Happy Birthday Mr. Husband!

Today is Richard's 30th Birthday! (Dirty Thirty!)

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! Richard, you are an amazing man. I wish you triple 30 more years of health, success, and patience (to deal with me). I am so proud to call you my husband and so lucky to get to spend my life with you. I love our inside jokes, our comfortable silence and our ever lasting respect for each other. Cheers to you my love, my friend, my world. ♥

 

We love you so much!

Love, 
Erika, Nikolas and Lobo

 

Nik's favorites of 2012!

I see all these make-up gurus on YouTube making videos about their Favorite items of 2012, so I figured I'd do a blog entry on Nik's TOP 10 Favorite Baby Items of 2012! 
So what if its February 25th, he's just finalizing his decision now ;)


#1- VTech Sit-to-Stand Alphabet Train- he can play all day with his train if we let him- so many things to do! 

# 2- Nuby Grip N' Sip cup  - His sidekick- literally!

 

# 3-Little Hip Squeaks mustache knotted hat and personalized toddler blanket  he loves these, so cozy!

# 4- Born free classic 9oz bottles

# 5- Melissa and Doug Linking Monkey stroller toy-we got this from his "Lil' Learners" September's Stork Stack- to read my review of SS February box click here 

# 6- Sophie the Giraffe

# 7- Babiators

# 8- Happy Baby Organic Fresh Mango Pouch Squeeze



# 9- Nuby The Twisty Bugz™ teether

# 10- Bright Starts Around We Go Entertainer- He loved this thing until he realized he could actually go places and a lot quicker when he really got the hang of crawling :) We've since detached the go around seat and just have the entertainment piece he now stands up to play with.

so, there it is- Nik's favorite baby items of 2012!  

What were your baby's favorite items last year? Anything you think my little man would love if he tried it? We're looking for things to add to his favorites of the winter months!

Goodness, I love him so much. 

My baby boy is 10 months today!

Nikolas turned 10 months today! 

He is just the most happiest, inquisitive, kindest, smartest, funniest baby ever. Before this month he used to sit pretty for me on his big rocking chair (pictured here top left) but this was the only picture where he remotely sat still for 2.5 seconds long enough for my camera to focus to take the picture (Mommy Success!)

Now I can barely get him to sit still...God Bless him. I seriously cant remember what my life was like without him. These Brazilian lyrics by a popular Ivete Sangalo have never made more sense to me.

Talvez perdesse os sonhos- Maybe I would have lost these dreams
Dentro de mim- Inside of me
E vivesse na escuridão- And lived in darkness
Se eu não te amasse tanto assim- If I didn't love you this much
Talvez não visse flores- Maybe I wouldn't see these flowers
Por onde eu vi- That I have seen
Dentro do meu coração- Inside of my heart 

 Nos desejos, num beijo- In wishes, a kiss
Que eu jamais provei igual- That I have never felt before

Se eu não te amasse tanto assim- If I didn't love you this much

Happy 10 months, Nik!
Mommy loves you, always.  

Surviving Wednesday "Hump Day"!

It's the middle of the work week-Wednesday!- also refereed to as "hump day" When I was younger this term totally confused me. I won't go into the details as to why, but I am sure you can guess what typical high school’ers thought this day referred to...

As an adult I can totally see why. Its an idea that the week is like a mound or a hill that a person climbs, with Wednesday being in the middle or the 'peak' of the week for the typical 9-5'er, Monday-Friday'er.

Mondays- Everyone I know hates Mondays. Those are the days I'm usually running late or my train is late arriving into the station, my work coffee maker breaks (happened to me 3 Mondays ago- no joke) or when I forgot to pick something up at my local grocery store FOR THE SECOND TIME! (ugh). If you don’t hate Mondays and have better luck, fill me in on your secret, I'd love to know how you do it.

Mondays and Tuesdays are the days that a person 'climbs' up as the beginning of the work week-if you're lucky your climbs aren’t as bad as mine traditionally are.

At the end of every Wednesday work day, I usually give out a big exhale when I get home as I take it back 'old school' and pat myself on the back and give myself a big mental congratulations as I have managed to make it to the pinnacle of the work week.

Although many may view hump day like I do, Wednesday also have a bad reputation at times. Wednesday is sometimes thought of as gray unhappy, or unlucky days. Nevertheless, for many working people both out of the home and in the home (shout out to my stay at home moms and dads!), the arrival of hump day, in my book, is cause for cheering, and whether that day is windy, snowy or gray, it still means that the weekend is close!

My days at the office on Thursdays and Fridays represent my climbing back down towards the beginning of my now very baby-geared busy weekends, nonetheless, it’s the weekend away from work and it’s a weekend with my boys.

My dad used to ask us what our peaks (highs) and valleys (lows) were of the day at the dinner table and looking back now I don’t know why but my brother and I would always look forward to answering his question. Silly children.

So I ask you- what was your peak and valley of today? If your day isn’t over yet and you are reading this, what are you looking forward to towards the end of today? how do you survive the rest of the work week?

I survive by eating a banana or something else with natural sugar during those '3pm at work 'feelings unless my hands just happen to get a hold of a dark chocolate Hershey’s bar I have stacked in my mini fridge, of course.

To survive the rest of the work week I focus on the fun things we have planned for Nik for the weekend, or how much I am looking forward to snuggling with my boys in bed watching cartoons Saturday morning (If you have a 10 month baby like I do, you know this only lasts for about 10 minutes, if you're lucky), or to my husband making us blueberry pancakes from scratch!
oh and having a really stinking cute baby like this doesn’t hurt in surviving the work week either.

Ipsy February 'Red Carpet Ready' Glam Bag Review!

Hi, My name is Erika and I'm addicted to Ipsy Glam Bags!

It's a monthly subscription box started by YouTube guru make up Michelle Phan. Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products- very cool!
What's even cooler is that you can go onto Ipsy.com and create looks and browse through posts and video looks created by Ipsy stylists and members. All for only $10 a month.

My fav make up guru all-bit-of-amazing Kandee Johnson recently became an Ipsy stylist and she's just an amazing inspiring women who's really taught me a lot about make up and about life!

Growing up, I didn't know much about make up and what i did know I learned from friends using drugstore products (I still wear some drugstore products).  My mom never really wore make up except for a little bit of lipstick on her lips and cheek for blush (I always found it weird her using the same lipstick she used on her lips for her cheeks but what-do-you-know! Enter our modern day cheek stains and Bobbi Brown pot rouges). But I digress.

Here is what I got in my February's 'Red Carpet Ready' Glam bag!

I was most excited to receive the MICA gel eyeliner in Black. This will be my first go around for gel eyeliner. Something about them just used to scare the Ba-Jesus out of me but I'm putting my big girl pants on and giving this a whirl! I love me a challenge! I even attempted the winged look- how did I do?! (This was literally my first time EVER using gel eyeliner). I've also got on the primer, the mascara and a touch of the eyeshadow 'candlelight' (a touch is all you need as its very pigmented). 

POP mascara was next! You can NEVER have too many mascara's! I haven't opened this one yet but I'm super excited to true it since it claims to really bring out your eyelashes!

This stuff is HA-MAZING! Pixi Flawless & Poreless primer. It goes on super smooth, does a great job of covering my pores and stays on all day. I actually just wore this and no foundation and my make-up lasted all day. Will def be buying a full size of this!

Coastal Scents mini 4 set eyeshadow set. I was hoping to get the set that had the brighter yellow colors only because I already have so many nudes, blacks and whites but I guess its the luck of the draw with these. I will absolutely wear these since these colors look great on anyone! Oops, shoot- I forgot the upload the picture of the swatches of these and now I can't seem to find the picture amongst all these others...they are super pretty though and all had a tiny shimmer to them but nothing too overwhelming.

Lastly, the LASH CARD! Another item I was super excited about. I have really long eyelashes and putting on mascara is always a battle because I always end up painting my whole face with mascara is seems like, haha. Whoa, I just realized how much that last sentence totally seemed like I was brag-complaining- complaining about my eyelashes being long while bragging how long they are because people would kill for this issue. But in all seriousness, its gets annoying something to deal with them getting in my eye, getting mascara residue on my eyebrows and eye lids. So these puppies came into great use! 2 came in the pack so I will definitely be buying more.

Overall, Ipsy delivered a great glam bag this month. I can see the 'Red Carpet Ready' theme throughout. It introduced me to some great finds like the Pixi primer and helped me get over my fear of gel eyeliner (now I just need to practice, practice, practice!).  Most of these products I will definitely get great use out of them and others its always good to have. 

The actual bag it came in didn't do anything for me (it was a black shiny reminiscent of patent leather look and feel on the outside and was red on the inside with the Ipsy logo) Guess I can always turn the bag inside out or re-gift. Recycle and Reuse! hahaha.

Disclosure: I purchased this myself. All opinions are mine and 100% honest.

Great baby/toddler Etsy Find- Little Hip Squeaks

I am a BIG supporter of small businesses and try to shop there as much as I can. When Nik was a baby-baby and during those middle of the night feedings instead of 'sleep when baby sleeps' I opted to 'shop/troll Etsy when baby sleeps'. I was in search of Eco-friendly and organic fabrics- enter Amy's shop Little Hip Squeaks! It was love at first sight and then when I received my first item, I quickly became HA-DDICTED.

She creates her own 'hip' and modern designs for baby blankets, burp cloths, baby hats, bibs and other gifts for babies, toddlers, kids and even family throw blankets. She's got cute headbands for girls and adult sizes too. Her designs are out of this world- geometric prints, chervon, mustache, elephants, arrows, and the list goes on. I believe she's currently working on more designs to launch which I am UBER excited for!

Nik loves her items too! 
How cute is this blue mustache knotted hat!

 This chervon leggings are super comfy and lightweight but warm enough to wear around the house or going out on errands. See, happy baby!

 This is my little man at his 6 month photo shoot (ahh, seems so long ago) with his personalized mustache toddler size blanket. We take this blanket with us everywhere. Its great to have for those unexpected cold days perfect for cuddling with and also to lay on the ground for an impromptu play time!

 

He loves this hat!

The most stylist 'hip' baby at this past October's pumpkin picking patch event. P.S.com Real men baby-wear!

so check out Amy and her adorable 'hip' items! I'm currently adding items in my cart for my next haul ;)

Happy Shopping!

 

Disclosure: I purchased all these great items myself and my opinions are 100% mine and honest. 

6 Lip Products I can't live without

If there's one thing I hate about winter, its chapped lips. Not only do they look gross, but they also hurt if you let them get really bad. I make sure to always keep my lips well-hydrated and protected, especially because I love wearing lipsticks and lip glosses but mostly because no one deserves chapped lips, especially in the middle of winter. 

I thought I'd share with you my top 6 lip products (I couldn't pick just 5) that I swear by and can't live without- Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, doesn't matter.

 

First up: Bliss fabulips sugar lip scrub

I keep this lip scrub in my shower and use it pretty much every time I shower. It exfoliates my lips and any removes dead. This is my first line of defense when I start to feel my lips getting chapped. Its made up of finely granulated sweet sugar, almond and walnut shell, and vanilla+orange-flavored formula.  Usually I'm not a big vanilla flavor person, like not at all, but this is so lightly scented and flavored that I actually love it. The sugar gently exfoliates while the jojoba seed and olive oils, shea and cocoa butters and vitamins A, C and E nourish and condition my lips to the amazing-ness feeling that I get every time I use it.

 

Next up: Treat Coconut Cream Old Fashioned Jumbo Flavored Lip Balm

This lip balm is unlike any other. First off its huge, .50 ridiculously deliciously smoothing ounces, so the likelihood of you running out soon is low (unless you're an addict like me and use it all day, every day). Secondly, its organic and the best flavored coconut product you've ever tasted. It's made out of the goodness of Coconut Oil, Beeswax and Shea Butter. And Lastly, its the best thing I've found that truly keeps my lips feeling moisturized all day long.

After my lips are nice and moisturized, I begin priming them with my Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer. I bought this little guy in a special beauty set Too Faced offers that also comes with deluxe sizes of their Shadow Eye Primer, Mascara, and a face primer. Honestly, best $19 I've ever spent on such true deluxe size items that are super high quality. This lip primer is a creamy formulation that applies all over your lips to lock in your lip color so it won't feather, fade or transfer. Best thing about Too Faced products is that they're all paraben-free and most are vegan-friendly, like this little guy. And I like that.

Now this next item is what I consider the holy grail of lipsticks- its MAC's Girl About Town  
it's a brightened medium-dark fuchsia pink with blue undertones. It has an amplified creme finish and it only take a little bit of product to get a great color on your lips. Honestly, if you ask me, this color looks good on any skin complexion.  This picture doesn't even do it justice. It's kinda expensive but worth every penny. When I wear this, I feel like the prettiest girl in the room.

This is an oldie but a goodie. It's my C.O. Bigelow Lip Gloss in Ultra Menta. It's SUPER minty, SUPER glossy and doubles great as a breath freshener- I used to be an AAAADDICT when I used to smoke (yes, I know, GROSS, no judging though. I kicked the habit once I got pregnant and I never looked back!). Now I'm still an AAAAADDICTT, hehe that's how good this stuff is-so every time I'm near a Bath and Body Works I pick one up. See below, it's used so much poor thing is losing all of it's cover.

Lastly, every girl needs a great red lip! I used to think red only looked good on certain skin types and people, well, mainly skin types and 'people' that wasn't me. But so not the case. Something about a red lip just screams confidence- don't cha think? 

I haven't found a great red lipstick that I think looks good on me without feeling like I look like Mimi on the Drew Carey Show from back in the day. Buttttttt what I have found is another great alternative. It's MAC's lip liner in Cherry.  It's a vivid bright bluish-red and it goes on and stays amazing!

  
What are your favorite lip products you swear by? I'd love to know! You can never have too many! Anything you'd recommend with SPF since spring and summer are right around the corner?


 

Disclosure: These items are bought from me, to me :) And its my 100% honest opinion.

Just ashes

Disclosure: On this blog I will try to stray away from religion and politics like any good Politically Correct law biding citizen. Really this post isnt about religion, well, it is, but more about my view, ah, keep reading, you'll see what I mean, I promise!

I was raised Catholic and today still practice. I'm not perfect and I'm a sinner- I am only human. By now I know the drill- confess, 5 Hail Mary's, 2 Our Fathers, ask for forgiveness and God will forgive. Today's post my friend is about the not so bubble gum side of life- the Dimples, if you will.
Childhood means is having the opportunity to believe your parents are superheros and supernatural beings who are perfect in every which way and have no faults.  They can do anything and everything and they are always right and never selfish and never sinful.

How old were you when you realized your parents were human? I was young, a little too young.  I've known my parents have been human since I was 7- (kinda got the short end of the sibling stick if you ask me). Being the eldest and a girl I had to break up my parents fights, help take care of my little brother after school, be a part of grown folks issues, etc.

Here's the short story about me (since I feel like I know you a little but better now I can share) my parents had a horrendous divorce when I was in my last year of undergrad in 2005 and it totally flipped my whole family's life completely upside down, which I suppose is a very common occurrence in divorces. 
My brother retreated, my mother sobbed for months uncontrollably and I just went on with life kinda bitter about it all but also kinda relieved that the constant fighting had finally come to a halt. We didn't talk to my dad for YEARS and today he's still with the women he cheated on my mom with. Til this day my mother says I was the strongest one out of all of us.

Anyway, fast forward to present day: My father comes around a lot since my husband and I had our son, Nik last April. My mom came out of retirement to help us take care of Nik for the first 15 months of his life and my brother lives downstairs as he's still in school. Every now and again I have to play referee to my mom and dad because they'll remember something the other person did and start snapping at each other or I have to keep tabs on my dad since his regret as gotten so high recently he tends to withdrawal. Why is it that as we get older we become parents to our parents? My brother and I don't talk right now because...well because of a lot of sibling issues (where was our referee when we needed one). This post is too long to write about what happened to us and its also very emotional to discuss... We don't talk right now but I love him and I know he loves me. period. It's all very complicated and messy but they are all mine- dysfunction and all.

Today is Ash Wednesday- for us Catholics it's a day that reminds us to be faithful in action even when no one is looking. It states that when we live in harmony with God’s people and Creation, especially when no one is looking, our households will be transformed and it begins with us. 

As we begin Lent, I am reminded that I am the only person that can change who I am and I can't control anyone else. I have to remain faithful to my family, regardless of all our issues and maintain an open heart for when we are all ready to whatever it is that we all need to do in order to bring back balance and peace into our lives that I will be ready to do so. 

I now have my own little family that I need to cultivate a bond with and raise and they need my full attention. Things will happen the way they are suppose to. When we are all in a room together, the love is still there and its undeniable. I can feel it like African drums in the distance.
Noone is better than anyone else, noone is perfect and noone is a saint. Afterall, we are all just ashes once everything in this life is said and done. My family is so important to me. They are my roots, my history and huge part of who I am. That will never be replaced.

I always have keep in mind my connection with my Creation and reflect on our beginning and end:    “Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return.”

52 Week $Money$ Challenge

So you know how at your office job there are always challenges? The biggest loser weight lost challenge, the next American idol challenge, and whatever other have you challenge, well my friends here's another one but this one is like super cooler than those other ones! 
I came across this 52 Week Money Challenge Chart and thought it was a pretty cool idea for saving some money this year (no worries that its February- just catch up!)  So, I thought I’d share it with you all.

It's the 52 Week $Money$ Challenge!

I'm going to try and do this, (extra Christmas money) and I've already taken out my money for the first six weeks.  I plan on making it a practice to take the money out on Mondays because by Fridays I'm broke.

Each week of the year (52) you save a designated amount (based in the week #) and by the end of the year, you will have saved $1378.00 (that doesn’t include any interest it may accrue if you deposit it into a savings account).
So on week 1, you deposit $1. On week 2, $2, week 19 $19, week 35 $35 and so on and so forth.  Just print out the chart and cross off each week as you go along.


Here's the link!  http://www.allthingsmw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/181349_461151583932671_623138689_n.jpeg

 
Let me know who's in this with me and we can be saving partners for encouragement! (Keep me from late-night Sephora site trolling)

 

WINNER ANNOUNCED! I get 3 Valentines this year + DAL's Valentine's Day STILA LIP GLAZE TRIO GIVEAWAY!! EXTENDED!

I am such a lucky girl! I get to have THREE Valentines this year- my wonderful hubby, my fur baby- Lobo (means 'Wolf' in Portuguese- he's our 5 year old energetic and loving keeshound) and my amazing little Nik!
YOWZA! I'm surrounded by men who love me. Lucky me!
Yes, all they come with their individual stenches and quirkiness after all, they are boys, but that's what makes them more mine.

The story of Saint Valentine goes a little something like this: (or at least the version of the story I know and love as the stories behind Valentine is all a little murky anyway so to each their own). 

One legend goes that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families so he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice and being a romantic fellow himself, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers secretly in the name of love. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. While imprisoned, Valentine himself sent the first "valentine" greeting to a young girl he fell in love with.  Before his death, he wrote her a letter and signed it "From your Valentine". 

OKAY, story-time's over. Now...

**** GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCED!****

It's a super small giveaway but I am still very excited about this, if you can't already tell!!

CONGRATS KATIE PATTERSON!
 
 

I was at my local Sephora and wanted pick up this great Stila Sealed With A Kiss Lip Glaze Trio set but they were SOLD OUT! I can totally see why though- its a set of their cult-favorite Lip Glazes, (Lip Glaze in Smooch (plum shimmer), Kiss (lavender pink), and Pout (natural pink)) packaged in a really cute, super easy travel container.

Don't know if you know this about me but I am all about Eco-friendly items, parabens-free, organic, blah blah blah whenever possible. Not totally bonkers and strict about it but just enjoy the option when given the opportunity. These are totally parabens, sulfates, and phthalates free!

This is a limited-edition set so I knew I had to get my hands on one. I decided to order one for you too!

I'm totally wearing Pout to feel pretty for my boys on Valentine's Day and I am hoping they will arrive in time for me to gift to you so you too, can feel pretty wearing it on Valentine's day :)

If you’re interested in purchasing your own set you can visit SEPHORA. They carry a lot of other great Stila products or you can visit their website HERE!

You can also enter to win your own set with me!

Here’s how to enter:

Receive 1 entry for each of the following. Make a separate comment below for each item you’ve completed. Please note that #1 is the ONLY mandatory entry, please do not forget it. The others are bonus entries! 

1. MANDATORY: Comment below with what makes you feel pretty! Doesn't have to be make-up. It can be anything as long as it makes you feel pretty! Make sure to include your name and email for contact in case you win!

2. Follow Dimplesaboutlife on Facebook

3. Follow @DimplesAbtLife on Twitter

4. Tweet about this giveaway – make sure to add @DimplesAbtLife  #Valentine in your tweet! You can enter this once a day.

5. Follow me ladyerika_dimplesaboutlife on Instagram

6. Share this giveaway on Facebook

7. Subscribe to this blog

Contest open to US entries only. Must be 18 or over to enter and to win. This giveaway has been extended and will end 11:59pm EST Monday, February 11th. All entries will be verified and a winner will be selected using the random number generator and announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond. Fulfillment will be made by ME!

Disclosure: I purchased this myself. 

 

 

Ima teach you some Portuguese 'Baixinhos' is an endearing term we use to refer to children as they are short so 'short children' (gets lost in translation a bit).