DIY ANNIVERSARY GIFT – BOOKMARK!

Are you looking for a cheap, simple, creative gift idea?

That was me about two weeks ago. My husband and I celebrated our 3^rd wedding anniversary on July 12^th. We have been blessed with 3 wonderful years of marriage. I have always heard the first few years are hard. But ours has been completely opposite. Maybe because were best friends or dealt with a 5 years long distance relationship. But I can count on one hand the number of know-down-drag-out fights we’ve had in our 1, 095 days of marriage.

Check out my blog post on how I survived a 5 year long, long distance relationship!

My husband and I are Dave Ramsey fans and with our current situation and the fact were trying to save for a house, buying luxury anniversary gifts was not possible. I’m a simple girl and told my husband just get me some pretty flowers and buy me supper and that’s perfect to me. My husband didn’t ask for anything, he rarely ever does.

I felt bad though for me to be treated like a princess and the prince gets nothing in return.

So I put my creative mind to work. Here lately, my husband has developed a love of reading. If you had told me 5 years ago my husband would love reading, I would have laughed at you. 😉 But now he does, he enjoys financial, motivational, and leadership books. I can see how much his mind has grown over the past few months from reading those books.

This led me to the perfect inexpensive gift for him…. A BOOKMARK!

I contemplated trying to make a bookmark using Microsoft word. Then I thought, nah that’s too complicated. Then I used good ol’ google. I found a layout using a Canva print for a bookmark.

If you have never used the Canva website before its totally free! It has all kinds of layouts you can use for different projects. Pinterest graphic, post card, invitation, business card, the list goes on and on.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO!

So here are the steps I used:

– First, google Canva bookmark – click on the very first link. It says free online bookmark maker, or something similar. 😉

–Next, click the green button, start designing your bookmark. Now you might have to create an account here. I didn’t because I already had one. But remember, IT’S FREE!

-It then takes you to a fancy page where you can design it however you like!

I was very impressed, they already had some layouts you can use, and they are cute! I wanted to make the bookmark more personal. My husband and I both love to travel. We hope by saving our money and following a budget that one day we will be able to travel more.

I picked 3 pictures of some of our favorite spots we’ve traveled since we’ve been married.

-Grand Canyon – so much fun, we drove there! Check out my blog posts for more info on our Grand Canyon adventure. We even vlogged it!

CLICK HERE FOR THE VLOG!

-Noah’s Ark – Williamstown, KY. Highly recommend! We went with our church. It was unbelievable to see what Noah built by hand!

-Windmill Island – Holland Michigan! Beautiful! Gorgeous flowers! Amazing windmill you can tour. Delicious chocolate! Oh, and some wooden Dutch shoes!

I wanted to add a saying to the pictures, so I chose, “I can’t wait to travel the world with you.” I still felt like it needed a little extra, so I added a small heart image and an airplane image.

For those images, you just search for them in the search category. Make sure you pick the free options. Not everything on the website is free… just like life. 😉

I printed the image off on my printer at home. It actually impressed me how well it printed. I cut it out to make it smaller. I then used poor man’s lamination (as my husband says 😉 ) aka duct tape.

Once I neatly covered it in duct tape, I went around the edges to cut off the extra tape.

I had meant to write a sweet message on the back. However, in my excitement, I forgot. I then wrote “happy 3 yrs!” on a small piece of paper and duct taped it on the back.

The more it looks handmade the better, right? 😉

My husband loved it!

He genuinely thought it was so sweet. Best of all, it didn’t really cost me a dime. I had all the ingredients already at home.

I really enjoyed making this bookmark. I enjoyed how creative I could be using the Canva program. I think this would make a perfect gift for anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, bridesmaid gifts, classrooms. Or just to make a cute one for yourself. 😉

If you have any other ideas or designs for bookmarks, please leave a comment below!

Happy Reading!

June 27, 2018July 18, 2018

INVISALIGN – BRACES FOR SECOND TIME – WHAT I DID WRONG

Hey guys! I know it has been awhile since I have written a post. A one-week break turned into much longer than it should have. I am still in the learning process of blogging, so I am trying my best.

Today, I wanted to write about the Invisalign braces that I got today. Now before I explain my situation, I understand that there are people who have had it worse than I do. I am very blessed by my dental health and my family helping financially support me. I am by no means trying to brag.

While my teeth might look decent now. They did not always look that way. I was born with an underbite. That means that my lower teeth were in in front of my upper teeth. This type of bite can cause all kinds of complications. My grandmother actually had this type of bite as well. It is thought to be an inherited trait.

Not only did I have an underbite, but I had crooked teeth and a large gap in between my two front teeth. I would show you a picture, but I am still not very fond of those pictures. It was because of my underbite and gapped teeth that I became very insecure about my teeth. I did not even want to smile for pictures.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MY VIDEO!

My parents took me to an orthodontist. I want to say I was around eleven or twelve years old. That was so long ago, I now don’t even really remember. I think I’m getting a little old. 😉

The first thing the orthodontist did was put spacers in my back teeth. That was no big deal. They put a couple what looked like rubber pieces in between my back teeth. No pain at all, I thought well this is easy.

Next, I had to get an expander. The expander was placed at the roof of my mouth and was going to expand my upper jaw so that my upper teeth could go over my lower teeth. Anyone who has had an expander knows that while this is pretty neat we can do this… it is quite painful. My mom would have to stick a “key” up in my expander ever so often to crank the expander wider, which gradually also expanded my upper jaw. Ouch!

While having an expander, I also had to have a device for night time. The device was in the shape like a C. One part cushioned itself on my forehead, the other part on my jaw. I had to hook rubber bands onto it to also help pull my teeth forward. While it was a pretty shade of purple, I did not want any of my friends seeing me in this.

Next came braces, yes the kind they have to hook to your teeth. I had braces for close to two years. While I did have to deal with some pain, it overall wasn’t that bad.

Towards the end of my braces, I had to have a minor oral surgery. I am not an orthodontist, so I have no idea what this surgery was even called. I had to have the small part at the top of my upper lip snipped some, so that my front teeth could close properly. It was not painful and took less than 20 minutes. It did come for a pretty price. $280 bucks right there on the spot. I still remember my Dad’s face of shock when they told him the price.

Finally after years of dental work, I was free!! Well kind of. I had a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth. I also had to wear a top retainer at night. The orthodontist did tell my teeth might shift some.

I wore my retainer very well the first year. Every night I wore it. Then gradually over time I slacked. I was about the age of 14 and my family was vacationing in Florida. My best friend had gone with us. I don’t have to wear my retainer when I’m on vacation right? 😉

WRONG! And if I could go back in time and tell myself to put that retainer in I would. So please if you currently are wearing a retainer or your child is. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR RETAINER! EVEN ON VACATION! 😉

So fast-forward to 2017. I knew my teeth were shifting pretty well. I started to notice a gap developing in the front two teeth in pictures. October of 2017, my bottom retainer finally broke and I had to have it removed.

I remember after I had it removed, I sat in my car crying while it was raining. I called my husband sobbing. I wish I had just worn my retainer when I was 14. I was crying so much I could not even talk without gasping for air. My husband told me it would be okay, we could get braces again. And bonus he always wanted to kiss a girl with braces, he said. 😉

After discussing with another orthodontist, I decided to get braces. I was given the option of using Invisalign. This made me super happy not having to have stuff cemented to my teeth again.

So here I am, my first day, June 26, 2018. They are overall pretty comfy to wear. If you have worn a retainer, it pretty much feels the same. I can feel pressure on my teeth so I know I am going to be a little sore. I am also able to talk pretty well, although the letter S is a little tricky to say.

I will have 14 trays in total. I will get a new tray every 2 weeks. Hopefully, I will be done in January of 2019. I pretty much have to keep them in, unless I am eating.

I look forward to being able to share my progress with you guys. If any of you feel insecure about your teeth, I 100% can relate.

One of the most beautiful things about a girl is her smile.

If you have any advice, tips, or questions about my fun dental experience or Invisalign, just leave it in the comments below.

I hope my story can encourage y’all to seek out dental help if you need it and don’t forget to smile!

Oh yeah, and WEAR YOUR RETAINERS! 😉

-Brittany

May 27, 2018June 28, 2018

Top 3 Makeup Products for a Hot Summer Day! Sweat Proof & Long Wearing!

top 3 makeup products for hot summer day

I always love Memorial Day weekend. It is like the first taste of summer, full of warm weather and great food. Swimming, shopping, family events are all parts of Memorial Day weekend. And the fact we get a three-day weekend is the best part.

While, I think of fun stuff with the holiday, I do also have a spirit of thankfulness for the men and women who gave their lives for this country. My dad is a retired veteran and I understand the cost and sacrifice these men and women have to go through.

So what are my top three makeup products that will last through the day with that beginning summer heat?

-1- Foundation! Everything needs to start with a great foundation, including you! Now depending on your preferences you can either use just one of these or both!

-Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation in shade N10

-I love this foundation! And honestly, it is the only foundation I wear. I don’t even worry about concealer anymore, except on those days I REALLY need it. 😉 This foundation is super light to wear and covers just enough to work for my look. While it might not be super long lasting if you are going to be outside, it is super easy to reapply! Also it isn’t clogging your pores!

-Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 in shade 805 Ivory.

-This is my favorite liquid foundation. It lasts all day and has great coverage. Plus it has SPF 20 in it, so if your going to be out in the sun, make sure what ever you are wearing has protection! I apply this foundation light enough to still get great coverage and feel like I don’t have any makeup on!

-2- Mascara! I love how mascara helps my eyes brighten up. Mascara makes me a feel a little more put together when attending a party or family event. I feel waterproof is a must for Memorial Day weekend. One – in case you get thrown into a pool. Two- in case you sweat it all off. Maybelline the Rocket Volume Express Waterproof is my top pick! Perfect for my short little lashes.

–3- Lip Shimmer! Now I’m a southern girl and I know blush is a necessity. But when you are going to be outside, the sun will give you a natural blush color. So my final necessity is a lip color. And what could be a more perfect color for a national holiday than a hint of red! Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Rhubard is the perfect mix of pink with a hint of red. Also, its 100% natural. So you are treating your lips to a delight when you wear it. As a pale girl, the shade of red can be a little scary, this color is perfect for my skin tone.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend with friends and family! Just know, that you don’t have to wear a lot of makeup to have fun. Just be you!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend,

-britt

May 24, 2018July 16, 2018

My Obsession with My Day Designer – NEW Midyear 2018-2019 Mini Planner

I am a planner girl. I cannot go a day without my planner. I’ve actually been a planner girl pretty much my whole life. I remember being in elementary school and I would always write down my assignments each day and fill out my calendar every month. Seriously, I do not think that is normal for a 9 year old. 😉

I first found Day Designer at Target. I was a newly wed and trying to manage my life just out of a notebook and it was about to make me go crazy.

It was actually the same design I bought this year. Very Kate Spade like. 😉 I have now purchased this planner for the third year in a row. I actually considered and looked at other planners this year, just to see if there was anything better.

I asked my friends about their planners and even watched a few YouTube’s comparing different planners. But none of them had everything laid out like I wanted it, except my Day Designer. What can I say Day Designer has spoiled me. 😉

So what does the July 2018 – June 2019 look like?

I get the mini size; I have had the larger and still just prefer the size of the mini. That’s just a personal preference for me.

I love the hardback cover this planner had. I have traveled with this planner and use it every day and I have never had an issue with the cover becoming damaged. And trust me, I am not the most graceful. 😉

You open the binder and it comes with two pages of adorable gold stickers to use through out your planner. Perfect! I actually do not use a lot of stickers in my planner but these are nice for special occasions.

Next you have two pages that introduce the planner as well as detachable ruler you can keep and use in your planner. I most likely will not use the ruler but it is nice to have if you need it.

The next 4 pages are goal oriented, which is great in planning your year. These pages focus on a reality check to see what you spend time and money on. There is a chart for your top 5 values, passions, and strengths. As well as charts to help meet your goals anywhere from three months to a year out. I think it is so important to look over these pages whenever you are feeling discouraged. They can be an encouragement to remind you what is really important.

The following two pages is a weekly layout to help plan out your weeks if you are interesting in creating a routine.

Check out my video review of this planner here!

The last two pages before the planner starts is a 2018 and 2019 year calendar, showing you a small monthly layout for each month that year.

One of the best things is that the planner starts out with the month of June! Thank you so much Day Designer for giving us that extra month. My last planner only went through May, so the thought of going a month without a planner was a little terrifying. 😉

My only dislike is that they did not give us a June 2018 calendar page. But that can be handled by printing off a June month calendar from the Internet. Crisis avoided!

My biggest love with the Day Designer is how the days are laid out.

You have-

Today’s Top Three – which is three things you must get done

You have a section to write things like:

Due – like bills!
Dinner – I use this for my meal planning.
Dollars – I have never really used this here.
Don’t forget – always helpful for a reminder.

Next the middle part of the page is split into two sections:

A daily agenda from 7 am to 7 pm- very helpful when needing to write down specific times.
The second part of the page is a to-do list, which I use every day. I write down my chores for the house, or errands I need to run.
At the bottom of the page is a note section, which is also handy to write down things so you don’t forget.
Last part is a daily gratitude. I think this is one of the most important parts of the planner. Because even on our worse days, or days when we didn’t get anything on our list done, we always have something to be thankful for.

Saturday and Sunday are a little different. They are both on the same page but there is still room for top three and daily agenda. Also, at the bottom there is a layout of small squares for each day next week. So that you can go ahead and write down anything that is important so you don’t forget next week.

My tip for Saturday and Sunday is to plan out your meals on the agenda. For example:

Breakfast – 8am – smoothie!

Lunch – 12pm – McAllister’s!

Supper – 6pm – Pizza!!!

I know that does not sound very healthy, but it sounds delicious. 😉 Also you can write down your to-do list on a separate small sheet of paper or just make little squared off sections on your agenda for your to-do list. I’ve done both ideas!

So I hope I have explained why I love my Day Designer so much. I’m pretty sure unless something better comes along; I am going to be buying this planner for the rest of my life. 😉 So check out the website for Day Designer!

Also, check out my YouTube channel for other planner reviews!

2017-2018 Midyear Day Designer

(They actually have a print for this year similar to this print!)

Plan with me, using my Day Designer!

Check out my review of my full size Day Designer Planner

Happy Planning!

-britt

May 18, 2018July 16, 2018

DIY Your Own BirchBox for $35 or Less!!!

I personally love getting beauty products in the mail every month, but my wallet doesn’t allow that to happen. My husband and I have bigger and better things to save up for. I have always known about Birchbox, but my husband last year got me the coolest gift.

Check out my first Birchbox here!

He signed me up for 3 months subscription to Birchbox for I believe $30 dollars. It was a Christmas deal that Birchbox had going on that month. It was so fun still getting gifts even after Christmas was over. If you have the money and know someone who would love this, I highly recommend it!

One down side though was that with each box there was usually only 2-3 items I actually enjoyed. The other things will most likely never get used.

Then I had the idea, what if I created a Birchbox for my friends and family!?! I love being creative and actually picking stuff I know they will use . This makes the box that much more enjoyable.

So here is my idea for creating your own birch box for $35 bucks or less.

-1- First you need some type of container to put everything in.

Options:

-use something you already have

– buy a cute plastic or paper bag to put it all in

– get a box similar to the boxes they package the items in for Birchbox. You can get boxes from Micheal’s. Some boxes are as low as 5 dollars!

-The pricier option is getting a cute travel bag from Target.

-2- Perfume –Almost every box I got had a small sample of perfume.

Options:

-Bath & Body Works! Get a sample size body spray or lotion. Sample sizes range from $3-6 dollars!

-Some of my favorites are Endless Weekend and Japanese Cherry Blossom.

-3 & 4- Skincare- All of my boxes included some form of skin care from moisturizer to skin treatment.

-I would recommend going to Ulta and getting some of their sheet masks, they are only $4!

-Since your doing a mask, you need to follow up with some kind of moisturizer. My sister has made me fall in love with the Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber, and Green Tea by Mario Badescu. Your can find this at Ulta in the smaller size for $7 bucks. I love spraying this whenever I need to freshen up my skin or right after I get out of the shower.

-5- Make up tool -In my boxes, I would get a make up sponge or a facial scrubber to use on my face in the shower. I actually really enjoyed the facial scrubber I got in my last box!

– Another option I would recommend getting is an Elf brush! They are great brushes and great on prices. They range from $1-6 dollars. Every girl can always use a new brush, right! 😉

-6- Lips -I actually received a lip product from the brand Arrow that I fell in love with ! Check out the video here!

-Since this product is a little on the pricey side, I recommend just getting an Ulta brand lipstick. They are $2.17!

-I know, I would be skeptical about them too. But they are actually great and last all day! The professional makeup artist that did my makeup on my wedding day actually bought me an Ulta brand lipstick in the shade plum crazy. It lasted all day with over 100-degree heat!

There are so many different options you could do with this box and it is completely up to you! Maybe the person you are making this for doesn’t even like make up or beauty products. You could easily turn this into a spice box, a candy box, or a dollar store box. Completely up to you!

Best of all, these can work for birthdays, bridesmaid’s gifts, graduation gifts, or even Christmas gifts!

I hope my thoughts have given you some ideas and your able to be creative while saving money!

CHECK OUT MY BIRCHBOX FAVS!

Happy Friday!

-Britt

May 15, 2018July 17, 2018

3 Favorite Shoes for Spring – Must Haves! Minimalistic!

I am so happy to not have to wear socks anymore! Anyone else feel me? I love just being able to slip my feet into a pair of flip-flops and out the door I go! While I’ve been a handbag-o-holic my whole life, I have never been as obsessed about shoes.

However, as I’m trying to become more minimalistic, I am trying to lessen all my items I have in my life, shoes included. Now I don’t plan on only owning 3 pairs of shoes for myself. I think minimalistic is a lifestyle change that you grow into gradually. And most importantly, it is just keeping what you love in your life.

But! If I had to pick, these would be my top 3 favorite spring shoes.

-1- These adorable sandals that I believe I got from American Eagle years ago. I think these shoes look great with jeans or pair them with a causal dress. Also they are so comfy. You can probably find sandals very similar to this almost anywhere right now during spring season.

-2- Rose Gold is my color, I love it! My mother bought these adorable sandals for me last year, I believe from Shoe Carnival. I think they are perfect to wear on a night or day you just want to feel a little more put together.

-3- Nike running shoes. Now I am not a runner, but I love wearing these shoes whenever I am going to be more active like working outside the house or doing a lot of shopping. 😉 I bought these shoes from Kohls and they are always getting new colors out in this brand. Watch out for sales and you can get a good deal!

With these three shoes I can handle all my errands, dates, and adventures that my week holds. What is a shoe you can’t live without?

“Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life.” 😉

Happy Tuesday,

-brittany