September POPSUGAR Must Have Box and Discount Code!

This post brought to you by POPSUGAR.// Have you heard about POPSUGAR's "Must Have" boxes? They are monthly subscription boxes that come straight to your door and are filled with all sorts of fab goodies. I had the pleasure of reviewing the September POPSUGAR Must Have Box this month, and I even have a special discount code for you!

If you have a POPSUGAR Must Have Box subscription, you'll receive a box full of surprises every month, delivered to your front door. Filled with items for beauty, fashion, health, fitness, home, entertainment, and more...it's sure to delight any woman! Items are full-size products and premium items selected by POPSUGAR editors...and worth over $100. It's as easy as selecting your subscription (one, three, six, or twelve months) and waiting for happy mail day.

I don't know about you, but I love mail and I love (pleasant) surprises. Seeing the pretty pink pop of color on my front stoop when I pulled into the driveway was the highlight of my day. I had to fight the kids off (I guess they like mail and surprises too), and then I was able to see what the editors from POPSUGAR curated for September....

• Tilo Scarf {So sooo soft, a great layering piece. Nice color too...will work with lots of different outfits. Retails for around $125}
• Nicole Miller Stereo Ear Buds {We are constantly misplacing ear buds in this house. These will be mine, MINE, I tell you! No one else around here can claim to own a pair of cobalt blue ear buds that come with three different sized ear caps}
• Urban Remedy Almond Brownie {100 percent organic ingredients. Seemed like a safe indulgence. And I did. It is gone. All of it.}
• Oribe Superfine Purse Size Hair Spray {This is going in my car, pronto! I don't use a ton of hair spray, so this should go a long way for me. I'll save the cheap hairspray for the girls' recitals. This has good hold. Retails around $21.50}
• Letter C Design Gold Foil Arrow Pencils {J'adore! These are so cute, and they came with a tiny little pencil sharpener. Great for marking down dates in my agenda}
• Rifle Paper Co. Garance Dore "Assorted Girls" Set {These are so fun. The pretty fashionista cards would be cute framed in a girls' room, or in an envelope on their way to your bestie.}
• Nike $20 Gift Card {This was sent to purchase a new perfect fit Nike Pro Bra. I actually do need a new sports bra, but wonder if they have anything that will fit "the girls."}
• Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Sea Salt and Almond Minis {Oh, the POPSUGAR people clearly know the way to my heart! I will likely devour these while binge-watching Revenge before the new season returns}

                       

I don't know how well you did in math at school (I was awful), but the cost of the scarf alone exceeds the cost of a one month subscription for a Must Have Box! Don't we all deserve a little pampering? This would be an awesome thing to add to your Christmas wish list this year. Whether you work in or out of the home, whether you're a mom, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother, empty-nester, or whatever....you deserve a little pampering too, and there's something to please everyone!

I've got a little surprise of my own for you...

Use the code SEPT14SELECT and you can save $10 off a 3 month subscription! This offer is good from now until September 30 at 11:59 pm. 

Run, don't walk, and get your own Must Have Box from the POPSUGAR editors. Pass the code on to your mom, your friend, your significant other...anyone. I hope you have a chance to feel as pampered as I did!

Which item would you have enjoyed most in this month's box?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.



Disclosure: POPSUGAR provided me with a complimentary POPSUGAR Must Have box. The opinions I have shared about the box are my own and POPSUGAR did not tell me what to say or how to say it.

How to Apply Jamberry Nail Wraps (A Step by Step Photo Tutorial)

On Tuesday, I told you all about why I am in love (and a little bit addicted to) with Jamberry. Today, I'm going to show you just how easy they are to apply! I've got a step-by-step photo tutorial to share, but you can also view some application how-to videos on Alison's Jamberry website. It may seem like a lot of steps at first, but once you've done an application or two, it is a breeze and goes so quickly!

If I can figure 'em out, anyone can! Here's a step by step photo tutorial for you.

Supplies:

1. Dish soap (you want something without oils in it). At home, I use Dawn Free and Clear.

2. Alcohol wipes

3. Mini heater or hair dryer

4. Small, wet wash cloth sealed in a Ziploc bag (Microwave it for 10-15 seconds, or until very warm)

5. Nail file

6. Cuticle pusher

7. Nail scissors or nail clippers

8. Your favorite new set of wraps!

9. Optional: coordinating polish

*Note: You can use Jamberry application supplies (and they're great), but I often use a hair dryer, rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball, and wooden cuticle sticks (you can pick them up in any beauty supply aisle at WM, Target, etc).

Instructions:

1. Wash hands thoroughly, scrubbing nails to remove any oils.

(You may also want to soak the fingers nails of each hand in a bowl of white vinegar after washing.

*Note: For kids, I add a step of having them soak their fingers in white vinegar for a minute after washing their hands. Follow up with wiping that off and then cleaning each fingertip as you go with rubbing alcohol. Kids' fingers are oily!

2. Carefully push back the cuticles of each nail.

(You can also push a cuticle cream that dissolves really stubborn spots)


3. Choose your wrap design! These are "Siesta," which was just discontinued, but there are over 300 designs to choose from online!

4. Use the clear sheet to decide which wrap fits the first finger you want to do.

5. Use the alcohol swab (or a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol) to scrub the first nail clean.

6. Use the nail scissors to trim the amount of wrap you will need (I usually just cut it in half) and use a cuticle pusher to lift it off the sheet and hold it in front of the heater or a hair dryer until the wrap begins to "curl" just slightly. This keeps you from getting your finger oils (ew) on the back and it activates the sticky part.

7. Use the cuticle pusher to continue holding the nail and carefully lay it down on your nail. Then press very firmly, especially on the top edges of your nail.

Tip: Use a cuticle pusher to continue to press the nail down. You can also add the step of using a wine cork for pressure as well.

8. Press your nail, wrap side down, into the warm washcloth in the baggie. It will be HOT. You need the heat to bond the wrap to your nail. Try to hold it for 10 seconds or so. (I sometimes have to microwave my baggie again for 15 seconds or so)

9. Repeat pressing the wrap down on the nail, using the cuticle pusher and/or the wine cork.

10. Repeat the process for the next nail, and so on. If you're painting an "accent nail," do that as your very last step.

11. The nails with the wraps on them will be crinkly at the edges. Don't freak out. Just use your nail scissors to trim the excess. Sometimes you will need to trim your fingernails at the same time if you have big chips like I did.

12. Use your nail file to file in a 45 degree angle downward to finish off your seal and make the edges nice and neat.

13. Use your baggie for one last heat seal and smooth with your cuticle pusher.

And now you have pretty nails!

I really can't say enough good things about Jamberry. Designs that might look a little "busy" on the shopping cart screen translate so nicely on tiny little finger nail sheets. I love the patterns now!

You can visit Alison's Facebook page to learn more about Jamberry, ask questions, and to request a free sample.

*You can also order through my current online party!**

Who's ready for girls' night in?!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.

Why I Love Jamberry Nail Wraps (Plus a Free Sample and Online Party!)

Today, I'll show you guys why I am addicted to Jamberry nail wraps, and also tell you how you can get a FREE sample to try them out for yourself. In a few days, I'll share a step-by-step photo tutorial of how to apply Jamberry nails. Plus you can join my new Fall Facebook party and win some wraps for yourself!

What is Jamberry, anyways?

So, when my sister, Alison, called me all excited and told me she was going to be a new Jamberry consultant, I was was like, "Oh, um...wow. That's great." And in my head, I thought, "So, my sister is going to be selling jam or something?" Contrary to my initial reaction, Jamberry has nothing to do with jarred fruit spread. It's way cooler than that!

Jamberry nail wraps are high quality, vinyl wraps that can last for up to 2 weeks on fingers and 4 weeks on toes. There are no harsh chemicals and they are not polish, so there is *no dry time, no chipping, and no smudges!*

Why did I fall in love with Jamberry?

Where do I start?! 

I never do anything with my nails, ever. I am terrible at painting them, my nails break constantly, and the polish wears off or chips within hours. It didn't seem to matter if I paid for a manicure, either. This is me:

When my sis mentioned that Jamberry wraps last for around 2 weeks on fingers, I was curious. The wraps run about $15 a sheet, but with the durability and amount of wraps on a sheet (at least 2 manis and 2 pedis) make them much more affordable than going to a nail salon.

Also, can you really see yourself painting the elaborate designs yourself? My kids would dismantle the entire house by the time I finished painting one nail...ain't nobody got time for that!

Not to mention, I can do my own manicures now, in the comfort of my own home...and I can do the girls too with the Jamberry Juniors. They said they feel like it's a spa day...such fun "mommy and me time." There are designs that will fit just about anyone! These are totally MY nails:

If you're concerned about the wraps and chemicals, this infographic lists all the ways Jamberry stays away from the "icky stuff."

I love how I can dress up my outfits now because my nails are like an extra accessory. They may look a little "busy" on the screen or page, but trust me, they look amazing applied! The new Fall designs are here, and these are just a few of my faves:

And the holiday wraps?! I die!

How can you get some Jamberry?

**You can join my Fall Facebook party; it's open now, but will go private later this evening! You can request a FREE SAMPLE, ask questions, and win stuff. If you RSVP and join the party today, you'll also be entered to win a free sheet of wraps! No pushing you to buy, but Alison is also doing fun Giveaways and incentives during the party! It's all online, on Facebook...no going out or getting dressed up.

Host your own Facebook party with your friends! Join my party, book one for yourself, and you'll have the opportunity to earn lots of free nails.

I hope you'll give Jamberry a try. They are fun for girls' nights in, mommy and me time, stocking stuffers, birthday gifts, new mom presents, and more!

Current party special:

*If you have questions, be sure to visit Alison's Jamberry Facebook page! She would love to help you discover how much fun Jamberry can be.

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.

Gift Basket Birthday Present {plus Theme Ideas for Boys and Girls}

Having two little girls of my own has reminded me of how much I enjoyed receiving little gift baskets and boxes as a child. I mean, who doesn't love getting like six presents in one? My girls had a party to attend for two sisters a few weekends ago, and I wanted to show you all how fun it can be to put together a Gift Basket for Little Girls.

As I showed you a few years back with our Teacher Survival Kit, creating a gift basket doesn't have to break the bank, and it doesn't have to be a scary thing that has you driving all over town to various shops and stores, hauling small whiny children in and out of your minivan. 

Since the party was for two sisters who are just two years apart, I wanted to get them gifts that would be similar enough to keep them from fighting (or maybe it's just my kids who do that). When I spotted two cute plastic bins in our craft stash, I knew I had a great starting point!

With the exception of the Crayola crayon-shaped lip balm (Target!), all of the other gifts came from our local Five Below store.

Confession: I've only ever been in this store once before, and it was several years ago when I was looking for something to wear for my 80s themed birthday party. They had so many fun little things...this is a great spot to shop for Christmas stocking stuffers!

There are tons of themes you could try for a gift basket (I'll add some to the end of this post), but the mom mentioned her girls were hoping to get some play make-up. Well, that's all I needed to hear! I had a blast looking for pretty, make-up/spa stuff for the birthday girls. 

Here are the items we included:

-Gift Basket (something the honoree can reuse)

-Stretchy headband

-Eyeshadow (for dress-up play)

-Nail polish

-Foam toe dividers

-Hair elastics

-Lip Balms
-Tissues

-Loofah

-Mirror

Yes, we color coded everything because it's just more fun that way (and easier for the recipients to keep track of things). The other basket, as you can see, is pink.

Other items to add:

-Bubble bath

-Comb

-Brush

-Pumice stone

-Issue of American Girl magazine or National Geographic for Kids

-Stickers

-Nail file

-Necklace or bracelet

-Fuzzy socks

-Eye sleep mask

This is the kind of gift the kids could really be involved with shopping for! And don't think that gift baskets are just for girls....

Here are a few more theme ideas for girls and boys:

-Cars
-Puzzles
-Legos
(sets, books, activity books, etc)
-Books
(bookmark, gift card to Barnes and Noble, personalized library bag)
-Arts and Crafts
(paper pads, construction paper, glitter, crayons, markers, colored pencils, play-doh, stickers, scissors, punches)
-Spy
(Add a disguise: fake mustache, glasses, etc. Magnifying glass, pretend phone, pretend camera, voice memo recorder, invisible ink, notebook, etc)
-Summer fun
(Use a beach pail as the basket and add bubbles, sidewalk chalk, water guns, etc.)
-Winter fun
(mittens, scarf, hat, hot cocoa, kid sized mugs, snowman kit, indoor game)
-Little Chef
(apron, cookie mixes, tiny spatula, sprinkles, cookie cutters, kids' cookbook)
-Dance
(ask mom or dad for leotard size--Target carries cute ones, head bands, leg warmers, dance bag to carry stuff in, music or iTunes download card if they have an iPod)
-Movie buff
(a couple of DVDs from the $5 section at Target, popcorn, popcorn bins, lemonade mix, cute cups for drinks, pretty napkins, comfy blanket to snuggle with)
-Sleepover
(eye mask, nail polish, small game or craft, slippers, movie, inexpensive "roll-up" blanket)

Hope that helps!


What's your favorite thing to include in a gift basket?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.

Girls' Hair Styles Tutorial

Connie from Measured by the Heart has a round-up of some cute girls' hair styles to share with us today. I have two little girls, so I'm always on the lookout for pretty styling ideas. And, being totally honest, I'd like to try out a few of these on my hair!

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Hi, everyone. I am happy to be here while Amanda snuggles her new little baby.

My name is Connie and I blog at Measured by the Heart. I write about all kids of creative things including DIY/Home imporvements, recipes, book club, printables and hair styles. 

Today I wanted to round up a few different hair tutorials to help out for busy mornings in the new year. It can be crazy running to and fro, so it's nice to have some things planned out. With three girls, doing hair takes up a lot of time and I like to have an idea of what hair style I am going to do.

All of these hair styles have a video tutorial too. You will find that by clicking on the link to each post.

Minnie Mouse Hair style

I really like this style because it is cute and simple in front but the back has the ladder going up. Also, it doesn't involve any braiding so it's easy to pick up.

Waterfall Twist hair style

This is one of my most popular hair styles. It is actually really simple to do. This style is great for a more reserved type of day. All waterfall braids don't stay in well if you are playing or running around too much. It would be perfect for a holiday party.

Surprise twist

I call this style a surprise twist because from the front it looks like a simple side bun and from the back you see the twist. It is probably the easiest hair tutorial I have done.

Puffy braid hair band

I really like this braid across the front look. My daughter requests this one all the time.

Temporary rainbow hair

This is a temporary way to put some color into your hair. You might be surprised what we use for this one.

Flower bun with ribbon

If you use a sparkly ribbon with one, it would be perfect for the holiday season. I use this hair style a lot for weddings and more formal occasions but it is also really cute for a normal school day.

I hope these hair styles help you with your daily styling. Big thanks to Amanda for having me over today. If you have any questions about any of these styles or the others found on my blog, please let me know and I will get back with you.

                                         

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Thank you, Connie! These are all adorable.

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.