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Back to School Ideas for Tweens

Back to School Ideas for Tween Girls and Boys

We are in the final week of summer, and the last summer ice cream days. Yes, it’s been the longest summer EVER–lasting a full three months instead the usually six weeks! We have been so busy with travel and our move that it has flown by…but also has dragged on and on. I’ve been wondering when school was going to come. SO, this past week we’ve been school shopping and getting ready for the big back to school day. My kids are so nervous about being the new kids on the block, and I am the worried mama praying that they will fit in and find a good set of friends. With all this school shopping, my two oldest have been so opinionated on what they want and don’t want this time around. They have definitely become more aware of their peers and what is cool and what is so not cool. So, these back to school ideas for tween girls and boys actually are the opinions of my daughter going into high school and son going into seventh grade. I’d say they are definitely in the thicket of tween/teen years! Oh boy! Here is our list of back to school ideas for tween girls and boys:

1. Every girl needs a pair of denim overalls

2. The popular backpack every teen girl needs

3. The brow craze is strong…even among teen girls

4. Velvet scrunchies are so 80’s and so in style

5. Stay hydrated in a cool Hydro Flax

6. High tops are so in especially if they are Vans

7. Headphones to listen too the top hits of today

8. Lacey bralette to wear under slouchy t-shirts

9. All the girls are wearing wave jewelry

Watch to stay on time
These pants make sweat pants cool
Skater hat is a must
Staying hydrated with the Hydro Flax
Under armor back pack is a favorite
Boxer under pant shorts makes them feel older
Nike hoodie
Nike tennis shoes is still a favorite
Listening to your beats all day long

Shop the Post Back to School for Tween Girls

Shop the Post Back to School for Tween Boys

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

Pom poms are everywhere, and I just want to keep this trending going. The round colorful fluffy embellishment is so fun and playful for summer time. We thought it would be fun to make DIY pom pom shirt so the girl cousins could match for the 4th of July, and we could all be pom pom’d out! After making DIY pom pom sandals and beach bag, this was an easy project and one that the girls could tackle themselves. This DIY pom pom shirt project works for just about any shirt you choose. Once all the materials are gathered, it takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Very easy DIY project and fun for the 4th of July!

The girls picked out which shirts they wanted and we kept the t-shirts under $10. I bought a yard of pom pom trim per shirt so the entire project per shirt was less than $15. If you plan to add pom pom around all the edges of the shirt, than plan to buy more than a yard of pom pom trim. We just added trim around the sleeves or the bottom, not both.

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

T-shirt (we bought $8 t-shirts)

Pom pom trim

Sewing machine

pins

Scissors

Instructions:

Take your shirt and turn it inside out. Take your pom pom trim and start at the seam and pin it along the edge all the way around. Sew it straight stitch. Or if you don’t know how to sew, use fabric glue to secure it to your top. After, turn your shirt right side out! Simple and completely changes the style of the shirt.

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10 Beach Bag Essentials

10 Beach Bag Essentials

Heading to the beach this summer? Yay for you! We love the beach and try to always make a trip to the beach each summer. It’s our favorite place to hung and soak up the sunshine rays. I actually always keep a beach bag in my car during the summer months. I take it to the pool and to the beach, so it becomes very handy especially if it’s a last minute kind of swim adventure. So since we are always heading to the beach, I’m sharing 10 beach bag essentials that will take you through a day at the beach with success.

Beach Bag–Having a strong, large beach bag is essential, of course! You want your beach bag to be large, but not too large that it becomes difficult to carry. Make sure to examine the straps, so it’s easy to throw over your shoulders. I love all the large, pom pom straw beach bag, and I usually use those beach bags when I head to the beach with just me or a child because you can easily fit pickleball paddles in them and play all day. But when I go to the beach with my entire family, I forget the straw beach bag and grab my durable, canvas beach bag that I can load up and know it will sustain the impact. I like my beach bag to have a zipper at the top so I can also keep it close and keep things protected from the sun and sand. Having it made out of canvas means I can throw it in the wash at the end of the summer season. Also the canvas fabric isn’t waterproof but holds out the water so my items aren’t drenched.

2. Sunscreen–Of course you need sunscreen whenever you are out in the sun. But I have found over the years that my children are sensitive to most sunscreen products, so I like to buy the organic sunscreens without all the chemicals and toxins in it. My kids don’t break out in a horrible rash when I use these sunscreen products and plus usually they smell really good. I keep a bottle of these sunscreen in my beach bag.

3. Large Insulated Water Bottle–If you don’t already have one, invest in an insulated stainless steel sports water bottle. They can be expensive but worth the invest. The double wall vacuum insulated water bottle keeps cold drinks cold all the beach day! Staying hydrated is the key and these water bottles do just that!

4. Beach Hat–a beach hat is definitely an essential item for the beach, and I keep one always in my bag so I don’t forgot. You don’t want wrinkles on your face or skin cancer so protection is a wise move. The good thing is there are so many cute beach hat options out there.

5. Protein Bars— I always bring some kind of snack to the beach and like to keep protein bars in my beach bags just in case I forget to pack a lunch. Protein bars keep me full and going most of the afternoon. If you don’t like protein bars, then I’d suggest throwing in granola bar.

6. Waterproof bag–if you don’t already have one, you need to get one! They are the best invention, and I really can’t live without a waterproof bag at the beach. It is a perfect place to store your phone, camera, keys and any other item that need to be protected from the water and sand.

7. Baby Powder— Let’s face it. Sand gets everywhere when you head to the beach, and I know a few people who just refuse to go because of the sand. Packing baby powder in your bag does the trick to help get that sand off your legs, hands and feet. And if you have a baby or child, it works wonderfully especially if they have a diaper that needs to be changed.

8. Sunscreen Lip Balm— Don’t forget your lips and protect them from the sun! The hot sun can make them dry and cracked so make sure you have a lip balm with an SPF in it.

9. Leave-in Conditioner– Put in a little leave-in conditioner or some kind of sun protecting hair product. Hair can get quite damaged from the salt water, the wind and sand. My hair and my girl’s hair always get so knotting unless I put the conditioner in their hair.

10. Beach Towel— Of course you need a beach towel when you head to the beach. It’s quite the essential. I like to throw in one that is large enough for my entire family that we can all lay on. And I like to have one that I lay over my beach chair because those chairs be a little rough.

Summer Trend Floral Ruffle Wrap Dresses

Summer Trend Floral Ruffle Wrap Dresses

Once warm weather hits, I am living in my dresses. Comfort and staying cool in the hot, humid Southern heat is what you’ve got to do to keep going because it can really knock you over. I usually opt for breezy, flowy dresses and skirts to keep any sort of clothing off my skin and let the wind blow through those sweaty areas (and you know what I am talking about!). If you’re looking for a nice dress, you can see here for cocktail dresses. Cocktail dresses are perfect if you’re going to an evening event in summer. Even wearing shorts can be a little too much to bare. So, I love that one of the summer trend is floral ruffle wrap dresses. My kind of summer trend! My bohemian self comes out and I embrace any floral ruffle dress that is a wrap dress, muumuus and tunics. I picked up this cute blue floral ruffle dress at a local clothing shop near my house, and I am obsessed with the styling. I wore it for the first time on our recent trip to the 30A/Seaside area in Florida. It was perfect strolling to wear around Alys Beach and catching lunch at George’s after church.

Along with summer trend of floral ruffle wrap dresses, what else is still trending are tall wedges and woven straw bags especially the large round handbags. There are so many great variety and prices, you can really find them anywhere now! I love the available options and how they make an evening summer outfit feel a little more beachy.

SHOP the POST: (similar dress to my floral ruffle wrap dress)

Here are some of the summer trend floral ruffle wrap dresses that I am loving right now. They are all so pretty and femme, and the tie around the waist makes it so sweet. They will keep you staying cool and breezy this summer!

4 One-Piece Swimsuit Styles

4 One-Piece Swimsuit Styles

It’s taken me a while, but I think I have finally embraced one-piece swimsuit. After a lot of trail and error, I found 4 one-piece swimsuit styles that work with my body. The cut of the swim suit is also what makes a one-piece swimsuit flattering. I have a very boyish, athletic figure with a short torso and strong thighs. So you can imagine that one-piece swimsuits have been quite a challenge. Patterns and dark colors work for hiding my mommy tummy, while high cut on the thighs make my legs look longer. My one-piece swimsuit collection is slowly growing so I’m excited to wear a lot of them out on the beach this summer. Below are 4 one-piece swimsuit styles that I am loving this season.

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4 one-piece swimsuit styles

Plunging Neckline–adds a little flirtatious finish to a one-piece swimsuit and makes it a little more sexy and revealing. Some plunging neckline swimsuits are finished with a lace-up front to add some texture and brings a little 70’s retro vibe to the suit.

Ruffle Off-the-Shoulder–perfect for dipping or poolside lounging instead of a water activity suit. This trend is still going strong this year and now are available in stripes, gingham and floral.

Tropical Print–channeling tropical vibes, palm trees and tropical floral prints are going strong this year with one-piece swim suits and makes it an eye-catching style.

Macrame–offers an alluring detail with the straps and back coverage to a simple one-piece style. These embellishments you won’t want to keep hidden away.

Make sure to check out Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale on all the One-Piece Swimsuit Styles that are on sale right now!

Rejuvenating Eyes and Lips with Patchology

Rejuvenating Eyes and Lips with Patchology

Aging skin is sneaking up on me, so recently I have been paying more attention to my skincare routine and trying out skin care products to find the “golden” formula for anti-aging and keeping my skin hydrated and younger looking. I did a whole post on favorite anti-aging skincare tips that I love. Did you by chance have to stay up late one night and get up early the next day? Yup! It happens too often to most of us. Tired and puffy eyes and dry lips can contribute to looking older and accentuating fine wrinkles. So, right now that is my anti-aging problem child. After some research, I discovered Patchology’s products as a source for rejuvenating eyes and lips through their gel products. I must admit, their product is the perfect pick me up for quick results in just a matter of minutes! I’m excited to team up to show how rejuvenating eyes and lips with Patchology products is solution to tired eyes and dry lips.

One of the great things about rejuvenating eyes and lips with Patchology is that it doesn’t take long–only a 5-minute application. You can apply the gel flashpatches on a clean face in the morning or at night or with a full face of makeup as a face refresher. While I had the flashpatches, I was able to continue to put my makeup on or blow-dry my hair. A mom’s got to multi-task to look pretty! The flashpatches have peptides and green tea extract to soothe and deliver protective antioxidants. Caffeine and collagen are other ingredients for brighter skin tone, improve hydration, reduce puffiness and increase elasticity.

Here are some helpful ways when rejuvenating your eyes and lips with Patchology. For underage bags, place the eye gels rounded side in and close to your eye lip. For crow’s feet, place the eye gel skinny side in. I haven’t tried it, but I heard you could even go to sleep with them. When you remove the pads, moisture the residual serum around your face and lips. It really does feel amazing! Trying out the lip flash patch did feel a little weird and you have to be careful not to open you mouth while using them because they don’t taste very good! But it does quickly moisturize and soften your pout. You’re left with perfectly prepped lips, ready to make up and mouth off.

Enjoy rejuvenating eyes and lips with Patchology!

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Mother Daughter Matching Dresses

Mother Daughter Matching Dresses

One of my fondest memories of Mother’s Day is how much effort my dad would put in to making the day so perfect for my Mom. He would always have a beautiful orchid corsage (so IN back then) for her to wear to church. She would always be wearing a beautiful spring dress with a little jewelry piece he would give her. Then he would have flowers for my sister and I to wear, usually in flower crowns to wear to church and we would be wearing a matching dress with our mother. We felt equally as special. Mother’s Day was a big deal in our home growing up! Thanks to a papa who recognized the importance of the mother that ran our home. She is really the best.mom.EVER! So, I like to relive the sweet memories each year with getting mother daughter matching dresses. Now my girls are much older than the tiny toddlers they once were so actually mommy and me matching dresses is a little tricky. Also, I’m not one to complete match. I like variation but complements when matching to my children. And I must say that my oldest daughter is becoming one to have a say in what she wants to wear.

Usually what I do when picking out mother daughter matching dresses, I pick a print and then go with complement solids or another complementing print (like floral and stripes). I also pick out a color scheme first. For Mother’s Day, pastel and spring colors are what I usually lean toward. I am obsessed with all the floral prints this season and the wrap dresses. They are all so beautiful! The ruffle sleeves and details on dresses are still strong this spring/summer season. PS….I’m obsessed with these new wedges I got. They are a good refresh and perfect for spring/summer.

Mother Daughter Matching Dresses Ideas:

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Spring Checklist

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Spring Checklist

Warm weather is right around the corner, and the flowers are blooming. I love seeing all the colors that is popping up all around our beautiful earth. I am ready to pull out all my favorite spring clothes and pastel dresses and tops because you know right after Spring is Summer. Trends are always changing but there are a few trends that were big last year and reappearing this year. These spring/summer staples should be on your spring checklist because they aren’t leaving anytime soon.

Spring Checklist:

Floral Print–floral prints are big this spring and I love you can find them pretty much in just about anything lately. From ruffle, flowy dresses to bathing suits to linens, Floral prints are making a big statement this year and perfect for Spring frolics.

Woven Accessories–the woven straw beach bags were my favorite last year, and I love that they are still strong this year. There are so many great styles and shapes and price points. I would say to definitely pick yourself up a beach bag or straw hat for your Spring checklist.

Hand-held Bags–small enough to tote around with ease yet big enough to carry all your essentials. I love all the hand-held bags in pastel and are so adorable for a spring time look.

Loafers and Mules–these styles were big over the fall and trending into spring, loafers and mules are versatile with pants or dresses. I love how comfortable they are and casual but also a little more formal than a pair of sneakers. The color block espadrilles are also a give style trend this spring.

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Best Drugstore Makeup

Best Drugstore Makeup

I may not be a beauty blogger and don’t claim I am, BUT I do like to wear makeup everyday and have worn makeup for many, many years. So I have had my share of good makeup products and my share of bad makeup products and have tested quite a bit of makeup. I also have a string of women in my life who love makeup as much as I do, and we always share what we are currently wearing, what doesn’t work and new makeup finds. There are many professional makeup lines at Sephora that carry my top favorite makeup items. I’ve listed them in this Makeup post. But I truly believe it’s good to be well rounded and bring into your makeup collection drugstore items. There are some really great drugstore makeup items for a fraction of the price as what you’d see at Sephora or a department store. Shopping for drugstore makeup can be tricky because you can’t sample it prior to buying it, so there is a lot of trial and error. But it’s a convenient buy and easy on the budget. In my opinion here are the best drugstore makeup items that I can’t live without.

L’oreal True Match Super Blended Crayon Concealer–if you’ve got blemishes or circles under your eyes, this crayon concealer cleans that up really well. It has a matte finish with a skin-like glow, so you don’t feel like its too thick or clumpy when you are trying to hide that red spot on your face. Also it lasts a long time on your face
L’oreal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup Foundation–what can I say? L’oreal’s True Match line is one of the best drugstore makeup line. The makeup is lightweight and gives you medium coverage. I love to wear it for every day foundation. The foundation gives you a natural skin-like finish without caking up. It has an SPF and is available in 33 coverage colors. Seriously one of my favorite drugstore makeups.
Embryolisse Face Cream –Before you put on any concealer or foundation, lather some of Embryolisse face cream to your face. One of my favorites, and I use it as a makeup primer to keep my makeup in place and on my face. It absorbs beautifully on your face and has a featherlike feel, and is great to put on right before you put make up on. You can get Embryolisse at most department grocery stores like Target or Walmart.
L’oreal Voluminous Mascara and Primer –I have been using this mascara since high school! One of the first mascaras I ever tried. Through the years I have tried numerous professional mascara lines and other drugstore mascaras and I just keep coming back to L’oreal Voluminous Original mascara. You really can’t get better than this. My lashes are long and separated when I put the mascara on. No clumping and it’s long lasting. The color is dark and adds depth to my lashes. It also comes in waterproof.
Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen— The Revlon color style liquid eye pen is mess free and the liquid dries quickly and stays on all day. It’s so easy to apply and I like the different ball points so you can add different eye liner techniques. The other thing is the eye pen lasts a really long time and does dry out. Your definitely get your money’s worth.
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color– If you are like me, I love lip color! And I do tend to go through lipgloss like it’s candy or something because I am always running out of lipgloss. The Revlon lip gloss is thick and stays on the lips but doesn’t dry it out, and you have a choice of matte or shine. One application and you are set. I like to put on a lip liner and then the lip color over it.
Wet ‘n Wild MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Lipstick— Wet ‘n Wild has come a long way! Since I began wearing makeup, Wet ‘n Wild has always been the cheap, bad quality makeup. But I tell you, I am so impressed with this lipgloss. The color is impressive and the staying power is long. I am sold! The lip gloss glides on like butter, feels like a second skin and won’t budge.

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Embroidered Blouse

Embroidered Blouse

Happy March 1st! We are alll..most to spring! Although it is feeling more like winter around here with cold gusts of wind and lots of rain. So to start off this month, I thought I’d do a quick fashion post sharing some of my favorite Embroidered Blouses, which many of them are on sale. I have picked up a few embroidered blouses this winter and love the boho chic style and have easily you can wear them into spring. There are so many cute styles, and the embroidered look adds simple details to a basic blouse. But what I really love is all the other elements of the blouse like mesh top or ruffled sleeves or puffy sleeves, sequins or elastic ruffled cuffs. A lot of details but yet it still goes together so well!

I wore my embroidered blouse with a light long gray wool jacket, which is warm but not too heavy and perfect for this cool temperature.

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Here are a few other embroidered blouses that I have heart eyes all over. They are so cute for spring. Wear with a casual bottom like jeans or simple skirt.

Classy Pink Dresses

Non-Candy Valentine Printables

Fortnite Valentine Printable

Valentine Gift Box Ideas

Finds Under $100

Back to School Ideas for Tweens

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

10 Beach Bag Essentials

Summer Trend Floral Ruffle Wrap Dresses

4 One-Piece Swimsuit Styles

Rejuvenating Eyes and Lips with Patchology

Mother Daughter Matching Dresses

Spring Checklist

Best Drugstore Makeup

Embroidered Blouse

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