We haven’t had a Before and After in awhile.
Just under 10 minutes for this!
Category Archives: Photos
Brazilian Day 2
I barely had to even brush it and it looks like this. I can’t wait to see how long I can make it last without washing—a regular blowout can last a week or so…and this is an extreme blowout!
Oh just another work achievement.
OMG my hair is to die for.
I have wanted a Brazilian Blowout for awhile now—it’s been a lot a lot a lot (!) of years since I had one and it just makes drying and straightening my hair so much easier (and it shouldn’t be as frizzy). It’s a lengthy (and therefore expensive) process so it’s not a regular thing…
The process? First a clarifying wash, then putting the solution on, then drying on low heat (not high) so you don’t burn the chemicals off too early (this took close to an hour I think), then a rinse, then a regular high heat blow dry, then going over every tiny bit with a flat iron. Yikes. I was there for just over three hours.
It’s so unbelievably soft and smooth and silky it’s just dreamy. (Of course when I wash it and style it myself it won’t look quite as good but in the meantime I am enjoying every second of it.)
The H wall is now a thing!
I’ve been wanting to do my H wall ever since we moved in but it always just seems so overwhelming.
When I did this at the last house I knew it was only temporary so I really didn’t care where things went on the wall and I would just put them up without much thought. But since this is our forever house I really don’t want to be changing things if I can help it so I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. And of course that leads to procrastination and anxiety.
Linda and I were supposed to do it the last time they were here but I just procrastinated. This trip she wanted to make sure we got something accomplished so…
It’s obviously not finished – the blue painter’s tape square is where that wooden H goes (that’s sitting on the buffet) once Tom is finished with it and makes a frame for it. And of course there’s space for more Hs that I run across.
So it’s getting there!!
A real friend lets you sit in her egg chair.
We were over for dinner and I was in a mood so Anna let me sit in the chair. And it was PERFECT.
This always freaks me out.
Katie loves her stuffed Charlie but she leaves it all over and freaks us out.
Sometimes I allow it.
She loves playing with makeup so sometimes she asks me to do it for her and I use my products.
Another delicious brunch!
Ladies Lunch
Since we’re all fully vaccinated, some of our mom’s group met for lunch out today! We had a great time! I love these ladies!
Baseball with the grandparents!
TIP OF THE DAY: cough drops
TIP OF THE DAY: Unwrap your cough drops before you go to bed. That way when you wake up coughing, you don’t have to fumble for it in the dark and try to unwrap it while half asleep.
Owen’s first facial!
He has been having pre-teen acne issues so I’ve had him using a SeneGence acne wash and moisturizer, doing masks, and I finally took him to get a facial. He did really well (she had to do a lot of manual blackhead extractions) and even agreed to do another!
This might be happening tonight.
Linda had never had jello shots…so we figured why not?
Papa and Maggie
Maggie was looking around listlessly and I told Dad to pull the blanket down. Maggie immediately jumped up and crashed.
Do you think makeup is just too hard?
Seriously, though…
When you don’t know how to wear makeup and you see other people seem to do it effortlessly, you get super frustrated and think it’s just too hard or you’re just a failure. Right? Well it isn’t and you’re not.
- I didn’t know foundation should (and could!) look invisible while also providing coverage.
- I didn’t know that the correct skincare can actually make your makeup look and last better.
- I didn’t know that it got easier and quicker with practice — and that great products make it that much easier.
I’m sure it wasn’t just me, either — we all thought we were doing it right. But I’ve learned a thing or two over the years — and it hasn’t just transformed me on the outside. I have more confidence and self-assuredness.
If you want to see the things I’ve learned — and have some fun along the way — I’d love to have you come join Living Lippy with Jen!
Look what Tom just found on the sidewalk?!
We’re keeping it until the kids get home then it’s being released back into the world.
Katie gave me my first lilacs!
No, they didn’t come off my new lilac bushes. Thankfully.
She hasn’t ventured off the deck yet…
Since there are no bugs out yet and the weather is nice, we leave the sliding glass door open so Maggie can go in and out at her leisure… Otherwise she begs us to go out about 42 times a day.
But then this happens. She hasn’t ventured off the deck yet so we figure we’re safe for a while.
Relaxing and snoozing with Maggie
I’ve been hanging out with Maggie on the couch all day just relaxing and snoozing. It’s been a dream!
Guys out and in!
Last night some of the women got together… Tonight we invited everyone over for a fire but just the men came…so Anna and I hung out on the couch and just let the men do their thing. They rotated between the campfire and the bar depending if it was raining.
I told Anna this was my perfect life. Girls hanging out one night, guys hanging out another. Hanging out together. Everyone has a good time. She agreed with me.
A Covid shot for Owen!
I scheduled an appointment as soon as we could that fit our schedule! He says he didn’t feel a thing!
I may or may not be having a margarita with my bestie.
Anna wanted me to run an errand with her and Tom said we might as well go out for lunch. Okay then! You don’t have to tell me twice!
What was actually funny is that Anna ordered the Hibiscus Margarita and I ordered a Rum Barrel Punch—and we both liked each other’s drink more so we switched!
We have our shower back!
It didn’t really take that long overall—we just had some bumps along the way that extended the timeline. Now we use it for a few weeks and make sure it isn’t leaking…and then we can get the hole in the ceiling fixed!
Looking up!
I was up early today since the guy was here to work on our bathroom (it’s almost done) so Maggie and I were cuddling on the couch…
Unfair puzzle!
Owen and the hippo
Owen tripped and fell last night and hurt his arm and wrist and it was still hurting today so it was off to the pediatrician. We had it x-rayed and they didn’t see anything so it’s just waiting for it to get better.
They apologized for putting us in a baby room but of course we didn’t care.
Waiting for x-rays he had to sit in a kid seat. I thought the little duck feet were adorable. You can see his “ugh mom” reaction.
Covid teacher appreciation gifts!
Teacher appreciation week was last week but I changed my mind at the last minute and did school-colored Piper Lou tumblers instead of my usual bottle of wine. I was going to do a Binny’s [alcohol store] gift card but figured this would last a lot longer!
Owen had fun picking which one went to which teacher!
Primo Mother’s Day
The men took us to our favorite restaurant for what turned out to be an amazing brunch!
We got roses so tried a fun pic. I look ridiculous but oh well.
One of the four courses! This was after the seafood ceviche and before the meat course.
Owen’s reward choice!
It’s really too cold to be walking around Pokémoning in Chicago, but it was Owen’s choice of rewards for bringing his grades up!
We walked around Millennium Park and finally saw the famous bean (we figure we’ve been here almost four years so it was about time). Unfortunately due to Covid it was all cordoned off so we couldn’t get up close and personal. We definitely want to go back when the weather is nicer.
We tried to eat dinner there but hadn’t made reservations (and weren’t about to wait an hour!) so we just started driving towards home and I found a place on Yelp for dinner so that was another fun mini adventure.
Both kids had a great time!