Another Zoo Post

Yes, I know... you probably think this is the only thing we do... but really, it kind of is lately! The zoo is pretty fun! And the weather is amazing here right now. I am dreading summer. I hate Arizona summers, blah. But let's not depress ourselves with those unhappy thoughts right now! 

Steve finally got to join us at the zoo (his first time ever, in AZ anyway.) We also met up with Tanner, Meredith and G, which made it extra fun-- especially for Parker!

 It was nap time, so Hudson was pretty mellow the whole time. :)

 Parker enjoyed every second showing his Uncle Tanner and Daddy around the zoo.

 If Parker were an animal, he would definitely be a monkey! They bonded so well that day. :)

 Yet, he does make a pretty frightening tiger too. He was "roaring" and everything while getting his picture taken.

 He was an expert bird caller too yelling "McCaw!" with Tanner. The next week, we went out to eat and there was a fake bird on the ceiling in the restaurant. Parker looked up with his hands cupped around his mouth and yelled "McCaw!" It was pretty hilarious! That kid is so funny and remembers EVERYTHING. 

I love this time of year!

Monday Makeover: Seamless Layers with a twist

Meet Ashley. She is one of the sweetest, coolest, most incredible girls I know. Here's why:

*She had a beautiful baby girl a few months ago "all natural" (major props girl!)

* She teaches kindergarten and manages to still breastfeed her baby (again, major props!!)

* She's just plain rad. That's about it in a nutshell!

But, she was feeling drab with her long, heavy locks and was lacking a style. She wanted something different and fun but still wanted to keep her length, because she worked so hard on growing it out! I didn't color her hair. She was growing out her natural color (which is hard to do!) I decided to take two inches off and gave her some seamless (meaning not choppy) layers to take some of the weight off on the ends. Check out the before and afters...

Before:

 After:

I gave her a fun twist just for kicks. It's a great way to keep the hair out of your eyes with style... something I do a lot! 

To achieve the twist:

Backcomb hair in the crown and then twist the front section of your hair back. Secure with a bobby-pin going into the twist like a V-Shape (it hides the bobby pin so you can't even see it!)

ladies boys (they're not men)

I get the privilege of working as an activity day's leader for the 10 and 11 year old girls at my church. We meet every other week at my house and teach them something fun. I work with the most incredible lady who is a great-grandma and is still rocking it at the hair salon two days a week, makes professional quilts with her sister, bakes like a pro and pretty much knows how to do anything! I just want to pick her brain and learn from her incredible wisdom and life experience. I hope that one day, I can be as cool as her!

 The girls had a ball decorating Valentine's cookies a few weeks ago. Last week we did manicures. This is a great way for me to get some "girl time" considering I am the only woman in my house. Plus-- my boys are always in heaven having 8 adorable girls play and laugh at every. single. thing they do! It eggs them on to be even cuter than they already are. I've got two little flirts on my hands... watch out ladies!

 I mean, come on-- who can resist these faces?

Suave little man. 

Simply adorable (even with a crusty, dirty face!) Those big brown eyes, and chubby cheeks with cute dimples are simply irresistible!

Parker's new favorite thing to watch is our wedding video. He clips one of my hair clips on his shirt and says that "He's married." (Don't know what that means... but it's pretty funny!) This morning, I asked him who I was married to and he said "Daddy." I smiled and asked him who he was going to marry when he grew up and he said "Mommy!" He can think that for now! ;) He will tell me to give him a kiss and will point to his cheek but will quickly trick me and turn his face for a smooch on the lips! Told you-- he's a flirt! I. Love. It. 

Makeover Monday: Soft Waves Tutorial

Okay Folks, before watching this video let me just say this first:

* It took everything in me to post this video because it was so awkward for me! But I did promise you a tutorial so here ya go... (don't judge... it was really awkward/weird to record myself talking!) Do I really sound this weird in real life? With that being said, remember these tips when curling your hair:

1. Make sure your curling iron is really hot! Otherwise, your curls won't last long.

2. Work your way up from the bottom of your head to the top working in sections.
3. Always curl away from your face

4. Curling your hair when a little "dirty" (not greasy) is best (dirty it up with a little hairspray if you have to!)

5. Make sure your sections aren't too big, but they don't have to be tiny little sections either-- make sense?

6. Leave 2-3 inches of the ends out and gently glide the curling iron through the ends after spiral curling the mid-shaft up.
7. Make sure to lightly brush out your curls at the end to soften them so your don't see all of the sections.

Hope this helps!

Now go give yourself some beautiful curls! Let me know if this helped you at all! :)

Candida thing (get it, can't-eat-a-thing?)

This past year has been a really wonderful but really hard one for me. If any of you really know me, I am always sick. I either have a cold (it goes away for  a week or two and then comes back), tired and no energy, have developed food allergies (especially to sugar!) which cause painful sores in my mouth, headaches and can't quite lose weight as fast as I want to. Well, it turns out that I have Candida. I took antibiotics 3 times in a matter of 7 months when Hudson was born. So my immune system was is still shot! That explains the constant thrush going back and forth between Hudson and I! No doctor could figure out what was wrong with me, and they would just prescribe antibiotics-- which is the exact opposite of what I was supposed to be taking to get rid of the Candida! When I finally discovered that this is what I had, it was so relieving to finally figure out what the heck was wrong with me! I was almost in tears actually (good tears because I now know how to treat it!) Even though it's really hard to get rid of and can take as long as 3-6 months, I am ready to do whatever it takes to be me again-- healthy, energetic and back to my active self! I went off of yeast and sugar (that means NO bread or sugar, even fruit) for a week. Yesterday we went to this amazing guy named Randy Grant in Mesa and he looked at my blood (along with Steve and Hudson's) and it turns out that I have lots of bacteria and sugar in my blood, low in iron and I need a good liver cleanse! I kind of feel like an old person right now, talking about my health issues! Gheesh! He gave me a bunch of natural supplements to get rid of the candida, build my immune system, balance the pH in my body and digestion supplements. And the great news is that he told me to eat carbs-- just the good carbs: whole grains. Those words were like music to my ears. His biggest thing he stressed was eating as many raw foods as possible. So I will be making as many salads with raw veggies as possible. We shall see if I get any better. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please?

Also, Steve and Hudson had some pretty big issues too. He wants me to take Hudson off of formula and give him his protein powder that is made out of 100% raw fruits and vegetables. There are NO chemicals in it at all and I mix it with his green drink that is also completely raw and natural. Hudson loves it! So that is great! We are all on the road to being healthy again! I cannot wait!

We went to Ikea and bought a table and chairs for the boys. They love it. Don't they look so grown up? Hudson will be a YEAR in three weeks!! I can't even believe it. I am planning his party and it is going to be SO cute! Aaaaaahhhh (that's me screaming with excitement.) :)

It's the simple things in life that bring the most joy, right?

Makeover Reveal... a few days early!

I decided to post Selena's makeover today instead of waiting until Monday. The excitement was too much for me and I just couldn't wait five more days! 

Selena just had a baby about four months ago and she was feeling "blah." I think you all know exactly how that feels right? We've all been there. She was feeling stuck in a rut and didn't know what to do with her hair without losing the length. Here is her before (she is gorgeous even with her "blah" hair, but I decided to liven it up a notch.)

Before:

During:

 After:

 Doesn't she look fabulous? I think this was a perfect "pick-me-upper!"

If you are wanting to freshen your look, add some fun ombre highlights throughout the ends. 

Here are the benefits of ombre (which is darker color at your roots and lighter throughout the ends): 

1. It's cost effective (you only have to do the highlights every few times.)

2. It looks very soft without having major lines of demarcation when growing out.

3. It's really in (come on, roots are in people-- take advantage of the opportunity!)

4. It's super low maintenance! You only have to get root touch ups and trims every 6-8 weeks!

I am going to do a tutorial on how to achieve her sexy, bouncy, loose curls. It is super easy to do. Stay tuned for the tutorial, coming soon!

We have a New Winner...

Well, it turns out the our winner, Kellie, already went and got her hair done and surprised everybody! What are the odds?! So that means, we have a new winner! Now I think all of you are deserving of winning this contest, but I had to go with someone that I've never done their hair before in the past. Sorry. So the lucky winner is... 

Selena

Selena and Russ!! said...

What a fun idea! Well I'm in mommy mode right now and I am feeling really ugly these days. With so much baby weight to lose (and none of my clothes fitting) it seems like I am always makeupless, unshowered and in my pj's. I am so sick of my hair I could die. I tried coloring it with a box a few weeks ago to try to do something NEW. My cut is long and grown out and I have no idea what to do with myself and my new post pregnancy body. Please help me! =-)

 Selena is the lovely photographer (that I've known since junior high) that took our first professional family pictures! Yay! Contact me and we will set up a time to give you your make-over of a lifetime!

Happy Weekend everybody!

and the winner is...

I am so excited to kick off Make-Over Monday. After reading all of your comments, I think everybody deserves a make-over. Being a woman is not easy sometimes. But, I am excited to hopefully make your styling worries leave and give you lots of ways to freshen up your look. I am a firm believer that if you have a good hair cut and color, it will make your life A LOT easier! Also, I have some pretty nifty styling tricks that will change your life (okay, not really, but you will like them!) Now, since I could only pick one winner (for this giveaway... there might be more in the future) I had to go with the Kellie. 

 CandraWynne said...

Can I sponsor someone? One of my best friends, Kellie, is a single mom. She works full time, and goes to school so fashion/hair is not on the top of her priority/financial list. She is always doing something for someone else and I would LOVE to surprise her with a makeover. I want her to see herself as beautiful as I see her. She does so much for me and my family and I would love to give something back to her. She has long air that hasn't been colored in years so she is literally a blank slate just BEGGING to be dazzled :)


Love the idea of makeover Monday I'm excited to tune in :)

Thanks Candra for thinking of a friend and wanting to surprise her with this. What a nice friend you are!

Since it is Friday and Valentines weekend, I will start Make-Over Monday on Monday February 20th. Stay tuned for the before and afters...

P.S. What are your Valentine's plans? My Valentine and I are celebrating early and he's taking me to see The Vow tonight. Can not wait! Any movie with Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum has my vote!

Happy Valentine's weekend!

Calling All Models!

I'm going to try something new on this little blog of mine... are you ready?

Drum roll please.....

I'm looking for someone to let me completely make them over. Someone who is ready for a change. Perhaps you are "stuck in a rut" and don't know how or what to do with your hair. I am going to give away a free make-over to kick of Make-Over Mondays on my blog! I use to do make-overs on the news at my old salon and it was always a fun, exciting rush for me. Every Monday, I will try to post a make-over. Whether it be a new cut, color or just a new way to style. I don't know about you, but I love seeing major transformations! 

Post a comment on my blog telling me why you think you deserve it. I need to see a picture of you too. Also, you have to live in Arizona (minor detail.) I will reveal the winner on Friday! 

Happy Wednesday!

Erin

P.S. Tell everyone you know! This is BIG! 

Kelly Ripa Inspired Updo

I never remember to post pictures (let alone take pictures) of my work. I finally remembered to take a couple and had to share! My amazing baby-sitter, Ash, and I trade services: she watches my kids and I do her hair. It's a pretty sweet trade! She went to February Formal with my cute brother-in-law, McKay, last weekend so I decided to do something "Kelly Ripa" inspired. I saw her hair while working out on the treadmill that morning and had to re-create it. Lucky for me, Ashlie is super cute/fun/adorable and let me do whatever I wanted. She has a short bob so this was the perfect style for short hair.

I'm thinking about posting more hair tips, before and after pictures and tutorials. But I need to know if any of you would be interested... Just makin' sure I still have readers on my blog since I don't blog as much anymore. :) Comment if you want me to. 

"George" in the Box

I always thought the Jack in the Box toy (with the freaky clown that popped out) was the scariest, horrible toy for kids. Maybe it's my fear of clowns, but everything about that toy is just plain freaky. However, I came across this absolutely adorable "George in the Box" from The Land of Nod. Now a cute little monkey jumping out of a box-- who could resist such a thing? Parker got one for Christmas from his Mimi. I was so excited!

But to my dismay...

He is still scared of the darn thing! I wish I had a picture to show you how he covers his eyes and turns the knob very slowly... 

He then tells me with squinty eyes, between his little fingers "Mommy, I scared... you do it?" And then I take over. As soon as George pops out (and it startles him every. single. time.) he jumps and screams! It is hilarious!

 It doesn't even faze Hudson. He could watch me do it all day long and not even flinch! 

 He plays so well with toys and keeps himself busy figuring everything out and exploring new textures and tastes. 

 I think the "scared thing" is a faze. Parker also has to sleep with a nightlight as of a couple weeks ago. The first thing he says in the morning is "Mommy! I'm not scared no more!" I reassure him that there is nothing to be scared about and that if he does get scared, to think of Jesus and he won't be scared anymore. :) So far, it works!