Ipsy Glam Bag: Beauty Schooled, August 2014

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Ipsy wasn't very exciting this month, it's the first month that's been kind a little bit of a dud.  It was still worth the $10 price for me but just barely. However, most months of Ipsy have been great so this kind of average one just balances things out.  I'm not disappointed, just now wowed like usual.

The bag itself is tubed shaped and has cute polka dots. It's quite roomy and holds a lot more than past bags so I like that and think I'll find more uses for it than the more common pocket type bags ipsy sends.

I have seen this Absolute lip balm in store before, only in the Absolute Love Duo version which comes with both Strawberry and Bubblegum tins.  I received half of the Your the Balm set, subscribers either got Green Apple like I did or Grape.  I've seen some mixed reviews from subscribers who got this, but I happen to really like the apple scent and the very sheer bit of color it gives.  When I saw the other lip products ipsy was sending out this month I was really glad I was getting this one and I had my finger's crossed it would be the apple so I'm really happy I got this.

This Dr. Brandt product is quite nice, but I've already gotten it from Birchbox so I was kind of hoping for something new.  However, it is a higher end product that works well so I'm not complaining about a duplicate.  I still haven't finished the other sample, so these tubes go along way.

I love me some mascara and I love Urban Decay.  I am working through some other mascaras and have three tubes open so I'm waiting to open this but I don't know how long my will power to wait will last.  I'm really curious to give this Perversion sample a go!

So the next two samples are the reason why this month's ipsy is just okay.  First of all these Forever Blush samples from Coastal Scents are packaged in a very inconvenient manner.  It's hard to really get the product up onto your brush.  They are pretty colors but so close together in this sample that they swirl together.  You basically don't get to try Elegant (left) or Fresh (Right) by itself.  I'd rather get one sample in a better container that's easier to work with that this.

My last sample for August is this Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil, which is a fancy way to say black.  And it's teeny tiny.  This is about where I usually throw away my used up pencil because it gets hard for me to comfortably handle and apply.  I don't know why, but the size just kinda made me crabby.  I think ipsy usually does such a nice job of spoiling us and we've come to expect either full or really deluxe sizes that this is just really odd to find in one's bag.  It seems like a mistake!

I still got three products I like and a cute bag that I find more useful than most so I still think I got my $10 worth.  If you'd like to give ipsy a try, please consider using my referral link :)

Mani Monday: 100% Pure in Soul Mate

Last week I shared the Prestige Headliners Limited Edition Birchbox and the 100% Pure nail polish that came inside is so creamy and easy to work with!  This is two coats along with a topcoat.  I was so pleased when I painted my nails with it. I'm going to enjoy wearing it year round.  I think this shade of pink goes so nicely with my skin color and it's a nice addition to my polish collection, which is short on neutral leaning colors.  I'm very happy with my first experience with 100% Pure's nail polish.  Have you ever tried this brand before?  I'm hoping to pick up more soon, check out all the shades now available on Birchbox!

Birchbox for CEW Prestige Headliners Limited Edition Box

This is the second limited edition box that Birchbox recently released that features finalist brands from this year's Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Insiders' Choice Beauty Awards.  I picked both the Mass Appeal box, reviewed last Friday, and this Prestige Headliners box using my Birchbox points, saving an additional $5 for buying both and 20% with a coupon code.  See the entire order, here.

I was excited for this box because it features higher end brands that I might not usually splurge on.   Here is what came in the box, which sells for $18.  Right away I see $12 back in the bottle of nail polish.  The Fekkai creme is half the size of a full bottle, so you're getting another $10 worth of product right there too.

For me, these two combined made this box worth trying out.  Because even if using up Birchbox points mean nothing additional out of pocket, it's still my money that earned the reward points in the first place, by buying my monthly box and anything else from the store, so I want to get the most bang for my buck!

Lip and nail products are my two most favorite types of cosmetics and I was looking forward to trying out the polish from 100% Pure.  I sampled one of their fruit pigmented mascaras in a previous Birchbox and really liked it so I had high hopes for this product!

I got the nail polish in the shade Soul Mate and it just beautiful!  It is a great neutral pink color, subdued and perfect for year round wear.  It applied so smoothly and the brush fanned out nicely so I could get good coverage with little effort.  I am so glad Birchbox is now carrying this in so many colors.  It's my favorite product from this box.

I've already gotten this sample of COOLA Environmental Repair Plus® Radical Recovery™ After-Sun Lotion.  To be honest, I am pretty vigilant about applying sunscreen so I haven't had an occasion to use either the first or this second sample, but I saw on the description that it's also good for when you have dry skin.  I may have to try it out for that purpose instead.  It's been a cooler summer so we haven't been out by the pool or anything like that as much.  I have other COOLA products, love their Liplux especially, so I'm sure it's a really nice product and does what it says.

The Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Crème included is half the size of a full product so it's definitely a deluxe size!  You only need a pea size to help control frizz so this will last me a long time.  I just wish I'd gotten it back in spring instead of at the end of the most frizzy part of the year.  I really like how this has been working, I think it would totally be worth getting the full size, which would probably last me an entire year.

I've heard lots and lots about Josie Maran products, there is a ton of buzz about her products and I can't remember any that's been negative.  With all the raves I've been seeing, I'm glad that Birchbox sent this 100% Pure Argan Oil Light.  It doesn't look like they're carrying any of her other products yet, which is a same because I'm much more interested in the Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee.

I've yet to try pure argan oil so I'm glad to try this out, as it's too expensive for me to purchase without a good trial beforehand.  I've been liking it a lot as a moisturizer at night, although it does feel weird to putting oil on my face versus moisturizer!  I'm not sure if this would be heavy duty enough for winter use but for now, it's working well.

The last sample is one I'm familiar with, having gotten samples from Philosophy when purchasing from them directly at Macy's.  I love their Miracle Worker Overnight, I've just never purchased because of it's price, but like all the Philosophy products I've used it works really well.  Hope in a Jar is still my favorite from them, it does wonders during especially dry winters!

Along with the five samples, a pocket mirror and toe separators were also included.  They are nice extras.   I know I'll use everything, and I really love that nail polish, but even though I see the value in the box I am still more excited about the Mass Appeal box.    But I would definitely get both boxes again.  What do you think of the Prestige Headliners box?  Did you get either of the Limited Edition boxes?

Julep Maven: August 2014

*Referral Link Included

Hello All!  It's Mani Monday on...Wednesday!  Sorry about that, I thought I had this set to post on Monday, but obviously something went awry.  Note to self, double check a post went live sooner rather than later!

The first weekend of the month, my August Julep Maven box arrived, and it was a great way to start off the month.  It came wrapped in the prettiest tissue paper with a metallic medallion design and at first glance, I was a lot more impressed with the colors than I thought I would be.

Along with the normal two bottles of nail colors, the third item this month was a Gel Eye Liner.  We each got to pick the shade and I got it in Smoky Taupe Shimmer.  I just could not resist the preview image and it did not disappoint.  I love how it defines without the harshness of black.

When the Maven window opened and subscribers can pick their box, I wasn't feeling any of the choices but once I realized one of the color choices for Classic with a Twist was actually named Katie, well I had to stick with that one!

On three of my nails above is Avni, an African violet shimmer.  This is a true deep purple shimmer and not as blue as it's appearing on my monitor.  It's super pretty, but I would probably be more excited about it if I didn't already have Purple with a Purpose by OPI.  While not an exact dupe, the OPI shade is a lighter purple shimmer it's not enough of a difference to really need both in my opinion.

On my ring finger accent nail is Katie, an orchid iridescent shimmer.  This is a pretty color but the formula is difficult to work with, a little clumpy.  It also looked bumpier on the nail and even a top coat didn't smooth it out as much as I'd have liked.  This was kind of disappointing since it's my "name" polish.

I am skipping the September box, even though that was a tough one to forgo, so this might be the last Julep Maven review for awhile.  I just didn't like any of the combinations of polish in the boxes, even though I loved the make up bonus - a super Plush Pout Lip Crayon.

Not sure about the future of my subscription for this one.  I don't really want to commit to another three months or pay the $5 up charge to customize on a monthly basis.  Since I'm not getting two colors I absolutely love each and every single month and there are so many other polishes I want from OPI, Essie, and all the gorgeous fall colors coming out from Zoya, etc...well, there are only so many bottles of polish that I have room for.

I don't know if it's worth it to continue getting what are essentially two mini bottles of polish and a third item for the same price I could get two full sized bottles of colors I absolutely love and can pick out in person.  The main thing holding me back from cancelling completely, is that I do love the unique polishes and finishes that I have gotten from Julep.

Birchbox for CEW Mass Appeal Limited Edition Box

Birchbox released two new limited edition boxes earlier this week.  Both feature winners from the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Insiders’ Choice Beauty Awards.  I knew right away I wanted the Mass Appeal 2014 Birchbox for CEW.  It is $15 but when you buy both this box and the Limited Edition CEW box: Prestige Headliners you save $5.  That is what I did, along with redeeming Birchbox points to pay for them.  I picked up a couple more things too, check out the entire haul and also my review of the Prestige Headliners.

Both of the new limited edition boxes are around twice and tall as normal Birchboxes and the Mass Appeal was just packed with products, six total.  Five are full size and more that equal the price of the box.

This is my second 100% Natural Lip Gloss by Burt's Bees (Full Size, $9) so I knew I would love it.  This is Spring Splendor, a pearly pink color.  It is a little light on my lips, but it's perfect for every day wear.  I think Ruby Moon remains my favorite but Spring Splendor is a color I've debated purchasing several times so I'm really glad to finally add it to my collection.  It gives me a pretty hint of color and shine, with mid level stickiness.

This cute Lip Therapy Rosy Lips, (full size $2.95) looks just like a mini traditional Vaseline container.  It's also already a favorite of mine, and I'm on my second container.  My daughter has been wanting one of her own so I'm sharing this one with her.  I like it for a quick hint of color and light rose scent.  This is perfect for throwing on as you head to the bus stop so you look a little more polished.  It's especially great during the winter to prevent or treat chapped lips.

The Dove Go Fresh Restore Body Wash in Blue Fig & Orange Blossom scent is the only trial or travel sized product in the box.  It looks like a full size is around $5.99.  I haven't tried it yet, but the body wash is a creamy pale blue with a pleasant enough scent.  It seems more floral than anything else to my nose, even though the description card says it has a fruity scent.  

I have heard lots of really great things about the Simple brand but have yet to try any myself.  I am always looking for affordable every day moisturizers and was excited to see a full sized bottle in the box.  The Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15 (full size $9.99) feels lightweight and is oil free and should be safe even for sensitive skin so it shouldn't break me out.  It doesn't have any artificial perfumes, so while it has a smell it's just kind of a generic lotion smell.  I like it and am planning to add it to my morning routine.

L'Oreal's Voluminous Butterfly Mascara  (full size $6.99-$8.99)  is a favorite with several of the YouTube Beauty Gurus I watch and I already had it on my list to try.   It's supposed to fan out your lashes, while giving you volume and thickness.  All things my eye lashes are in serious need off.  I am hoping for a look that is gives me extra oomph without looking too dramatic for every day wear.

The last product is also full sized.  TRESemme's Smooth Keratin Infusing Serum (full size $5.99) can be applied to wet hair or on the ends as a finishing product, and it helps reduce frizz for a sleek and shiny hair.  I use a hair oil every.single.day so I go through this kind of product quickly.  I do not usually use a product with keratin so I plan to add this to my regimen every other day and see how it goes.

That's it for this limited edition box!  I can't believe how fast it came, I ordered it on the 12th and it arrived on the 14th!  For $15 I think it's a great value, the product are easily worth twice as much!  I used Birchbox points to get mine along with the Prestige Headliners box.

In that purchase I saved the $5 for purchasing both limited edition boxes, used a coupon code for 20% off my total purchase, got a free Mystery Sample Pack with $35 purchase, and also picked up a CO Bigelow Lemon Lip Cream and CO Bigelow Lip Tint all in the same order.  Everything came to a grand total of $4.40 so this was a great way to use 300 of my Birchbox points!

What do you think?  Are you tempted by the Mass Appeal box?  Will you be picking one up?

Birchbox Haul: CEW Limited Editions, CO Bigelow, & Mystery Sample Pack

When Birchbox released two new Limited Edition boxes on Tuesday I knew had the perfect excuse to redeem 300 Birchbox points I'd been hording.  300 points equals $30 and Birchbox points can only be redeemed in $10 increments so it was the perfect amount to cover both of them.  The blue Mass Appeal box was $15 and the pink Prestige Headliners was $18.  I saved $5 for picking up both so they came to $28.

Since I hate to waste any of my points I also got a CO Bigelow Lemon Lip Cream and CO Bigelow Lip Tint both products I've previously purchased at Bath & Body Works or been gifted and liked.  I love the lemon scent!  The lip tint is the shade Magenta, so pretty online and in the bottle!  It's too sheer to really show up much, so I should've gotten either Violet Mint or Plum Mint again but I wanted to try something new.  I still like it and it'll get used up though.  Those were $7.50 each.

Since the lip products got me over the $35 threshold for a  free Mystery Sample Pack I added that to my cart too.  I've had the Caudalie Overnight Detox Oil sample before and have just a little left so now I can continue using it a little longer.  It does work but I do not recommend it because it smells very green plant-ish, not a scent I like.

The other free sample I received is a Perlier Shea Butter with Sweet Almond Milk. It's hand lotion and will be tossed in my purse come winter.  This is the best Mystery Pack I've gotten so far, especially since it was a free add on.

Besides the $5 off for getting both boxes I also used a 20% off code to save an additional $8.60.  Birchbox listed my total savings as $23.60, this includes the $10 off they give me for the free Mystery Pack.  After deducting that amount, another $30 was taken off for Birchbox points.  My total before the discounts was over $50 so I also got free shipping.  All told my out of pocket for everything was $4.40 so I think I got some great deals!

I'll be reviewing both limited edition boxes soon and will update this one with links as they post!

Birchbox: August 2014

*Referral Link Included

August's Birchbox has already arrived!  I just got to see my preview and the next day it showed up, yay!

I realized I don't usually show you much of the unboxing, so I thought it might be nice to include that, for anyone unfamiliar with the service.

Birchbox is a monthly subscription service, it's $10 a month and it auto renews.  You can subscribe month to month or prepay for a longer term, for which you can usually get a reduced price or some kind of bonus.

Each month you can expect 4-6 beauty and lifestyle samples.  For each one that you receive, you can go onto your profile and do a review.  Each review will earn you 10 Birchbox points, which equals $1 to spend in the Birchbox store.  It's very important to make time to give your feedback, as their reward system usually cuts the price of the monthly subscription in half.

Birchbox usually sends their goodies inside of a hot pink mailer, inside of that is the actual Birchbox.  The inside of this mailer was printed with information about their new app.  I like how the Birchbox is a very sturdy lidded kraft box, except for special promotions like last month when they partnered with Women's Health.  I love the boxes themselves, they are very handy for corralling things like my daughter's hair bands and for upcycling into cute gift boxes.  An information card is also inside and I like having a something to reference while looking at my new goodies and not having to go online to learn about what was sent.

The samples are wrapped in tissue paper and most months there is also a little pillow box that provides some extra cushioning for anything that might be prone to breaking or for smaller samples.  It's a nice extra barrier and I thought this one was particularly cute.  Inside of mine were both the ModelCo Bronzer and a single use face mask from nügg Beauty.

So happy to see this Perk Up Dry Shampoo from amika (full size $21) because the Klorane sample I got back in April is almost empty.  I don't use dry shampoo very often but it so so handy for in a pinch!  I think dry shampoo has earned a spot in my stash for emergencies from now on.  This was perfect timing, as now I can put off actually buying some for a little longer and I'm interested to see how it compares to the other one I've tried.

Korean beauty brands seem to be the hot thing and so I'm all about trying some, maybe they'll even work better for me as perhaps they are more knowledgeable about Asian skin.  The downside seems to be that in general, they are on the pricier side.

This Dr. Jart+ Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm (full size $36) is the perfect color for me and it blended in seamlessly.   I don't know if I really noticed a difference in the size of my pores but my skin did look smoother.  It helps control oil, which normally I don't have a problem with, but since it's summer if there is a time of the year I would reach for this, it's now.  I'm glad to have it for the rest of August, a little goes a long way, but I don't see myself purchasing it.

This was the second month that Birchbox let subscribers pick one of their samples.  We had four choices and as I have already tried and love the Balm's Stainiac, don't need a black eyeliner, and wasn't sure about the shimmery eye shadow, I went with the ModelCo Shimmer Bronzer.

(FYI Stainiac is really a nice stain.  I got last October from Birchbox and didn't ask for it again, because I wanted to try something new.)

This is my first year using bronzer ever, having never thought it was worth the money to add them to my routine before, but now due to beauty subscriptions I've got two.  While the other one I got was full sized, this is a better shade for me and is still definitely a deluxe size.  Overall, I like it better so I'm glad I selected it.  I think it's very natural looking, giving a sun kissed look without going overboard but perhaps a bit too shimmery.  I think I may need to go purchase a non shimmery bronzer and mix the two for the perfect application.

I have always liked the Supergoop! samples I've gotten before but this Forever Young Hand Cream with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40 (full size $11-$29.50)  is tiny!  It's a hand cream but this is probably only enough for maybe two uses max.  From what I can tell it's basically sunscreen targeted for your hands but I am not sold that the extra nice ingredients are worth the increased charge versus normal sunscreen.

The description says it will help prevent dark spots and hyper pigmentation but I would think that the Neutrogena stuff I already use would do that too.   On the plus side the Supergoop! does smell much nicer than ordinary sunscreen

My extra sample this month is a nügg Beauty Soothing Face Mask (pack of 5, $14.99): I like the convenience of this single use pack, although it seems a little expensive for what amounts to a month of masks if used as directed.  I only used half of my container so I'm going to try and get two uses out of it, which makes it a little bit more reasonable per use.

The description says it will help with flakiness, so I'm hoping that will help me with my problem spots like around my nose.  I don't have too many flare ups but if using this will help prevent the few I do get, that would be great!  I do like masks and do one at least once a week and this definitely made my skin feel very nice afterward.

If you'd like to give Birchbox a try, I'd love it if you used my referral link to sign up!

Hello 14

Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary to My Husband Brad!  

In honor of our 14 years as husband and wife I thought it would be fun to share 14 memorable moments!  Listed in chronological (or close too) order:

1. Driving cross county from MI to CA, TWICE!  I'm glad you've relaxed the 4 am wake up calls and 12 hour driving schedule.
2. Shopping for and furnishing our first apartment, still can't believe we fit so many Ikea boxes into that Ford Escort AND that we still have that Ford Escort!
3. Exploring Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, and yes, we will totally take the free bus service to trail heads from now on!
4. Saturday mornings spent at the Farmer's Market picking up strawberries, flowers, and banana bread from Bake Sale Betty
5. Maui for our Honeymoon and driving the Road to Hana + our romantic dinner luau
6. The amazing trips we took around CA from exploring Santa Barbara, checking off another Mission off the list, to seeing Hearst Castle & eating pot pie at Linn's and so many more!
7. Our Easter in Santa Fe while interviewing at Los Alamos.  The dinner at KFC might just be one of our most memorable holiday meals!
8. Finding two red lines, "No wait, it says to wait ten minutes!"  Ah, yeah that second line isn't going to disappear.
9. Holding each of our babies for the first time & watching them grow. Hearing the kids call out Mommy or Daddy and light up when they see us makes up for the times they are challenging, don't you think?
10. Going from watching House Hunters to actually looking for one ourselves, especially since we were coming back "home", something I never thought would happen!
11. Having our families with us for holiday celebrations again, it's so much nicer to have a full table at Thanksgiving than to just be the two of us like every other day.
12. Disney World is so much more fun with children, I never would've guessed how into getting all the autographs you would be!  You are one patient Daddy to visit so many princesses!
13. Showing our kids what going up north means to a Michigander and how a pastie must be eaten anytime you're there!  
14. And since we just went, I'll end with the summer birthday trips we've started taking each year.  I hope they become a regular thing and that as the kids get older we can go for longer.  Chicago was so fun and even though you did implement the early wake up once again, I will admit that it did get us to the Field Museum early enough to feel like we had a private viewing of the dinosaurs!

Love you very much Brad and can't imagine life without you by my side, now and always ♥ 

Mani Monday: Ulta Mint Condition

During Ulta's last clearance sale I picked up their 8 Piece Nail Pail with Mini Nail File for around five dollars.  I thought that was the perfect way to try out their in house brand for the first time.  I wore Mint Condition for a trip to the lake last month.  It was the perfect color for the beach, but the formula was a little on the thin side.  This was three thin coats, but the top coat did help it wear well and make it worth the extra effort it took to get it on.

Project Life April 2014

It's a new month and the first Tuesday so that must mean it's time for another installment of Project Life Share!  Since April had both Spring Break and Easter in it, it was a busy month!  Most pages were event based and since those were so photo heavy, I didn't end up having very many weekly spreads.  The ones I did complete were kind of basic so I opted to focus on the highlights.

The weekend leading into Spring Break my daughter went over to Grandma's for a sleepover.  She always loves this special alone time with Grandma and they create many great memories together.  Now that she has a little brother, this time is very precious to her and she looks forward to having Grandma's undivided attention.  As you can see, the big activity this time was dying some eggs.

We didn't go on a big trip but did get away for an overnight trip to The Great Wolf Lodge.  It was our first time at this location and the little kid pool was a big hit with the two year old.  I did a full spread and a 4X4 insert with each side featuring one of the kids.

I cracked out the special page protectors from the Just Add Color Kit that was on HSN awhile ago.  It was perfect for some not so great pictures that I still wanted to include.  The smaller size makes them look less fuzzy, another bonus to using the 2X2 pockets.

At the end of Spring Break we went to our annual Easter event with our good friends and their kids.  This time we tried a completely new activity and went to Dave & Busters.  We all had a really nice time and it was very well priced for everything included.  We got breakfast, could take our own pictures with the Bunny, unlimited non-ticket earning games, a few free ticket earning games, a goodie bag, and a free photo booth picture with the Bunny.

I used some of the 2X2 inserts from the Just Add Color Kit on the left side of the spread and patterned paper to fill in the other slots.  Then I used the same patterned paper to make a coordinating journaling card for the right side of the spread.  I thought they really tied everything together nicely.

That Saturday ended up being jammed packed because we headed up the road to my parents after the Bunny Breakfast was over.  We were literally one exit away from them and since they live over an hour away it made sense to stop over for a quick egg hunt for the kids, lunch, and then drive over to see my Grandpa in the nursing home.

I got to use some of my favorite supplies from Doodlebug Design Inc. on these Easter themed pages and I think it makes everything look so cute and happy!  It was helpful to use bright colorful supplies since it didn't look like spring had arrived outside yet.

After the kids got their goodies and we had lunch, we got to the real reason for meeting up with my parents.  It had been way too long since the kids and I had been over to see my Grandpa, their Great Grandpa.  It was an especially cold and snowy winter and we just hadn't made it over in months!

Now my Grandpa can be the very definition of a grouchy old man but this time he was really alert and for him, talkative...which still means not very but like I said for him, it was like he had a lot to say.  I specifically remember that he was glad I brought my camera.  He is who I got my love of photography from, he has been critiquing my images ever since I snapped my first one.  On that day, he said it was good I was taking a picture of him with the kids so they'd have it to remember him by.

He even managed to look a little bit like he was smiling in a few, which is very rare, and I noticed in one after I uploaded it, that it looked like he was waving.  I wonder if he had a sense that his time was nearing an end.  He took a turn for the worse soon after and then died around two weeks later so that's the last time my kids and I saw him alive.

These ended up being very important pictures.  He was my last Grandparent alive and I was especially close to him and my Grandma as they lived three blocks away from us for most of my childhood.  I usually saw them every few days growing up and they were a big part of my life.  I am glad my last time seeing him was such a nice upbeat visit.

Spring Break had a lot of bigger activities but there were some random photos that I wanted to include so I pulled them together for this quick page.

I'll end this month's share with Easter.  Our festivities began bright and early at home.  My two year old was moving so fast it was very hard to get a decent picture of him, he was so excited to find eggs filled with candy.  I put the obligatory family pictures in an insert along with a few of the kids during the backyard egg hunt at Grandma Norma's.

Since I have many, many pictures of E hunting eggs and the ones of her that morning at home turned out better, I included more of the little guy hunting at Grandma's.  After the insert there are a few more pictures of the family celebration, including my dinner plate, everything was so yummy!

I hope your Project Life pages are coming along and you are continuing to enjoy this method for memory keeping.  I continue to find it great fun!  I'm linking up with The Mom Creative & the Community Show & Tell at Simple Scrapper.