Athena

Meet Athena! She's the newest addition to our crazy little group of goofballs :-)

We rescued Athena, and she couldn't have been more of a perfect pooch. Her previous owner had super bad allergies and couldn't take care of her any longer. Poor guy! Nonetheless, it must've been heart wrenching for him to do because she is just ADORABLE!! Mekhi, our 5yr old, now has the little sister he's been patiently asking for!

Me-Time Makeup

For a long time, I have always been fascinated with makeup. When I was in high school and college, I always experimented and dabbled in these av ant guard and drag-queenish looks. I've always been a makeup artist at heart, having done my share of weddings, photo shoots and editorial work. Now that I'm a working mother, I find myself opting for more subtle, professional and most of all, quick-to-apply looks. As a busy mom, my thought has always been that I can still have time to make myself look presentable and somewhat pretty.

Most moms are morning people... I'm not always one of those. The thought of waking up and putting on a full face of makeup in the morning can seem like a daunting task. Over the years, I've learned to change my ideology about my beautification sessions.

Putting on makeup in the morning is now my "Me-Time". No one is awake, no one is asking for breakfast and no one is reminding me of bills that need to be paid that day. It's quiet, still, and the only time of day that I truly have to myself. So, this "Me-Time" is my time to do a quick 15 minute makeover and rejuvenate that sassy, pretty girl in college that could pull a few phone numbers by lunch time :-)

Here's my beauty regimen:

1. 5 Minutes - Base
• Apply foundation and powder all over face. I like to use a cream-based foundation and finish with a mineralizing powder. It covers everything, but doesn't look "caked-on". It also lasts through morning meetings, client lunches and after-school activities.
2. 3 Minutes - Conceal & Set
• Next to the Bible, my iPhone and my son's classroom calendar, my concealer is the most dependable item in my purse. Concealer is essential for undereye coverup and eyebrow shaping (which can take YEARS off your face, even between waxings! I'll have a video up soon with step-by-step instructions).
• Use a Blotting Powder or matte setting powder to set the concealer, and eliminate any shine.
3. 7 Minutes - Draw & Color
• The last step to my beautiful makeover is eyes, cheeks and lips....although I usually wait on the gloss until I kiss my boyfriend goodbye for the day (he loves me, but not my lipgloss). 
• I use a felt tip eyeliner because it's fool-proof and easy to apply. Then I apply mascara. Stay away from water-proof! Unless you're a synchronize swimmer, you don't need it!
• Blush always brightens and calms the face. Blush is ALWAYS necessary. A simple pink, no matter what you skin tone, will work.
• I work in a progressive office, so I can get away with a bold rep lip some days. However, if you need to be more subtle, use a simple lip gloss. It completes and puts together the whole look.

And there you have it! 15 minutes to looking like you tried, and all signs of being a zombie because you were up for 4 hours with a sick baby are erased! Give yourself "Me-Time" wherever you can fit it in. You deserve it!

Stay tuned to the blog! I'll be listing a very Oprah-esque product list of My Favorite Things - The Makeup Edition very soon!!!

CPK Weeknight Refurb

One of my 5yr old's favorite meals is pizza. My favorite meals are the ones that don't take more than 30-45 minutes to prepare. So, in true Momphoria fashion, here is my recipe for a California Pizza Kitchen classic that kids love, and can easily be prepared ahead of time.

BBQ Chicken Pizza is a great choice for a weeknight meal when time (and energy) are at a minimum. Good thing is, you probably have most of the ingredients already on hand. You'll need:

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and cook in 1 tbsp on olive oil on medium heat until browned on both sides and cooked completely through. Remove and place on a plate to rest.
3. Graciously dust pizza dough (which I get pre-made in the fridge at Publix in the bakery section) with flour, and roll out to your desired size.
4. Spread a thin coating of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce on pizza dough. I have used several different types of BBQ sauce for this recipe, and have found that this brand works best.
5. Layer a healthy heaping of mozzarella cheese over BBQ sauce.
6. Chop up the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and layer over the cheese.
7. Chop thin slices of red onion, and layer over chicken.
8. Spray cookie sheet or pizza stone with cooking spray, and place pizza on it. Bake in oven for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and cheese is completely melted.
9. Garnish with chopped cilantro (totally mandatory), and let cool.
10. Slice and serve!

Now, I suggest pre-prepping these ingredients ahead of time. You can easily cook and chop the chicken, slice the red onion and chop the cilantro on the weekend, then assemble and bake during the week.

Here is your finished product!

If you're REALLY into quick and easy, you can totally assemble this pizza, wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze it until you're ready to bake later on. It tastes the same, and will save you precious weeknight time.

This classic CPK refurb is paired beautifully with a Pinot Grigio or sweet Riesling.

This is one of my son's faves, so I know if my picky eater loves it, so will yours. Try it out, and let me know how it goes for you and your family! Bon Appetit!

Anthropologie on a Budget

The beauty of moving in with a boyfriend is that he already has the place furnished. No need to go out and purchase furniture or appliances... It's all right there! Now here's the catch: the decor isn't so appealing. From countless pictures of horse "wall art", to the Tommy Bahama themed bathroom (with matching palm tree curtain hangers, I might add), my beau definitely has his own style :-)

After six months of cohabitation, I realized it was prime time to put my mark on things. My first initiative: Wall Art.

Anthropologie is one of those stores that I walk into, gush over EVERYTHING, then leave empty handed and feeling depressed LOL... Lets just say that I have yet to walk into that blessing where I can make multiple purchases at that store :-)

One of the items I came across were the Zinc Letters. Very cute for any skinny wall in our tiny apartment. But at $18 a piece, they were out of my wallet league.

After I left the mall, I moseyed on down to Hobby Lobby. Thankfully, I found $3 cardboard letters, and brushed Pewter spray paint for $8! With a little elbow grease and a step ladder, I now have my "zinc" letters!

What's for dinner?

If you're like me, there are 4 words you can't stand to hear on the way home...."What's for dinner, Mom?" I'm a big advocate for menu planning, but I didn't always have the most attractive way to display our picks of the week. Then I found out that Hobby Lobby has 50% off frames almost every weekend... And here is my result! Now the menu is displayed in a "green" nature (no more printing paper every week). Any Sharpie pen will work and will erase beautifully on the glass. Enjoy!

My Addiction...

...Pinterest. Hi, I'm Sienna (Hi Sienna...) ... And I'm addicted to Pinterest! It literally consumes HOURS of my lay-around time at home, and sometimes *ahem* valuable time where I should totally be doing something else. The one thing that I love about Pinterest are all the different solutions with style it has for everyday things!

My parents and younger sister recently moved to Colorado. Seeing that we live in Georgia, this was definitely a traumatic event for this 20-something adult child...with a child. Being the optimist and viewer of the brighter side, I decided to take writing letters to a whole new level. There's nothing more intimate than a handwritten note. And for the gals out there that like to always add a little touch of glam, personalizing envelopes is a beautiful option.

I found these cute little numbers on Pinterest, and according to the photo tutorial, they are very simple to make. Nonetheless, I'll be trying these out this weekend when I send my weekly love in the mail. One more Pinterest idea to add to the sea of projects on my to-do list! Enjoy!

Source: emilysummers-designer.blogspot.co.uk via Amy on Pinterest

I Think I Can Get Used To This!

I am such a talker. So much so, my major in school is Communications. I am super stoked to share my ideas, finds, projects, and just plain 'ol Mom-Vents with you all. I'm excited to teach and learn, and have fun along the way. Kisses!