecking at the windows. ( I found it terrifying)

We had such a great time and made some great memories.

For more info on Fossil Rim click here

  

Making the Switch (From Department Store to Drugstore Brands)

I knew when I quit my job that I would have to make sacrifices. I don't mind doing that at all! I actually really have learned to enjoy looking for ways to trim our budget. One of the ways I have done that is making the switch from expensive department store makeup brands to drugstore brands. 

I thought I would share some of my (NEW) favorite products with you.

Foundation:

I used to use CHANEL, at a cost of $45.00 this was definitely a splurge and I dreaded finding something to replace it...

VITALUMIÈRE AQUA

ULTRA-LIGHT SKIN PERFECTING SUNSCREEN MAKEUP BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 15

$45.00Well. I found something that I like almost as

much as Chanel. 

L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream.

I am so happy with this. It gives me the

light coverage I got with the Chanel 

foundation. The only thing it is lacking is a

sunscreen, when I run out, I will try the version they make with a sunscreen built in.

I bought this for $7.99 at Walgreens!

Lips:

I also traded in my Chanel Lip Liner and Lip

Gloss for a lipstick(!!!)

Revlon Lip Butters. They are amazing, super moisturizing and they come in a bunch of different colors

( My favorite is Peach Parfait, I also have Strawberry Shortcake andCotton Candy) For less than 8 bucks?  Yes please! 

I have to mention one more product that both my husband and I really like. Ivory has a new product out that is a shampoo and body wash in one! To be honest, I didn't think I would be a fan because 2 in 1 products usually leave my hair feeling gross. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. It smells amazing and was really effective as a shampoo. The price is right on this one too...it is

$4.09 at drugstore.com

What are some of your favorite drugstore products? Any concealer recommendations?

SPRING!

How the HECK did LATE MARCH get here so quickly!? I personally love Spring, but I also dread it just a tiny bit because that means Summer is right around the corner... And for us, that means 100 degree days and high electric bills ( womp, womp)

There are some things that I am so excited to be doing, getting outside to work in the yard... Taking daily walks to the park with the short people in my house. And, getting reorganized and freshening up the house.

In spring I like to switch things up a little, a great way to do that for very little cost, is pillow covers!  

I have some new perfect-for-spring pillow covers that are in the Etsy Shop

A super simple update, some great mix and match options too!

Here are a few sneak peeks that are available currently:

All pillows above are $15.00- $16.00 and are available for purchase in my etsy shop

Dont Forget to use code FRESHP for free shipping!

  

Tis the shopping season!

First things first:  Visit my shop SunandLavender on Etsy  to see the AMAZING discount that is available this weekend ONLY. The discount and code are posted in the shop welcome area on the top of the page.

You can click the link above or click on the shop icon in my side bar.

Second, I'll tell you a little secret.

I don't really like to shop.

I used to LOVE to shop ( when I was skinny and when I had disposable income and no children to spend it on.)

Now?  When I need something, I usually buy online.

So... I thought I would do a post featuring some of my favorite places to online shop.

My number one place for online shopping is Nordstrom.com

Why?  FREE SHIPPING AND RETURNS ANYTIME.

Nordstrom is where I get my staples from, clothes, makeup, perfume. 

I know I can order hassle free from there anytime and it saves me the gas money and having to drag my two littles out to shop.

Another great place to shop online is Stella & Dot.

They sell amazing high quality jewelry and it usually arrives at your door within 5 business days. 

Right now I am obsessed with this necklace from Stella & Dot... It is the perfect Christmas gift.

You can shop for that necklace here

And all of you ladies with little girls?  You have GOT to check out this etsy shop...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FamilyHeritageToys

I am totally in love with this dollhouse/bookshelf

I would totally have ordered one for Christmas if I had a little girl!

Where do you like to online shop?

Funny How That Is...

Some days, no some weeks, I NEED a break.

This week was one of those weeks.  My house never got cleaned.  Well, I managed to do things that "needed" to be done.  I put away the laundry that has been sitting on the kitchen table for 5 days.  I washed the kitchen floors, I vacuumed, I washed sheets, wiped kitchen counters, washed dishes... 

But, I never got to scrub the bathrooms, get everything put away and smell that "clean house" smell that I like to enjoy while sitting on the couch listening to the dishwasher run in a silent sleeping house. ( I secretly LOVE sitting on the couch late Sunday night listening to the dishwasher run- weird I know) 

Thursday night I had planned to run around and at least pick up and wipe the kitchen down since my mom was coming Friday to watch the kids while I substitute taught. ( run on sentence)

That didn't happen.  I felt sick and both kids had a rough night, so I was on mom duty.

My mom offered to take Big G for Friday night to give him some one on one time.

I hate to admit it, but it was kind of a relief.  I thought, "oh that would be great, I can get things done around the house, finally."

And it's funny, how the minute he pulls away with my mom, I miss him.

The house is so quiet and empty. 

The baby went to sleep at 7:30.

My husband and I got to watch the two TV shows we DVR.  Then we spent the rest of the night talking about our babies and how awesome they are.

Then, I get this email from my mom about how G is busy bossing them both around and directing play and learning about different tools and taking apart their patio furniture and making friends with a girl at Chick-Fil-A and I giggle and remember that he'll be back talking my ear off and filling my heart in the morning.

And my house probably won't be clean and I am totally, completely, ok with that ;)

Pumpkin Decorating with a 2 Year Old

Happy Friday!

My older one is obsessed with dinosaurs at the moment.  While we were at target picking up baby food the other day ( they have the best selection!) We came across this cute $5.00 pumpkin decorating kit that coordinates perfectly with his green and yellow dinosaur costume. 

I couldn't find a picture of it online but I did find these...

all 3 images from www.target.com

These kits are all $5.00 and include paint and stickers to apply to a pumpkin.

Name 1 toddler who doesn't love paint and stickers!  G had a BLAST painting his.

We added the stickers and foam decals this morning and it's too cute!!  You will have to wait to see the final product until Halloween, when I post the kids' costumes.  They are AMAZING.

If you need something for the kids to do, pick up one of these cute kits. 

  

A Giveaway At Chasing Twins in Louboutins...

Hey There!

My good friend Amanda is doing a giveaway on her blog today featuring a $10.00 shop credit to my new Etsy shop!

www.chasingtwinsinlouboutins.com

Go enter to win $10.00 to spend on anything in my shop!!

You could get a personalized child's apron for $8.00 ( plus shipping)

THAT IS A STEAL!!

Or, you could get this pillow cover for $5.00 

( plus shipping)

Go enter!!

Have a great day!

Catching up with a Day Two post.

Being new to this whole SAHM thing, it's been a little bit of an adjustment.  Both personally and financially.  We have to be careful with what we spend, which can be difficult when trying to find kid friendly activities.

I struggle with finding things that are free or very inexpensive to do with the kids.

If you take just a little bit of time to do some research, you would amazed at what you can find!

Here are a few examples for my area:

Fort Worth ZOO

The zoo has half price admissions on Wednesdays.

Library Story Time

A free way to develop your child socially and educationally.

Many places like the zoo or museums offer memberships.  We invested in a membership to the Children's Science Museum and it was the best $90.00 we have ever spent.  When the kids are stir crazy or need a distraction, we just pop over to the museum for a couple of hours. Since the membership is already paid for, I don't even think twice about going! 

Big G's first zoo trip

Today big G is spending the afternoon with his Grandma at the zoo.  Because it is Wednesday and its 1/2 price admissions, this will end up costing only $12.00  

Big G checking out the Science Museum 

Check out your local zoos and Museum for discounts or memberships. Visiting these places during the week is awesome, sometimes we feel like we have the whole place to ourselves!