Plug...

It's my own blog so I can put a plug in for myself, right?  Well I am, ha! 
Since the end of summer I have been selling Avon and it has really been a fun thing, and something else to wrap my mind around besides laundry, diapers, dishes, and such.  When I started selling I was your typical Wal-mart makeup buyer.  I didn't even buy a specific brand at Wal-mart, just whatever looked good and was cheapest...and I know there are some of you out there doing the same thing!  Which is fine, I have done it forever!!  Well, obviously, since I was selling Avon I thought I might as well buy it and try what I am selling.  I have just recently replaced all of my Wal-mart makeup with Avon makeup.  The thing with Avon is, their makeup is just as inexpensive as Wal-Mart, and we run so many sales that most of the time you can find it EVEN cheaper, so I was automatically sold once I figured this out.  So, this blog I am going to run through a few items I have bought and loved and give you an idea on price.  So, if you are out there, and also a Wal-Mart makeup buyer, and see a deal you want, let me know!!  I would love to drop a book off in your mailbox if you are interested.

First and my absolute favorite is my foundation...Smooth Minerals by Avon

I used to use the Covergirl pressed powder, and oh my goodness this TRUMPS it!  It is a loose powder (but also comes in pressed).  It covers blemishes and redness amazingly, and smooths out your complextion and almost gives you an airbrushed look.  It is very light, so you hardly know it's there.  It will also give you a little bit of a glow to your face, I love it and can't say enough good things about it.  My mother n law used to use the Bare Minerals foundation from Saphora (sp?), and has now switched to this and she says it's pretty much identical but cheaper.  I can get you this for $7.99

Smooth Minerals Blush

I also used the Smooth Minerals Blush in Perfect Plum.  The color pictured above is Rose Radiance I believe.  This blush is also amazing and goes on smooth and the colors offered are amazing.  I can get you this right now for $5.99

Primer

Oh my goodenss, I have never owned anything like this.  It is called Primer and you put it on after your moisturizer but before your makeup.  It is super light and almost like a thin lotion.  You apply it all over your face (eyelids too), once it is dry (takes a few seconds), your face becomes the perfect canvas for your makeup.  It WILL make your makeup last all day and help it not to wear off.  I especially love that when you put it over your eyelids it keeps your eyemakeup from creasing and smudging.  Also, I use 4 colors on my eyes and it doesn't let all the colors run together, so they keep their definition.  Love it and I can get it for you right now at $10.00

Eye Quads

Avon offers these cute little compacts with 4 eye shadows in them that are meant to go together on your eyes.  The color above is called "Smoky Eyes", I used this quad and "Earth Tones" featured below:

When you receive your compact, the back of the box will give you a diagram of where to put each color  on your eyelid to give you the great look you're going for.  We offer 8 more quad shades other than these two above.  But these are the two that I have tried and I love them.  I can get you one of these right now for $4.99

Mascara

Just got this one with my last Avon order, it is Super Extend Mascara.  And it does exactly what it says, extends your lash length, I like it!  I can get you this right now for $4.99

I also have this one, it is Super Magnify Mascara and it is very new to Avon.  It has the smallest brush I have ever seen and you will have zero clumps on your brush and your lashes.  It works to help separate every lash so you will see more of your lashes instead of them clumping together into what looks like 5 fat lashes, ha!

I can get you this right now for $4.99

Eyeliner

Glimmersticks is Avon's #1 Eyeliner and Allure has awarded it the Best Eyeliner award.  It truly does not smudge or run and stays put all day...but it's not waterproof so you don't have a tough time getting it off at night.  I have the following colors:

Blackest Black

Cosmic Brown

I can get you this right now for $3.49 each or 4 for $10

Nail Polish

Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel is great.  It is non-chip for up to 10 days of wear.  They are offering some amazing Fall/Winter colors too.  I have the following two:

Deluxe Chocolate

Wicked

I can get you these right now for $3.49 each.  Lowest price of the season.

Healthy Makeup Lipstick

I love this lipstick!  It literally feels like I am wearing chapstick...I guess that's why it's part of the "Healthy Makeup" line of Avon.  It is so smooth and so even.  I use the lipstick color Naturally Perfect:

It is a great brown color. But along with the lipsticks, they also make sheer lip conditioners, which gives you a 115% moisture boost with a little bit of color.  I can get you this right now for $9.00 Buy one get one half off.

Bathtime Body Paints

These are Carter's favorite!  They are Bathtime Body Paints (which double as soap).  They come in different colors and flavors and are holiday themed, so they are perfect for Stocking Stuffers, Easter Baskets, etc.  Carter has Green Apple and Cherry.  Since he has sensitive skin, and we have to use Dove soap, we strictly use them as paints and not soap.  So he rolls them all over the tub!  But if your little one doesn't have sensitive skin then be sure to roll on and lather up.  They smell so good too.  I can get you these for $1.99 each.

This blog has been incredibly long, so thanks if you finished reading.  Let me know if you are interested in any of these deals, but also remember this doesn't even scratch the surface of what Avon has, these are just some of the favorites that I use.  Along with makeup Avon offers skincare, jewelry, and other fun things.  Let me know and I'll get a book to you!











New Habit

     Since we have started putting heavier restrictions on the pacifier Carter has developed a new little habit.  Finger sucking.  There are just a couple of things that really bother me about it. 
1.) Thinking about everything he has touched and then putting those little fingers in his mouth, yuck!
2.)  The massive amount of slobber it creates..which runs down his hand and onto his arm.
     When he does finally take his fingers out of his mouth, it's kind of funny because he won't do anything with that hand and leaves his fingers spread until I wipe it off or until it dries (blah!..as you can imagine, I try to wipe it off instead of let it dry).
Here are a few pictures that have captured him in action with his new habit...

Quickly, here are a few new things Carter is doing since I have slacked on blogging:

Says "there" after he does something.  He is copying me because whenever I do something for him I say "there!".  It is one of the most precious things I have heard him say.

Will now Roar.  He was going to be a dalmation for Halloween but all the cousins decided to do their own thing, so Carter is now going to be a Dragon.  Apparently, he thinks dragons are much cooler than dalmations, since he will keep the dragon costume on for up to an hour and in the dog costume all I got was kicking and screaming.  He will admire himself in the mirror for a good length of time and will roar when I tell him to.  He thinks he is hot stuff...which he is ; )

Will eat his chicken nuggets with a fork AND dip them in ketchup.  He doesn't use his hands because he doesn't like to get them dirty.

Says "NO" all the time and points that little finger at me.

Obsessed with stickers and magna doodles.

Says "WOW" and "Heys"...for some reason it is plural!

Can put his shoes on.

Sits on the potty before bath...but nothing else has come of it so far.  Just getting him used to it.

That's all I can think of for now, and Chad has gone to bed already so you know I am up late...he never beats me to bed!  Soon I will upload a video of C in the dragon costume.



Sorry!

Not sure who all I'm apologizing to out there...but, obviously, I have been a terrible blogger.  I have been kind of finicky with the computer lately.  If I get on, I only get on long enough to check email and maybe get on facebook for 5 minutes and that's it.  I don't know what it is, just in a mood where I am un-interested in the computer.  I started selling Avon back in August and that really has taken up some free time, so maybe that is why I've gotten off the blogging path.  I hope to do better...I also realized that I am not taking near as many pictures as I used to and that just has to stop because Carter is growing so big and I don't want to miss a minute.

We had our beach trip in September and I highly recommend going once school is back in session.  It was a nice, non-humid, un-crowded trip.  Not to mention the place we stayed at was pretty much as close as you can get to a pent house, but without the price...since we went after the rates dropped. 

We stayed on the 14th floor of the Pheonix West and we saw a shark from the balcony.  I felt so helpless!  The wind was blowing and no one could hear us yelling and that shark got within feet of swimmers and they never even knew it and all we could do was watch.  Luckily it was not looking for a snack so it headed back into deeper water, but I bet we have all been that close to a shark at some point in time and never knew it.  A mental note was made by myself to never get further than shin deep in the water ever again- check.

Let's see...since I have last blogged we (meaning Carter) have had the stomach bug, and the croup.  I love being covered in throw up at 3:45am.  It is the best.  Croup was short lived, the barking seal cough lasted one night, got a steroid the next day and it didn't happen again...but he has still been a little snotty.

I have purchased the Instyler and I am a fan.

We have attempted Carter's first spend the night away from home at Mom and Pop's (Chad's rents).  Note the word "attempt".  I know, I know, we (or I) have taken a while to try this one.  But I don't care what anyone says, I was not ready until now.  He is my first baby and I will do as I please : )  The next one will be different I'm sure...not like spend the night off when they are a tiny baby though... but before 21 months of age.  If anyone remembers my post from back in the summer about VBS and we started a little bit (or a lot) of separation anxiety?  Well, it has somewhat continued to a degree.  We went to a wedding (congrats Tyne Olkie if you are reading this!), and as soon as we left we get a call that we have to come and get him b/c he has woken up and is crying so hard he is gagging.  Pop took him outside and Carter refused to go back into their house until he was in our arms.  A bit opinionated, I know.  And I was JUST then getting excited about a night off too!  Figures.  We took the little stinker home and he also refused his crib since he has been so "traumatized".  Got him to sleep at about 10:30 and he woke up at 4am not happy.  I guess he wanted to make sure we were still there.  Oh well, we will try again in a few weeks.

If you made it through the post, you are rewarded with a few pictures that I have taken and havnen't gotten to share yet.

September Beach Trip

 Daddy, Carter and the slide

 My Family

Still sleepy.  Preciousness.

He will play golf like his Daddy.  And hopefully get a full paid golf scholarship to college like his Daddy...that would be great.

Inside these 4 walls...

The whole month of August we have pretty much tried to stay INSIDE.  Of course, if I would allow it Carter would stay outside all day.  Whenever a door is open he is flying towards is yelling BYE; the highlight of his day is walking to the car when we have to go run errands.  First sign of cooler weather and lower humidity we will be outside allll day...park, zoo, backyard...because I am sick of being inside too! 

I am bad about rushing the seasons...for example, by the end of the current season I am more than ready for the next.  So needless to say I am anxiously awaiting to see leaves on the ground, pumpkins, and warm clothing.  I am thankful that God gave us different seasons, He knew that we would want some variety in our lives! 
We do have one more beach trip planned with my family, and I am really looking forward to that!  I will get back in summer mode for that trip and then when we get back I will start transitioning back into Fall thinking : )

Here are some pictures of cute things that Carter is doing around the house...

Trying to fill Daddy's shoes

Kind of a weird picture, but funny!  Loves his Daddy and his monkey towel.

First bad boo boo

Loving Thomas

Runs around with my curling iron..with supervision of course ; )

My birthday present from Carter and Daddy...LOVED it

Will be best buds one day...right now they just tolerate each other

I Love You.

 Happy 18 Months Handsome

I love...

the way your face jiggles when you run because your cheeks are so chubby

the way you say "yeah!" and "yes!" to anything I say

the way you only want me when you are hurting or sick

that you snuggle with me and lay your head on my chest even though you are getting bigger

how excited you get when we pull up to the park

staying at home with you and teaching you new things

experiencing new things with you

that you get so excited when Daddy comes home

that you try so hard to jump, don't quite make it off the ground, but are proud of yourself anyways

looking in the back seat of my car and seeing you there

how much you love Daddy and how much Daddy loves you

that the Lord gave me a little boy

to hear you talk in your own language

checking on you 5 times before Daddy and I go to bed and covering you up

how you study things

the way you are startled and jump when I catch you with something you know you aren't supposed to have

that you love golf clubs

how you smack your lips right before I give you your sippy cup of milk

that you carry around 2 blankets

You.

Happy 18 months beautiful baby

Thank you Lord for giving him to me.

Father's Day

Carter made Daddy a fun Father's Day gift. Since Chad doesn't drink coffee I had to come up with something different...and he loves drinking out of tall cups so I thought this would work :) I found this little kit at Michael's for $3, can't beat that!
Funny thing...I was reading a yahoo article of the worst Father's Day gifts and one was homemade crafts. C'MON! Well at least I didn't JUST give him this, he also got a gift card :) But he loved it and is taking it to work to drink out of, yay!

Last weekend we celebrated Father's Day for my Dad at the lake. We went straight from church, had lunch with Kev and Liz and the kiddos at Jacks and then were on our way for some fun in the sun. Mom and Dad recently built a large sun deck down by the lake with an iron fence around it for baby proofing :) Also, the deck is sturdy enough for us to have a pretty big pool on it (meaning, one that all the mamas and babies can sit in at once). And, of course we took a nice boat ride...hot, but nice. Here are some pictures below...

*Newer post below as well.

Avery helping Grandpa drive the boat

Avery and Carter on the sundeck "drinking" cokes

Carter in the pool

Cooling off

Me and little Leah :)

VBS Saddle Ridge Ranch

VBS was so much fun this year. Last year I worked in the big kid crafts, but this year I did pre-school crafts. We ended up doing one craft that was week long, and it turned out really cute, despite the messiness! The ultimate outcome was a hanging mobile that was made of clay. There was a top piece that said Saddle Ridge 2010 and then 3 clay cowboy shapes hanging from it. The kids got to cut out the shapes and paint them and then we strung them up for them. They were all SO proud of their creations, and rightfully so :) I cannot wait to see all the wonderful crafts Carter will proudly present to me over the next years!
Since I was working VBS, I of course had Carter in tow and he had his own VBS classroom. And this is just what he thought about it....

Yes, he hated it...well, let me come up with a stronger word than hate...despise...that's about right. He DESPISED every moment. Majority of the time he was crying, if he wasn't crying he was snubbing and being brought to me with red eyes. Every morning when I would drop him off at his door (my classroom was only down the hall...but of course he didn't know that) he would pitch an absolute fit and act as if I was feeding him to alligators. What's weird is he has been fine going in the nursery on Sunday mornings..but maybe he knew it was during the week and he was supposed to be at home with Mommy, or maybe it's just a phase, who knows. Either way he only made it Monday through Wednesday and then Chad's Mom kept him the remaining 2 days. I did end up with 3 sweet crafts he made while he was there though...did I mention I love crafts? One was the picture above that is actually a magnet to go on the fridge, another picture that is framed in foam and says "VBS", and the third is a canvas with his footprint on it (which could only cause a mother's heart to melt...what is it about footprints and hand prints, I could wallpaper my whole house in them and be fine).

Since VBS, at the beginning of June, I have apparently scarred my child. Every time Chad and I remotely even start to get ready to leave the house, he will catch on to the "getting ready" signs and cling for dear life to our legs saying bye bye and crying. He will continue to follow us around the house crying until we pick him up and assure him he is going with us. Bless the poor little thing! Maybe next year he will actually enjoy VBS!