ColourPop!!!

So it’s been a minute.  Life gets hectic! I found myself drowning in both of my son’s birthdays, two vacations in the month of April, and then the 500 days of May at school and finishing up the year.  So yeah, I took a temporary hiatus from this wonderful blog that I love so much! But, it’s summer now, and I am ready and rejuvenated and excited to grow and develop Littles and Life by Lauren!

The one thing I have discovered about myself is that I have become a makeup junkie.  I LOVE MAKEUP.  It’s not like I even wear it every day, but lately, I am obsessed with discovering new beauty products, both high-end and drugstore.  A few months ago I discovered ColourPop cosmetics, which is this fabulous makeup company that has trendy, amazingly high-quality products at a drugstore price.  Since discovering it, I seriously cannot stop ordering it.  Yeah, it’s not in a store, so you can’t try on colors, but the prices are seriously so cheap that you don’t mind taking a chance on the fun colors.

Various lip colors and formulas

Pressed shadows usually come with a free palette when you buy so many

A few of the pressed shadows I own

My favorite thing to buy from ColourPop is their lip products.  Lately I have been OBSESSED with wearing lipstick, something that I never really ventured into before.  See below my favorite lip formulas from ColourPop, and please ignore the selfies and just look at the wonderful lip colors!!

LIPPIE STIX-

These are as close to a traditional lipstick formula as you can get.  They are creamy, apply easily, and have a pretty long wear.  They are hard to mess up and they have a wide-range of colors.  Some of my favorite colors are Lumiere, Button, and Oh Snap.

Lippie Stix in Button

ULTRA SATIN LIP

This formula is matte and super long-wearing! You have to be a little more careful when you apply it, but once it’s on, it’s ON. Some of my favorites in this formula are London Fog, Chandelier, Strip, and Dopey.

Ultra Satin Lip in London Fog

BLOTTED LIP and ULTRA BLOTTED LIP

This is one of the most interesting formulas in my opinion and my favorites.  These feel like you are wearing nothing once they are on and are almost stain-like, like you’ve just had a popsicle.  The color also is long-wearing.  Some of my favorites are Split, Deja Vu, and Lolly.

Ultra Blotted Lip in Split

ColourPop frequently releases new collections and they sell out super-fast, so if there is something you want, GO FOR IT!! I hope you enjoy and try some out! Leave a comment if you love ColourPop and let me know your favorites!

Dry Shampoo = LIFE

It’s not exactly a secret.  Dry shampoo is the shit.  As a mom, this is probably my number one life hack.  Who has time to wash their hair, let alone, dry it and straighten/curl it more than like twice a week?  If you are like me and have a LOT of hair, this is quite a process, one that I am hardly able to face more than once or twice a week.  So, enter dry shampoo.  It not only soaks up the greasy shiz that takes over, but it just refreshes your hair, makes it smell good, and gives that blow out life!

Now, let’s be real.  Most of the time, when I’m just with my kids, running errands, having play dates, my hair looks like this:

So, yeah.  That’s life.  But when I actually put in some effort and I’m not washing my hair, and getting “glam”, I turn to dry shampoo to save the day.  Below are three of my favorites.

1. Loreal Fresh Dust

A great choice as far as dry shampoos go!

This was one of the first dry shampoos I ever fell in love with.  I went to Palm Springs a few years ago and got a blow out at a blow dry bar and they used this after.  Yes, dry shampoo does not only have to be used when your hair is dirty.  It is great just as a styling spray and really can give your hair some dimension and texture.  I was immediately in love with the smell and the way it gave my hair some texture.  You can order it on Amazon for $23.

2. Not Your Mother’s Shampoo Dry Clean Freak (unscented)

A great affordable dry shampoo

 

I found this product from a friend when I was needing to try out some different dry shampoos.  I love that is is a) affordable, and b) doesn’t smell like gross chemicals.  This is just your average, run-of-the-mill dry shampoo.  It freshens your hair up and gives your style life again.  You could use this all the time and never get tired of it! I got mine on Amazon for just under $10.

3) Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam

FOAM DRY SHAMPOO

THE HOLY GRAIL

 

Omg. Omg. Omg.  This is hands-down, my most favorite hair products probably ever.  This hair care line was created by Jen Atkin (the Kardashian’s hair stylist), and at first I was like no way, not going to support that.  But then I kept hearing more about it, and I became completely intrigued.  I mean, it was a dry shampoo that was a FOAM??? I couldn’t wrap my head around it, so I decided I had to try it to find out what it was really all about.  Holy shit.  It’s as amazing as everyone was saying.  First of all, it smells AMAZING.  Second, it’s just like a hair mousse.  You squirt some in your hand, then apply all over your roots.  It does NOT leave your hair greasy at all.  By some magic, it just kind of disappears but leaves your hair completely refreshed.  It’s kind of like magic.  After one use, I was HOOKED.  It’s a little pricier ($28 on Sephora.com), but completely worth it.

I hope you guys liked my dry shampoo picks! Let me know what your favorite dry shampoo is in the comment section below! And let me know if you end up loving any of those above!

A Whole Lotta Love for Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Almost! I’m feeling proud that I’m actually ready ahead of time for this holiday! I bought the boys some cute little Valentine’s gifts today and I have left to do is get them each a Valentine’s day balloon.  Because let’s face it, all my kids need to be happy in life is a helium balloon.  Any other mommas out there swear they will not go overboard on these silly little holidays and then when it comes down to it, you just can’t help yourself?  I can’t be alone!

Love is in the air around here lately…

 

I wanted to share with you guys this week a few little things that have been making us all happy lately…

Field Trip to Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Factory

Last week, I took the boys on a little field trip to Mrs. Grossman’s sticker factory in Petaluma.  I had no idea, but Mrs. Grossman’s is the ONLY sticker factory left in the United States.  They also make wine labels, which is kind of cool as well.  We had so much fun touring the factory, actually watching thousands of stickers being made right in front of our eyes.  The best part is they give you TONS of stickers throughout the tour.  At the end, they gave us even more stickers and a chance to make a little craft.

Sticker crafting at Mrs. Grossman’s in Petaluma

The whole thing lasted under an hour.  You have to have reservations for the tour, check it out their tour information HERE.

Kissable lips for Valentine’s Day

Obsessed with these lipsticks from Benefit

You know I’m a complete makeup junkie these days.  I’m currently loving these They’re Real BIG Sexy Lipsticks from Benefit.   These lipsticks have a built in lipliner RIGHT INTO THE LIPSTICK.  Who has time to put on lipstick, let alone, line your lips??? The shape of the lipstick makes your lips actually look a little bit better.  Always a good thing!

This cute little kit comes with four colors: a rose, orangey-red, red, and pink.  I really love all the colors, especially the rose color.  And you get all four colors for $29, which is a fantastic deal!  Get those lips ready for some Valentine’s day kissing!

Smoothie Time

I’m back on that healthy life kick.  This is my year of health and I’m really proud to say I’m starting to see results.  I’ve been back in the gym 3-4 times a week doing a mix of pilates, bootcamp, and strength-training.  I even took a two hour workshop last week on learning how to use the pilates reformer machines with my friend Hahna.  Along with all the gym stuff, I’ve been making a serious effort to fuel my body with things that are good for it!

One of my favorite healthy breakfasts these days are my Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie.  If you know me, you know I have a SERIOUS peanut butter addiction.  It’s not even funny how much I love peanut butter.  And you know that when you are trying to lose weight peanut butter is not your best friend.  Sure, it’s got a lot of protein, but it’s also loaded with fat.  Thank goodness for PB2, which if you don’t know what it is, it’s a powdered peanut butter you mix with water, and it only has like 40 calories per two tablespoons.

So, my Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie is my way of still feeling like I get to enjoy peanut butter and I also get a whole serving of dark leafy greens as well.  It’s a win-win.

Delicious! Even my kids love it!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

1 banana

Handful of frozen blueberries (or any frozen fruit you like!)

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 tablespoons of PB2

1 scoop of your favorite protein powder (mine is HERE)

1 cup of power greens

ice

*Combine all in blender then ENJOY!  You can also add chia seeds if you like!

This little monster can be very sweet when he wants to be

That’s all for this week! I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day with all your loves!

January Beauty Picks

 

This post is a very long time coming.  I have been trying to write it since right after Christmas; at that time it was called “December Beauty Picks.”  Then I got swallowed in winter break and then it was time to head back to work.  Since then, it’s been one thing after another it seems.  My best friend came into town (yay!), I got sick (boo!), Brian and I went to Tahoe (yay!), then my son got sick (boo!).  And, I won’t lie to you, I’ve had a very hard time getting the motivation to sit down and do the damn thing! I love this blog so very much; I just don’t know what it is about me and motivation sometimes.

I have declared 2017 my year of health.  I’m making a very concerted effort to work out more consistently, which seems to keep getting derailed by illness in my house.  Ug.  Weight watchers is starting this weekend, because let’s face it, when you weigh more than you did right after you had your second child, shit has to change.  My youngest son, Asher, is finally on the mend with his chronic ear infections, and hopefully will be getting tubes in his ears as soon as possible.  So yes, this is a year of health for not only me, but my family as well.

In between all of the craziness of this new year, the boys are becoming the best of friends.  Watching their relationship develop is one of the best parts of parenting I have experienced so far.

Making mud pies after all this rain

They definitely fight their fair share, but they have such a strong brotherly bond.

Water and dirt, nothing better!

Onto my January beauty picks:

Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment

I have been using this in my hair for probably the past six years.  At first I was so leery, oil in my hair??? I have SUPER thick wavy hair and have always had to use a spray-in detangler after getting out of the shower.  Once I started using this I replaced my spray-in detangler with this spray treatment.  It makes my hair really easy to comb through and just makes it shinier all over.  It’s very lightweight and will NOT weigh down your hair.  If you blow-dry your hair and use styling tools on it, it is SUPER important you protect your hair before doing so.  And it’s only like $12 a bottle.  So cheap!

Benefit Goof-Proof Brow Pencil

Have you noticed how in the beauty world it’s all about eyebrows these days? Aside from occasionally plucking mine to keep up their shape, I have NEVER cared about mine.  Until lately!  Suddenly I have found myself in this obsession with my eyebrows and filling them in.  Nothing crazy, because I’ve got no time for anything high-maintenance, but I like to fill them in just enough to give them a little bit more structure.  I had tried using an Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz pencil at first but I just didn’t dig it.  Then I got this Benefit one and it was a game-changer.  I love the angle of the pencil; it seriously makes it so easy to use.  I basically know nothing about eyebrows and I feel like I am able to actually use this!  When my best friend came into town at the beginning of the month I used it on her and she went home and immediately bought it because she could’t believe how easy it was either.  They aren’t kidding when they call it “Goof Proof!”

Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Collection Palette

I got this for my sister for Christmas.  Long story short, when I went to buy it for her at Sephora I had both boys with me, and Cooper ended up looking like this:

Cooper did his own makeup!

It was a bit of a stressful shopping trip so I grabbed myself one of these palettes as well, because momma needed something to look forward to after that experience!  I’m so glad I did because it is one of the best palettes I have ever used!

The colors are so beautiful and you can definitely do a complete look using just this.  I like that there are so many basic colors but also they threw in some fun ones to change your look up.  I feel like the colors are really pigmented and stay throughout the day.  Also, it smells like peaches! Seriously! It’s a little more pricey, but absolutely worth it!

I hope you guys enjoy this months picks! I got a bunch of Sephora gift certificates for Christmas and I bought a bunch of new products that I will be including in my February Beauty Picks next month!

November Beauty Picks

So, once again, it’s been awhile! With the holidays now here, I’m finding that every thing from the kids to work has been busier than ever!  I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving filled with lots of family and good things to eat.   This year is Cooper’s first year in preschool, and I was so excited to get to take him to his Thanksgiving Feast with his class.  As a teacher and now a mom, I have been DYING to be on the parent side of things.  It was so adorable to see him interact with his teacher and his classmates.  I loved every minute of being a parent helper and hanging with my little turkey!

Preschool Thanksgiving Feast

Getting down with pumpkin pie

Every year on Thanksgiving Eve we participate in a throw-down competition, ala Bobby Flay style, with our friends.  This year the category was macaroni and cheese.  It is a night always filled with good food, wine, and friends.  It gets a little competitive.  Sadly, Brian and I have yet to win one, and I don’t think I can eat macaroni and cheese for about six months. Next year is another chance though!

Brian and I at the throw-down competitio

Moving on to something I love almost as much as the holidays: beauty supplies!  All my fellow moms out there know: you seriously don’t have very much time for yourself with littles.  Most days my hair is totally unwashed, in a mom-bun and I wear zero makeup.  However, I do think it’s important to take care of yourself and getting ready and putting on makeup can make you feel like a human again.  I love makeup, skin-care products, and hair products so much.  I’m hoping every month to feature a few of my all-time favorites as well as try new products for you guys.  I am very loyal to the products I love, but I also get so excited to try new things.  I also believe in using an assortment of high and low-end products; I believe you don’t have to break the bank to look great, but there are some areas you just don’t skimp on.  So, the following are my December beauty picks:

1) Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing WaterThis stuff is AMAZING for taking off your makeup.  I never used to use a makeup remover, I just used face wash and scrubbed really hard.  It was super harsh on my eyes and I wear contacts so it was all kind of a mess, as you can imagine.  I used coconut oil for awhile, which I also loved until I discovered this cleansing water.  It is so gentle, and seriously has no smell.  I use it every night to take off my makeup with a cotton ball.  I also use some on a cotton ball for the mornings that I’m really lazy and don’t want to wash my face.  It freshens you up just enough so you don’t feel so grubby! It’s just under $7 on Amazon; I have also purchased it from CVS.

2) Biore Deep Pore Charcoal CleanserThis face wash is seriously wonderful.  For probably fifteen years of my life I used Neutrogena Deep Pore Cleanser, but I started hearing about charcoal skin cleansers and I was super intrigued.  I bought this also at CVS (the link above is to Amazon- FYI) and I saw such a difference in my skin.  I have pretty combination skin, but I MUST use an oil-free cleanser or shit gets crazy in my skin.  This charcoal cleanser really cleans my face and somehow makes it feel a little bit tighter.  It also seems to have evened out my skin somehow.  I highly recommend it!

3) Maybelline Master Conceal Camouflaging Concealer Okay, so another great drug-store find.  I owe this one all to my sister.  I told you I was loyal to products, for years I used Benefit Boing concealer (which I’m still obsessed with, look for it in a later blog post) and then Benefit Erase Paste for my under-eye circles.  Guys, I have serious dark circles under my eyes most of the time.  With two little boys who really prefer being awake to asleep at night, I look haggard a majority of the time.  My under-eye concealer was just not cutting it and I noticed my sister using this Maybelline product.  She swore by it so I tried it and I’m now totally a convert.  I use the shade Light, and put it on like big upside down triangles under my eyes and go to town blending it in with a Beauty Blender sponge.  Life changing!

4) Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick FoundationThis pick is definitely more of a splurge, but I really do believe that your foundation is not something to cheap out on.  You need the color to match your skin tone and you need that shit to blend REALLY well.  If it’s sticky or watery, you are going to hate life.  So, pre-kids I wore just a Benefit BB cream.  It was kind of like a step up from a tinted moisturizer. After kids I quickly realized that is was not enough coverage for me.  My skin, thanks to two pregnancies, was super uneven and covered in awesome dark spots (not!).  I needed more coverage.  However, I do not want to look like my foundation is an inch thick or like I’m wearing a mask.  This past summer, while I was getting my makeup done by an awesome makeup artist in Hawaii, I asked her what she recommended for foundation.  She recommended these Make Up For Ever foundation sticks.  She actually used it on me for the wedding.  As soon as we got back I got myself to Sephora and picked one up.  I love the way the foundation goes on smoothly and evenly.  I apply it to my cheeks, nose and forehead and again, use my Beauty Blender sponge to blend it all in.  It has great coverage but feels so lightweight.

I hope you guys enjoy all my November beauty picks! Please let me know what type of products you would like to see featured next month below in the comments!