A favorite product post: Aveda Hand Relief

The only thing that can save my hands from the wintertime woes is the Aveda Hand Relief.

This stuff is

AMAZING!

This stuff is so rich and creamy and doesn't leave your hands greasy, which most lotions tend to do so I hate putting them on. My hands are terribly dry during the winter, and even worse since it's been so dry out. I can't live without this stuff... It hydrates with plant emollients and has exfoliating fruit acids and anti-oxidants. It also has vitamins A and E which help to diminish the signs of aging...

The more that you use this stuff the better your hands will feel! Especially if you wash your hands a lot this stuff will help put the moisture back in! Really who doesn't want all these great benefits wrapped up in one bottle of lotion? Now I am a total Aveda addict, and this is definitely one product I can not live without! This is one of those things that you just have to try to believe me...

So, Check back later this week, because Jes and I will be doing our very first giveaway, and we've got a couple of goodies for you guys!

(no this wasn't a payed post, I just really am obsessed with this stuff)

Lemonade Sugar Scrub by Jes

I have been using a Trader Joe's Tangerine Sugar scrub for years.

BUT...
*Cue dramatic music here*

THEY DISCONTINUED IT!
(DUN DUN DUN)

So! I found a similar recipe online and decided to give it a shot.
It's super easy, and you most likely have everything you need for it already!

Mix 2 1/2 Cups of Sugar with 1 Cup of Olive Oil.
Add 4 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
(or essential oils of your choice)

Mix really well until it turns into a gritty paste
then spoon into a glass container.
Make sure you have a container with a lid that seals well.

This will make enough to fill a 12oz mason jar If it's been sitting a while you may need to stir it before use, as the sugar will settle.

Get creative with different oils and aromas for your own custom mixture!

I even found a way to incorporate something from my list into this project. #9-Give more gifts. I gave a jar to Jessie.
She voted it "Best Shower Ever"

Now you too can benefit from my #9.
Check back in later this week as we'll be giving away a jar in our
FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY!
(woo hoo!)

Picture this....

What life has been like lately with these little monkeys:)

What She Wore Wednesdays!

With good intentions I took these photos weeks ago to do something new on the blog...What She Wore Wednesday....

She who; you ask?

She can be anyone, more than likely it will be a victim that happens to come to my house on any given day...(most likely my sisters stopping by)

You will probably never see me on one of these posts because I usually am donning my fancy black leggings with my husbands Costco socks, a long sleeve thermal and a warm fuzzy robe and some baby vomit on my shoulder..That is about what my days look like these days, which is fine!

So for some inspiration for all us mommies out there who dream of dressing cute on a Wednesday, and if we ever get to dress up we'll have some cute ideas! How many of you moms or non moms dress up when your at home? Or are most of you sweat pant wearing, sock stealing, husband sweatshirt thieves when you are at home?

So without further adieu I give you...

What She Wore Wednesdays...

(lets be honest here though, This will probably rarely happen every Wednesday, but it's fun to hope right:)

Mattix is wearing a onsie handmade by Annalee. Mattix you look oh so fashionable:) Sunglasses: Ray Ban.

Lets take it from the top: Lang is wearing a vintage goodwill twill jacket found a few years ago

underneath her jacket is a frilly cardigan from target, and her shirt....is from choice...eek she didn't want you to know that, but when you spot something cute you just got to get it no matter where it's from!

Her belt is F21, skirt: a hand-me-down from my mother in law and boots are Target

And there we have it Ladies and Gents: What Lang wore over three weeks ago on a Wednesday...

Hopefully we'll see you next Wednesday with a new outfit!

We call this look granny chic!

My 30 before 30... by Jes

I actually won't be turning 30 until  April of 2013

but I thought that making a list of things to do before

April of this year would make for an impossible list, or a horrendously boring one (i.e. wash my car; get a haircut)

So, with 1 year and 4 months to achieve my list, here goes:

     1. Write 1 Thank You note a week. 

     

     2. Plant a vegetable garden.

     3. Visit a foreign country.

     4. Learn how to (really) use my camera.

     5. Have a lunch date with a friend at least once a
        month.

     6. Get to my wedding weight OR have a baby.

     7. Visit a National Park that I've never been to.

     8. Clean the "hoarder room" and make it into a useable space. 

     9. Give more gifts.

    10. Add 10 savory recipes to my Jeses Bestest recipe book.

    11. Learn how to use my fancy sewing machine. 

       (this one is for you, Gina)

    12. Re-initiate a monthly date day with Danny.

    13. Learn to make amazing homemade body butter or lotion.

    14. Do a spa day with friends.

    15. Entertain at least once a quarter.

    16. Take advantage of the classes at my gym.

    17. Learn how to attractively shorten sleeves.

    18. Get rid of all my sloppy clothes, so I am forced

        to dress cute even when I am cleaning the house.

    19. Eat a real dinner, at the table, without 

        distractions, at least 2 nights a week.

    20. Don't get into pjs and wash off my makeup as

        soon as I get home.

    21. Use my bike.

    22. Read ALL my magazines!

    23. Take the dogs hiking more.

    24. Find a pair of perfect everyday earrings.

    25. Don's rationalize spending more because I'm

        working more. Either save, or work less.

    26. Go blackberry picking.

    27. Buy a new baking sheet. (the one I have is super

        old and warped, and I think I may have accidentally

        commandeered it from a gathering like 6 years ago)

    28. Use my sign language so I don't lose it.

    29. Go to the beach at least every other month.

30. Don't "save" my special things. Use and enjoy them!

I will try to document the documentable,

but be sure to get ideas for your own list at

The J Project 

Jessica's 30 before 29 Bucket List

The J Project friends are focusing on their 30 before 30 bucket list for 2012 and they've invited anyone who wants to submit their list to do so. Another good friend of mine posted her 31 before 32 list on her blog. So I thought I would submit a bucket list of my own!

Also for the past 2 years my childhood best friend and I get together in January and make a long list of goals that we want to work on. We still have yet to make that list this year. (If your reading this Missy we need to set that date:) But it's something we do together that I always look forward too. Since we haven't done that list, I may be adding a bit more things to this list after we get together!

Most of the things on this list I will be able to document throughout the year on the blog..

So here was my Bucket List submission for the J project.

1. Go on more adventures with Jax and Mattix

2. Make healthier dinners that don't always involve cheese

3. put things away when I'm done with them

4. get up before the boys do to start my day

5. clean out the garage and REALLY get rid of things that we don't use

6. finish and start the projects in my head

7. finish the play room

8. Stop saving things for "just in case I might need it for something" reasons

9. Give a comment at each meeting, or at least raise my hand and attempt a comment

10. Have a grocery list EVERY TIME I go grocery shopping

11. Have a meal plan each week

12. Plant a small garden

13. Exercise to loose baby weight!

14. Finish the boys' baby books

15. Get up to date with our family snapfish books

16. Put pictures in the frames that are on the wall.

17. Sew a skirt from scratch

18. Re-fashion my pile of clothes hiding under my bed

19. Enjoy the small things

20. Remember that there is no task that can't wait when there is a request to "play with me mommy."

21. Try eyelash extensions...a ridiculous goal, but it looks so fun!

22. Plan a fun family outing once a month!

23. Blog more often than once a month.

24. Start a granny square crochet blanket!

25. Don't spend so much time on the Internet looking at ideas, and actually use that time to do something productive.

26. Have the CO and his wife over for a meal.

27. Pay off our last credit card

28. Organize our master bedroom closets and dresser drawers.

29. Learn how to use my bread machine & yogurt maker.

30. Participate in the J blog race!

I will let you know when I complete a goal or am working on something!

If anyone else wants to submit a their list to the J Project, you can email them @ thejproject2010@yahoo.com

Jessica

Ice Ice Baby... By Jes

Have you wondered where I've been? If you have, you're not alone.

It's been a REALLY busy couple of months 

(hence the blog silence on my part)

So in order to get some much needed rest and to recharge my customer service batteries (trust me, you do not want to encounter me in the last 2 weeks in December), we decided to get out of Dodge.

We chose a mini vacation in Yosemite.

Yosemite didn't have snow, but it was still beautiful. 

And we pretty much had it to ourselves.

Okay, we found a little snow (enough for 1 snowball launched at Danny). We drove out to Tuolumne Meadows and found a frozen lake along the way. 

   

We (mostly me) were a little nervous, but we ventured out onto the ice.

 We ended up seeing people ice skating out there, so we felt better.

Later that day we found a frozen waterfall.

 I've decided people who do not grow up around snow are obsessed with all things frozen. We were not the only ones. 

We spent the rest of the time hiking or reading in front of the huge fireplaces at the Ahwahnee.

I highly recommend Yosemite as a wintertime vacation. 
Beat the crowds, see some bears, eat at the Ahwahnee 
(do NOT get mochas at the Ahwahnee lounge though, YUCK)
and relax.