Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Hair, Hair, HAIR!!

Hair has always been something fun for me.  I desperately wanted a perm as a child of the 80s, crimped the heck out of it in the 90s, and began chopping it off in high school.  For years I had long dark hair...which is beautiful, but bored me.  Now, I sport a short rocker pixie.  I have the sides and back shaved with clippers.  The top is funky and piecey.  To say I love my hair is an understatement.  However, that being said, it's still just hair to me.  It doesn't define me.  I see it as one more way to express my style.  Short hair can be easy, as long as you have the right product.  I'm a product junkie. I've tried so many things out there, some are awesome, some I took right back to Ulta.  (did you know you can take stuff back there if you don't like it??)

I recently came across not only a product I adore, but an entire brand that I think ROCKS!  Best part?  It's at Ulta, CVS, Walgreens, Target...everywhere...which means the price is right ($6)!  Trust me when I say, I've truly tried it all...TIGI, Pureology, Got2Be, Redken, the whole gamut.  What product?  *drumroll*  "Not Your Mother's"  not to be confused with the older women's jean line.  This line of products is awesome.  I currently use the Beach Babe line that's sea salt infused and give that great texture like you want from a sea salt spray.  I use the spray, hair cream, shampoo, and conditioner.  I need grip to my hair to make it do anything.  After discovering how awesome that stuff was, I saw a BOGO offer at Ulta and decided to try the She's a Tease volumizing hairspray and the Short Order cream.  Both are great for my short hair!  The last product in my NYM arsenal is the Double Take dry finish texture spray.  It's very similar to a spray wax, without the build-up. 

Can you tell I really really love this stuff?  Do you use NYM, what products?  

fyi, I'm not being paid or sponsored by Ulta or NYM...though that would be pretty cool. ;)

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Dallas Spring Bucket List!

Every season I have a list of things I want to see/do/eat/etc.  This spring is no exception, especially considering that a Texas spring lasts about five minutes.  In no particular order, here is my list of Spring "to-dos" in Dallas. **Giveaway alert!!  Check out that clutch on the list...it could be yours!**

1. Dallas Farmer's Market on a crisp morning.  There are plenty of reasons to love the Dallas Farmer's Market.  One is the yummy local produce.  You can taste almost everything at the different stands.  I do prefer to buy organic produce, even better, local organic.  DFM has also grown to include plants and an indoor restaurants!  Starting this Friday, you can get natural meat, cheese, eggs, artisan food, handcrafted breads and pastries, and fresh produce!  It's a great place to go people watch and enjoy the outdoors.  Go early, wear comfy shoes, and bring your reusable bags!  I always end up leaving with a plant or two, as well. **If you feel like crossing the bridge to the Bishop Arts District, make sure to hit up Urban Acres Farm Store.  It's so so so good.  Go in the morning, and you can snag a delicious breakfast something made from scratch!**


2. Dallas Arboretum "Dallas Blooms".  This is, by far, the best time to go to the Arboretum!  The place is FILLED with tulips and other gorgeous blooms.  You can pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the feeling of cool grass between your toes as you stretch out under a shade tree.   If you're a parent, you can take the little ones to the new Children's Adventure Garden.  Get your tickets at Tom Thumb and save $1 per ticket or BOGO on Wednesdays!  They're open daily 9a-5p. 

3. Take pictures in the bluebonnets!!  I've managed to make this happen one year in the past four.  I forget, and then they're gone! poof!  Some of my favorite spots can be found on the Texas Bluebonnet Sightings Facebook page!

4. Cover our sidewalk with sidewalk chalk drawings.  The kid in me comes out when I buy the girls a new pack of sidewalk chalk.  I'm not being paid to say, I think Crayola makes the best chalk.  The colors are super vibrant.  My little ladies love: Tic-tac-toe, hopscotch, racetracks, a treasure hunt map, body tracings that they can color in, flowers, bubble letters of their names to color in, giant rainbows, and anything else I'm able to come up with.  

5. Carwash/housewash.  Sounds weird, right?  Well, I love to keep the girls occupied with fun non-electronic activities.  When the weather is gorgeous, like it is most days now, I like to send them outside.  A spray bottle and a washcloth in hand, and they're ready to "clean".  They have a cute little playhouse that my dad found on Craigslist.  It's adorable, but can be a dirt magnet when it rains.  Did you know kids love to use a spray bottle on anything they can??  I put their wellies on and let them have at it.  This also works for any outdoor toys or patio furniture that can get wet.  Genius! 

6. Baseball games!!  Being that the hubs is a coach (he keeps saying this year is his last year...), this one is easy to check off the list.  What's even more fun is a Ranger or Roughrider game.  The Frisco Roughriders offer a great family night out.  On Fridays, there's a firework show!  Their home opener is April 9th at 7:05p.  There are TWO playgrounds on-site, plus an abundance of hot dogs and popcorn. ;)

7.  Garden.  Does this surprise you since two of my ideas already included some form of plants/flowers.  I love to take the girls to the garden center and looks at all the flowers.  I plan to get them each a cheap clay pot to paint and then fill with their own flower selection.  This is a super cheap, but fun, project.  It can even span over a few days or a weekend, even better!  Nothing brightens up a doorstep or patio more than some color!  

8.  Have a picnic.  We love the local nature preserve, Arbor Hills.  There is a whole covered area with picnic tables that overlooks the park.  Wherever you go, just go!  Pack some sandwiches, fruit, chips, drinks, maybe a blanket, sidewalk chalk or bubbles are always a hit, too!  **Central Market in Plano is another great spot, picnic tables right next to the playground.  Adults can also just dine al fresco and enjoy all the yummy food selections CM has!**

9.  Try a new nail polish color.  Spring is the perfect time to freshen your look.  I always love pastels in the spring, especially mint and lilac.  This season, mint is everywhere!  I love to coordinate my nails and toes vs matchy matchy.  Right now, I have a light grey on my nails and a soft coral on my toes.  If you're not into trendy colors on your nails, try your toes or even as an accessory!  I just got this mint clutch from Stella & Dot and can't wait to use it on Easter.    

10.  Have a backyard bbq.  This is one of my favorite things to do in the spring and summer.  I've been busy finding recipes for everything from jalapeƱo white sangria to a yummy homemade bbq sauce.  I better get the girls to work now with their spray bottles...

What's on your spring bucket list?  Tell me and you could win a swag bag of stuff to brighten winter skin and some great spring trends to try all packaged up in a new makeup bag!  Like that clutch??  You might just win it!! **giveaway ends on April 16th, winner announced on April 18th**

How to enter: Comment below with a thing or two on your Spring Bucket List! Follow my blog here or on Bloglovin'!  That's it!