The Dollhouse Reveal

I am so excited to share with you the dollhouse that my hus built and I designed! It is so lovely! We have been wanting to build a dollhouse for the girls for a while now and am so pleased with the end result. I posted on the progress here and here. My hus used an old church organ for materials. I painted the dollhouse with acrylic paint and used scrapbook paper for wallpaper. I love the character of the dollhouse! It was Zakiyah's first birthday gift! We have it in her sister, Zion's room for now, since the pieces are little too small at this point for unsupervised play time. 

I used a gray paint for the exterior. (just like our house) and painted the trim a whiteand the roof black. I hope to shingle the roof eventually! I am going to add a door and windows on the exterior too for character. Maybe even house numbers.....

I painted the floors with white paint and used a liquid gold pen creating wood grains. 

I still want to add more things to the walls for art and charm. As for now, I have a mirror (pier 1) above the fireplace and photobooth pix (from a wedding) that I mod podged on cardboard in the dining room. I wall papered the living room and kitchen.

I love the vintage bassinet and dolly from my mom!

The loft is used for playroom/kids bedroom.

going potty. 

I mean, look at those mugs and flatware :)

the fridge.....

Grams kicking her feet up and watching Parenthood.

Isn't that wallpaper so cute? the owls and deer are just too much.....

 I bought the furniture at Amazon- they are Hape.

The dollhouse peeps are Hape. I have been collecting things for the past year for the girls when I saw them on sale on amazon, target and other websites. I love the modern look of it.

What do you think? Have you made a dollhouse before? I love the fact that the girls will have this forever! I love seeing my girls play with this and use their imaginations! Happy Monday!

Love Love WEDNESDAY

Happy Wednesday everyone! I started Lock Lock Wednesday to get myself motivated to style my hair everyday. It is so easy, for even hair stylists to get in a rut with their hair. I am hoping to inspire you along the way with simple and fun techniques to help you look fabulous! Join me along the way. It will be fun! All you have to do is take snapshots of your hair during the week and link up with me below! 

My go to look these days.... Dry shampoo on roots and sea salt spray and scrunched it in. headband. done!

Dude, have I mentioned how hard it is to take pix of your own hair? Horrible. Here:  I pinned my hair half up and through in flowers. It worked. 

My famous three buns with bobby pins. I do this often. It is my go-to look for the days I want a pony.

I worked some crazy hours lately. September brings us MN folk to fresh cuts and colors to go with the season. I had the privledge of coloring my friend, Taylor's hair last night. She is getting married in a couple of weeks, so we did the overhaul. I colored her roots/ and painted the color through to her mid-shaft with a right medium brown. I used a 9 gold and high lift bleach for her lighter pieces. There are a lot of variations/ techniques out there on the perfect ombre. I like how Taylor's flows and gives subtle dimension and contrast. We lightened 50-75% of her tips with the blonde to brighten it up. She looks radiant! I love it. 

Join me below and show off your hair!

Also, I am doing a poll........

Please take the time and leave a comment and share your favorite hairstyle right now......Color. Cut. Product. Style. Also, I am wanting to do some tutorials this fall- Videos and step by step demos- What would you like to learn about or see how to style? Please Share with me! I would love your feedback?! Thanks!

Happy LLW!

H54F

Every Friday, I share with you my favs from our week. I link up with Jeanett and Lauren! We are treating our September, like it is the grand finale of summer- a 30 day extension if you will. I had created a summer bucket list for our family, and we are still trying to seize the day and make the most of the sunshine! This past week we took our boat out with our friends, Jonas and Kati, and hit up a local lake to swim and boat away with our girls. (4 girls between us under the age of 3!) 

We had a breakfast date over the weekend with my college BFF, Jody and her fam! She made Pioneer Woman caramel rolls, egg bake and I brought fruit! Our kiddos played dress up and sat at a fancy table!

 Our family set out for a mini-road-trip Tuesday night to A to Z produce and bakery in Stockholm, WI. If you live in a 2 hour radius,  you must hit this place up. They make the pizza and you bring your utensils, seating, blankets and drinks. It is LOVELY! We went with two sets family friends of ours, and we hit up DQ on the way home. I love seeing the river on the drive. 

I had gorgonzola, beet, sweet onion pizza! Holy, amaze.

My girls are obsessed with forts! 

The new excitement in our city is the new, People's Food Co-op! It is huge and super fun to shop in.  Today, I met up with my friend for lunch and had an amazing iced latte! 

I heart my neighbors! They garden and share with us. Zion (my 3 yo) loves carrots and they always hook her up! 

Impromptu dinner with the awesome Kallies! These guys have been doing ministry for over 25 years at our church. We love them. They have helped Andy (my hus - youth pastor for 10 years) and I, many times. We threw together a last minute gathering of sorts with Wild Alaskan Salmon with a soy/maple syrup glaze, roasted potatoes, fresh carrots/tomatoes from my neighbors garden, blueberries, challuh bread and homemade Bruce raspberry/peach pie. BLISS! I also, served Dry Rhubard and Pineapple soda. Oh my word- divine. Have I mentioned how much I love my dining room?! It is so "us"! I still can't believe that Andy built this table for me! Love love love. 

Happy Friday! 

We are off to a youth retreat at my in laws! Camping in Wisconsin for the weekend! Yah! 

Check out my posts from this week:

Christy thoughts 

How to stylize a tray!

Lock Love Wednesday

 Every wednesday, I post fun ways to style your hair!

My Makeup Essentials

The Ultimate Makeup Routine

1. Garnier BB Cream is a must for all women. I have been using this for over a year now. I love it. It is the perfect blend of spf, coverage and moisture without weighing down your face and feeling heavy. I love it! When I started using this, I instantly started getting asked about my face makeup. I buy mine at Target!

2. Clinique All About Eyes Concealer Dude, this stuff is amaze-balls! I love it! A tube of this goodness lasts over a year for me. I have really dark under eye circles and it zaps it! Its really rich and has great texture. I also, like to use it on the hardcore blemishes. 

3. Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer  I have been using this for a few months! I love how light it is, and the fact that it has a built in brush. It is great for highlighting your face, and giving you contour and coverage! I bought mine at Target. A tube lasts me about 3 months or so.

4. Young Blood Pressed Mineral Foundation  This is by far my favorite full coverage powder. I use it year round! I have been using Young Blood for 5 plus years now. I used to sell it at a salon that I worked at. It has the same qualites as Bare Essentials products:  natural, light, and great coverage. It is made up of rice starch and natural minerals. I love how it gives my face a natural look, while covering up my problem areas. I can pick it up for anyone if you are interested. 

5. Naked Palette by Urban Decay  This eyeshadow has been all the rage for a few years now, and I totally agree with all the reviews! I have been using this for 2 years now. It comes in 12 colors- It is the the ulimate palette for a light/natural day to a smokey eye! I love it. It doesn't crease and has so much pigment in the colors. I don't like the names of the colors, but I love the shadow! It is my go-to everyday!

6. L'oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in black.  I have tried so many eyeliners over the years and this is my current fav. It is cheap, doesn't hurt my eyes, easy to use, and true to its color! I like to layer a shadow over it with a angle brush!

7. Physicans Formula Powder Palette "Bronzer"  This is a great bronzer. It is matte finish and cost effective. I use this to create shadows and contour my face. I love how it goes on and lasts a long time. I buy mine at Target.

8. Blinc Eyebrow Mousse in Light Brunette. This stuff is soooooooo wonderful. I have really naturally light/thin eyebrows, that I am constantly trying to create and give the illusion that there is more there. My friend, Michelle, who is an estitican just got me on to this goodness. It is applied like a mascara. I like how it keeps my brows in tact and thickens them up without making them look like caterpillars. Amen. I love it! You must try it. (Christy opinion:  Every woman should fill in her eyebrows- they are the most neglected area on the face.)

9. Origins Pinch Your Cheeks Blush in Sunset Peach. This is perfect for spring/summer. I love how Origins makeup goes on the face. Perfection. 

10. Lancome Love it Cream Lipstick I am so thankful for lancome lipsticks. My friend, Becky, gave me this as a gift and it has changed my life :) During my pregnancies with my girls, my lips started getting allergic reactions to lipsticks/chapsticks. But, Lancome, is scent free and great for women with allergies and sensitivities. I am loving the color, "love it". Its a light pink/nude color, great for day and night! I also wear "wannabe cream"! 

11. Elf Shimmering Whip  Best buck you can spend. I apply this below my eyes/temple area, in a cresent moon shape. I buy it at Target. 

12. Origins GinZing Mascara The mega-plush brush sweeps up, fans out & delivers an eye-opening complex of Caffeine, Ginseng & Carnuba Palm to every last lash. Dude, This is the best mascara that I have used in a long time. I can't believe how amazing it is and it is more natural which I love. 

Do you have a favorite beauty product or makeup essential? I would love to hear from you! I am always on the look out for the hot new items/ favs that everyone has!  Do you typically stick with one brand or switch it up? Share below! 

Let me know if you try any of these and love them as much as I do! 

Happy Day!

LLW

Fall is in the air! I am loving how the humidity is not so vibrant in Minnesota. I am thankful my hair is starting to cooperate a little more. 

I started Lock Lock Wednesday to get myself motivated to style my hair everyday. It is so easy, for even hair stylists to get in a rut with their hair. I am hoping to inspire you along the way with simple and fun techniques to help you look fabulous! Join me along the way. It will be fun! All you have to do is take snapshots of your hair during the week and link up with me below!

I have been rockin' random braids in my hair. It dresses up any style and keeps hair off my face.

I have been curl wanding my hair a lot still. I love the simplicity and texture it give my hair. 

Oh how I love selfies? Not. Augh. But here is my famous- rock the headband look. My hair is 2 days old here- all I did was put in dry shampoo on my scalp and scrunched in sea salt texture spray on my ends. Took 3 minutes. 

 I love "color glazing" hair. Have you ever done it? I had foiled in highlights in Shelli's hair this summer and we are going to be going darker for fall. She came in for a cut this week, and I put in a glaze. (demi permanant color). The color goes on wet hair for 5-10 minutes and it adds shine and fresh color. I used a mocha/gold caramel color to tone down her blondes and give her a fresh look to last through her next appt. I love doing this on my guests to add a quick and fresh change. Plus, it is super affordable.  It is great for fall/winter. Glazes add lots of shine too! Bonus!

I am still loving this style on my men clients. 1950s meets modern hipster. Classy. Clean. I used "Mitch-Clean Cut pomade" on Eric. He is looking dapper :)

Join me below and show off your hair today or throughout the week! 

Check out my instagram too at Talahairlife #locklovewed and #locklovewednesday

Selfie away.................