Does anyone else feel like Decemeber is swallowing them? I am trying desperately to keep my head above water this month. There is just so much going on. But rather than stress and drown in self pity, I am choosing to focus on all of the positives going on in my life.

Yesterday I took the two little ones to the train museum. Avery had a field trip with her class and Macks had the day off from school, so I decided to have him tag along because he adores trains of any kind. Because Avery and Macks are so close in age and spend a lot of time together, they are the two in the family that tend to butt heads the most. They have a very love/hate relationship. There is no middle ground. When we were at the museum yesterday, rather than Avery running around and playing with her friends, she wanted to make sure that Macks was taken care of. She made sure to escort him to all the trains and made sure he had a front row view of all of them. She was so protective of her little brother and knowing how much he loves trains, she wanted to make sure he got as much enjoyment out of this trip as possible, even though it wasn’t even his class trip.

That’s what makes me happy.

Now tell me something good. Something that’s made you happy. It can be big, it can be small, just something that has put a smile on your face. You can participate by sharing a photo on Wednesday with the hashtag #WhyImHappyWednesday and tagging me @laurenjimeson or feel free to write it in the comments below. I do read them all and am happy to reply back on your good news! You can also join in the conversation on my Facebook page!

Photo by Charlie Juliet Photography for our Minted Holiday Session.

 

Our schedule has been very hectic lately. MacKay has been traveling for work for over a week and I leave in the morning for Boston. While my patience has run thin over the past couple of days, I’m constantly reminded of how amazing life really is. The kids always keep me on my toes and the second that I feel like I am getting angry at them for not listening, a second later they are making me laugh with a joke or a funny face.

Last night I had all three kids in bed with me. All three of them woke up at 3am ready for the day and asking for breakfast. While I wanted to kick and scream that we had four more hours of sleep until our alarm clock went off, I got up and looked at the three of them cuddled up next to me. Despite being tired, life was pretty good.

That’s what makes me happy.

Now tell me something good. Something that’s made you happy. It can be big, it can be small, just something that has put a smile on your face. You can participate by sharing a photo on Wednesday with the hashtag #WhyImHappyWednesday and tagging me @laurenjimeson or feel free to write it in the comments below. I do read them all and am happy to reply back on your good news! You can also join in the conversation on my Facebook page!

Photo by Charlie Juliet Photography for our Minted Holiday Session.

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Believe it or not, it’s already time to start holiday shopping for your loved ones. If you’re anything like me you like to get it done as early as possible so that you can enjoy the holiday season without the stress of what to get everyone.

Being surrounded by so many lovely ladies, I have a lot of beauty lovers in my life. My sister is and has always been my go-to when it comes to beauty. There has been more than one occasion when I’ll be in the Sephora and texting her photos of different lipsticks, eyeshadows, brushes, and blushes. I always consult with her before I buy anything.

Last weekend, I was visiting my sister in the city and we stopped by the JCPenney at the Manhattan Mall to check off some of the gifts on our list. As soon as I walked into the store, these gift sets caught my eye. They have many of my favorite products packed in a gorgeous bag and for a great price. And only available at the Sephora Inside JCPenney.

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This Sephora Favorites Make Up Must-Haves bag is filled with all of the essentials you’ll need. Whether it’s a night out with the girls or just a day out with the kids, this bag has everything you need to make it a great one. The bag includes a beautyblender pro, BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Press in Opal, Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, NARS Cosmetics Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, and Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Mushroom.

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The Sephora Favorites The Tempting Ten Bag is a beauty sampler that will give you bold brows, long lasting lips, tousled tresses, cheery cheeks, and more. It’s packed with Sephora’s top-selling favorites and includes four full-size products. Inside the bag you will receive Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown, the original beautyblender, Bumble and bumble Surf Spray, Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara in Excessive Black, Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, Sephora Collection Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover, Smashbox Cosmetics Always on Liquid Lipstick in Stepping Out, Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black, Tarte Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in prim, and Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray.

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And now there’s a lip kit that can help you transform your lips for any occasion. The Sephora Favorites Lip Temptations Lip Sampler is everything lipstick lovers need. The set includes Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in Aubergine, Kat Von D Beauty Studded Kiss Lipstick in Mercy, KNOW Cosmetics No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner, NARS Cosmetics Lipstick in Jungle Red, Sephora Collection Rouge Cream #49 Belly-Dancing, and Urban Decay VICE Lipstick.

These kits are so good, that it’s hard for me to part and give them away because I love what’s inside so much! And that’s why I’ve already added them to my wish-list for the holidays.

Beauty gift-sets make the perfect gift not only for those who love beauty, but also for those that never take the time out for themselves. It’s always nice to have get a little pampered for the holidays.