Featured – Page 5 – Unlikely Martha

Featured• P365 | 2016• Photography

project 365 |11-17

I can hardly contain my excitement about how the closet is turning out. The floor looks amazing. I’ll give an update later in the week!

Watching them get off the bus makes me happy for some reason. I suppose its the pure innocence of childhood. I’m happy to be able to provide them the experience.

I’m super excited for gardening season. When I saw these I had to get them. This year I’ll be doing boxes instead of containers. I’ll be starting my seedlings in a few weeks and will keep you posted.

No matter what I say, she insists on playing in water under the premise that she is washing dishes instead of making a mess.

Had to spend Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Founders’ Day with my Sorors

Sometimes I just look at my babies and think about how blessed they are.

I haven’t been out there to join them yet, but when it gets warmer

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Beauty• Featured

my daily makeup must haves

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Burt’s Bees for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m not a huge makeup wearer but I’ve recently tried to come up with a routine that is quick, easy and gives me a natural look. That pretty much consists of a light layer of foundation to even out my skin tone, a few swipes of blush, eyeliner, lightly filling in my brows and putting on some lipstick.

Every step doesn’t happen every day but there is seldom a time when I don’t leave the house without lipstick. Lipstick and earrings are neck in neck on my meter of things you should never leave home without. I love me some lipstick, I don’t need to know the undertones of my skin or any of that. A quick swipe on the hand and I know whether or not the color will work. I have more lipsticks than a little.

Burt’s Bees has a new line of lipsticks that I am a whole lot smitten with and apparently a ton of other people because when I went to Target and another Target I could only come up with this color and ended up having to order a few other shades online.

The number one thing I love about this Burt’s Bees line of lipsticks is all of the colors are complementary to dark skin. In this day you would think this wouldn’t be an issue but it is. From deep berries, to mauves and pinks this line has a little bit of something for everybody and I’m here for it.

Outside of the amazing colors Burt’s Bees lipsticks ring in at just $9 and offer this impressive list of qualities:

Available in 14 full coverage, satin finish shades that are creamy and lightweight. The lipstick has the feel of a gloss with the coverage of lipstick. I even swiped it on my cheeks for a wash of color just to see and it served the purpose.
Hydrating and moisturizing for dry lips for up to 8 hours.
100% Natural
Ingredients include Moringa, Raspberry Seed Oil, Beeswax, Vitamin E – Moringa oil is full of essential fatty acids and helps to soften and condition skin, while Raspberry seed oil improves skin elasticity, keeping your lips feeling lovely
Last but certainly not least they are Available at Target

I was a little worried when I picked up this color but quickly came to love it. I have had quite a difficult time finding a “nude” that works for my skin tone. This is my new favorite. I think the hint of pink is perfect and will transition well into Spring and Summer.

If you are looking for a few new affordable and good for you lipsticks to add to your makeup bag these are essentials. Next time you are in Target take a peek. As much as I am in Target if I picked up a color every time I go I should have the whole collection by the end of next week!

Do share some of your favorite beauty tips for the new year

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Featured• Fitness• Living

i joined the gym

Yes. I joined the gym this week just like every 4th person in the population of the United States. While every person who has signed their name into the book of gym has their own reasoning for agreeing to have payments auto deducted from their account knowing good and well by April the gym will be getting free money, I was really and truly trying my best to stay away.

I hate gyms. H A T E.

I have a secret. I don’t like people looking at me. Okay, I don’t like men looking at me, specifically thirsty gym rat men. They are awful.

I once had a membership to LA Fitness and would literally look at my feet as I shuffled up the steps to the dreadmill in desperate hopes of not making eye contact with thot gym rat man. However, it never failed, just might look up to wipe the sweat out of my eye and ugh.

So. I signed on for a smaller gym that is open 24/7 for $15 month. I can go right when I put the kids on the bus and be out by 8a. I have no gym goals but to get fine, and by fine I mean lose my muffin top and shape up this booty that I’ve accumulated over the last year. Angela Bassett arms wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

I won’t bother you with sweat checks, weigh ins and photos of me in a crop top and bikers unless you want me to. Who doesn’t love a good before and after.

So, friends send virtual encouragement as I get back on this healthy living bandwagon that has been dragging me by the leg for quite sometime. Despite my apprehension, I’m kinda glad to be back on with an actual seat. Who’s riding with me ~~at least until April~~?!

If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to judge me, here you go. Is my playlist trap enough?

Any workout goals for the year? What’s on your gym playlist?

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Featured• Living

2015 goodbyes | 2016 greetings

I’m only 3 days late to the end of year goodbye and Happy New Year post party but your girl was tired. This holiday has consisted of a house full of family up until a few hours ago and a ton of planning and ripping and running. I needed a minute.

2015 was a year of learning and change. I would venture to say 2015 was the year that I figured out and embraced who I am at this point in my life. That feat didn’t come easy. Lots of tears and deep in my feels moments but I tell you, I’m better for it.

This little blog did some amazing things in 2015. For the first time I surpassed my income from when I was working full time and that was no small feat. Thank you to those who come here and share and interact with me. While earning a living from doing this is nice, first and foremost its the true friendships I’ve gained from this space that keep me trying to figure this thing out between sponsored and genuine posts. I think I made headway on that last year. There will continue to be relevant sponsored content in 2016 but at a far lower post count than my genuine lifestyle content.

Speaking of, I’m implementing an editorial schedule of sorts in 2016. It will go as follows:

Monday | Home centric content

Tuesday and Thursday| Sponsored content if applicable or when I am able to dictate the posting date

Wednesday | Ramblings and musings on family and life etc. Video content

Friday | Fashion and/or beauty

Sunday | Weekend happenings and/or Project 365

2016 on paper is looking to be quite amazing for this space. I’ll be opening an online store in the next few weeks. I have a few more kinks to work out on the back end. Can’t wait to share!

I hope you all had a wonderful year. Again, thank you for hanging in there as I transitioned. I ask only one thing of you this year as I intentionally go about growing this space on the web, if you see a post that you really liked please share! I’ve put a super easy share bar to the left and the bottom of each post. If you are already logged into your social networks it will automatically share with your click. Thanks in advance!

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R!!!!!

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