Me Likey

For as long as I can remember, I've been wearing pink on my toes.  For some reason, I always gravitate toward the color for nail polish.  Of course I've strayed here and there getting the occasional teal, green or orange.  But if you look in my nail polish stash you will find a varieties of pinks.  Most recently I have found a Sally Hansen product that I love, it's called Quick Color and it's a fast dry nail color pen.  Yes, I said pen.  It goes on quickly, super easily and dries really, really fast.  If a nail polish dries fast then it gets an A+ in my book.  I have no time in my life to watch paint dry.  The flaw with this stuff though is it doesn't last long.  If you paint your nails, it literally lasts up to 2 days in my world.  It probably goes about 2 weeks on the toes.  I don't know about you, but I can't manage a home pedi every 2 weeks.  It's just not in the cards.  But, considering how quickly it goes on and how quickly it dries, it's definitely worth the $7 it costs to pick up a pen.  

A couple weeks ago I was pampered with a pedi at a salon with my girlies.  Now, I strayed from pink because I was in a wedding that had reds, so I decided to go with a rich red.  I was a bit nervous, but I loved it.  I did both my toes and my fingers and it looked fab!  I just loved it.  The polish they used was OPI which generally goes for about $7 a bottle as well.  The only difference is, it lasts sooooo much longer.  But, you definitely have to make time to paint your nails and toes because this stuff takes FOREVER to dry.  But, it's worth it if it doesn't chip after 2 days!  

This particular color is Keys to my Karma.  I love it.  Go out and try something new today.  You just might be surprised!

{Mom's Sippy Cup} no more :(

Don't worry I'm not going anywhere.  But, my beloved wine glass is gonzo.  I got that wine glass from my mother in law for Christmas.  She picked it up in a small shop in Arizona and just knew I had to have it.  I haven't even had it for a year, but it was definitely loved and used quite frequently.  Then, on Wednesday night of last week, in true Bennett fashion, he hit it with his gigantic noggin and knocked it on the floor.  Not only did it create a giant red wine mess all over my cabinets and floor, it broke my sippy cup.  I was devastated.  I thought there was no replacing such an irreplaceable gift.  And then it hit me.  I googled "mom's sippy cup wine glass".  Sure enough, there were plenty out there to be found. 

Because I love my glass, and because I'm feeling generous today, I would love to give to one, no TWO of my readers one of these glasses.  Now, I know not everyone is a mama and I don't want to discriminate here so you can have your choice of either a mom's sippy cup, or a personalized wine glass from the Etsy shop of my choice.  I will even have it shipped directly to you so you don't need to live near me to get one of these bad boys!  My only requirement is that you live in the US. 

You can enter 1 of 3 ways, or all ways if you would like (each way is worth 1 entry!).  You can follow me on this blog (just press follow and voila), you can leave a comment on this post telling what kind of wine glass you would like (be sure to be leave a valid email address for me so I can contact you) or you can follow me on Twitter, I'm @momssippycup and I can be found here.   Please leave me a message on Twitter with a valid email address as well so I can contact you! 

Now, here's the catch.  I will only give away 2 glasses once I reach 50 followers on this blog, so it pays to pass along my URL and click the follow button!  It shouldn't take long my well connected readers!  I will draw 2 names at random once we hit the 50 mark!  Now get clickin' and you might be the new recipient of one of these babies:

Disclaimer: The winners will receive a comparable wine glass as these are all one of a kind. It will not resemble this glass, as that one is now in the trash.

MIA

I know I've been MIA for the last few weeks.  I have so much planned for this blog, but again life has gotten away from me.  With all 3 kids starting school and my business booming, it leaves little time for blogging!  I am also have a case of the missing identity on this blog.  I'm still struggling a bit with the way I want this to go so please leave a comment and tell me what you'd like to see from me.  I have 2 wine reviews I need to do.  I have a party to share with you all.  A book review is on the docket as well.  Plus, I got an awesome gift for a wedding I was in that I just have to show the world.  But what else?  Do you want to hear about makeup?  Food?  Clothing?  Lotions and toiletries?  Is there something I have to try and review?  I'd love to hear from you! 

Up first later today will be a review on some new wine I tried!  It was YUMMY.  And, I'll share a recipe on this post too :)  Stay tuned!

POD: Picture of the Day

To say that I've been MIA is an extreme understatement.  Life has been hectic in my end of the world.  I've been swamped with sessions and my dear dear friend got married this weekend.  But, I'm back and I can't wait to share so much this week!  Let's hope I can keep my promise!

Here is today's POD:

If any of you follow photography, I'm sure you know that evening light is simply the best.  It's warm and soft and creates some amazing lens flare.  To say that I'm slightly obsessed with flare is also an extreme understatement.  I love me some flare and I will continue to snap up every last bit of that beautiful summer sun until that first snowflake falls.  

Enjoy!  Go upload a favorite summer shot to my Flickr group.  I just love to see what you guys are up to!

All About Me | Week One Finding Your Joy

This week's assignment was all about documenting me.  You know, the good ole attempt to document who I am through pictures.  So far I like what I've produced but I'm afraid that you don't really get to "know" me through these pictures.  I'd like to document a little more about what I do all day, the little things that I love in life and really allow the viewer into my life.  

A list of my must have shots are here:

Drinking coffee and reading the computer in the morning

A shot with sexy heels

Something sexy in the bedroom, raaar!

Me with my feet and the kiddos feet!

Me and my bestest girls from college at the wedding this weekend

Here are some of my first shots:

I just love this one of Bennett and me.  It was sort of an accident, it's perfectly imperfect!

Just watching the chaos ensue around me.  I really can only laugh at the circus I have going on here!

You know, contemplating the complexities of life.

This might be my favorite picture of me, hands down.

Gotta love shoes!

Trying out a new location in the kitchen.  Great light for sure!

Bennett had to get in on the action.  I love these shots with him.  So very special.

I absolutely love this, just look at his smile!

His smile is contagious!

For the first time in a very long time, I'm feeling beautiful.  Maybe it's because I have complete control over the picture and the processing, but I think a big part of it is being forced to step out of your comfort zone.  I hate being in front of the camera, but this workshop has made me re-evaluate those reasons.  Not having a fear of "feeling" ugly, or having a bad hair day is really liberating.  Really, who cares?  I don't want to be non-existent in my family's pictures.  I want to be an active participant in these moments.  I love how this is liberating me.  

My assignment to you is this:

Head over to my Flickr Page and upload a shot or 2 that you think demonstrates who you are.  You just might be featured on the blog!  I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Finding YOUR Joy...

I decided very spontaneously to take a photography course called Finding YOUR Joy through Willette Designs.  This course is designed to help you document not only your family's life, but actually insert yourself into those moments in front of the camera.  As a photographer, you often find yourself to be behind the camera almost 100% of the time and this happens to be very true for myself as well.  I'm very picky when it comes to my pictures and like to have complete control and I also don't feel very comfortable on the other side of the lens.  This class will hopefullly get me to step outside of my comfort zone and allow me to document my life as well as my family's life.  I look forward to the journey. 

I don't start until next week but I got my remote shutter release today and was really excited to try it out.  Here are a few of my shots, not too bad if you ask me!  I'm really excited about this and will share my journey with you! 

This was a very impromptu shoot, I didn't take time to do my hair or makeup or change into something cuter, but I like how it turned out.  This is me, living room a mess, kid in the background, messy hair and scrubby clothes.  Me in the moment.  I like it.

Me and the girls, funny face time!  Good times.

Ok, now a sweet one.  I love it, not forced and looks genuine.  I *heart* it!

What do you to document yourself in your own life?  Do you have insecurities about being in front of the camera?  What can you do to change that?