Clothed in Love: Hekima Place Project

 I was recently contacted by Delonna from Clothed In Love, an organization birthed of a "God Sized Dream" to love on the world's 150 million orphans.  When Delonna explained to me her project to make the girls of Hekima Place feel loved by sending a care package of handmade bracelets, my answer was an unwavering yes!  I was truly honored, not for her sharing of her dream, but also for the simple project of making these young girls in Kenya feel loved and appreciated.  

There are three beautiful bracelet types being sent over, and one of the types, for the littlest of the ladies at Hekima Place, is the "Fun Flare Bracelet."  With Clothed in Love's goal of sending at least 200, three for each young girl, I knew I could contribute a reasonable amount.  I also loved this project idea as a way to include Zion.  As you know, I love being able to help Zion gain a compassionate understanding of the world around her - and see that she can make an impact even at her age!

 Our project took us a few days to complete.  We gathered all of the supplies for the bracelets at Michaels, spending around $23 total.  Two days of bracelet making and we were thrilled to have 38 completed bracelets to send over to Clothed in Love.  One of the most beautiful parts of working on this project was seeing Zion demonstrate her understanding of why we were making them and who we were making them for.

 Zion also had a lot of fun modeling the completed bracelets.  I let her make two bracelets to keep for herself to remind her to pray and think about the orphans at Hekima Place.  There is still a little bit of time left if you are interested in making some of these beautiful bracelets.  Contact Delonna for more information or other ways to help, as bracelets need to make it to her by 4/20/2013.

Hekima Place is a home for girls primarily orphaned by HIV/Aids in Kenya.  Hekima Place is home to 60 girls and young women, who receive quality education, healthcare and life skills while living there.  They also have the opportunity to stay connected to their extended families, visiting with them frequently.  There are multiple volunteer opportunities available for those interested in partnering with them.  Delonna will be presenting the completed bracelets to Kate Fletcher at their upcoming benefit on 4/27/13.

I'm so grateful for Clothed in Love and the purpose of looking after God's beautiful children in this world!  Will you join me and Delonna in 10 Days of Prayer for Orphans, kicking off May 2nd?  

       

Beauty Must Haves: Neutrogena Cosmetics Review

This post is a review of Neutrogena Cosmetics sponsored by BzzAgent.com.  

I received complimentary products for this review, however; all opinions expressed within this post are my own.

I was thrilled at the opportunity I had recently to try Neutrogena Cosmetics.  If you don't already know I love makeup and trying new makeup, but there are so many brands to choose from and try!  Honestly, I had never tried a single Neutrogena Cosmetics product until now.

In my BzzKit I received two Crease-Proof Eye Shadows, in Lasting Taupe & Constant Copper, a MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Watermelon and Healthy Lengths Mascara in Black.  

 

I really enjoyed putting together this simple every day look using just my typical foundation products and the Neutrogena Cosmetics I received.  I was really impressed by the way the colors included in my kit highlighted my natural features, such as my blue eyes and the light mauve of my nude lips.

 

Neutrogena Crease-Proof Eye Shadows

The Crease-Proof Eye Shadows are a soft creamy stick of color that can be applied in almost a sheer layer (right) or built up for more dramatic looks (left).  They can be a bit difficult to apply - I prefer to apply mine with a brush rather than directly with the stick, but the result is well worth the effort.  They definitely hold true to the Crease-Proof claim and are one fo the longest lasting eye shadows I've ever tried.  

Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara

The Healthy Lengths Mascara, while not hugely impressive in terms of volume, curling or kapow factor, definitely added length to my lashes.  However; the best thing about this mascara for me was the way they made my eyelashes feel truly healthy and conditioned after each use.  While other mascaras seem to have a drying effect and often cause eyelash irritation after being worn for long lengths of time, this mascara left my eyes feeling soothed, softened and healthy.  I didn't notice a substantial lengthening or growth in my eyelashes, however; I believe that used frequently the improved health of your eyelashes with this product will result in eyelash growth!

 

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick

By far my most favorite new product to wear on my lips is the MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Watermelon.  This color stick is soft, silky and smells so sweet!  It provides the perfect amount of sheer color when used alone (left) or can be applied over a favorite lip color to add sheen and moisture (right).  This is one product I would love to get more! Definitely a great one to keep in the purse for a last minute pop of shimmery color on the go!

1. Healthy Skin Blends // 2. MoistureShine Lip Soother // 

3. Revitalizing Lip Balm // 4. MoistureShine Gloss

Overall I really enjoyed trying these products and definitely would purchase them! Have you tried Neutrogena Cosmetics?  Which product from the post would you most like to try?

       

Spring Ombre Nail Kit Instagram Giveaway

Spring Ombre Nail Kit Giveaway by baxtronlife featuring a nail polish

Open to Instagram followers of @BaxtronLife. Rules: Follow @BaxtronLife, Reshare photo (must be a public profile, private won't count), Tag @BaxtronLife & use #SpringOmbreGiveaway hashtag. Giveaway runs 4/3-4/10/13. One entry per day of the giveaway. U.S. Residents 18 & Over only!

Mad-Hatter Tea Party: 7 Tips to Throw a Party Like This on a Budget

Tori Spelling is a talented actress and author as well as a wife and mother of four. Not only does she have the time for house, wife and motherly duties, but she makes time to host a show on TLC called "Craft Wars" in conjunction with having her own reality show with her family. She writes about her crafting expertise and offers tips and tricks in her books and blog, ediTORIal. She might have gotten her craft roots from her parents — they have three different gift wrapping rooms in their home alone!

She threw an over-the-top birthday Mad-Hatter party for her daughter Hattie, who turned one. Yes, that's right. For her 1 year old. Now that we have that out of our systems, know that you can throw a budget-friendly Mad-Hatter party. Details are the most important factor in any birthday-party theme. As Tori says, "Love is in the details."

Easy-to-Make Playing Cards

Make extravagant and larger than life accent pieces. Take a quick trip to the hardware store, craft store or dollar store to make some misshaped cards and giant hats (from "Alice in Wonderland"). You will need:

• Bosse wood (or any wood you can easily paint and cut)
• Paint
• Painters tape
• A saw

Cut the wood into a large card and use the painters tape to tape shapes and numbers on the cards. Paint inside the tape and wait for it to dry. Now you have a large, attention-grabbing accent piece for your party that didn't cost much at all.

Hang some large playing cards from trees. Punch holes in the cards and attach them with some fishing wire or any other type of yarn. Hang from trees, ceilings or any other place you can think of.

Dress the Part

Tori, her husband, children and dog all dressed like characters from "Alice in Wonderland." Sites like www.BuyCostumes.com have over 60 wonderland-themed costumes, so you don't have to worry about making a DIY costume.

Bottles (Like the Ones Alice Drinks From)

Find a variety of glass bottles at the dollar store, craft store and thrift store. Take some cardstock paper and attach it to the bottle and label them "Eat Me" and "Drink Me." Fill the bottles with a variety of candies and beverages. Once the party is over you can even recycle the bottles by placing fresh flowers inside or saving them for a later craft.

Clocks, Clocks, Everywhere

What's a Mad-Hatter party without a bunch of clocks? Search all over for these fun, circular clocks. You can often find them in the home furnishings section of department stores. If not, visit a hobby or craft store. Buy as much as you want and decorate the whole party area with them. Keep three to four clocks together as centerpieces and around the venue.


Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user Matteo Ianeselli.

Take the Furniture Outside

If you have an abundance of furniture, place pieces outside and use it as the party decor. You can usually find cost-effective old couches and chairs at stores like Goodwill and The Salvation Army. If you have the time, slip on a slip cover (or reupholsters the whole piece if you feel up to it). If finding a variety of furniture seems too expensive, take all the chairs from your home and place them around the party. Mismatched chairs will add to the party.

Paper Lanterns

Like Disneyland and the movie, string paper lanterns in a variety of colors about the food and present tables. These can be found pretty cheap online and will be even cheaper if bought in bulk.

Contributed by Michelle Herrera

Known by her friends as the DIY diva, Michelle is always coming up with new and creative ways to decorate on a limited budget.

       

This post is a guest post and may include sponsored text links.

Let's Get Organized with Thirty One Gifts

Even though I love being organized, I still have trouble from time to time being innovative.  When my friend, Kristin, sent me an email to let me know she was selling Thirty One Gifts, I couldn't help but get excited at the possibilities.  One thing that is a goal for me this year is to set up an office space in our apartment.  We've gone back and forth on how to do it, but after seeing some of the ideas in the Spring Catolog, I think I have my mind set!  Now to choose a pattern!

1. Fold'N'File // 2. Hang-up Home Organizer // 3. Room to Grow Bin // 4. Magazine Basket

 Isn't this office great!?  A simple desk with two leaning bookshelves and hang-up organizers mounted to the wall!  I would probably do less on the desk itself, but I love the aesthetic for keeping life and business organized.  Something that I desperately need to get better at this year!

1. Organizing Pack // 2. Tote-A-Tablet  // 3. Perfect Party Set

Another thing I have been gazing at are the on-the-go accessories offered by Thirty One Gifts.  We plan on making a vehicle purchase in the next year or so, so I will be on the go more frequently.  I have my mind set on beach picnics and weekend getaways!  I also need a good camera bag now that I have joined the DSLR community - the organizer pack on the top left is supposed to be perfect for that.

Would you like to score some of these great organizers?  GREAT! I'm hosting a virtual party this week and you can shop online at your convenience!

Here is some info about Kristin and Thirty One Gifts:

Hi! I'm Kristin, and I am a blogger and a Thirty One Consultant! I'm really excited to tell you guys a little bit about Thirty One Gifts. Thirty One is a Christian Company who's name comes from Proverbs 31. It's a wonderful company that empowers women to succeed. Thirty One gifts has allowed so many women to fulfill their dreams of supporting their families, staying home with their children, provide financial stability, and so much more. After I heard so many inspiring stories from women who had used Thirty One as a way to provide these wonderful things, I decided that I had to become a consultant myself. Thirty One has already provided me with a part time income that is helping us to purchase our first home. And let me tell you, it's a fun gig to have! You get to make money from having parties. Can't get much better than that! If you'd like more information on becoming a Thirty One Consultant, you can contact me at kristinmfleck@gmail.com. You can also host a party and earn lots of free product! Let me know if you are interested!

And now, on to some super fun news! Courtney is hosting on online Thirty One party this week! All this week, you can go to mythirtyone.com/kristinfleck and order all kinds of awesome goodies!

And this month, if you spend $35, you can get a small duffle for $10 or a large for $25!




Thirty One has so many amazing gifts, accessories, purses, totes, and more! Browse around, have some fun, and get some great new products! Happy Shopping!!

Be sure to keep up with Courtney and I on twitter, I'll be posting fun ideas for your Thirty One products all week!!