I'm really excited about this new venture, I'm working with Growing Up Madison, Pink Candy & Stilettos and Me and My Mini Me on a fun and interactive way to join mom bloggers and their kids together!

So my idea was a Mom & Tot Box Swap, this means that once every quarter (our first box will be in September) each mom and toddler will receive a box from another mom and toddler with all sorts of goodies in it for them.  For example in September Morgan and Hannah will be box swapping, so both mom and toddler will put together any items within our budget ($40) for just toddler or mom and toddler.  Items can range from educational items to books, arts and crafts to clothing/accessories, food can even be included if it's perishable and will ship well.  If each mom wants to include an item(s) for each other as long as it falls into the budget that's totally fine too.

Another twist on this to help fit into the budget is if you have anything laying around, a old baby shower gift or a birthday gift you never used or something along those lines you can include it and it won't go towards your budget (handy for moms like me who get products that sometimes I end up not liking/using). 

I thought this would be a fun way to each out to the moms that I know through blogging and Twitter, we can get to know each other through these boxes and our kids get presents at the same time...very cool! 

The only condition of the box swap is that we blog about what we received in our box...the good, the bad, the not wanted. 

I'm already prepping and getting things ready for our first box to Morgan! We're very excited and hope that he and mom enjoy what's inside...we especially look forward to their post on what they received and how they are liking it.

If you are interested in joining in on this definitely let me know...we do need equal amounts of moms to do this (2, 4, 6, 8...etc) so that everyone receives a box but I think this is going to be a fun project even if it only happens once!!! Stay tuned for our post on what we get and I will also be linking all the other ladies posts once they have them as well!

First, I want to apologize that it has been a while since I've posted a new blog...we've had a lot of craziness going on with birthdays and stuff around the house and well the girls just take up so much time sometimes that I just forget.

But I've wanted to get this post up for some time and some of the other moms of twitter that I talk with were also doing a post similar to this.  As a mom it is not always easy to get all dolled up, most days I'm lucky to walk out of the door wearing matching shoes and both kids dressed...but I have recently found it slightly easier to get some sort of a "flawless" face done in about 5 minutes.  It is just enough time for my husband to watch the girls and me to feel like I don't look like death walking out the door.  This has definitely become my go-to make up pretty much every day unless it is a special occasion, also with it being summer it is nice that this make up is minimal so if it sweats off it's not the end of the world.

In the caption below the picture I will list the products being shown and a slight description of how I use them, at the bottom I'll have a before and after...hopefully I don't scare you all :)  I'll kick this off with the face...this is the most time consuming...

Step One: I first use a primer (any will do), this helps to keep the face products I'm using from sinking into my pores, kind of a barrier to help protect my face, most primers also come with SPF which is always a positive benefit.  After my primer is set (usually 30-60 seconds) I apply the Hard Candy Glamoflauge in Medium (A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY WITH THIS STUFF)...I literally use 3 small lines (one on each cheek and one on the chin), this stuff is AMAZING at eliminating my redness and that little bit covers most of my whole face when I buff it in with the F80.  Lastly, under my eyes and anywhere I'd like to brighten up (top of nose and a little on chin) I apply the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, again blending with the F80 makes this a super smooth, fast and flawless application.

Matte Primer (this one came out of Birchbox I believe), Hard Candy's Glamoflauge in Medium $5 (exclusive at Wal-Mart), Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer Dark Circle/Spot Corrector in Light $8.99 and Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Foundation Brush $18

Step Two:  I always set my face and especially under the eyes with a translucent powder.  A fluffy Kabuki Brush does this and the powder helps keep me from looking/getting oily throughout the day, even in the summer heat.

Step Three: Bronzer is always essential in the summer and helps bring some "glow" back to the face.  I use a combination of an angled brush to give me some definition by contouring my face and sculpting out my cheeks and I also use the same brush as when I did the translucent powder, again this helps give that all over glow and helps to buff out any harsh lines I've created in my contouring.


Step 4: Blush always brings a little flush back to the face, I'm a warmer tone so I prefer peachy blushes but I have found one pink I love, I wear it with a more dramatic eye.