NEW REVIEW -- the Head & Shoulders APPLE product line -- and a $50 Visa giftcard giveaway!

Hello friends! Remember my review of the new Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care products in November? I fell in love with their new products and have been a Head & Shoulders fan ever since. Well guess what? I was lucky enough to do another review of another set of the new shampoo and conditioner line. Yay!

This time I was able to use and review the Head & Shoulders Green Apple Care product. And guess what? Now I’m at a total standstill. I’m smitten with my minty goodness Itchy Scalp Care pair, but the Green Apple Care has swept me off of my feet!

 

The best part of using the Head & Shoulders Apple Care duo is I am able to maintain virtually flake-free, beautiful hair. Hello pretty hair. Goodbye embarrassing flakes and dandruff.

In addition to its flake free results, it smells super DELISH. I am 110% sold on hair products by performance, but right up there is the SMELL or FRAGRANCE. Yes, I am that lady in the hair care aisle, smelling the goods before I buy them.

When you look at this what do you smell?

Exactly. Fresh green apples. The new Head & Shoulders Green Apple shampoo and conditioner smells just like this. Beyond leaving behind a clean scalp, the foundation for great looking hair, Head & Shoulders’ new collection goes one step further to excite and indulge your senses with fresh, naturally inspired green apple fragrance.
  Apple-smelling hair all day will make this Mamma smile!

The conditioner is thick, creamy and wonderful. Once again, this is a MUST for this Mamma. My long, coarse textured hair needs thick creamy goodness for moisture and conditioning.

Using the Head & Shoulders Apple Care duo makes obtaining beautiful hair even easier. It’s a simple change in your hair care routine, with big results. Like you, I’m running around keeping our world going with photo shoots, homework, making dinner, cleaning house and everything in between.

I need something simple yet effective to maintain gorgeous, flake-free hair. I can add the Head & Shoulders Apple Care product to my grocery shopping list, and I’m set to go for salon gorgeous hair at home! And it is gentle and pH balanced for everyday use even on color treated or permed hair.

You can make the simple change too! Grab a new duo of the Head & Shoulders Apple Care on your next trip to the grocery store and see big results.

Pretty hair = a very happy Mamma!

So ladies, tell me, what scents make you feel beautiful and fresh?

Leave me a comment to be entered for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 1/30 - 2/28

Be sure to visit the Promotions & Prizes page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win! And visit the Life Well Lived section on BlogHer.com for more great tips on looking your best.

Toddler Valentine Painting Project

Hello there! I came across this toddler painting project from last year and thought I would re-post it! I can’t believe how little Jax looks! Awwww!!

Click HERE to read the entire post/tutorial.

Hope your week is going great!

I’ve been on a GOOFY roll lately. Yesterday I had a flat tire on my car---30 miles from home. My Dad came to rescue! And after he was finished putting the spare tire on…do you know what I did? I locked my keys and purse in my car!! Aaaahh!!! Luckily Jaxon was with my Mom because I had a lunch meeting, but 3 almost 4 hours later…I finally made it home.

Good gravy!!! I haven’t done something silly like that in awhile so I guess I was due.

--------♥

The 2012 Spring semester is in full swing this week too! Graduate school….is back in session! I can feel the stress/pressure already. Deep breaths! =) LOL!

I’m listening to an audiobook of Henry Fielding’s “Joseph Andrews” as I type this. Multi-tasking!! This time next week I will be packing to head back to Alpine for my first weekend class. I can’t wait!

XoXo

Loving my new studio goodies!

Hidy-ho friends! Hope your week has started off great. Our sure did!

I had the sweetest shoot yesterday with some very precious sweet peas. I am 110% in love with my new studio goodies and all the time and hard work definitely paid off.

I usually don’t share photo sneak peeks on here until the end of the week, but these are too cute and fun not share right now.

First of all…this is one of the Valentine set-ups that I will be using for this year’s Short & Sweet mini sessions. Love it!

And here it is in use…with my precious model…Miss Brooklynn.

Don’t let this picture fool you…her Mamma is sitting to the right of her and we shot these very quickly. She’s only 6 months old and still working on sitting on her own.

Here are a few more of Brooklynn and her CUTE as PIE brother and sister Clayton and Bailey.

Don’t you love big sister’s boots!!

And a few more of precious Miss Brooklynn….

Aren’t they ADORABLE???? Aaaahhh! Love them!

I so love doing kids and baby shoots. There’s nothing sweeter or more special!

Have a BLESSED day!!

XoXo

Sunday Inspirations

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Project Barn wood photography backdrop-- DONE!

I’m so happy to post that my construction project is done! Whooohooo! I love the feeling of seeing my ideas manifested in front of my eyes. I knew what I wanted…and it is a reality now!

I wanted an old barn wood background for my studio. The look of old barn wood is timeless and it just looks amazing for photographs. I’ve spent a lot of time scoping out old buildings just to use old wood as a background. Last week it hit me, “Why not make your own old wood backdrop!” And that’s just what I did. Well not just me…it was an entire family project. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing parents!!

I already had the old barn wood thank goodness. I have a precious Aunt who knows how much I love old things. She had brought me a pile of old wood from a barn/shed that was on her land in Colorado. I so loved that my wood had history too!

Soooo…..my Mom and I laid the wood out and it was the perfect height and length for my studio stage.

My Mom set up the wood before we started the construction. 

And we started drilling the wood together!!! Jaxon loved helping us too.

My Dad helped do the MUSCLE parts of the project.

And Jax helped PaPa too. Too cute!!!

It took one entire evening to complete. I was almost in tears I was so excited. The next evening we built a box to use as a prop for seating out of old pallets.

And let me just add…you see different projects with refurbished pallets and it looks easy right? Heck no! That wood is so hard to work with! I broke MANY screws making my little box---yes even with pre-drilling. I honestly think my little box took more work and muscle than my BIG backdrop.

Once it was built, we had to haul it from the farm to my house in town ---15 miles. Pretty funny!

I couldn’t wait to try it out with Jaxon.

But my tooter wasn’t exactly cooperative for the practice run at first. I seriously think the hardest pictures I take…are of my OWN child. See what I mean…LOL!

Finally…he with the persuasion of this…..

he sat still for a few seconds to do a few test-run shots. Yes…I bribed my child with candy. =)

I absolutely LOVE the look of the wood. You just cannot replicate that look with fake backdrops.  And just look at my GORGEOUS box. Makes my heart go PITTER-PATTER! I can’t wait to use it in sessions!!

And finally….after a little candy persuasion…..the shot that I was looking for….

This route for backdrop took a lot of extra work and it’s not for the faint of heart. For me it is exactly what I was looking for. That look isn’t for everyone, and that’s the beauty of our business right? We are artists and our photographs are our blank canvases!! Don’t be afraid to create your own backdrops, looks and props. Sometimes the look you are going for just can’t be bought in replica reproductions.

I have a super sweet session with 3 kiddos this Monday morning so I cannot wait to show you how much fun using this backdrop will be!!!

Have you made your own backdrops before? I would love to hear about it and see what you made!!

XoXo

I’ll be doing a lot of this today….

And I can’t tell ya what it is just yet but it’s going to be SUPER! CUTE! AH-mazing! FABULOUS!

Ha ha ha. I’m really excited about it actually. But it’s not finished just yet.

When it is…you will be the first to see it!

Pinky promise!! =)

Have a WONDERFUL day!

XoXo

My new favorite snack/meal–Egg, Spinach & Rice Cracker yumminess

Happy middle of the week!

Just a quick post today.

It’s like a mini recipe!

This is SOOOOOOO good! One of my new fav’s.

One white cheddar rice cake + fresh spinach + sliced boiled egg = SUBLIME yumminess. I eat this for a power snack if I need it and if I want a quick lunch or dinner I eat 2 of these plus salad. It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s sooooooo good!

Try it!!!

XoXo

I'm making a quilt!

I've always wanted to make my own quilt. But never tried to make one. Until now! Yay! My Mom and I are making quilts together and it is SO MUCH FUN!

It's not near as bad as I thought it would be. But I also picked a pretty basic pattern too. I knew if it was too detailed it would overwhelm me for my first round of quilting.

 

Of course my Jaxy wanted to help too....

I got quite a bit done and love how it is already looking.

Wait...I take that back...I absolutely LOOOOOOOVE how it looks!!!

I wasn't exactly expecting to take pictures that day! It was a relaxed day at the farm...who needs to be dressed up for quilting though right??? LOL!

I'll keep you posted on our progress. I'd love to hear about your quilting projects too!

XoXo

Sunday Inspirations

I wanted to start sharing a few of the Bible verses, inspiration quotes and positive thoughts I find with you on Sundays. Sometimes reading one positive thought or enlightening Bible verse is all I need to move to the next step in my daily journey. This one is perfect for January aspirations...and my goal of self-discipline for this year.

Have a blessed Sunday!

XoXo

Nature photography

One thing that I absolutely love is nature photography.
I love little glimpses of the beauty and God's work in nature.
I usually always forget to share a few of my shots with you, but starting today I want to share these with you.

I loved this little yellow flower. We were hiking at the Guadualupe Mountain National Park in a very wooded area. In one teeny, little spot where the sun shone through...this little flower was growing. Magnificent!! I think the saying "bloom where you are planted" rings so true after seeing this!!

 

I hope you will grab your camera and go outside today or this weekend and have fun shooting nature. No rules, not expectations. Just capture the moment.

Happy shooting!!!

XoXo

Banana Bread

Snow days....mean BAKING time for our house. 

There are not any complaints either.

Jaxon LOVES to help in the kitchen. He's getting really good at it too. I don't have to beat anything these days. It's marvelous.

We made Leslie from The Green Cattle Blog's recipe for banana bread. It's super yummo. Click HERE for the recipe. She's always rocking some DELISH recipes!!

  I bet you want a slice don't you? It's SOOOOO GOOD! I bet you already have the ingredients on hand to whip up a batch for today!

Have a delightful day!

XoXo