What's in your bag?

I have had quite a few people ask me what make up I wear. First of all, i'm cheap. Or just Dustin is. Either way, I try to find the best of the cheaper make up and i'm slowly improving, when Dustin doesn't know... He is a cheapo!
I remember when we were first married he would say, "why do you need make up, it's not a necessity." Let's just say we only had that conversation a couple times, and i'm still wearing make up! That's right. I win. More on that in another post.

Here are a couple things I have in my current face routine.

1. Arbonne FC5 Hydrating Cleanser + Freshener. I actually really like this facewash and it's only around $20, I used to get break outs around my chin area but once I started using this stuff it went away. I have a combination skin and it doesn't dry out or  make my skin oily. So I really like this facewash. Oh and it's smooth and light and smells so fresh!

2. Mary Kay Timewise moisturizure. Yup to fight all my aging. Actually my sister in law had a Mary Kay party and this is what I ordered. It's what i'm using right now. I don't really have a favorite moisturizer because i'm always changing. I want something light and this one is actually nice. So it works for now. Oh and if you have one you love please tell me yours so I can check it out!

3. Arbonne FC5 Hydrating eye cream. I really like this eye cream. I notice when I use it, I think. I've been so tired lately with the girls waking up at 5am. Yes 5am. So this takes away the puffiness on me and I like it!

4. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse. I would love to go get some MAC foundation but I don't live near a MAC and have no idea what i'd use. BUT I really like this stuff! It's light and airy and have just enough coverage. I have tried A LOT of foundations and so far this is my fav!

5. Maybelline Dream Matte Powder. LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff. It takes away all the shine and lasts forever! If I use anything else I get that ugly oily shine after a couple of hours but this stuff lasts pretty much all day! I can't say enough how much I love this powder.

6. Annabelle Blush #44. Pretty basic, and cheap and it's just blush. I don't think you need to spend money on blush and I probably never will.

7. Covergirl Lash Blast. If you've used this, you know. It's awesome. I used dark brown, and sometimes black.

8. Arbonne Make up Brushes. LOVE these. I'm sure there are a lot of good brushed out there and this is my first "nice" set and I can't believe it took me so long to get a decent set. It makes such a difference to have good brushes.

9. Covergirl lipliner-nude. Great neutral color and I love using lipliner. I used to use darker colors and why didn't someone tell me how awful it looked? I LOVE the nude now and put it on very lightly and then use my favorite lipgloss. (see below)

10. MAC Lipglass- color "underage" (not pictured). I can't live without this stuff and I lost mine over Christmas and I am hating it! I would order one but i'm going to Edmonton soon and I don't like to pay for shipping, ever. So i'm using a stand in and it sucks. Good thing I only ever put on lipgloss for church or when I go out. Which isn't that often.

So that's it! Of course I use just a dark brown or black eyeliner and your basic brown eyeshadows. Which I think I have 6 different kinds right now because they no longer sell the set I used. Thanks Loreal. So I use random ones. I like Annabelle's eyeliner it's not soft and mushy and lasts all day. I have a ton of tips and tricks I use that I kind of made up for myself or have learned when it comes to make up and I will share these in another post. I will also be sharing my hair tips and tricks. Not that i'm a professional or anything of the sort. But I do have a love for hair and make up and thought i'd share what I do and have learned over the years. :)

Do you have any favorite make up products you can't live without? I'd love to hear them, i'm always up for trying new things!

Random stuff!

First off, Laken has the chicken pox. This is round 3 in our house and it's weird they all had it at different times. Actually it was 14 days apart that they caught it from each other and that's the time they say if you are exposed to it that you'll break out. It's been so minor but Laken isn't immunized and hers are more fluid filled and bigger.
Poor girl just squirms around from being itchy but she's still happy as can be! She did wake up a few times last night but she never cried. She also had a fever the first day and just wanted to be held and fell asleep on me, which she never does anymore! Hopefully they'll pass soon.

In other Laken news, check out what I did!!!

 

Can't see it? Look closer!

 

It's a tiny ponytail! She has this little tuft of hair on top so I tried it out in a little elastic, perfect!! So cute. The twins said she looks like a girl now. ha I'll probably keep it to a minimum because I don't want that hair to fall out! She has more hair than the twins did when they were 2! Yay!

Dust and I went out last night for Valentines day and he took me to The Vow. It was not as good as I thought it would be. It was kind of slow, but it was super romantic and cute. Probably a 7 out of 10 for me. Then we came back and had a cute night and ate snacks in bed and talked and it was great! I'm still going to do something for him on Tuesday, I just have to figure out what. Remember the amazing poem I wrote a couple years ago? ha.
But it was nice to get out and focus on "US". Honestly 4 little kids does damage to your relationship without even realizing it. All your energy goes to them and you get so busy with life that you kind of forget you're "married" sometimes. So we are going to make it more of a priority to focus on that more. I forgot how much fun we can have! I love that about us.We are both such crazy people. He is super friendly and patient and such a goof, and thinks everything in life is funny. I don't know how someone can always be so happy but he is and I love it. Well sometimes it's annoying...
I'm bipolar... According to Dustin. I just asked him what MY personality is, or what he would describe me as to someone and that's what he said.
So I asked him again and he said i'm in a hurry all the time. Seriously, I thought I was a little better than that.

Ok for real this time after me yelling at him, he said, "I'm smart (I totally am), silly".... And he sucks at this, he said personality is a big word and he doesn't know. 
He came up with daring, and not afraid to try stuff, patient, fun, honest.

WOW. That was torture. We obviously need to do some work here. ha

Annnnyways.
I wanted to also show you Kyla's Valentines I made her for her class! I love them! They were so easy too. I used a free template I downloaded from Oh So Posh Photography, (If you like them on facebook they have free downloads, I think there were 8 Valentines ones and so cute, there are a lot of photographers who have free downloads like this, it's great!) and so I just inserted her photo and added her name! I printed them off in 3.5x5's and I did 30 of them and it was only $4.50! That's cheaper than a $5 box of valentines. I was so glad they turned out and I LOVE this picture of her so i'm glad I got to use it!

I'm just getting ready to go to Portland in a couple weeks! With no kids! I'm driving down with my mom and Britt for 5 days. I'm doing Steph's engagement photos and we are going to do wedding stuff. I'm super excited!

Valentines

I wanted to get a couple pictures of the girls for fun for Valentines day. I realized after the 10 minute shoot that my ISO was way to high so they are a bit grainy, good thing they are just for fun.
The girls weren't into too much, but I got a couple decent ones of them holding still. People have asked me how my girls are always looking and smiling for pictures. Well it helps that they LOVE getting their picture taken! Laken is definitely not a fan yet...

We sure are lucky eh?

Wood Letter Tutorial!

I finally did it. Here we go.

Supplies

 Wood Letters- I order mine from HERE (If you are doing a child's name, I would suggest the 8"size)

Scrapbook paper- a couple of my favorite brands are Crate Paper, Basic Grey, and Little Yellow Bicycle

Craft paint- I like neutrals, brown, black, cream, grey etc

Mod podge

Scissors

File- I would suggest a metal one

Sponge paint brushes

"Smoother" yes that's what I call it. (I use my pampered chef scraper and it works great!)

Sponge- for the edges

Here are my paper and letters ready to go!

I wanted something softer for Laken. I just think that her name suits a more soft, vintage vibe. The letters I used were Chalk font and 8".

K, Ready?

 1. Trace your letters on your paper, face up. Don't cut them out yet, set them aside.

2. Paint the sides of the letters and then place them face down on some newspaper and paint the backs. It's ok if it isn't fully covered you will do another coat later. Don't paint the front.

3. While the letters dry, cut out your paper. I suggest stay right on the lines because the closer you are to the edge the less you have to file and the filing sucks. ;)

4. Flip letters face up and place all your paper on them to make sure you like the papers and how they look etc. Use a thin coat of modge podge, paint it on the letter then smooth the paper onto the letters. Use your "smoother tool" and work from the middle out to get rid of any bubbles in the paper. The mod podge dries pretty quick. You will know if you are using too much mod podge if it's running out the edge. If you have a thicker paper then after mod podging it on, turn your letters over face down so your edges won't pull up when drying. Let paper dry, it doesn't take too long. I actually have never timed it but it's probably around 10-15 mins.
Then let your 3 year old twin take a pen and trace down the center of your letters... ok just kidding. But that's what mine did! Thank goodness it wasn't that dark. Thanks Presley...

Oh and after tuning them over if you realize you painted the wrong side of the letter. Paint the back now...but who would do that...

 

5. After paper is dry file off the edges of paper that are hanging over. I used to use a metal file for mine when I sold these and it saved me! Although of course I can't find it now, so I used a normal nail file, which works it just takes a lot longer. You can use anything metal with a file edge and don't be afraid, it won't wreck your letters, unless you see wood flying. Then stop. ha Just get rid of that over hang of paper.

6. Use your sponge and sponge the edges of your letters. If your nervous, practice a bit on something so you can get the effect you want to get. Sometimes I like it all simple and even and other times I want it to look more "worn" or even chunky and darker and not "perfect". Also the amount of paint you put on the sponge makes a difference in the effect you'll get. This to me is the most important part that really makes your letters look professionally made! So take your time.
I used the end of a sponge paint brush and just ripped it off. I used to have nice sponges but this worked for today! You can also use the cheap rectangle kitchen sponges, you can get them at the dollar store and cut them up into small pieces.

7. Paint your sides again with the tip of your brush. I don't do the backs again, since you'll most likely never see them but it's up to you. Try not to use too much paint, the brushes hold a lot of paint so you can "squish" it out of it, so you don't have globs.

8. Make sure everything is completely dry! Don't do this next step until they are dry because it can wreck them and that would suck. Put one final coat of mod podge on the front of the letters. You can do the sides too, I don't really ever but you can. Keep this as smooth as possible because this is what finishes it!

 **Then if you change your mind on the paint color like I did, ha, you can repaint the backs and edges again. Obviously i'm indecisive and I like more of the contrast look so I went with the grey. I'm so glad I did, the cream blended too much and I like it when you can see the sponge effect.

9. Pick an embellishment or two and glue them on! I like to make paper flowers or buy the flowers from the scrapbook stores. I can't remember where I learned these but rip different sized circles from big to small and alternate paper. Crumple them up, then open them and stack them on top of each other and then stick a brad through them and glue it on. (On the "k") There are so many ideas out there to accent your letters, get creative! This was all I had on hand right now and they work for now! Metal accents are cute, ribbon, buttons, pearls, rhinestones etc.

All Done!

If you need some ideas or some inspiration on what to do you can take a look at all the ones i've sold. They are on theburntdaisy.blogspot.com which was my business where I used to sell these. Click the "my work" button on the right hand side of the page to see them all. I will tell you it was  A LOT of work to do this as a business and I was super busy, so that's why I quit. I still get emails for orders. Now you can go make your own!!
I will be making a video with the next ones I make, I just didn't have time to do it yet. I still have to make Kyla's! I have never made her any. Bad mom. ha I also want to redo the twins. You can always change to paper if you want later, just mod podge new paper right over top and then follow the exact same steps. Easy! 

If any one has any questions about anything you are more than welcome to e-mail me mindyfrancis{at}hotmail{dot}.com

Mindy undone

 Ok here I am! You asked for it!

I have no problem posting these pictures, I actually loved it, it was almost like my secret was coming out that i'm not ready all the time, or like ever.

A lot of people requested to see a picture of me without makeup in my daily outfit of sweats, dustins shirts and messy bun.

The first picture is me with no makeup.

The second and third are what I wear almost everyday and the second I walk in the door from anywhere. Leggings and legwarmers with a random shirt, or sweats and one of Dustin's shirts. (Could also be switched around for more variety.) And no makeup. (The orange shirt picture was taken 5 minutes ago actually.)

I always thought I was self conscious with no makeup on, but the more the days go on, the less I care and the more confident I feel in my own skin. 

I do love to get ready though. I love to do my hair and makeup. It's fun to me. Remember i'm a true girl at heart, I have a real love for make up and hair and CLOTHES. All of those combined make me happy. For those who don't know, I went to hair school. I would love to get into cosmetology one day. I'd also love to be a personal fashion coordinator for people! Fun huh? I have a lot of things i'd like to do.

Some days all I need is a little foundation and mascara but if i'm going specific places, I like to do my make up and hair. Not all out all the time, but it makes me feel better. Sometimes it's just simple make up and straightened hair.

 Oh the last picture is half makeup, right when I woke up. That means my one eye is all rubbed off and the other is half there if it can even be counted for that.

 

  

Picture credit to Kyla and the twins on my iphone.

Is everyone happy now? 

A challenge for you and I!

Yikes.
Ok i'm a member of the Rock the Shot forum and I tell you it is awesome. The photography world is a VERY competitive and judgmental world. I just ignore it and go at my own pace and don't act like I know everything, because I honestly don't think you can know everything when it come to photography. There is so much to know and things are always changing etc. This forum is so non-judgmental and SO helpful and friendly!! They help you with any question you ask, whether you are thinking about photography, just starting or even a seasoned pro. It's great.
Anyways, they have a monthly challenge and it was a self-portrait challenge. Immediately I said, ha no. I have a secret. I have a fear of posting pictures of myself, let alone ones of JUST ME! I don't ever want to look vain, or the ones you see that say, "I know i'm hot!" ha
So after reading their status updates over and over on how to "go join this months challenge" I decided it would definitely be a challenge for me to step outside my comfort zone. So I did it. I sat down with my camera today and took shot after shot of myself at different angles, different face expressions etc. I tell you it's all in the angles!
So I submitted one, Dust helped me pick one, but it was fun. I actually don't care to win because I accomplished something I was afraid of. I did post a pic of myself on fb not too long ago and there was a comment made that wasn't meant to be rude but it kind of hit me wrong, especially because I already felt uncomfortable posting it and I swore I would never post a pic of myself alone again. So this was a huge step for me and I decided who cares, just do it! Besides, I usually only ever take pics of myself on "good" days so my kids can remember me "normal" and not just in Dustin's extra large t-shirts, sweats, messy bun and left over make-up from the day before... So it's like once a week I look human. On Sunday's, or if I have to leave the house. Remember i'm kind of a hermit in the winter.

SO, I know I have a ton of friends who blog or read my blog and I noticed I only have a small handful, actually more like 2 of you, who EVER post pics of yourselves on facebook or your blog. People, your kids are cute, but I want to see your face too! I don't care how fat/ugly/not cute you think you are etc. So, SO my friends, I want you to take a picture of yourself that you love, just one, and please email it to me and I want to edit it for you! You don't have to have a fancy camera and no KIDS! Just YOU!
Email it to mindyfrancis{at}hotmail{dot}com and put "photo of me" in the subject line. I'll give it until the end of the week and see how many people I get! I also want you all to POST your photo, either on facebook or your blog and tell me where you post it so I can see!!! That's right! POST IT!

Here are a couple tips for taking your own photo that i've learned,

1. The best time to do it is in a lot of natural light, so in front of a big window during the day is best.

2. Really play with your angles, crop things off, and don't be afraid to zoom in. My favorite photos are close ups. The tiniest movement can make a huge difference, ie: just move your eyes around, or tilt your head etc.

3. Use your self timer or tripod, it makes it a lot easier than trying to hold it.

4. It took me about 50 shots to get 2 good ones, so take a lot of shots!

So go pull out your camera and send them to me!

Here is mine...

9 month pox

I blended my topics into one, because I can.
Let's start with pox. Jayci and Presley have the chicken pox. yay! Actually i'm glad. If they get it now, it's better because if they get it when they are older they have a higher chance of it being worse and it developing into the Shingles. Yuk. I've spoken to the health link and what they are finding is that kids who have been immunized with only the one dose (you get the second one when you are 13) are getting them and that this new strain of pox is different, it's not as bad and they aren't all blistery and they clear up faster. So they are maybe going to eventually move into getting kids to have 2 doses because they originally thought one was enough. So Presley had 3 spots yesterday morning and they are almost gone. Jayci on the other had got a few more today, not terrible and she is totally acting fine and not even really complaining about them. So they aren't too concerned about them and said to just keep the two of them home for a few days until they crust over. So if anyone wants their kids to get it now, come on over!!

These are Jayci's chicken pox today. 

Her stomach is not even half of this and then a couple on her thighs and a couple on her face.

Next, this little peanut isn't staying so little! She is now 9 months old! Ya it's crazy.
She is still the most amazing baby in the world. She is a little more needy now though since she is at the "mom don't leave the room" stage. Which isn't even bad because the girls play with her constantly so it distracts her from me being busy with other fun things, such as cleaning the house and cooking...
She is a terrible eater though! I have an appointment with the pediatrician on the 20th. She hates anything with chunks, she actually gags on them, even the tiniest bit. I tried it again yesterday and she actually did a lot better. Her helpings are tiny too! She hardly eats anything at meal time and she shuts her lips so you can't even get food in. Drives me crazy. But that is her only fault! She still pretty much sleeps through the night, here and there she wakes up and we just get her a bottle and she goes back out, but for the most part she is great! She learned to clap the other day, goes up the stairs, and will let go when standing on things. She looks too tiny to be doing that. She is really starting to catch onto things. I'm not sure how much she weighs, she had her shots right before Christmas and she was 18lbs, 50th percentile and I forget her height but it was around the 45th percentile.

We sure love her!!

I also love how her tongue sticks out all the time!

What a doll eh? We think so!

Help me!

So lately I no longer enter very many contests but this one I NEED to win! I know I have a million blog readers so can you all help me win this one!
I will win a free family photo session with Photography by Kels. I love her photos and this would be amazing to win!!

So go to FACEBOOK, like her page (or your vote won't count) and then LIKE my actual photo of my 4 girls. It's supposed to be our favorite photo from 2011. This one was definitely my favorite!! 


It will take two seconds and you know i'd do it for you!! ;) 
Thanks a billion! Oh and if you feel so inclined to share it on your facebook wall as well, that would be amazing and I would love you forever!!

THANKS FRIENDS!!!