A few of my favorite things..

This past month I have found a couple new favorite products that I wanted to share with you. My all time favorite is this new Maybelline Baby Skin - Instant Pore Eraser with Blur Technology . I found it on pinterest (go follow me, I pin cool stuff) and wanted to give it a shot, it makes my make-up look flawless. I absolutely LOVE it.

So over the past year with stress, it has done a number on my hair, and I found this conditioner that blows my mind. Joico K-PAK Revitaluxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment, 5.1 oz.I use it once a week and leave it in after my shower for about an hour and rinse it out with cold water. I could tell a huge difference in my hair within the first use of the conditioner, my hair not only looks healthy, my hair is starting to shine again. I also take 5000mcg of Biotin that I bought from super supplements, and omega plex from Advocare.
 

Advocare's Omega Plex

Last but not least is this foundation/powder in one, MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation NC20 for Women, 0.52 Ounce. I am usually leary of products that are combination foundation and powder, because they seem to be more creamy and does NOT go on how I would like, but I have been nothing short of absolutely amazed by this product. I have been using it every day, and is my go to foundation. 

People ask me all the time what makeup and products I use, so I figured I would share. Enjoy! 

Xoxo,

Nicole

 

Muffins are just ugly cupcakes.

With my busy life I sometimes find it hard to stop, take a breath, and just bake like I use to. My boys requested a fall favorite at our house that has been a tradition for the past few years. My pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. These are a staple in the fall. My kids call them cupcakes because they are that delicious, and naturally I do not correct them.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Yield: 12 muffins plus 12 mini muffins

Ingredients:

1 15 ounce can 100% pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips, optional
1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray muffin pans with cooking spray.

2. Bring pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon and cloves to a simmer in a medium saucepan, stirring occasionally, until puree thickens about 5 minutes. Pour into a mixing bowl & allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Whisk in brown sugar and oil, then slowly whisk in eggs.

3. In a separate bowl whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk flour mixture into pumpkin mixture until just combined.

4. Stir in chocolate chips.

5. Divide batter among the muffin cups and bake until golden and cooked through, about 10 minutes for the mini muffins & 13 minutes for the regular sized muffins.


Enjoy!!


XOXO

Nicole

To be continued...

I talk...and I talk a lot. I talk to anything that moves, and I can talk about anything. I also fear that I am one of those people that others make direct escape routes from to avoid talking to. Typing that out makes me laugh.

I can take care of myself, I don't need someone to pay my bills, or to take my car to get the oil changed, to make me dinner, it would be amazing of course, but I don't NEED it. I might need someone to open jars and reach things on high shelves for me. Plus pretty sure you can hire people for that crap. Since following through with my plans to divorce I have found that I miss a lot of the memories I had with him. He is a completely different person entirely. He says that he isn't but he has changed more then he will ever realize.

There is a comfort of having a live in best friend whom you can share everything with. Who if you are bored you can simply walk into the next room and there they are. Late movie nights, date nights, someone you can stay up late with and talk to. Those are the things I miss. I don't miss him. I miss the memories of the man he use to be, the fun we had, the beautiful things are what I miss most.

Two months ago I was still crying and sad, six months ago, if you told me that my relationship was over with my husband I would have thought you were crazy. Today I am ok with moving forward, the pain isn't there, the physical aching in my heart for my best friend has diminished. I don't know if God is just protecting my heart and shielding me from the heartache I should be feeling or what, but I can wake up every morning and be excited for my day, and do not give him a thought at all.  He broke me 9 months ago, he brought me down to such a low point, but I realized something, even the prettiest woman will feel insecure loving the wrong man. Pain knows no boundaries, it invades everyone regardless of social status, looks, race, religion.

"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies."

 So I will wake up and shine and hold those that I love close.

1 Corinthians 16:14

XOXO

Nicole