DermaWand: My Beautiful New Best Friend (product review)

I participates in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for DermaWand. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

For the last few years there has been so much going on in my life that taking care of me, including my skin was put on the back-burner. I was just too tapped out, too exhausted. Well, that has caught up to me BIG time. I am in my early 40's and if I don't do something now, I do not know what else is going to happen to my face. I am always on the lookout for a new skin care regimen or product or device...and after hearing about the DermaWand...I finally had a chance to try it!

I see how my skin has lost that glow, how my eyes are a little puffy, how my skin tone is uneven and my pores look like craters, how the wrinkles around my mouth are starting to become more and more visible...and {GASP!} - my neck is getting saggy! I will also absolutely admit I am totally vain...so while - later in this post you will see me without makeup and may think "that's not too bad," I see every imperfection (that magnifying mirror I purchased did not help the situation!).

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How to Make Home Decor Using Christmas Ornaments

In 1,000,000 years I would have never believed that I would have any deer, or rather stag heads in my home. Now of course this are glittery and fake, but nonetheless, this was not a home decor path I thought I would go down...but heck I live in Texas Hill Country now and there are deer everywhere and it is practically a decorating essential (like the Texas Star). Now if you are like me, you realize Christmas is just around the corner but you are not done decorating and just need a few more things...well, this projects could not be SIMPLER!!!! I promise.

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Holiday Decorating and Creating A Best Dressed Home

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kmart

After a few years of minimal Christmas decorating, my daughter asked me, "Can we please have Christmas this year?" At first I was a little speechless, but then I realized she had a point. She loves the decorations and over the last couple of years we have been traveling and trying to sell our home, and other than the tree and stockings, I had not really decorated. Well, this year we are settled into our new home, and I am looking to add some sparkle and style to this years decor. With the help of the Kmart Holiday Collection, I have found quite a few things that will make me happy and hopefully fulfill my daughters wishes too!

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Graham Cracker Houses and Snowy Peanut Butter (No-Bake) Cookies

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.

All opinions are mine alone. #PBandG #CollectiveBias

When my son was 4, I began a holiday tradition - making graham cracker houses! Every year we enjoy making these creations because we always find new ways to work magic with our graham crackers! The one struggle we had was finding the right "glue"...but this year, I heard a GENIUS idea...and knew we had to try it. Are you ready...this is good..."Use Peanut Butter to construct your graham cracker house!" After all these years of struggling with regular icing...my problems have been solved - and I am never looking back! Now it is time to share our of our favorite traditions and Family Holiday ideas with our new friends in Texas.

In all these years, the only other "problem" we ever had was what to do with our leftover graham crackers (other than devour them)...so this year, inspired by my son's idea, I also came up with a tasty recipe that uses some of those extra graham crackers and peanut butter. Oh yes...it is also a No-Bake cookie!

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DIY! Simple Fabric Angels (No Sew!)

In spite of my ability to complicate everything, I LOVE simple crafts. In fact, these are so simple that the kids can make them too! I also LOVE that you can use what you have - doilies, ribbon, fabric, denim - whatever suits your own personal style (and is in your craft stash) works so well for these cuties! So, let me introduce you to my little angels.

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Simple Thanksgiving Centerpiece

We are having a very simple Thanksgiving this year...just the four of us,

but I still like to create a special table...

and then let my kids add their own special touch.

Well, I had this idea for Halloween and never quite finished posting it...

but I did manage to tweak that idea for this holiday!

This centerpiece is my contribution to this years #Thanksgiving Table!

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Create Your Own Designer Pillows (Paint-a-Pillow GIVEAWAY)

Pillows are the best way to dress up or change up a space!

If you are like me, I can never find exactly what I want...

but now I can make my own DIY Designer Pillows (and you can too)!

I recently had the opportunity to try the NEW Paint-a-Pillow kit,

and had so much fun making some new pillows for my home!

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Easy (and Quick) Halloween Decorating with Paper: IKEA Paper Shop Giveaway

 A few weeks ago, I picked up these paper honeycomb Visionar decorations at the IKEA Paper Shop blogger event. I am the BIGGEST procrastinator when it comes to decorating, and I knew these beauties would be a subtle but fun way to decorate my front porch. And guess what???? It was so quick and easy all you other procrastinators or those who are looking to add a little fun to their Halloween decor have time to do this before Friday!

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My Favorite Moving Tip: Just Add Tape!

It has been a few months since we moved from California to Austin...

and I finally have unpacked all but 3 boxes in the garage - whew!

(that is no small feat!)

We were lucky that we were able to hire professional movers...

but we have used professional movers before, so I knew that this did not necessarily

ensure everything would end where it was supposed to or stay organized.

I did some packing myself and got a few boxes from a friend - this where I learned this MOVING TIP for keeping all those (and there were A LOT) of boxes organized.

It has proven to be my sanity saver!

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How To Stain or Dye Concrete Floors: The Results!

The other day I walked you through how to prep your concrete floors for staining or dyeing. Today (ta-da!) I am going to show you how I applied the dye and the wet look sealer. I will admit...quite a few times during this process I thought I was crazy! But, now that I am done...I LOVE these floors.They have depth, texture, warmth...and are durable!

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How to Stain or Dye Concrete Floors: Part One, The Preparation

In my old house, I pretty much touched every single surface - sometimes for fun, sometimes out of necessity. Well now we have moved to Texas and our house is brand new...but, of course I cannot leave anything alone! I am lucky enough to have a craft studio in my new home - one "problem"...it had carpet. I am so MESSY. I figured I was either never going to craft for fear of spilling or I was going to make such a mess that my husband might flip his lid.

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