Ciao Bella!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

My New Job & Cavalia {in the same post :) }

I have a part-time job!

(actually I have HAD a job since the beginning a February :)

A friend of mine told me about an opening, and after being a stay-at-home Mom for 19 years :)

I applied, and now work at Junior Achievement

I LOVE it!

It is like being paid to chaperone a field trip. Junior Achievement was always one of my favorite field trips that my boys' took in 5th grade and middle school

I work 1 to 3 days a week and the hours are perfect to be home in time to pick up the boys from school and get Lucy from the bus

I am so grateful for this opportunity

Last week JA received tickets to Cavalia, an equestrian and performing arts show and they offered employees the tickets!

So, Saturday night we went!

Here is how the website describes the show...

"Cavalia is a fresh mix of equestrian and performing arts, multimedia and special effects. Conceived by Normand Latourelle and often labelled an equestrian ballet, Cavalia is a spectacular and moving tribute to the relationship between men and horses throughout history, a dream of freedom, cooperation and harmony. In a fairy tale setting filled with poetry and emotion, the show innovatively integrates acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts, live music and equestrian arts. Under the White Big Top, a 50-metre stage permits the horses to express themselves in all their splendour, nobility and strength, often completely free."

pictures via Cavalia website

We loved the show....the music was fantastic, and the performers talented

We would not have chosen to go had we not been given the tickets, but we are so happy we were able to see this great show.

We all left in awe of what amazing beautiful creatures horeses are!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Homemade Make-up Brush Cleaner {In My Kitchen}

Whether you have spent a little or alot of money on your make-up brushes

it is SO important to keep them clean!

Make-up and bacteria build up on the bristles and that can be bad for your skin....so a once a month cleaning is a great idea!

I am just not willing to spend $10 - $15 on make-up brush cleaner when making my own is so easy and economical!

Here's how you make it!

1 cup water

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

1/2 Tablespoon Liquid Dish washing soap
(I used Method...a grease fighting formula helps to break down the make-up)

1/2 Tablespoon Mild Shampoo
(I used baby shampoo)

1 Tablespoon leave in conditioner - this makes your bristles so soft!
(I used Lucy's No More Tangles :)

Mix all ingredients together gently so you don't create too many bubbles
Pour into a small squeeze bottle to store

To clean your brushes:

Pour some of your cleaner into a dish
Dip your brush and gently tap and swish...do not mash it around or you will damage your bristles
Wipe your brush back and forth on a clean OLD towel to remove makeup

(depending on how dirty your brushes are you might have to repeat this step several times, changing out your dirty cleaner)

For larger brushes (powder and bronzer) I find it works better if you put some of your cleaner in a spray bottle and spray the bristles...if you dip these brushes in a bowl of cleaner they just suck it right up!

I ended up making 2 batches of this cleaner to clean about a dozen brushes...my foundation, blush and bronzer brushes used up alot of cleaner

When all the makeup has been removed from your brushes lay them FLAT on a clean towel to dry
(don't store them upright when they are wet, you do not want water to seep down into the shaft of your brush)

If you haven't cleaned your brushes in awhile, I think you will be pleasantly surprised how soft the bristles are!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

Monday my friend Dawn B. and I took the kids on little field trip...they had been home since Friday, the weather had been grey and rainy EVERYDAY...and we just felt like they needed to get outside (and away from the video games!)

I had been told about the Wildlife Refuge and thought that would be a perfect day trip, since it is about an hour from our house. NONE of the boys were excited to go :), but what usually happens is by the time you get them out the door and on the road, their attitude changes and they always end up having a good time...plus with the Brown's they each have a friend their age!

First thing on our walk...this is what we saw!!

See...doesn't Bennett look excited???

Dawn B. has worked really hard getting to know photography, and knows her camera well, so she got me to switch to Manual while we were out...I have not been practicing much since my photography class, so this was the perfect opportunity to just snap away!

photo by Dawn B.

I LOVE moss...mossy rocks, tree trunks, branches, anything

and living here in the northwest there is LOTS of moss!

Sweet Kylie and Lucy!

photo by Dawn B.

The refuge has lots of trails...we stayed on this boardwalk path that took you out to the observation deck

There really wasn't much wildlife to see besides ducks...but there was a gentleman who had set up his BIG camera with a live video, and was able to zoom back into the wood 100 yards or so and show us an Owl's nest...very cool!

I am just crazy for these barns!!

These four look like they might be related to the Twilight Cullens!!!

Dawn B. and her little Faith!

The Girls and I (photo by Dawn B.)

We took the kids out for Pizza after all that exercise :), and then took them to Cabela's, a GIANT sportsman store that is practically a small museum of animals inside along with a waterfall and aquarium!

It was such a fun day, and I am sure if you twisted the Boys' arms they would tell you they had a good time!