Beach Vacay Essentials

We leave on Wednesday, as a family (as in with my four kids 😁😁😁😁) for Florida! The forecast isn't exactly swimming weather for the locals but I have no doubt my children will spend countless hours in the surf. 

Talk to me about your essential beach items. SPF is a definite must. What should I bring with me? Lipsticks or no?

Are there any products I must have? I'm sure my thirsty-Midwestern-frozeb-tundra skin will be thankful for the humidity. I'm getting my packing list ready! Hit me with your best beachy products!

Winner Winner Lipstick Winner!

I'm so happy that so many of my friends have decided to try this wonderful lipstick!

We have a winner!

I don't know about you but every time I am the first commenter I get a little bummed. #1 is NEVER chosen! But today it was!

Sarah!
Please email me at ccandjdo@gmail.com

Mustard Cords

I have mustard on the brain. It's my color. You know, the color you're drawn to. The one you wear even though it's not supposed to be worn by you. It clashes with your hair, or whatever. That's mustard and yellow in general for me. It. Is. My. Favorite.

I'm obsesssssed right now. I can't stop thinking about mustard corduroy skinnies. For days I've been coordinating outfits. However, I'm unable to locate the dream pair of mustard cords.

I've found a few that I *like* but I'm not sure they're THE ONES.

First, because they're a staple item, I checked ever faithful GAP.
Gap Cords

 

I mean they're skinny and cords. But no mustard to be found. I like the camel, I love the wine color but it's just not MY color.

So, I continued my quest.

Madewell was next. 

 Not cords. Not Mustard. So, why am I tempted?
 Next Anthroplogie. Certainly they'll have mustard cords. Is mustard not even a color anymore? Why can't I find any mustard cords.

These were perfect. Except. They're wine. But I was so tempted. They look so incredibly comfortable and cozy and not mustard.

I was getting desperate at this point. No mustard cords anywhere.
eBay?

These are SO close. I would have hit BIN if not for one small thing. I have no idea what size I wear at Ann Taylor. I mean seriously I have some skirts that are 4s some 8s and I think a couple dresses that are 10s. All fit. I would hate to get my unicorn pants only to be disappointed. Know that I am one of the two watchers.

My last and final attempt at finding these elusive mustard cords brought me to J. Crew.

Why didn't I look there first or second you ask? Well, I did. I looked there yesterday and they had ZERO mustard cords. This morning? They do!!! I'm so excited I'm going to go to J. Crew with all of my kids (because teacher workshop day?) and try them on to figure out which size works best for me!!! And better than that? They have a tall inseam length! I feel like these might be my elusive mustard unicorn cord.

Which one is your favorite? What is your fall unicorn? That elusive item you just can't find or are constantly on the hunt for?]

xoxo,
CP

Tutorial Request?

So the holidays are fast approaching.  Carly did a fabulous post last year for a holiday eye. 

I'm thinking we need a smokey eye tutorial? Or something else entirely? Natural looking eye? Bold/crazy colors.

What do you want to see peeps of the blogosphere? More lipstick? I mean come on there's always room for lipstick, right?

Help me figure out what you want to see!

xoxo
CP

Budget Beauty Find

So, you know I big puffy heart love lipstick. As in I spend all of my monthly makeup allowance on lipstick. I am usually pretty loyal to those brands found at Sephora for a couple of reasons.
1. I'm lazy. I like to be able to apply my lipstick once during the day and not really need to reapply.
2. Better colors. I'm just saying. There are so many options and you're able to actually SEE the lipstick and not that little plastic thing with a not-even-close-to-accurate-swatch.
However, a friend of mine on instagram posted a picture of Maybelline #660 matte lipstick. It was glorious. I was determined to find it. I was not disappointed.

I now have at least 4 of the Maybelline matte lipsticks. There are a few more shades I 'need'.

These lipsticks have great staying power and a KILLER price tag at $5.49 at Target!

Here's what I want you to do....head on over to Maybelline and check out the matte line.  Comment here and let me know what color is your favorite!

One lucky commenter will get a FREE lipcolor!

 #660- Touch of Spice!

 # 670-Ravishing Rose (Reminds me of NARS Audrey)

 #695-Divine Wine

PS this giveaway is sponsored by me! and my love of a great product! Winner will be contacted by email and must provide a mailing address for the lipstick! Good luck! Contest will end on Tuesday-October 28 at 9:00 pm CST!

xoxo,
C

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED :) Thank you so much to all that entered! I'm super excited to be sharing my favorite new product with you all!

Fall Findings Preview

I know. Last time I blogged it was spring and I was blogging my Summer Lust List.

I blinked and somehow it's August. My kids (2 of the 4 anyway) start school in a couple of weeks. I'm planning on homeschooling my preschooler. That means that despite the hot and muggy temps I'm facing, I'm also planning ahead. For Fall.

I think Fall is the best season. I know I'm not alone in that belief. There are internet memes proclaiming love for the month of October. Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING. I mean, everyone loves fall.

Me? I love fall for slightly different reasons. Don't get me wrong, I love pumpkin spice lattes as much as the next girl but really for me fall is tops because of the colors. Leaves are changing. Everything is dark. Harvests are completed. Clothes get darker. They get heavier and cozier. Lipsticks get richer and deeper.

I'm going to share with you a couple of lipsticks I've found for FALL.

If you aren't already aware, I have an addiction of sorts to lipsticks. They make me feel like I can do anything. I feel invincible and put together with just a pop of color. It's a staple in my wardrobe and daily routine.

First up:

Bite Cosmetics Deconstructed Rose Lipstick: Crimson It's $28 and has a great lasting power!
It smells gloriously like roses and had a great lasting power. It's a limited edition for Sephora.

 

Next up in my fall arsenal: 

Lorac Alter Ego:Dominatrix $16 At this price point I'm going to be honest and say that I was hesitant to try it. Usually cheaper lipsticks don't last, they don't feel nice and the pigment isn't as good. I'm happy to report that I was completely wrong. This lipstick is amazing! The pigmentation is incredible and it feels really smooth. I can't wait to try different shades by Lorac.

CP Lust List Volume 1

It's spring! Sorta. Kinda. Maybe? I mean it did snow here within the last week. The midwest is super nuts when it comes to weather but that doesn't stop me from lusting over all things spring & eventual summer.

I want to share with you a list of 10 things that I'm currently Lusting Over. So I present:
 CP's Lust List. Volume 1.

1. Baldwin Denim's The KC Hat in Black/White $48
 I'm just branching out into the world of hats. Inspired by part, by my girl Jenn. She rocks them flawlessly. The idea of throwing on a hat on a busy morning is so incredibly appealing.

2. Miss Me Skinny Jeans $99.50
Have you ever tried on Miss Me jeans? If not? Hurrrrry to the nearest vendor and try them on. Your ass will thank you. I suffer what I call "White Girl Booty" and it's more commonly known as flat ass. I have been running for months, squatting and trying hard to build a booty but these jeans seriously, and I mean seriously, help! Yes the price is a little steep but quality denim lasts and lasts! Plus, you can't beat a nice booty! I only wish they came in a slightly longer inseam. #LongLegProblems

3. Toms Woven Sandals $69
These sandals are perfection. Black and white? Aztec print? Slight wedge? Like I said, perfection. They will go with jeans and dress up nicely. Also, I need them.

4. SmashBox Be Legendary Lipstick in Fuchsia Flat Matte $20
Because one can never have too many fuchsia lipsticks. (At least that's what I keep telling myself.)

5. H&M Patterned Maxi Dress  $24.95
Super cute. Super fashionable and cheap! It's a winner in my book!

6. Sequined Sugar Skull Top  $39.90
I have a thing for skulls and this one is just gorgeous! It's feminine all the while.

7. Mint Julep Clutch by KSladeMade $130
I've been following KSladeMade on instagram for a while. I've been lusting over their fold over clutches for ages. They are hand made in the USA and can be monogrammed for an additional charge. Growing up nobody ever had Christia on pencils, those little state license plates, the what does your name mean at the fair. I'm obsessed with all things personalized. Obviously I would go for the monogrammed ;)

8. Gap Moto Denim Jacket $89.95 but come on, who pays full price at Gap?

I actually already own this jacket. It's so amazing though, that it belongs on this list. It's SO cute and comfy! I just adore it. It goes well with dresses, you can wear it with a tunic and leggings. It's completely versatile. BUY IT (on sale, of course!)

9. TumbleWeeds Heartfetti Sunglasses $70
I just don't have words. These sunglasses are amazing. So cute and handmade?! I am just in awe. I love the heart shape. They totally remind me of my childhood and the plastic sunglasses I used to wear! I want them SO bad!

10. H&M Jersey Tanks  $5.95
A couple of weeks ago these shirts were on sale for $5/each! I seriously stocked up. I think I have every single color. I might have a bit of a problem but they are perfect for summer. Jeans, leggings, skirt, over your swimsuit? They work with anything and in basically any situation.

What are you currently lusting after?! Broaden my horizons and share your finds!

xo,
CP

Nude Lips

To be honest, for a long time I just didn't get nude lipstick. What's the point? I mean why wear lipstick that doesn't look like lipstick? One day, at CVS they were having a buy one get one on Maybelline Cosmetics sooo I bought two. One nude lipstick and one fuchsia. The fuchsia was a bust. Nothing compares to Yves Saint Laurent's le fuchsia. Nothing. But the nude...that was a whole 'nother story. 

Suddenly I understood why nude. I got it. I had stumbled upon the perfect nude shade for me. I'm still searching for the perfect shade that lasts (the maybelline does not have staying power which requires frequent reapplication). So I present to you my nude. Lipstick. I also challenge you to find your nude. ;)

Lipstick: Maybelline Nude Lust

Eyeshadow: urban decay naked 2 & naked 3

Eyeliner: almay 

Mascara: tarte gifted 

Who loves pizza?

Probably a rhetorical question because, duh! Everyone likes pizza.

Since I turned thirty I've been slowly trying to get my fat ass not so much. Five, almost six, weeks ago I joined an 8 week challenge which has a possibility of a seriously decent payout. I'm probably not going to win but I have definitely seen some major changes in my body since starting. 

And how does that relate to pizza, you're probably asking yourself. 

Well since I'm in the throes of this challenge and my kids asked for homemade pizza for dinner last night I improvised. 

Pizza...salad? 

Alright so I know it sounds a little...weird? But I swear it's good! The key is to use a flavorful marinara as your dressing. Hubs brought home a jar of Simply Nature organic Marinara. 1/2 c is 40 calories! I can definitely get down with that. 

So what you'll need for this interesting salad:

Bagged lettuce. (Or regular if you're not lazy like I clearly am)

Marinara Sauce

Shredded mozzarella 

And your favorite pizza toppings 

I did orange bell peppers, pepperoni, black olives and tomatoes. 

It's such a quick and easy dinner and it's so delicious! My plate last night was less than 400 calories and it was a huge salad and I was SO full! 

Give it a try and let me know what you think. 

Darling so it goes...

Some things are meant to be.

I've been stuck on the idea of using gas station letters for a wall art project for a few months now.  I scoured etsy and there are a ton of vendors who sell vintage/used gas station letters but most of them were selling for about $9/letter.  Cute, but not cute enough for the price.  So, I did a little google searching and realized that it would be cheaper - much cheaper - to buy a kit from a sign company.

I used one of my pinterest boards as inspiration and decided on some of my favorite lyrics.  Elvis, UB40, Ingrid Michaelson, whatever your pleasure, the song is beautiful and I love it.

After spacing out the letters and doing some fancy measuring with blue tape we picked up some 3M double sided foam tape and we were ready to go.  To be honest, all the credit for getting this up belongs to Paolo.  I was skeptical of his system, had a little bit of a melt down and ended up leaving him to his own devices to get it done.  

We still have other little things to get done in the apartment but it feels like things are slowly coming together.  Next up, framing wedding pictures!

-J

His & Hers

I've been married for 9 years last October. We'll be celebrating our 10 year anniversary October 22. That's a long time. The first few years of our marriage we never really had a place that was OURS. We had an apartment, we lived in my parents attic, his parent's basement but it wasn't until we moved to Iowa for medical school that we had to make our house a home. We moved into our townhouse sight unseen based on the help of some AWESOME people that I'd never actually met. It definitely served its purpose. It was a 2 bedroom townhouse in an income restricted neighborhood. It was perfect for us. Cheap considering our income was all of $0/year while we were medical students and lived completely off of student loans. It was then I realized I had NO idea who I was. What I liked. How I wanted my home to be decorated. It was then I started to find myself and figure out what from my past I wanted to incorporate into my new life. We lived in that townhouse for just a year and a half and moved the day my 2nd son turned 2. We moved into a house. It was absolutely gigantic in comparison. 4 bedrooms and 2 baths with a basement! It was there we welcomed our third son, Owen and I was able to decorate for the first time, a nursery! We lived in that house until we moved to our first home that we bought in Kansas City. I feel like a grownup now. I can paint the walls whatever color I want (and by I, I mean my husband). I can hammer stuff wherever I'd like. No landlord to stop me.
My room has been a butterfly in the year and a half that we've lived here. Starting off with nothing but basic old stuff from my previous places and transformed and changed into what it is today. A cohesive and peaceful place that I spend way too much time watching Sons of Anarchy in. (I mean Jax Teller. Need I say more?!)
Months ago my friend Jackie sent me a text with the following Etsy listing saying that I needed to make these. It was when I was big into embroidering so we'd thought for sure they would be embroidered.

Buy Pillows Here

I'm in love with the idea of his and hers pillows. They're romantic and cute but I don't say hello there handsome and he definitely doesn't say good morning gorgeous. (Bed head, yo. It's a real thing.)

I know the last time I blogged that I blogged about Matt Nathanson, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy to be blogging about him again. There are other things I'm interested in, Jax Teller for instance....but today as I was listening to one of my favorite Matty songs I had a brilliant idea. It wouldn't go away so I present you with the CC&J spin on his and hers pillows. 

Here are the supplies you'll need. 

I bought a 2 pack of white shams from Walmart. I wasn't sure how this was going to work out so I wanted it to be cheap. I plan on buying better supplies (fabric paint vs. marker for one thing) and making them a bit more refined. But these work! And they were cheap. $15 for the whole project! The Fabric Paint marker was in the craft section of my Walmart. I bought the fattest one they had.
And Red Bull is optional. Unless you're in my life. Then it's a necessity.

First get your marker ready by shaking thoroughly and pressing the tip to get the paint flowing. Once it's flowing PRACTICE your writing. I practiced on my dog's pillow and also a box from my kids' crackers. I practiced mine twice and never practiced Barry's (big mistake, HUGE!).

Next lay your pillow cases/shams whatever out. I highly recommend pinning them to your carpet or otherwise securing them so that your fabric stays nice and taut. Otherwise writing with the marker is a bit of a biotch.

See I wasn't kidding about the Red Bull...delicious.

Then write your word or phrase.

Shove your pillows into the cases and then put them on your bed! Voila! Cute his and hers pillows. I can't wait to get my fabric paint! (Also, stunned looks jacked...sorry B.)

And then listen to this glorious and sexy song.

Kill the Lights-Matt Nathanson (YouTube video...seriously amazing performance)
Kill The Lights MP3

A Baking Story

I started baking about 3 years ago, nothing super fancy, boxed cakes, muffins, and brownies.  You know the stuff you secretly love but you're not supposed to use anymore because the internets is full of tutorials on how to do it from scratch?  That stuff.

Little by little, I started baking more and more from scratch and like the rest of the world, fell in love with cupcakes.  I found baking blogs and started buying cupcake everything.  I started with a whisk, graduated to a hand mixer, and finally after lots of sweat and tears because my buttercream wasn't fluffy enough, I earned my KitchenAid mixer.  In the process of baking cupcakes on a regular basis I acquired a ridiculous amount of stuff: cupcake pans, liners, pastry tips, sprinkles, food coloring, toppers, cupcake books, cupcake kitchen decor, so much cupcake stuff.  I had huge pans, regular pans, mini pans, and then all of a sudden cupcakes were too much.  They were too dainty or too much work or too sweet, basically they just weren't me anymore. So I stopped with the cupcakes and moved on.

I started making simple cakes and cookies, I stopped using all of the extra stuff and fell in love with a few staples.  A few cake pans, baking sheets, a sturdy rubber spatula, and parchment paper.  I'm still learning, I'm not an expert and on occasion I have massive baking fails that make me want to cry, but I feel more at home in my kitchen now.

We finally finished moving into our new place last week and I got rid of all that extra stuff and it was a GLORIOUS feeling.  I'm a huge fan of purging in general but something about purging in the beginning of a new year, in a new place, just felt right.

Lately, I've been stuck on this recipe.  I followed the directions but I used 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and added 1 vanilla bean, because. Vanilla bean.  Biscotti with a cup of coffee and a new book?  I'm in.

Also, my KitchenAid.  She's red and beautiful and her name is Lucinda.

-J