Fabulous Friday!

This Friday is extra fabulous because we get a 3 day weekend!  I am so excited to spend my three days with my family, around good food and near the pool.  I am so thankful for the service men and women who have given their lives to make our country free...I give thanks for them every day. I  also want to thank the active military for protecting us right now and for their families that send them off and hold down the fort at home.  God bless them today and every day!

Ok...some fabulous things from this week...

Catherine texted me this picture...she bought this light-up headband for Kensington.  Kensington will want to wear it every.single.day.  I don't think that's fabulous but Kensington sure will! :)

Starbucks has a new Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappaccino out...and it's pretty spectacular!  I get it "light" without the whip (but I keep the "crunch" on top)...and it's really, really good!  I might have had 4 this week. Maybe.

While swimming last Saturday at my parents' house, Smith pulled his raft out of the pool, took his towel and said he was going to lie down, relax and take a nap.  Which he did...for two hours until we woke him up for dinner.  Now...that three year old boy can be a hot mess!  He threw a nasty tantrum on Wednesday...he's no angel all the time...but, that kid can sleep like no other.  Forget swimming, he had a nap to take!  I think that's fabulous!

I usually wear a bronzer and blush on my cheeks...but I read a lot of great reviews about this Laura Geller product that combined both the bronzer and blush together.  Since I like to pair down as much of my makeup as I can during the hot/humid months of summer, I thought I should check it out.  Wow!  I am hooked now!  It gives me this great color that isn't too heavy, too bronzy or too much blush.  It's really perfect and I bet I end up using it year around. I love it!

And yes, I'm still using my Nars Multiple in Orgasm.  I use it a lot as an eye shadow this time of year or dab it on top of my cheekbones when my makeup is starting to look a little dull (half-way during the day).  It really is my go-to for a quick pick me up! 

Kensington's teachers gave me this photo.  Is this my child or what?!?!  Fabulous!

It's that time of year when I have to apply a ton of sunscreen every time I step outside.  I totally despise sunscreen...but it's a necessity.  I started using this new Neutrogena Beach Defense spray for myself (not my kiddos) and it has been great!  It's not sticky, it doesn't have a strong smell, and most importantly, it works!

Kensington was busy with the tape and markers the other day...and then I went to her room and saw this sign on her door.  I asked her what it meant and she said, "no little brothers allowed".  Perfect.  I should have had that sign when I was growing up...

I'm totally into these crocheted Toms (they come in a bunch of fun colors).  I can count 4 friends off the top of my head that have them...and look stinkin' adorable in them!  A comfy Tom is the perfect way to kick off the summer.

(If you checked the blog early Friday morning, you saw a red Tom on there...well, it sold out!  That tells me, you need to check out these Crocheted Toms before they do too!)

And the winner of the Florence Adams Giveaway is...

Margie!

Congratultions Margie!  Email me at mixandmatchmama@yahoo.com to claim your prize!

And for one last fabulous thing, check out my foodie blog for some great Memorial Day recipes!  Enjoy your long weekend!

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#shayeveryday2013 Week 20

Day 134: Kensington woke up with my beachy/wavy hair!  First of all, we don't know where my hair comes from.  My mom is always telling me that she can't figure it out.  No one in my family has my hair texture or thickness...it's weird.  But now, my girl has proven to take after her mama!  I love a good beachy hair day!

Day 135: After dinner, we went for a walk...well, some of us scooted...

Day 136: It was the Welly day, of course!

Day 137: Bow friends make the best friends!

Day 138: Our first swim of the season!  They were so excited!

Day 139: I love spending Sunday evening at home with my loves :)

Day 140: This was Erika and my view for the day.  Fabulous!

Keep up with me everyday on Instagram @mixandmatchmama or find me here too...

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I love sending sweet families to Walt Disney World and then seeing their fun and happy blog posts.  Check out this sweet family and the wonderful trip they had to WDW earlier this month!

Finally, head on over to my foodie blog today to check out my Memorial Day Menu!  It's full of easy, delicious food that would be perfect for your holiday weekend!

Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Nail Polish

Today's Shade of Shay...nail polish.  

I am a little obsessed with painting my nails.  Ok...I'm really obsessed with painting them.  You know I love jewelry, right?  I never leave home without an arm full of bangles and big earrings in my ears...and to me, nail polish is just one more accessory.  

When I did Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Makeup, I didn't include nail polish because honestly, I thought it deserved a post all to itself.  So, here you are.  First, let me tell you my thoughts on painting my nails, gels, manicures and other stuff...

1. I only get manicures and gel polishes put on before I leave for a long vacation (because who really wants to mess with painting their nails half-way through a trip?  Not me!).

2. I paint my fingernails myself twice a week (I could stretch it longer but I like to switch out my colors).

3. I have been painting my nails non-stop since my senior year of high school.  The only time I took a break was during my pregnancies when sitting up and smelling anything made me throw up (and painting your nails requires both sitting in the upright position and the smell of polish).

4. I always have my toes painted too.  However, I only have to switch out my toe polish about every two weeks.  I paint my toes a more neutral color and my nails a bold color.  I never match them. 

5. I like to paint my nails right before I get into bed at night.  I paint them in the bathroom, then snuggle into my bed and watch a little TV before going to sleep.  When I wake up, they're perfectly set (since I didn't move much, do dishes, chase kids, etc during those sleeping hours).  I paint my toes during the day when I know I'll be home for several hours (so I can be barefoot and not smudge them with socks or shoes).

6. I keep my polishes separated into two bins: spring/summer shades and fall/winter shades.  This really helps me save time searching for the right colors and it keeps me from over-looking shades because I'm not as overwhelmed with the number of bottles.

7. After 14 years of nail painting, I swear by only 3 brands.  I have tried absolutely everything but to me, these three brands deliver the best results every.single.time.  I only use OPI, Essie and Butter London.

8. I've been doing this trick for years...layer one coat of a sparkle polish over your nails for just a little bit of pop.  This also helps to hide imperfections.  Just a little sparkle takes your nail polish from good to great!

9. I paint on two coats of polish, maybe a sparkle and then a top coat.

Here we go...

My two bins of polishes.  One for spring/summer (bright colors!) and one for fall/winter (dark colors!).

I lined up my spring/summer shades...brights!

And I lined up my fall/winter shades, darker colors.

These are my very favorite spring/summer shades, from left to right:

OPI Bright Lights Big-Color (a coral/orange shade with flecks of gold)

OPI Glitzerland (the perfect sparkly gold)

OPI Cosmo-Not Tonight Honey (a great neutral for my toes)

Essie Marshmallow (a great neutral for my toes)

Butter London Trout Pout (a really summery orange/pink color)

Essie Naughty Nautical (a teal color with a little bit of sparkle)

OPI La Paz-itively Hot (the perfect pink)

These are my very favorite fall/winter shades, from left to right:

Butter London Chimney Sweep (a great gunmetal black shade)

OPI I'm Not Really a Waitress (this is OPI's most popular color...it's the perfect dark red)

OPI The World is Not Enough (I wear this more than any other shade...it's almost a rose gold color)

OPI The Spy Who Loved Me (the perfect shade for the Christmas season...it's red with gold sparkle)

Essie Carry On (the perfect dark shade)

The tools I use, clippers (because I like to keep my nails short...bold color only works on short nails), cuticle cream, a buffer, nail file.

I used to only swear by OPI's top coat...but a few weeks ago, my friend Lori told me about Seche Ultra-V...and now, I'm hooked!  It's this amazing top coat that sets my polish in minutes.  It also provides a great shine and keeps my polish looking its best for days and days.  I found mine at Ulta or you can buy it online.

And...if you have some shopping to do, now is the time!  Between now and June 1, Ulta is having their 20% off sale.  Go ahead and treat yourself to some polish...it's amazing how a little polish can brighten up your day!

Don't forget to check out my giveaway from Monday here!  It ends Friday morning!


And check out what's for lunch today over on my foodie blog (or dinner or an appetizer...it's so yummy!)

It's Sheaffer's famous black bean dip!   (I also used it as a taco filling...so many possibilities!)

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