Positively Splendid {Crafts, Sewing, Recipes and Home Decor}: Cream-Filled Carrot Cake Muffins

I wish that I could take responsibility for this delicious recipe, but Positively Splendid takes the (carrot) cake for this one!

I can't wait to make these muffins for Sunday morning breakfast!  Also, please check out her blog.  It's amazing!

Love,

E.

Positively Splendid {Crafts, Sewing, Recipes and Home Decor}: Cream-Filled Carrot Cake Muffins

Thursday Thoughts...

Wow!  It has been a few days since I last posted and the time has gone by so quickly.  To be honest, I just haven't had the gumption to put my thoughts into writing.  My grandma was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma (cancer of the milk duct) and it really threw me for a loop.  It hasn't even been two years since my mom passed away from metastatic breast cancer and it definitely wasn't the news that I wanted to hear.  The good news is that it was caught very early!  Thank God for mammograms!  The doctor feels that it can be treated with a lumpectomy and in the worst case scenario a mastectomy.  He won't know until he actually goes in to remove it.

It really made me think about my own mortality.  I am so grateful to be a Christian.  I know that no matter what happens the Lord is with me and that my home is waiting for me.  I long for the day when I get to see my mom again.  As always, the Lord's timing is amazing.  I just joined an online Bible study on the book An Untroubled Heart by Micca Campbell which will be led by Melissa Taylor.  Melissa's mother also passed away from cancer a couple of years ago and I immediately felt like this is the study I had been searching for.  There are even online small groups through Facebook!  I am so excited!  If you click on Melissa's link you can sign up as well.  All you need is the book and a Bible!

I have also been working on my Easter wreath for our front door.  So far it looks like this:

I am really hoping that it ends up looking like my inspiration for it which can be found here but using spring colored scraps and some Robin's eggs.  I will definitely post a picture when I am done.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Love,

Elyse

Phew...what a St. Patrick's Day!

What a fantastic day today was! We just finished tucking my little Leprechauns into their bed and I am wiped out! It was quite a marathon of a day!

We started the morning with a treasure hunt. A naughty Leprechaun paid a visit to our home and messed the living room up a bit! Then Lucky Charms for breakfast. We went to pay a visit to my grandparents where they enjoyed green lunches! We had corned beef and cabbage, Leprechaun punch, and lime jello. For their bedtime snack the kiddos had shamrock cupcakes.

It's days like this that make me so very aware of how blessed I am. To be able to be with my family and hear the laughter of my children is a gift beyond measure. I am looking forward to starting a new Smash*Book and do some Spring cleaning and decorating.

Love,

Elyse

Preoduct Review: Cetaphil Oil Control Face Wash & Lotion

I was VERY hesitant to try out these products, but I was in Walmart and I just couldn't resist buying them.  I am so desperate to try out anything that will claim to help me with my oily skin.  I am so very glad I purchased them!

The face wash is a foam.  I use about three pumps and I only use it in the morning.  I use the Oil Cleansing Method in the evenings to remove my makeup.  The cleanser smells...clean and soothing.  It is not over-powering or off-putting to me.  The moisturizer is great as well!  I find that it absorbs quickly and is light and non-greasy.  I like that it contains an SPF so I don't have to worry about adding an additional step to my routine.

I have used them over the course of 2 weeks now and I can truly say that I have noticed a reduction in shininess throughout the day and my skin has remained clear.  I really like using it with the OCM.  It seems to be working for my skin.  I'm glad it has only taken me 32 years to figure out something! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Love,

Elyse

6 Family Dinner Conversation Starters | iMOM

iMom has some fantastic ideas to get conversations started with your kids, discipline ideas, and marriage topics that are great!  I love having new questions to ask my kids at dinner time and as an added bonus they get to learn some fun facts too!


6 Family Dinner Conversation Starters | iMOM

Love,

Elyse

Join Julep Maven for Only a Penny!

That's right....one penny!  I just received an email advising me that intro boxes are only a penny in the month of March.  You can click here to be taken to the Julep Maven site where you can sign up and use the code SHAREONMARCH for the promo price.

I love their products!  I hope that you get to check them out and that you end of loving them too!

The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking: {Giveaway} A fabulous 'Thirty-One Gifts' Organizing Utility Tote

Do you love Thirty-One bags?  I do!  Here is a great chance to win one and also please check out the blog.  It's pretty darn cool!

The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking: {Giveaway} A fabulous 'Thirty-One Gifts' Organizing Utility Tote

March Glam Bag Arrived!

My March Glam Bag from myGlam just arrived today!  As always, the goodies inside arrive in a lovely pink mailer.  I get so excited when I see it in my mail box!  The shipping info I received last week said that it wouldn't be here until the 15th.  It was a very welcome surprise!

Here is what came in it:

Classic Crease Brush & Case

Cosmetic Bag

Tons of Fun Goodies!

I received samples of Pur-lisse Pur-Protect SPF 30 Essential Dail Moisturizer, Murad Eye Lift Perfector, a $25 DermStore gift card, a Pur-Lisse Pur-Lip Comfort Daily Lip Nourisher (full-size), a sample of Kera-Color Color Enhancing Leave-In Treatment, and a myGlam exclusive Classic Crease Brush & Case that was hand-selected by Michelle Phan.  The products were inside the pretty cosmetic bag.

My overall thoughts are that March's bag is just....O.K.  I'm not excited about any of the products.  The one that I liked the best is the brush.  I'm looking forward to finding out if it is anything special.

I finally received an email to join BirchBox.  I can't wait to find out how these two companies compare.  I'll let you know what I think once I receive a package from them.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Review: Wen Hair Products

I recently purchased 3 products from Wen through QVC.  It has taken me over a year to take the plunge and buy them.  At the time, I could never justify purchasing them because they are pricey and I couldn't even begin to wrap my head around how the heck they could do everything the QVC person said it would.

Let me begin by saying that my hair is the bane of my existence.  There was a time when I could go in weekly for a blowout and I would spend tons of money making sure I was perfectly coiffed.  Times change and now I have to do my hair myself for the most part.  What that translates to is that I don't do anything with it.  It is curly and not my friend.  I have tried EVERY single product out there and so far they have all been....meh!

I ordered the Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner, Almond Mint Styling Creme, and the Almond Mint Replenishing Treatment Mist.  I have had them now for several weeks and I LOVE them.  These products have changed my life and my outlook on my hair.  It is very different from what I was used to and the change in my hair happened after a few "washes".  My hair is soft, shiny, and manageable.  It also smells good and....wait for it....people have said that my hair is pretty!!! What?!  Yes, I now have pretty hair....thanks to Wen.

The Cleansing Conditioner is exactly what it states in the name.  It doesn't lather which took a bit of getting used to.  On days when my hair doesn't feel too dry I use one pump of it as a leave-in.  The Styling Creme is fantastic to use when I blow-dry my hair straight and the Mist is a nice pick-me-up on those curly hair days!  I usually go through a TON of shampoo and conditioner and I have found that while the Cleansing Conditioner is pricey, a little goes a long way and I don't need to use as much as it says on the bottle.

I would purchase the Cleansing Conditioner and the Styling Creme again.  I think that I can make the Treatment Mist using this tip from One Good Thing I am going to give that a go before I order another bottle.  Oh, and my OCD personality likes that all the scents are matchy!

Beautifully Rooted: Our promised land

The last couple of days have been full of ups and downs. I really needed to be reminded of the Lord's promises and His love for me and my family. This beautiful post was just the reminder I needed.

Beautifully Rooted: Our promised land

March Julep Maven Just Arrived!

My March Julep Maven box just arrived and I really like it!  This is what it looked like upon receipt:

My profile is Bombshell and every month my goodies are tailored to fit my style profile.  The really neat thing about Julep Maven is that you have the ability to choose a different style, skip a month, or you can gift a month to someone else.  My box included an awesome nail file, a 1 oz. bottle of ELIXIR which is organic Moroccan Argan oil a beautiful orange nail polish called Natasha and a gorgeous sheer green nail polish called Sofia.  I am really excited to try Sofia because it also has aqua glitter sparkles.

 

This is what it looks like when you open it!

Close up view of the products....LOVE!

Overall, I am extremely happy with the March Julep Maven box.  I can't wait to try them out.  The colors definitely remind me of Spring.  If you are interested in joining please click here

Have a great day and thank you for stopping by!