It's been a couple of months since we took our annual fall photos, and since our Christmas cards were mailed a week ago, I wanted to share both!

I had booked this photo shoot with the woman who did our engagement and wedding photos, and who I love dearly. If you are in the Northshore area and need a "love" photographer, Amber is your girl! Anyway, I booked the shoot before we separated, and we decided to keep the session and split it with me + Gracie and him + Gracie.

Gracie wasn't in the best mood, refused to smile for 20 minutes, and then had a meltdown .... so I bribed her with a lollipop! Hey, whatever it takes, right?

Now that we are settled into our new place, I can't wait to get some prints made to hang in our house, except that of course I can't choose a favorite!

My top (Loft) / Jeans (Gap) / booties (Kohl's) / Necklace (J.Crew outlet) / Gracie's dress (Eleanor Rose) / Gold shoes (babyGap) 

Our Christmas Card 2017 - Simply to Impress 

I honestly contemplated NOT sending out cards this year. It felt so weird to send ones of just her and I, but sending Christmas cards is one of my favorite holiday traditions! I definitely scaled way back and only ordered 25 to mail out this year vs the 100 I normally do. It was one of those areas that I felt it best to simplify and not overly stress myself over. If you did not receive one, I'm sorry! I promise I still value you being in my life!

Current Beauty Favorites

I love reading what beauty products other women are using, and I am a self-professed beauty and product junkie ;) As I've gotten older (and busier - ahem, #momlife) I've been working on scaling back the products I use on a daily basis and getting myself out the door as quickly as possible!

I tend to use a mix of both drug store and splurge-worth products. I do splurge on skincare (and will be sharing those favorites soon!), because I think that if your skin is well taken care of, you need even less makeup!

Foundation: L'Oreal Infallible Total Cover, shade "302 Creamy Natural" -- Target
Concealer: L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow, shade "Natural Beige" -- Target
Powder: L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte, shade "300 Nude Beige" -- Target
Blush: Nars The Multiple Cream blush in shade "Orgasm" -- Sephora
Eye brow pencil: Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil, shade "Dark Brown" -- Sephora
Eye shadow palette: Urban Decay Naked Palette 3 -- Sephora
Eye liner: Maybelline Master Precise Ink, Shade is Metallic (it doesn't look that way though!) "610 Black Comet" -- Target
Mascara:L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise, shade "Blackest Black" -- Target
Lips: LipSense by Senegence in "Luv It" (1st layer), "Apple Cider" (2nd layer), "Kiss Me Katie" (3rd layer) -- if you need a rep, let me know and I will send you the info of the girl I buy it from!

I can do this look in under 5 minutes, with a beauty blender to blend the foundation and concealer and then my blush. My eyebrows probably take the longest to do, and I'm obsessed with this lip stuff because it legit lasts ALL day long!

For night, I add more shadow, some bronzer to my cheek bones, line my water line and do a slightly darker lip.

And here is how I keep it all organized and pretty on my bathroom counter :) I bought this makeup organizer from HomeGoods for only $10, but I've linked a similar one for you here - psst, this would be a great gift for the makeup/product junkie in your life! 

Here's the look as I was leaving the house:

And again a few hours later (after getting a new hair cut and color!):

What are your current beauty faves?? Happy Thursday friends! <3

Linking up with Annie for Thoughts for Thursday!

Five on Friday: Gratitude

Hey y’all! Welcome to my NEW blog! I thought that since I’m starting over in so many areas of my life, that a new blog and look were also in order!

The last two months have been the most hectic and stressful and busy and uncertain, but i am thankfully on the other side of it now, and have so much to look forward as we wrap up 2017 and start a new year!

Today, I’m sharing things I’m grateful for on this Five on Friday post! Because no matter how crazy and stressful life gets, there is always something to be thankful for!

{one} my daughter. She is, without a doubt, the best thing that I ever did! At 3.5 she certainly keeps me on my toes, keeps me laughing and brings so much joy to my life.

{two} my friends. I have the best friends. As of late, I’ve not been a very good friend -  forgetful and absentminded, and yet, they love me anyway. They calm me down when I’m upset, they laugh with me, they drink wine with me, and just all in all, have been the best support system I could have asked for.

{three} wine. Obviously, I have to mention wine - because seriously, how do you even adult without wine?! My new favorite is by Dreaming Tree and is called "Crush" - it's the Dave Matthews line of wine, and it is SO good. I love red wine blends.

{four} music. Music heals the soul, and I’ve been listening to some country favorites on repeat as well as random 80s ballads .... I don't think there's anything better than sappy love songs when you are going through a breakup .... #amiright ??

{five} courage. Maybe this is a weird thing to be grateful for but, change is scary, and it’s easy to stay in something just because it’s easier than starting over. So today I am especially grateful for having had the courage to say that I wanted more from life, and then being able to do something about it. Life is too short to not be happy!

xo,
Gentel

Linking up for Five on Friday / Friday Favorites / Friday Favorites / High Five for Friday