Friday, December 17, 2010

Countdown to Christmas...8 Days

What a crazy week! Sick/busy/sick/busy! If we don't stay well around here we will never get caught up enough to not be busy!

I took my Finals this week and I officially have all A's in my courses for the semester, so that is good. I also got to finish my Christmas shopping and have a little bit of Christmas fun with the kids as well...

First we did Expedition Earth's Christmas Around the World Curriculum this week and studied China.
You can find this curriculum at:  <a href="http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com"><img alt="coahbutton" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4539688748_8098ff340c_o.png" width="150" height="150" /></a>

We made Chinese knot ornaments in the shape of dragonflies:

We also made Plum Blossom trees to represent the Chinese New Year. I think they look so cute with my Christmas Village:


Today we went to a Christmas party at my friend Jami's house and the kids made gingerbread houses, watched Christmas movies (for like 5 minutes until the kids found something else to do), and drank hot cocoa:











Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Countdown to Christmas...18 Days/ What Momma Wants for Christmas

We are now two days behind on our Advent activities due to horrible illness running rampant through our home. If I ever feel well again, I will be surprised. I have the worlds worse sinus infection which is triggering my migraines. Also, my 3 year old has another ear infection and a virus that led to him projectile vomiting all over the house yesterday. I finally made him carry a bucket with him everywhere he went!

But enough about us, how have you been? I did get an awesome $15 off certificate to Sephora last week at which point I promptly bought my best friends birthday present and a little something for myself....and spent way more than $15, obviously. I was so excited about my purchases but I had to wait until after her birthday to tell you so she would have already seen it, and then I was too sick to post last night....

What I bought:                                         This Urban Decay Vegan Palette box really caught my fancy, especially for a gift. 
The vegan palette has more muted tones that would suite any taste. Also it includes both their eye pencil, as well as the shadow primer.     In my personal opinion I could take or leave urban decay eye shadow, it is nice but there is a brand on Amazon called shany that is cheaper, and in my opinion, brighter, longer lasting, better.

 However: I cannot cannot cannot get enough of their shadow primer or their eyeliners. They prevent smudging, they last all day, I have not found a better product. It might be something to ask for santa to put in your stocking this year!

The other thing I bought while there was a new eyeliner for myself. It was an impulse buy at the checkout stand, as I am a makeup junkie.  I bought the Tarina Tarantino Smudge Eyeliner in Aurum (See also: gold)

I really liked the look of this makeup going on. It didn't last as long as I would have liked, but that could be because I have had a sinus infection and have been constantly rubbing my eyes when they water. I mostly wanted to try this product because if you see any of the Tarina Tarantino ads they show a girl in a hot pink bob wig and I think it is stunning. 

The gold did nice work on softening up  and lightening the overall area around my eyes. One day I wore it with olive green eyeshadow, a thin black line at the lash line, and black mascara. Another day I wore it with pink eyeshadow, a deeper gold for the crease of my eyes, and a thin plum line at the lash line, with black mascara. These photos show the olive green day.  You will also see Too Faced Lash Injection mascara in my bottom photo: GET IT! It is wonderful! Someone got me a sample size in a gift exchange a couple of weeks ago. They got me that, a bare minerals foundation, and a few other things. I will be crying when I run out. Or running to the store.  Merry Christmas!