How to Make S'more Kits for Christmas Gifts

I'm always on the hunt for Christmas gifts for my favorite families, and treats can be a cute and inexpensive option.  This year we settled on S'more Kits, something that would provide a little family activity and be yummy at the same time.

Here's what you'll need:
Graham Crackers
Marshmallows
Chocolate Bars
Food Packaging (cellophane bags, bakery boxes, etc.)
Closures (ribbon, twist ties, or adhesive)
Scissors
A Hole Punch
A Pen (for curling the twist ties)

I listed the families I needed gifts for, along with the number of family members.  I then put into piles 1 large chocolate bar, and enough graham cracker squares and marshmallows to make 1-2 s'mores per member of each family, depending on the size of the family (1 each for large families, 2 each for smaller families).

Then all I had to do was slip them into some cute packaging and seal it all up.  I also put together a few extras, because, if you're like me, there's always going to be someone you forgot to get a gift for.

tsū, the newest social network!

Have you seen this?  I'm giving it a try, so you'll see a review soon, but this is tsū, a social network that apparently shares the revenues with us. I'm playing with it right now and I'm excited to see what it can do. 
First impression: I kinda like the clean look of it!  It's refreshing!

Check it out: www.tsu.co/NicoleDupont

How to get Huge Lashes!

We all want long lashes, right?  It's like the new boobs.  Everyone wants a bigger pair. I am not into lash extensions, and I don't love taking the time to put on false lashes every morning (plus I usually tend to mess it up somehow).  With that in mind, this is how I do my lashes when I want them BIG BIG BIG (and not spidery). 

You need:

• 3D Fiber Lashes (no worries, it's just the worlds greatest mascara, not extensions or falsies)
• Lash Comb
• Blowdryer (you read right, no lash curler for me)

The basics... there are 2 tubes in the 3D Fiber Lashes, Gel and Green Tea Fiber.  You start by coating your lashes with gel, brushing fibers onto the tips, and then coating again with gel (that way the fibers don't flake off).  You can do this for as many coats as you want to get the results you want.  You can use the comb to get rid of any clumps as needed.  Then, when I'm done, I use my blowdryer on high heat, low speed to blow my lashes from below for about 15 seconds (this curls them, I swear), then I give them a blast of cool air to set the mascara.

You know what, just go watch this... it will make so much more sense.  Seeing is believing.

To see more, please subscribe to my YouTube channel, follow me on Facebook, or visit my website. Or, you can email me at teampirateprincess@gmail.com with any questions. :-)

Warning... a potty training post

My Tiny Princess has been using the potty. Finally. No, she's not perfect. Yes, we have accidents. But she's, like, majorly proud of herself. And we celebrate that like crazy in this house.
Now, since I know there will be flames from some out there, here's my philosophy on potty training: it doesn't need to be a fight. True, she's 3, and I would have loved to have her trained at 2. But she just didn't care.  And to me, I would so much rather not have the experience be traumatic for both of us. Yes, you know it's traumatic for you to have to beg your child to use the potty, force then to wear big kid undies, then throw those undies that you paid good money for into the trash because they were pooped in anyway.  And I'm not a fan of washing out poopy undies.  So we waited until she was confident that she could hold it and tell me when she had to go.  That's when we broke out the big girl panties (she flat out refused to give up her pull ups when I offered panties to get before). Sure, she pooped in them once (so far), but this is her choice now to wear them, which, I think, makes her want to do good at this way more than if I had forced it.  And of course, I diligently inspect every bit of poop and pee that goes in the potty, then we high five, fist bump, hug, and sometimes even call daddy.  Oh, and her brother celebrates with her, too.
So, for us, we're way proud!  And way less stressed about it, too.

Moms Cry, Too

I spend so much time trying to help my children learn and grow, and hoping they'll catch on to life soon, that sometimes I forget to just watch them. And then I run into a day like today where I can't help but cry a little and wonder when my babies grew up.
Two weeks ago, Davin started Kindergarten. He's been doing fabulous, by the way. Here's hoping it stays that way, but I think his teacher is a much better fit for him (and all around teacher) than his preschool teacher was.
I've been hanging out with Charis a lot more since her brother is in school, and let me tell you, she's a pretty cool little chick. Her personality just shines and she really has matured a bit even in just her two weeks of exclusive mommy time.
Yesterday, Davin had the first practice of his second (SECOND!) season of soccer, while Charis went to her very first dance class. They both did great. Amazing. Conducted themselves well.
What the heck happened here? When did they decide to grow up on me?  When did they turn into the coolest kids ever?
So, that's why this mom had to shed a few tears today. Hormones? Maybe. I don't know. But I know I'll be paying much closer attention from now on.

Summer summer summer summer!

I know some of you are finally getting to enjoy your summers... and that's fabulous for you.  I'm pleased to announce we've been doing summer here in AZ for quite a while already this year, and I LOVE it!  And before you call me crazy, up until the last week it was a dry heat (I know, so cliche, but it's true).  It only became a little unbearable when we hit our humid season... you peeps who live back east can keep that business. 
But summer... I love it because I love flip flops, BBQs, Independence Day, birthdays (both my babies), sunglasses, pedicures, water, sun tans, the smell of coconuts and sunscreen, and even our rain storms...

Have you heard...?

In case you missed it (and if you follow me on Facebook, I don't know how you did, LOL), I started my own business with Younique, a naturally-based skin care and cosmetic company.  I have been with Younique for 5 months now, and wow has this been bigger than I ever thought... like seriously!
I found Younique through a Facebook party I was invited to, they really convinced me I needed this 3D mascara stuff. Mascara, by the way, is my one "don't-leave-home-without-it cosmetic item. No really, I received a call from my husband once telling me he had rolled his truck (that story is in a previous post here) and I ran into my bathroom to put my mascara on super fast before I left the house. I know... that's bad, right?
Once I tried my 3D Fiber Lashes, I debated, and finally decided I could at least get the presenter's kit and purchase my own mascara if I signed up... I mean, that was still a pretty amazing deal (30 eye pigments, 5 blushers, and then some... like are you kidding me?  Play time!). Then I got my kit and some other products and started to play, and wow! Makeup rut, over! I fell in love with the other products, too.
Then I "met" my upline on Facebook and found out how seriously supportive they are. Really, phone calls, info, inspiration, incentives, everything... and such cool girls, too. Now, you may or may not know that I can be pretty socially awkward at times, but they even helped me work through that. And, oh my exciting! I really started to get into the rush of sharing Younique with others! I never thought that would happen, but these are seriously products I wanted everyone to not have to live without!
Now, a mere 5 months in with this new company (yeah, it's only a little over a year old... and growing exponentially... now, that's exciting), I've promoted four times, earned a $250 bonus, and even built my own team of amazing girls who see what this opportunity can mean for them and their families!
I am so ridiculously in love with what I have achieved with Younique, not only income wise but also in improved self image and social outgoing-ness (pretty sure that's not even a word), and I feel so blessed to have found this opportunity... oh, and the perfect mascara!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
I started because I love the 3D Lashes, and I thought it was a good opportunity to get a discount for myself and sell to my family and friends. My initial goal was... not really to make money, I actually wasn't expecting that or any of the rest, LOL! I now see the potential to earn enough money to pay for our summer vacation this year, and then some, hopefully!
Now that I see the potential, my goal is to be able to work as a nurse purely because I want to help people, not because I need the income!
What would you do with your future and to help others if you could?
www.piratelashes.com

Eye Tutorial Using Cranberry Pigment

This is one of my favorite eye looks lately, I think the cranberry color brings out the green in my hazel eyes really well.  Plus I just love red!

Products used are:

• Younique Eye Pigements in Heartbroken, Provoked, Sexy, and Corrupted (liner)
• Younique 3D Fiber Lashes (it's just mascara, the best one ever)

For this I like to use Heartbroken (the cranberry color) all over my lid up to my crease, then Provoked (a redish brown) in the crease and on the outer V, and finally Sexy (a shimmery nude) on my brow bone, at the inner corner  of the eye, and a little to blend.  I then use Corrupted ( flat black powder) with a liner brush to line my eyes.  That gives me a bit of a smokier liner look.  Then I finish with my mascara of choice, Younique's 3D Fiber Lashes (no, not falsies).

Check out the tutorial here:

Happy Father's Day!

I know, it's after midnight, so technically I'm a day late... what can I say, I worked at the hospital today.  But I really wanted to honor a few amazing dads in my life... because dads are pretty amazing guys, right? 

I have been blessed with two dads - one biological, one step,both very instrumental in raising me.  I had them both walk me down the isle at my wedding... how cool is that?  Only the luckiest girls get two daddies!

I also want to give a shout out to the hubs... I remember when we were dating we had a conversation about what we dream of doing with our lives.  His answer was not career oriented as most people's tend to be.  He told me "I want to be a good dad."  Having grown up without a dad, I can totally see why that's so important to him... and guess what!  Success!  Thomas, you are an amazing dad to our two beautiful children!

Happy (slightly belated) Fathers Day to all the amazing dads out there!

I'm so spurty...

I owe everyone (and my lonely blog) an apology... I seem to go in spurts with my posting and really good things fail to get passed on to the world... like ridiculously good, because life is awesome!
So, kids are bigger, and super fun, but I'm sure you expected that!  We both have the same jobs, however I did start my own business with Younique, a naturally based skin care and cosmetic company... seriously such a good decision, but more on that later.  Davin went to preschool this year.... And played soccer... And tee ball.  Charis is just a little princess who loves to sing and dance.  We continue to do CrossFit, although we admittedly need to get out butts to the gym more often... life is crazy and good, all at the same time!