It’s only been a few months now that I’ve been “in charge” of my families finances (and been working part-time to add to it). Since I started a family at such a young age, there were SO many aspects to life that never even crossed my mind. Paying a mortgage was something my Grandparents did and a $400 car payment didn’t seem like too much to me. Well, all that was before children. Now, I find that every little penny really counts. What we own as far as our vehicles, valuables and especially the home we pay a mortgage on are all assets and in a time of crisis, they can become our lifeline.

With two toddlers, renting just never seemed like a good idea. Let’s face it, we needed our own space. Saving up for a large down payment was hard too. We really lucked out on a large tax return and we able to pay closing costs and other expenses associated with home buying, but there was no way we could put down a large amount on our home. With good credit, we had a few options. By putting down less than 20% on our home (in other words, borrowing more than 80% of our home cost from the lender) we were required to get Mortgage Insurance.

While I’ve heard people explain Mortgage Insurance as something that covers the lender, I can see how it benefits me as a borrower as well. Mortgage Insurance essentially pays your lender in the case of death, job loss or disability. Should my husband and I no longer be able to pay our mortgage payment for any of these reasons, we’re not leaving our small children (or other family members) with a large sum of debt.

Buying a home for the first time was scary, but having insurance for a life altering sudden change like these puts me at ease. While some people are under the misconception that Mortgage Insurance will cost you a lot of money, there are some things you need to know.

It’s competitive: Ask your loan agent to look into all your options. If you choose to go with a company such as Genworth, you can get a low competitive rate on this type of insurance as well as many other types that can give you a great backup plan for all life’s curve balls.

You can cancel: Once you’ve paid 20% of your loan by making on time payments, you have the option to opt out of paying Mortgage insurance should you choose. Many families opt in so they can afford to purchase a home with a smaller down payment so if that is your plan, there is a time where you’d no longer need this type of insurance and it’s easy to cancel!

Tax Deductible: There are many factors at play, but most families qualify for a tax deduction on their Mortgage insurance with can save you $300-$400 a year!

Because Mortgage Insurance is there to cover you in case of an emergency. It got me thinking of other ways to really prepare other aspects of our lives, because it’s better safe that sorry. You can use this Emergencies Calculator to find out how much you should really be setting aside for you and your family.

Overall, opting for Mortgage Insurance gave us the freedom to become home buyers in a way that was smart for us and now, we’re covered should anything drastically change with our finances. It’s great to have companies like Genworth out there to help you understand your options and get the best value you can.

This post is brought to you by Genworth and the lovely bloggers program at Brandfluential.

If you didn’t know already, we are an Aveeno family. That and I am a BIG fan of Beauty Box 5! There are a lot of great things to enjoy in Texas during the hot summer months like ice-cold Lemonade, Water rides and a Farmer’s tan but this month, I’m looking forward to my Beauty Box 5 the most! Why? Because while I’m sipping my lemonade at a water park and working on my tan, Aveeno ‘s NEW Protect + Hydrate SPF 30 Sunscreen is going to make sure I’m NOT going home with a farmer’s tan!

It’s always exciting to know about something before anyone else. (C’mon, I can’t be the only one!!) BUT what’s even more exciting is being given the thumbs up to tell the world! That’s why I’m so excited to let you all in on a super sneak peek for this months BB5! They’ve partnered with Aveeno to bring you what in my opinion is the BEST natural sunscreen you’ll ever try! But like all Aveeno products, this sunscreen has more than just one benefit for your skin.

Because Aveeno uses natural oat in many of their products, you get to by-pass the traditional SPF scent in favor of a light, powder-fresh clean scent that is perfect for all members of your family. Unlike ordinary sun protection, this lotion will also help to keep your skin hydrated. If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times when you’re outside you should be staying hydrated and drinking LOTS of water, especially in my neck of the woods. So, what don’t we apply that to the largest organ of our body, our skin! You might think you’re staying moist in the ocean or that chlorinated swimming pool, but trust me, you’re not! The salt and chlorine in the water is doing all it can to take away the precious moisture from your skin. With this sunscreen, your skin in protected from the sun and from drying out!

When applied, Aveeno’s Protect + Hydrate absorbs quickly, leaves a fresh scent and a nice, non-greasy feel. This formulation is also oil-free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist recommended (I’ll be honest, I’ve even used mine on my face, no worries there!) AND it’s sweat and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Which is longer than I’ll last in the heat come August!

Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this sunscreen. I’m so excited for the next Beauty Box 5! If you haven’t already signed up be sure and check them out! For only $12 a month, you’ll receive 5 deluxe (and full size) samples of the latest and greatest in the beauty industry!

Excuse me if my box  look like I already rummaged around in it! Actually, my 2-year-old decided to try and be as glamorous as Mommy and take his own sneak peak I’m happy to report that the only casualty was my tissue paper and I can’t wait to show you the 6 beauty samples I received from Beauty Army! Beauty Army retails for only $12 a month and they differ from other subscriptions in that you select you own samples! After taking a quick beauty profile, you’re given 9 choices and you pick your 6 samples from those. While Beauty Army is a “sample box” I generally get one full size or at least a few BIG deluxe size samples every time! It’s always worth the $12!

The first thing I selected was this OWN Night Cream. This is a small .75ml sample so while it reads “results in just 8 weeks”, I wouldn’t be able to test if for that long. BUT I will be able to see if this will work with my face at all. I’m in search of a new night cream for summer time so I thought I would try this one out! This sample is worth about $.50

Next, I chose a tool that will be perfect for traveling this summer. This is the Mini Kittour Flip Top bottle in the 100ml/3.3oz size. While I couldn’t find a retail value on this, I’d pay $3-4 for a reusable bottle like this. Maybe a little more I’m stoked to have this around for my value size Philosophy lotions! Now I can have some in my purse!

Another product I chose is actually a “repeat” for me because I purchase these every so often These are the Yes to Cucumber face wipes. I love the way these feel, smell and that they are 98% natural! Another travel essential! This is a sample value of about $1

Lash Cards are something that I admit I was not into at first, then I decided to become a mascara junkie and fact is I DO need these from time to time! Especially on days when I decide to spend 30 minutes on my smokey eye- the last thing I need is a mascara to come along and screw the whole thing up! These are seriously handy! This has a sample value of about $.80

This liner by Addiction NV is the reason I SKIPPED last month! I wanted this liner SO bad that when I didn’t give it, I gave up! Obviously I went back and tried again! I almost had to jump up and down for joy when I saw it in my window again!! Thank you Beauty Army!!

So far I’ve used this amazing steel silver as a shadow base (it absolutely does NOT crease!!) and a liner and it’s got some serious WOW power going on! Love this and I plan to rock it ALL summer long! This liner alone retails for $16 and pays for the box on it’s own! (both in retail value and how awesome it is!)

Last, but not least is this mark. lip gloss. I didn’t love the way the color looked online but when I got it, I totally had a change of heart! This is the perfect muted pink! I can’t wait to air this with my liner, they will make a stunning pair!  This retails for $6.50 and came with a bonus Hook up connector (man, I wish I hadn’t given away my mascara from last month!!) which sales for an additional $.50!

Overall, this month was great. While there were a few “small” samples, they were all useful and really travel friendly. I did get 2 full size items and my box had a $28 value. That’s more than double the $12 price tag! I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for Beauty Army!

Juniper, Juniper, Juniper. It’s a pretty name, but WHAT is Juniper? Well, it’s a smarter way to manage your period! How? It’s a monthly subscription box that is customized just for you and your cycle. You know how it’s moody, unpredictable and a real kill joy? (Yes, I’m talking about a monthly cycle- not myself ON my monthly cycle) Well, with Juniper, everything is easy to manage and you get everything you’ll need to have a happy, healthy period delivered to your door for $28 a month!

The lovely ladies behind Juniper understand that your cycle is often as unique as you are. Whether your have a full 7 day cycle or a short three day cycle and no matter your flow, they’re ready to customize your box to fit your needs. They have a very interactive “interview” process where your Juniper BFF emails you so you can customize your box! In addition to that, should you get your period late (or early), you can also TEXT your Juniper BFF and let her know, that way your box next month will still be one time!

I started out with a basic box but after talking with my Juniper BFF, I decided I didn’t need as many overnight Pads (I tend to use panty liners instead because my cycle is lighter while I sleep) but I often run low on Midol. So, we cut my pads in half and doubled my Midol. Perfect! Juniper lists the major name brand pads and tampons on their site for selection but should you want to use a brand not listed, you can just let them know and they’ll go out and grab it for you! It’s like having your own personal shopper! No late night trips for your lady needs or heaven forbid, sending your husband! I could also see Juniper being great for a teen who is just starting to manage her cycle. This would keep her from having to remind Mom or Dad when she needs these things and how many she needs. Having 2 sisters I can tell you, sometimes by the time I needed these things- my sisters had already used them all up!

Inside the golden drawstring bag, I found my pads and Midol. Everything is perfectly wrapped up. There was a little bit of a mix up here. I received an extra panty liner and I didn’t get my extra pain relievers. I’m planning to email/text my BFF and see what they can do about that

The white box contains all the tampons. By default, they include the same selection that you’d get in a variety pack. Some Super absorbance, regular and a few light. Should you need more of one or say half regular and half light, you just let them know! I love that this offers you more customization than you get in the store. I’m typically not a Super tampon user BUT you always get them in the big packs. So you can either tough it out and use them OR buy two boxes. One of light and one of regular. I decided to stick with a basic arrangement, but I love that the options are there!

Also included in the box is a super user friendly guide to tampon use. Now, every box of tampons comes with something like this, but this is the best guide I’ve seen so far. When I was a teen, my mom didn’t want me to use tampons because she was under the impression it would mess with my..um…innocence. Well, that is a big misconception! (Sorry mom!!) So I didn’t get the best introduction to tampon use. I would feel 100% confident handing this to a first-timer and telling her to give it a go. It covers everything in an easy to follow narrative.

Along with your essentials, you also get another bag of…edible essentials We all know our cravings get a little crazy when it’s that time of the month and it’s nice to have a little something around that is JUST for you on those off days.

We received honey sticks in three different flavors- YUM!

Teas. I haven’t tried these but one smells like licorice. While I don’t like to EAT licorice, I love drinking teas that remind me of licorice.

Key lime cookies. Man, if you have never had these before, try them! They are SO good! I for see a small cheat on my Nutrisystem diet with these little cookies.

A moist brownie from TheInspiredCookie.com. I love that Juniper found a way to STILL include chocolate even though it is hot outside already.

Nibnaks fruits. These have only 90 calories and are essentially all fruit so this is a healthy, sweet snack!

I should have also received a mini soap as well, but it was missing from my bag. Again, I’ll just reach out to my BFF

Overall, I think Juniper is a GREAT way to manage a less than enjoyable time in your month. It’s easy to get Juniper exactly how you want and need it so you’re not having to shop last minute. If you’re a busy woman, a teen or just someone who isn’t a fan of shopping for these types of items, Juniper is the subscription for you!

Here in Texas, the weather is already HOT so we’re gearing up for one smokin’ giveaway! With help from some AMAZING Sponsors like DormCo, we are going to fill this stunning Dorm Trunk with everything you’ll need to make this summer Unforgettable! Be sure and stay tuned in the next few weeks to hear about all or great sponsors AND for your chance to win our Grand Prize!!

If you remember, several months ago, I had the chance to try a product by Lipsi Cosmetics in my Beauty Army monthly box. I loved it so much that I finally got around to reaching out to the company and see if they might be interested in a review! After a few weeks, they sent me lipstick in the mail along with a deluxe size sample like you receive with ANY Lipsi Cosmetics order

Lipsi Cosmetics makes a lipstick they call Buttery Bliss When it comes to lipsticks, there are two things I’m looking for: a great pop of color and something that feels good on the lips. There’s a fine line between something that is too dry and perfect but also something that is too slick/oily and again, just perfect. Somewhere right in the middle is the perfect lipstick consistency. Something that will stay on your lips all day, but keep them feeling hydrated and smooth. Lipsi has found that happy medium.

I received the color Monastery. It’s a beautiful pastel Coral shade. The pigment in this lipstick is pure and bold. When applied, the product does not sheer out in anyway. I love that these are 100% true to color when applied.

This is my ideal lip shade. To see this on my lips, check out my photo on Instagram

As my deluxe size sample, I received a 5ml jar of their Aphrodite Powder. This powder was what I first tried in Beauty Army and what got me hooked on this brand.

This powder comes with a sifter top. Lipsi Aphrodite Powder is a setting powder that absorbs oil and keeps your makeup looking fresh all day. Even though it looks slightly tinted, this powder is ideal for all skin tones and types and goes great over your foundation or concealer

Overall, Lipsi Cosmetics never disappoints and I can’t wait to put together a full look with m new lipstick! Be sure and check out Lipsi Cosmetics HERE and keep tabs on them on Facebook

Want a good laugh? This is how I’m starting to feel about ALL the excuses I made for being overweight. Check it out

Before I actually started Nutrisystem, I thought I would be jumping up and congratulation myself on having “made it through” and “survived” every week. I had the mind set that this diet and lifestyle change would be something I would genuinely struggle through, admitting I was wrong would be a huge understatement. I’m congratulating myself on making the decision to be a healthier me, but as far as finding the will power to stick to the Nutrisystem program, that was easy!

This week, I followed Nutrisystem almost perfectly. I learned that I have two things working against me. First off that weekends are hard! I get so caught up with time with the family and/or work that I forget to eat. That is an absolute no-no and a huge portion of my diet/weight issues to begin with. Second, sleeping in really throws me off. If I’m sleeping until 10am (thanks to my wonderful husband who let’s me sleep in on Saturdays) then the whole rest of my day is rushed as far as my eating schedule. Bottom line here is that I need to work on my sleep schedule! I need to get to sleep at a reasonable hour and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for a meal and some activity! So, that will be my Week 2 Goal

One thing that really surprised me about Nutrisystem is the amount of food you actually eat! You’re meant to eat 6 times a day, but for the average woman trying to loose less than 100lbs, the calories are around 1250. I can honestly say I’ve only felt hungry ONCE on this plan. The one and only time I felt hungry was when I stayed up very late and burned calories I shuldn’t have been. I also blame it on being a little bored come 1am. Either way, I drank more of my water and went to bed. I woke up feeling fine and am proud of myself for not giving in

As far as the food goes, it’s been REALLY tasty! I wanted to share a few of my meals from this past week

My first breakfast was something really easy- cereal! Bran flake cereal is something I could go either way with. I’m not normally a big cereal person, but since I really, REALLY dislike eating breakfast, I decided to go with something familiar and I have to say, that worked out. For my Powerfuel, I paired this with a string cheese. Since I’m pushing myself to eat breakfast, I try to eat the smallest amount of food when I’m not feeling particularly hungry. So far so good and I’m been enjoying my breakfasts more and more every day

I was really surprised to see waffles in this plan! This ended up being another familiar, and tasty breakfast option.

Believe it or not, cinnamon rolls…with icing…are also included. Yum! The fact that my toddlers screamed for bites while I ate this did nothing to take away how tasty this was

When you’re more on the go, there are also Granola Bar options. They taste amazing so far and I was happy to see these small bars packed with nutrition to get you going in the morning. They’re really filling so if you’re having a day where you’re feeling a little more hungry, these are a great option.

Lunches were really great too! With my frozen foods, I received an assortment of Burritos and oh boy, they are good! I thought my food would be bland with Nutrisystem but this Beef, Cheese and Bean Burrito had a great kick to it! I keep having to tell myself NOT to eat the others so I can kinda spread the love

Dinners are probably my favorite. This is a mushroom stuffed Chicken Breast, steamed broccoli with Pepper and a mashed red potato. I’ve been eating a lot of broccoli, artichoke and raw spinach since veggies are unlimited they’re really helping me stay full! It’s easy to get my 4 servings in, I just have two at lunch and two with dinner.

I realized early on that salt cravings were going to haunt me, so I picked up a Salt Substitute at my local grocery store. It tastes a lot like salt and helps me with the cravings.

Dinners are my favorite! Maybe it’s because I get to have a SmartCarb like breads and fruits, but either way! I look forward to dinners the most! This is a Flame Broiled Beef Patty with a whole wheat bun, spinach and a little sprinkle of cheese. It was out of this world!

You can also have Pizza with Nutrisystem! This one might not look like much since the toppings are a mess, but it was really good, filling and totally satisfied a pizza craving I’d been having!

It should go without saying that the desserts are BOMB! I’ve read that some Nutrisystem-ers have problems only eating one! I could see that! If you want to see my desserts, follow me on Instagram #NSNation

ALL of my good was tasty. While I liked some more than others, there was not a bad egg in the bunch. That being said, I have to say I was not PERFECT my first week! I had two slips ups. One was on an outing with the family on day 6. I’d done really good and decided I could have a small non-fat frozen yogurt and one topping. I made myself a really small bowl and enjoyed every last bite! One thing I did learn from this experience was that my portions before were way out of control! I looked over at my husband who had a full bowl (granted he’s 6’4 and weighs less than I do, so eat up, baby!!) and thought to myself, I could NOT stomach that right now! I was satisfied eating 1/4th of what I normally would have packed into my bowl for this outing and I felt good walking away from the FroYo place, even thought I “cheated” on Nutrisystem.

My second slip up was far less serious While out at the mall with the boys, we decided to go see a movie. I realized I should likely eat so I headed to the Chinese food place where I ordered a VERY small serving of rice and Orange Chicken. Aside from the sodium and the light breading on the chicken, I stuck to Nutrisystem guidelines and ate small portions.

Overall, I call week 1 a HUGE success! I feel good and don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything other than being unhealthy. I’ve had two diet sodas this week and cut sugars completely out of my tea consumption. (That might sound like no big deal, but for me, it’s HUGE!)

So, let’s get down to numbers…how much weight did I loose this week?
3.8lbs I’m really proud.

One of the other things I wanted to chart in my journey was my loss in inches, I wasn’t sure where to start, but on the Nutrisystem website, I was able to find this wonderful chart where you can keep up with your inches lost! I’m measuring all this places today and I’ll keep you all updated on my inches lost starting next week!

Wish my luck on week two and I can’t wait to share my results next Wednesday!!

If you’re ready to become a healthier you, you can join Nutrisystem by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting www.Nutrisystem.com/NSblog.
*My Nutrisystem monthly plan and all components were provided to me free of charge in exchange for honest reviews and for sharing my journey. All opinions are my own.

I got my Starlooks box today I look forward to Starlooks every month for two VERY different reasons from other subscription boxes I receive. One being that I will use absolutely everything I receive in Starlooks, no exception. Because these products are always amazing quality, it’s only a matter of keeping these items in my professional kit OR being greedy and keeping them for me and only me. Second, I’m always up for a challenge! Starlooks always seems to throw at least one product in that is not your run of the mill makeup product. Sometimes it’s something you just don’t see often or it’s something that you can use many ways. I’ve seen a lot of both from this company, so it keeps me on my toes! I’ve yet to be disappointed by a Starlooks box and for the $15 price tag (plus a small shipping fee), you’re really getting a lot of band for your buck! You receive 3-4 FULL SIZE cosmetic items from the Starlooks line. All of their products are high end and work amazingly well

This months look book featured a pretty intense tribal these with some turquoise accents. I was a little sad we didn’t get any intense colors like the one in the look book, but this box still had 3 amazing product inside!

Here are out products!

First up, we received an Eyebrow Shader Compact.

Featuring 4 colors, this is perfect for sculpting your brows (and highlighting with the lighter shade) but can also be used as a smokey eye palette. I really was surprised by the quality of the mini angled brush that was included. Typically, I’d throw a small brush like this out because they’re never any good…I should take that back…never say never because this one is super soft and will be a dream to work with!

Like it’s stated on the card, these shades are slightly less pigmented than the average Starlooks pan, but that is typical for a brow color. You want your brows to look tented and darkened, not like they’ve been tattooed onto your face. These colors are smooth and easy to blend plus, they stay put which is something we’ll all be thankful for this summer. This quad retails for $21- pretty much paying for the box all on it’s own!

Next is a Pigment Luster in the color Cinnamon Toss. Now, I’m not sure what’s up with that name, but this is a serious WOW product.

This is a loose pigment (eyeshadow) but they did a real service to us all by packaging this with a super convenient little top that only allows a little bit of product to come out at once. It’s genius.

They say a little goes a long way and they are not joking! This is certainly WAY too much, but here you can really see the stunning color. This is a med-dark brown with gold reflects. There is definitely a bronze undertone to it and really, it’s just beautiful. Even on my fair skin, this is really flattering, so I can only imagine how this will look against Olive or even darker skin tones. This beauty retails for $17.

Our last full size product was this Cream Blush in Emphasize. I’m sure you’re like me and looking at this picture and not 100% sure if it’s going to be a flattering color, but on the magic of swatching a product before you judge

Once swatched, the formula sheers out a lot and becomes more of a natural red/curry color on the skin. This is a color I don’t often use and I don’t own any cream blushes like this one so I’m happy to be able to experiment with it! This could also be used as an eyeshadow. If you were going for a bronze, red smoky look, this would make a killer base color! The retail on this product is also $17.

Every month, we get a bonus item of a crystal plus one other small trinket. This month, we got this handy-dandy nail file with a cute tribal/zebra print. Lord knows I can never have too many nail files!

This months box, again, was packed full of useful, quality cosmetic items that I cannot wait to start playing with! The value was over $55! For a $15 box! I hope you can do the math on this one- it’s just a STEAL to purchase your items this way! I like to think of it as if I went into a retailer like Sephora or Ulta with a plan to try something knew and $15 to spend, I’d be lucky to walk out of there with one item. With this subscription, I can take that same budget, add the element of surprize and end up with a box for of cosmetics bliss…every month, no strings

As always, you can follow me on Instagram to see how I’m using these FAB products this months as well as some pro tips and tricks If you haven’t already, head over to Starlooks and “like” their Facebook page! You can also win an AMAZING brush by checking out my Starlooks Giveaway HERE! Ending in just a few days!

Notice I said “at least one”! Because the truth is, you can never have too many quality hand bags! When it comes to quality handbags without giant price tags, I turn to Nicole Lee. From classic to eclectic, they’ve got a bag for every woman and every occasion. Nicole  Lee handbags are made in the glamorous Hollywood, CA and have been around for only 9 year, making their debut in 2004.

It took me quite a while to pick just one of the stunning handbags to review for you all. There is such a wide range in designs and sizes on the Nicole Lee site. I knew I wanted something large, maybe a mom of color and something that I could pair with a lot of outfits and accessories I already owned. Though that might seem specific, it didn’t narrow my options by much! NicoleLeeOnline.com  is always putting out new collections and my wish list just keeps growing! Eventually, I opted to receive this Fantine Roses Tote. This is from the Genuine Leather Collection and as you might guess, most of this bag is nice, smooth black leather.

This tote retails for just under $75 and for such a large leather bag, that is an outstanding price! I’ve shopped and discount stores like Ross and Marshall’s/TJ Maxx and I’ve never found a leather bag this large priced under $100- ever! The first thing I noticed about this tote was the wonderful attention to detail. Each bag is made and designed with great care and it really shows. I loved the crinkled rose detail running through the middle of this bad. It added the great pop of color I was looking for while adding texture to the overall look of the bag as well. I loved this bag so much that I think I’ll get the matching Cross Body really soon!

Nicole Lee bags are truly unique and made to last a long time! I’m so happy to add this one to my collection, but I’m also REALLY excited to offer the chance for you to win one too! One lucky reader will get to win ANY handbag from the NicoleLeeOnline website! Enter below to win! (*Winner may choose any purse from current stock)

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway