Check out the video review! It covers a ton of stuff! PLUS you get to see the nail polishes I was sent! {and swatches of them!}

However, the video was already getting sooo long I couldn’t fit everything in it so here is all the goodness that is Julep Maven!

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel to see the video reviews/unboxings sooner! When we launch new products, we start out by creating beautiful sneak peek sets to send out to the top beauty editors and celebrity trendsetters across the country for their consideration and review.  And our girlfriends are always asking to sneak them an extra set.

Now they can – and so can you.  We launched our new Julep Maven program to give all of our girlfriends access to the beauty editor Sneak Peek Box we create every month.  As a Julep Maven, you will have access to the hottest trends in nail color and the latest Mani Care and Pedi Care products – delivered right to your doorstep, just like the beauty editors do.  And you’ll have access to these trends and products before anyone else.

If you adore nail polish, then the Julep Maven program maybe for you!

Julep maybe a boutique nail salon, but it’s so much more then that. Founded by Jane Park, Julep is all about women celebrating women, empowering girlfriends, and that beauty is all about connection not competition.

How great is that philosophy?

Something that all women should adapt to their lives right?

From Julep you have Julep Maven, a fun way to see and get what beauty editors get every month! After taking a style quiz, you get a box full of nail polish and other mani/pedi products to help your hands and feet look their best! Besides that, there are so many great things about this company.

An overview of some of the great things about Julep and the Julep Maven program…

For every nail polish purchased, a dollar goes to support causing that help and support women through their Powered By Girlfriends Program.

Many of their nail polishes are developed with out carcinogens such as formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin, toluene and DBP. Making this a much safer nail polish to use! LOVE THAT!

You can SKIP a month if you want. Don’t like the nail colors? Don’t have the funds? Will be out of town? You can skip it and still remain apart of the program {Something I haven’t seen in other monthly box subscriptions!}

You can choose to send your monthly box to someone else. Have a sister or girlfriend who loves nail polish? You can opt to send them your box instead! Perfect for a birthday gift or to celebrate a promotion or just to show you care!

Each month you can choose which box you get! For example, after my style quiz I was deemed American Beauty but say I don’t like what is coming in my next box? I can look to see what other style boxes are sending out and opt to buy one of those instead. I have complete control over what they send me!

None of the products you get in your box are sample size, they are full products!

About the Julep Maven program…

Directly from the site…

Being a Maven, gives you exclusive access to COLOR!  You get it first, and YOU decide how often you want to receive your beauty editor Sneak Peek Box

For just $19.99 a month, you’ll receive over $40 worth of trendsetting polish colors and cutting-edge treatment products each month customized in a gift-able Sneak Peek Box

Each Sneak Peek Box features new, never before released colors and treatments FIRST to you, before anyone else
Your box also includes hits and cult favorites - the products we like to keep on the top of editors’ minds

20% off all julep.com purchases

FREE shipping on ALL your purchases

Each box also comes with a surprise and delight element- something to look forward to!

Receive additional membership perks throughout the year.

Do you adore nail polish? Then Julep and Julep Maven maybe worth looking into!

At least you can see what colors they offer right? *wink*

FYI: This is all me baby! I bought this box with my own money and next month’s box as well. I am really diggin’ monthly subscription boxes and have created this series myself and paying for it all myself. I genuinely like Julep Maven and wanted to share it with you. 

If you do sign up, through one of my links here in this post, I do get referral points. One point for every friend who signs up and  2 points gets me a free box one month. 

Welcome to my new series! Monthly Subscription Boxes! 

Check out the video above to see more about it, if you haven’t already!

Pardon my website, I know nothing on the right is showing up. I’m working on it!
So Sorry!!! 

Have you heard about monthly subscription boxes? Maybe Birchbox?

No? Let me explain!

A monthly subscription box is a service, kind of like a magazine. You pay a monthly fee {or with some companies you can pay upfront for a whole year} and you get a mixture of samples, deluxe size samples, or full sized products delivered to your door every month!

For someone who does not live near a Sephora, MAC, or Ulta this is a great way for me to test and try out products with out fully investing in a long trip to a store or risk ordering online for something that I won’t like. Especially since I’m in the market for new makeup and {especially} skincare products.

A lot of monthly subscription boxes are beauty related but there are some that go beyond that! Like Eco-Emi that sends you a box full or organic, sometimes even vegan, products ranging from make-up to home goods to food even! There is also Whimsey Box that comes filled with craft supplies {squeal!}.

If you are looking to try some new samples and get some fun goodie filled mail, a subscription service maybe something for you!

All my reviews/unboxings will be filmed and put on my new YouTube channel. I would love it if you would subscribe! The videos will most likely be posted on my YouTube channel before they hit hear so you will be ahead of the game if you do!

My first subscription box video goes up tomorrow!

See you then!

Hey guys! I’m really excited to bring you a review {and giveaway} today from The Ultimate Green Store. The Ultimate Green Store offers a lot of variety in products. They have products ranging from baby clothes, cloth diapers, items for pets, your teenager, dorm rooms, office supplies, furniture, and so much more!

Here is a little bit about the company!

As the ultimate web-based destination for eco-conscious shoppers, The Ultimate Green Store provides a collection of many of the finest environmentally friendly products for you, your home, office, kids and even your pets! We also have an incredible collection of gifts for any occasion and you may personalize your shopping experience by creating a wishlist or custom gift registry for your special event! 

We carry products from many of the world’s leading manufacturers and designers of sustainable, natural, organic, recycled, eco-friendly goods- products that are made with your health and the health of our planet in mind. Many of these companies are amongst the most socially responsible companies around. We also carry some green products made by companies that did not start out with environmental concerns in mind, but now realize the importance of sustainable practices and production in launching green lines within their category. We hope that in supporting these manufacturers, they will continue to move in this positive direction. 

The Ultimate Green Store was really awesome and offered me the opportunity to review the Recycled Seat Belt Tote Bag of Many Colors in the Mult-Color option. I was so thrilled because I absolutely love recycled seat belt products! These bags {purses, wallets, keychains, clutches, and more} are super strong and durable while being pretty light weight.

The Tote Bag of Many Colors is perfect for so many things. You can use it in the summer as a beach bag for all those towels and sand toys, you can toss all the kids things in it when going on a road trip, and the bag is so bright and colorful you will always be able to spot it and know which bag is yours.

My favorite way to use it right now in the middle of winter? I use it to carry all our snow jackets in. Here in Maine it is so cold all the time. We are wearing our parka jackets even when there isn’t snow because they just keep us so much warmer. However, when we go to the mall or a resturant or someplace where it’s warm the kids strip off their jackets. The jackets are big and awkward to carry and my kids are 4 and one and a half, having them hold their own jackets is just not an option. Instead of me lugging around not only my own puffy jacket but two small ones as well I just throw them into my Recycled Seat Belt Tote Bag!  The coats aren’t that heavy and they all stuff nicely in the bag. Plus I can have diapers and wipes for my son in there as well as my purse.

I know this is a bag that will be used all year around for us. In Spring the rain coats and sand toys for the park will be in the bag and beach trips during the summer are a given. We will use it stow toys on long car trips and to bring packages to the post office.

The cool thing about the bag? The reason why it’s recycled? Millions of yards of seatbelt straps are rejected by the auto industry for color being off just a tiny variance making the straps totally useless to the car companies. Now these straps that were made to save your life are now it’s going to save your stuff!

Giveaway!

I’m excited to tell you that The Ultimate Green Store is offering one of my readers a $25 gift certificate to their store!

How cool is that?

How To Win! 

Go to The Ultimate Green Store and come back and tell me something that catches your eye!

Would you spend your gift certificate on some new make-up brushes? Or organic bedding? Maybe something for your kids? Just leave a comment with what you would buy!

Extra Entries:

Sign Up For The Ultimate Green Store Newsletter! The Ultimate Green Store has this really cool newsletter that is fun, eco-informative, and features great discounts and an awesome product giveaway every week! Please let them know in the Enter Contest Code box that you were sent there from my blog Skippin’ Rope! Leave a comment below that you signed up! 

Note: To sign up, you go to the Ultimate Green Store home page and click on “Newsletter” in the top of the page. {It is in between Press and Green Expo}

“Like” The Ultimate Green Store on Facebook! Leave a comment letting me know you did! 

Follow The Ultimate Green Store on Twitter @UltGreenStore Leave a comment with your twitter handle letting me know you follow them! 

Follow me on Twitter @SkippinRope Leave a comment with your twitter handle letting me know you follow me! 

Tweet about this giveaway! You must include a direct link to this giveaway post, my twitter handle @SkippinRope and The Ultimate Green Store’s Twitter handle @UltGreenStore

Example tweet: You could win $25 to spend at the @UltGreenStore! Head over to @SkippinRope to enter! http://tinyurl.com/7lh9jzp

You can tweet twice a day with at least one hour between each tweet. Each tweet is one entry/one comment and you must leave the link to the tweet in the comment. 

Follow Me On Google Friend Connect! Just click follow on my GFC box on the right hand side of my page! Leave a comment letting me know you follow me! 

This giveaway is open until 11:59pm EST on Feb 6th. Winner will be picked by random.org and emailed right away. If winner doesn’t not respond with in 7 days a new winner will be drawn.

Thanks for entering!

Good luck!!!

I recently stumbled across a website, Foxy Bingo, that completely has me flashing back to fun memories. From adult bingo games to childhood memories. There is something about the site that makes me reminisce.

Do you remember as a kid playing bingo? Maybe in class or at home? I remember fun felt dots in one game, shiny pieces in another, and little red chips to cover the spaces at school. It was the best played in school wasn’t it?

Then again I do love a good game of baby shower bingo! It is so much fun to guess what the mama-to-be is going to get as gifts.

When we were living in Connecticut I went out with some wives from the boat my hubby was on to one of the local casinos. They introduced me to, what I call, intense bingo. The bright colored stampers, the crazy lingo and the mean little old ladies yelling at you if you made a peep when numbers were being called (there were some crazy stories about those little old ladies ya’ll!).

When I was pregnant with Liam a girl friend and I made a regular thing of going to bingo once a pay period. We bought food, brought fun colored stampers, and just had some good bingo fun!

I’ve been sitting here trying to think of a clever analogy to tell you how much I have missed blogging. Really though? There is no easier way then to just say

I. Have missed. Blogging.

The typing, the writing, the planning of a post. I found my self brain storming in the shower or while driving to work or while just hanging out with my kids. Ideas come to mind and I work with them like I am kneading dough. Then it would hit me.

I didn’t have a working computer. I couldn’t blog. Crestfallen I would return to what ever in the moment I was doing, trying to ignore the ideas loudly tap dancing around in my brain.

For the past two months or so, I have been with out a computer. We have an iTouch so I could instantgram and twitter an check email but it was tedious trying to type on it. Being with out a cell phone for 10 months really has made me a bad texter you could say (although I have remedied the cellphone issue).

I wasn’t able to share with you my daughter’s 4th birthday (oh my goodness people, she is 4!!!). I wasn’t able to tell you about our small but wonderful Thanksgiving, where Justin wanted to cook a turkey form scratch and I thankfully talked him out of it (cause who was he kidding? I knew badly he wanted to csqueeze in as much video game time as possible). I couldn’t have a mommy moment to share how in a month’s time Liam out grew a pair of shoes he hadn’t even fit into yet when we first received them and have a where-did-my-BABY-boy-go? momentary freak out with you.

I will say I did take the time to try to be more present in my own life. I took it as a break from the online world and to just enjoy being here with my family. I’ve discovered a few things about myself and I have been able to really focus on a few things in my life that needed so more attention. It has been a tough couple of months with out a blog but yet been a wonderful time tuning back into my family and myself.

It’s true. Your weekend can not go wrong when there is cookie dough evolved!

{Photo Credit}

My hubby’s birthday was wednesday but due to work schedules we decided to celebrate on Friday, thanks to a day off the husband had. The celebration continued on to Saturday thanks to our kids and their love of interrupting things. Even with their interruptions, it was wonderful to spend time celebrating as a family.

Hubby didn’t ask for cake for his birthday, instead it was cookies. Chocolate Chip cookies to be exact. That I took to the next level by adding peanut butter chips. Hubby loved them to say the least.

It was a nice relaxing weekend for us. We did some shopping, the kiddos played at the mall play area, and had lunch at Dairy Queen. We made dinners together. We took turns sleeping in or taking naps. We got some cleaning done in the living room. We found our missing point and shoot, the working one, and it’s charger!

I did some sewing and crafting 
*happy sigh*

However Sunday we all didn’t feel so good. We aren’t sure what exactly but we just didn’t feel right, even the kids were off and not feeling well. We were a bit bummed to stay home, since we had some plans, but we made the best of it. It was kind of cozy with all the rain we experienced. With this rainy Maine fall I need to stock us up on some good soups, you know the kind that warm you to your toes.

I have plans in the works this week that I’m really excited about! You can expect an “official” announcement on that next monday October 10th.

Which also happens to be my 27th birthday! Woot! Woot!

How was your weekend? 

Ugh… this week has been crazy. I had so many more plans for writing this week.

But our computer charger looks like a dog chewed on it.

It’s barely hanging on, let alone charing our laptop.

If you follow me on twitter you may have seen a few of my tweets about the lack of a camera too. My point and shoot has a broken flash. All my photos come out kinda orange tinted. My hubby’s camera… we have no idea where it is. And my old but reliable DSLR? We can’t find the charge since we moved.

I’m having some technology issues this week :/

But none the less… I’ve been working on some things! Things that I’m excited about and can’t wait to share with you. But for now, I’ll have to wait. I promise there will be fun news soon!

Plus lately my mind has been all about nail polish colors.

I love it when my nails look pretty, even if it doesn’t happen often.

Here are some colors I’m swooning over!

All from OPI, my favorite nail polish brand!

 I’ve come to really trust OPI polishes. They always have what I’m looking for. The depth and quality of color is perfect and I swear by OPI. 

I’m Not Really A Waitress

I hunted down for the perfect red for years. I still remember finding it one day with my sister at a really great nail salon in Old Town Pasadena. I was thrilled, bought a bottle and have been hooked ever since!

{This red is a bit more red in person. The picture comes of kind of pink to me which it isn’t at all.}

But this is the red I swear by! I have two at home right now, in case one ever goes missing {and one always seems too!}

Black Shatter

I have to admit I was giggling when OPI introduced their Shatter line.

It reminded me of crackle nail polish from when I was in jr. high!

But now I’m hooked!

Silver Shatter

How pretty will this be at Christmas? And for New Years? I’m so excited for it!

Hot & Spicy

I love this color so much! It is the perfect pumpkin color for my lovely porcelain skin.

{read: I’m pale like a Twilight vampire!}

The One That Got Away – Katy Perry collection

A girl has to have a good pink and this one is the nail polish I won’t let get away!
I don’t own it currently but the salon next door to my work has a HUGE OPI nail polish stash.

It will be mine!!!

Now I’m still working on finding a really great deep green that reminds me of a fresh Christmas tree.

But maybe this one?  Cuckoo for This Color

I’ll have to try it on but it looks like it could be a winner right?

Now all I need is to find the perfect color for New Years….

What is your favorite OPI nail polish?

What Fall/Winter nail colors are you in love with this season?

*Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post at all. I truly love OPI and wanted to share my current favorite colors with you. In fact I have I’m Not A Waitress, Black Shatter, and Hot & Spicy in my purse right now – all paid for my self! This is just an I love OPI thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much post  

{Photo Credit}

I appreciate you.

I enjoy working with you.

You have a great spark about you.

You are an amazing friend.

You always know just the right thing to say to cheer me up.

Thank you for having faith in me.

Thank you for believing in me.

Isn’t it a wonderful thing to here words of appreciation?

Recently I was given compliments, that for me, came out of the blue.

The person didn’t even realize how much I truly needed to hear the nice things they said.

How thrilled I was to know I was being appreciated .

Like a thirsty tree soaking up rain, it lifted my spirits tremendously.

We don’t always know when some needs to be encourage, to be blessed with words.

So I challenge you today and this week to bless some one. 

Photo Credit – From Green Enough For Me

Comment on a blog that inspires you. Tell them what you love about them!

Blog about a friend who makes your life better.

Write a hand written note telling some one how much you appreciate them.

Tell your co-work how you enjoy working with them and why.

Tell your spouse how great of a job they are doing {work, home, in your relationship. Give specific details.

Tell your kids how great they are and how you love their {fill in the blank}. {examples: sense of style, responsability in caring for their sibilings/homework/pets, that they keep their room clean, that they are perfect just the way they are!}

Uplifting words, that have really meaning behind it, last far longer then one realizes.

It can encourage some one to keep pressing on, inspire them to go for a goal, to believe in themselves again.

To know that they aren’t invisible in this world.

Who are you going to encourage today? 

Who are you going to uplift and bless this week?

Happy First Official Day of Fall!

I love Fall!

Wanna know the best part of Fall?

All the yummy treats!!

Especially the pumpkin ones!

Last night Hubby and I got messy in the kitchen. We kicked off Fall a few hours early.

We made mini cherry and apple pies!  12 all together!

Just a few of our delicious pies!
Justin couldn’t wait to take a bite before I took a photo. hee hee!

Mini Pies

Found on Pinterest through Linda

Originally from For The Love of Cooking

Some other delicious treats I plan on making…

Pumpkin Blondies

Found on Pinterest through Amanda

Originally from Picky Palate

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Found on Pinterest through Sue

Originally from Annie’s Eats

Browned Butter Pumpkin Spice Krispy Treats

Found on Pinterest through G C

Originally from Cookies and Cups

Pumpkin Pie Snickerdoodle Bars

Found on Pinterest through Elizabeth

Originally from Lovin’ From the Oven

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Found on Pinterest through Jessica

Originally from The Picky Apple

Of course I plan to make some pumpkin pies too! 

Are you planning on making any pumpkin or fall treats?

You call follow me on Pinterest

or specifically my Foodie Goodness Board

Our children are our most precious cargo. We drive them to and fro from play dates, the playground, church, parties, and all kind of errands and social functions. Sometimes they come along for a ride just to go to Starbucks and back {got love that drive-thru!}.

When we are are pregnant and dreaming of the precious little lives to come we fuss over nursery colors, swoon over little people clothes, and pick out matching stroller, cars eat, play yard, high chairs, and swings. We talk with our spouses on how we want to raise our kids, the lives we want to create for them, the kind of environment we want them to grow up in. We slowly piece together our dream of our version of a perfect family.

So we decorate, and plan, and child proof everything {only to figure out later baby doesn’t really need it right away! haha!}. We double and triple check safety standards and book mark recall information pages {no? just me? ok!}. But did you know…

That each year, thousands of children are tragically injured and killed in motor vehicle crashes.

In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1-13.

How can this be? We double and triple checked everything! Right? It’s cause most of the time parents and caregivers don’t fully understand how car seats work. How the seats are supposed to sit, how the seats are supposed to be clipped/hooked/secured in the car, and where restraints are supposed to sit on a child.

There is a math to it all but it is different for each child and each car seat. So safe those information manuals you get on your car seats AND your about your car! Read your child’s car seat information to see what the weight and height limits are. Already be researching what kind of car seat to get next, because you never know when your child is going to grow out of their current one to the next one. 

Here is a general chart to help you figure out where you child might be at {but please remember to check your seats weight and height limits to give you a more exact answer!}

Click on the image to enlarge it to be able to read all the great information!

This week is Child Passenger Safety Week and you can get lots of information on how to place your child’s car seat, no matter what stage they are at correctly!  Also, Saturday is National Seat Check Saturday! You can find a local place to have your child’s seat checked for free!* They will let you know if it is placed correctly and help you correctly install the car seat and how to use it! *most places this is for free!

Incase there isn’t a place near you, like in my case, you can go to the Child Passenger Safety website and find lots of resource, informational videos on each type of child seat, quizzes, and find ways to connect to get the information you are seeking.

Safe Driving Friends!!!