My Fav Make-Up Wipes.

I don't know about you but I think I've tried every make-up remover wipe under the sun! From high end to drugstore brands. From organic to fragranced. I've been there done that. So after all this--it may surprise you to hear that my favorite wipes are from some $7 brand I had never heard of! (haha)

They're the Boots No. 7 Quick Thinking 4-in-1 Wipes and they're ah-mazing. I found them while rummaging through the beauty aisle at Target. This little miracle worker sweep impurities, tones, removes waterproof make up, and moisturizes. It removes everything and I mean everything, plus leaves my skin feeling super refreshed!

Be good to your skin, even when you're short of time, with these gentle, fragrance free wipes. They effectively cleanse and remove impurities, tone and moisturize your skin and even remove waterproof eye make-up - all in one easy step. With vitamin pro-B5 plus extracts of witch hazel and fennel which help cleanse pores, moisturize and leave your skin feeling smooth, clean and fresh.

They're affordable, come in a 30pk, are fragrance-free, and have a click seal lid. (Which is a major plus because we all know how easily your makeup wipes can dry up with just a regular seal.)

The only downside I found to them is that I could only get them at Target--so you can imagine how my ears perked up this morning when I heard that this UK based brand just launched it's own US E-commerce site! (ShopBootsUSA.com) They'll be carrying all their skincare products including my coveted make-up wipes. Yay! So happy!

What's your favorite wipe?

Shoe Fetish Of The Week: Calvin Klein

Ladies, I want to introduce you to this week's Shoe Fetish Of The Week! It's the Calvin Klein Alex platform sandal and they're a beauty, aren't they? I just love the intricate stitching on it. It has this cool geometric/tribal look going on, plus the mix of the antique white and wood just screams summer to me. I'm loving it!

How about you?

L'Occitane Mother's Day Sets. (Under $40)

Pivoine Flora Hand Cream Set-$26

Pivoine Flora Ballerina Set-$35

Lovely Lavender Hand Set-$36

Crew Cuts Looks For Less.

I've been getting some comments from moms saying that they love CrewCuts, but are not so crazy about their sometimes hefty price tags. (trust me, I feel you ladies.)

So what can we do? My advice for you moms would be to hunt down some crewcut-esque pieces from more affordable stores and create your own look for less! Besides you don't need to spend a lot of $$$ to make your kids look everyday chic. Just take a look at these 2 outfits I created inspired by CrewCuts Summer Lookbook:

(shark shirt, chinos, cap, belt, flip flops)

(dress, polka dot shirt, belt, necklace, ballet flats)

Mother's Day Gifts For Under $100.

Mother's Day is right around the corner! Have you picked out the perfect gift yet? If you're still searching for a gift for your mom/sister/friend or even if your significant other lets you pick out your own gift for Mother's Day. (Holla!) These gifts are perfect for anyone's budget...

olivia pearl & ribbon necklace-$44

colorista custom make-up palette-$36

sandy rope ring set-$68

chi red pro dryer-$99.45

anne klein cachet tote-$89

H&M By Night Collection.

Have you checked out H&M's summer By Night Collection yet? I'm going completely gaga over it! Ladies, if you have party/wedding/or event to go this summer these effortlessly chic dresses will be perfect--day or night.

Of course price is never an issue with H&M--everything is under $60. Unfortunately they still doesn't offer online shopping for those of you that don't have an local store nearby, but fear not my pretties--A little birdie told me, H&M will be opening an e-commerce site in 2012!

www.hm.com

Rango vs. Rio: Which One's Better?

We've been fighting non-stop about this at my house (haha). My husband enjoyed Rio, but preferred Rango. I found Rango to be a total snoozefest and enjoyed Rio much better. Scratch that--I loved Rio!! The colors were so bright and vibrant, and the movie was fun beginning to end (unlike that boring, Rango..just sayin'). So what do you think? I want to settle this once and for all!

BTW, I was able to find the first 2 mins of Rio for those who haven't seen it yet.



Here's a trailer for Rango for those of you haven't seen it either.

Essie Summer 2011 Color Me Braziliant.

I don't know about you, but this new Color Me Braziliant collection from Essie has me dreaming of mai tai's, sandy beaches, and ready for some fun in the sun!

Brazil is the setting for this theme of tropical shades that include sizzling oranges, calming blues, and the dreamiest of pinks.

• Braziliant (Outrageous, Blazing Orange)
• Too Too Hot (Fierce Fire Coral)
• Super Bossa Nova (Pulsating Pink)
• Meet Me at Sunset (Intense Flamingo Citrine)
• Smooth Sailing (Dreamiest Blue Topaz)
• Absolutely Shore (Pale, Seafoam Green)

I'm loving these vibrant colors! How about you?

Available in June. $8

5 Print Maxi Dress: {Under $100}

Over the long weekend I watched SATC2. It was the first time I've watched it since my initial disappointment last year. But I decided to let bygones be bygones and pop it in anyways. It was easier now that I knew that the storyline was a letdown--to just zero-in on the fashion instead.

After watching it again, I now have an unquenchable thirst for maxi dresses and long flowing silhouettes. (ha!) The good news is that maxi dresses are always a hit for the summer and these print beauties are just what I need in my closet, and without breaking my bank.

asos-$89.95

collective concepts-$74

victoria's secret-$78

Delia's-$49.50

asos-$71.72

Mob Wives: Have You Been Watching?

As if I need ANOTHER reality show to be addicted to--VH1 has sunk it's dirty little claws in me again, with their new show Mob Wives. Have you seen it? It follows the lives of 4 women whose fathers or husbands are doing time for mob-related activities. Think: a cross between the Sopranos and The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

It's a freakin' mess and I. love. it! lol

These Staten Island women are no joke. In fact, one of the ladies is Karen Gravano--Sammy "The Bull's" daughter. Who is leaving the witness protection program, (I'm not kidding), and returning to the Staten Island which she calls the "breeding ground for the mafia", to write a tell-all book about her childhood. Another cast member is Anthony Graziano's daughter. You know, as in...high ranking member of the Cosa Nostra...."allegedly" of course.

They're vulgar and hilarious. Telling each other how they'd better "watch out before they get laid out " and how "ya never rat, no matter what". These ladies are so immersed in the crime culture--they act like nothing that their husbands/fathers/boyfriends are all locked up. It's priceless. I've only seen 2 episodes, and I'm hooked. It's Real Housewives on a whole 'nother level. Really. It's crazy x 2.

If the catfighting/drinking/and backstabbing doesn't lure you in, maybe the catchy intro song will:

Easter Day Is Here!

Hey Everyone!! Just popping in to wish everyone a Happy Easter!! I hope you have a wonderful day with your friends and family. I'm looking forward to having a relaxing day with my family as well.

Our Easter tradition is to always to take my daughter egg hunting, but this year she's gone twice already--so we'll have to see what else the Easter Bunny has in store for her.




Speaking of Easter Bunnies--there was a cute little brown bunny chillin' in my mother's front lawn yesterday afternoon. My daughter swore it was the Easter Bunny making sure she got her Easter eggs and I couldn't have agreed with her more.

What about you?
Have you seen the Easter Bunny? :)

Origins + Earth Day= Free Full Sized Cleanser. (Again)

It's Earth Day! So you know what that means--Origins is giving out free full-sized cleansers if you bring them your current cleanser (full or empty) to swap out harsh chemical ingredients for more gentle high-performance ingredients.

This year, you must fill out this form first and then head over to your local Origins counter where you can choose from a limited edition Checks and Balances (a personal favorite) or A perfect World.

www.origins.com

Celebrate Earth Day With A Zak! Designs Giveaway!!--CLOSED.

About:
Zak Designs, a leader in making meal-time fun worldwide, is also committed in making our children more eco-conscious. In honor of Earth Day they have released a new Kermit the Frog "I love being green" water bottle to help us be (what else?) a little more green. They encourage us parents to find ways to help our kids become more eco-aware--even if it's small things, like packing no-waste lunches, or swapping reusable water bottles with disposable ones.

Review:
Zak was kind enough to send me their "I love being green" hyrdocanteen for me and a Mickey Mouse hydrocanteen for my daughter. Both are shatterproof, break-resistant, and durable. They have a leak-proof lid and a built-in carrying loop for easy transporting. My daughter looves her Mickey Mouse water bottle and begs me to take it to school with her everyday. I can't believe how simple it is to be just a little more eco-conscious! My daughter may not fully get it yet, but it feels good knowing that she doing a small part in protecting this planet we call home.

Aside from their Kermit the Frog and Mickey Mouse, they also have a ton of other licensed styles and products that will not only make mealtimes fun, but environmentally friendly too.

Giveaway:
Zak Designs cares about the environment and want you to do the same, so they are graciously giving (1) Babblings of a Mommy reader (1) Kermit the Frog "I love being green" hydrocanteen and (1) licensed hydrocanteen of your choice!

Mandatory Entry:
"Like" Zak Designs on Facebook and tell them what you do to make your children more eco-conscious.

Leave me a comment here stating that you have "Liked" Zak Designs and don't forget to leave me your email address! (Winner will be notified by email.)

Sorry, US only

Extra Entries:

• Become a new GFC Follower (If you're already a follower let me know you are)
• Subscribe to my feed HERE
  
• Become a Facebook fan and "like" my page. Be sure to leave a comment about the contest!
  
• Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs and Picket Fence Blogs
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this to me: "I hope I win the Zak Designs giveaway at www.babblingsofamommy.com @babblingofmommy"
• Add my button to your site.

Remember each one counts as a different entry so be sure to enter them separately. You may tweet once a day if you'd like, but be sure to leave comment on post about your retweets. Giveaway ends May 6th . A winner will be selected by random.org and will be notified via email.

MAC Surf Baby Collection 4 Summer. (Plus One Scary Ad.)

Coming this May and just in time for summer MAC will be launching their new collection--Surf Baby. Inspired by California surf-girl culture.

"Grab the board, hop in the Jeep, cruise the Pacific Coast Highway…Surf’s up! The lure of the endless summer starts here with My Paradise Cheek Powder, Summer Stash of Crushed Metallic Pigments, Hibiscus Lipstick and Splashproof Lash Mascara that just won’t smudge. Colourful, lustrous, and full of life…journey to a world where feeling the rush means taking a risk. Hang Ten!"

The collection will hit stores May 26th and be available through July 7th.

Looks cute, right?

Perfect for the sun-kissed glow everyone aims for in the summer.

So what's so scary about it??


This.

Am I the only one this ad completely freaks out?! holy crap!

Sorry MAC, this girl looks straight out of a horror flick with those crazy eyes! Why you chose this as your official photo ad for Surf Baby?--I have no idea.

But now it will haunt my dreams.....

My Fav Make-Up Brushes.

Too Faced has some great products out there, but hands down my favorite is their Teddy Bear Brush Set! They're UNBELIEVABLY soft and are made out of the finest synthetic materials. They're made to feel like real animal hair (hence the name "teddy bear" ) without the cruelty involved in making real animal brushes.

Ladies, you've got to try them--besides being adorably cute (and coming in this pretty little case), and aside from being silky smooth, they also work wonderfully!
They make your make-up go on flawlessly and make blending eyeshadows a cinch! At $65 they're an investment, but they're definitely worth while and will last you a lifetime. Also remember to wash your brushes every month with baby shampoo to keep them nice and clean. You can get them at toofaced.com, Sephora, or wherever Too Faced is sold.

What are your favorite brushes?

Cool Finds: How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

I picked up this book up from the library a few weeks ago, and even though it's not new by any means--it's definitely a cool find. I thought my daughter might enjoy it for bed time--and boy was I right!

She loved it.

I had to read it to her every day for 2 weeks straight! It's a great little story on bedtime behavior. It's packed with silly rhymes and funny pictures that will tickle your kids funny bone--but still manage to teach them a valuable lesson on bedtime manners.

I would definitely recommend this book for your kiddies, folks. Amazon has it for $9.99, but you can always just visit your local library and get it for free. :)

Calypso St. Barth Collection For Target Coming In May!

Still feeling the winter blues? Maybe this collection from Calyspo St. Barth for Target will get you feeling summer ready! Calyspo St. Barth, a luxury upscale brand known for their resort wear has partnered with Target to introduce a limited edition just in time for summer.

I got a sneak peak at this islandy collection--which includes women and kids', homewares, accessories, jewelry, and shoes. All are budget friendly, ranging from $5.99 to $59.99! They'll be hitting stores May 1st and be available thru June 11th.

Here are some of my favorite selections from their lookbook:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

For a look at their entire lookbook and prices go here: (Target)

So many great things! What will you be buying?

1 Ruffle Tank: 2 Weekend Looks.

(tank, cropped pants, vest, straw hat, sandals)

(tank, roll-up shirt, shorts, straw tote, wedges)


How would you wear it?

The Bold & The Beautiful.

Don't you just love a good statement piece? Well, take a look at these gorgeous 'look at me' jewelry I came across. These bright beauties are sure to get noticed, and make your summer a helluva lot brighter!

citrus twist necklace/fleur d'or earrings

moon leaves necklace/sunset bangle

bamboleo necklace/ sky drop earrings