Use Your Contour Palette For More by HAL (GIVEAWAY)

I am excited to share some tips for maximizing the use of your contour highlight palette as well as offer a giveaway to create awareness of One Spark. I am proud to be a part of One Spark a non profit organization who works to provide barrier-free opportunities for women experiencing violence to generate income through entrepreneurship.

The contest will be running in collaboration with Handmade For You Love Lu on their Facebook page and will launch on Tuesday Feb 2 and run for the day. If you live in North America you are eligible to win. You can like their page here so you don't miss the contest details.

I also invite you to check out One Spark on their website and learn a little about the awesome work they do.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and thank you again for watching.

Social Media Tips For Businesses & Brands

I love social media and the opportunity it gives me to connect, discover and share. I spend a lot of time working on my social game and I am super excited to share some of the lessons I have learned over on Lambton Shield today. These strategies are specifically geared toward entrepreneurs and brands looking to create meaningful connections with their audience. Thanks for stopping by, checking out my post and if you would like to connect with me, here are the links to my socials:

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

SnapChat heatheraudreyl

Google+

YouTube

Happy Weekend!

Play Date

An imperfect ramble inspired by a perfect play date:

Pay Date 

Tidy the house, prep the food, brew the coffee and wait

Chaos begins as the door bell rings and I begin to sweat

Sweet conversations, with baby's on hips and coffee on lips in between juice box sips

Someone cries, we dry their eyes, broken conversations begin again, and we pick up and move on 

The hustle slows, the rhythm flows of the morning visit, that saves your soul

A long winter ahead, with a mothers full head, needs release with her friends, now and again

The mess flows from one room to the next but it's the best feeling a house filled with guests

Then they all pile out and quiet sets in and I sit and think of how lucky I am 

I heart filled with love, from the women I stand beside, as I raise my children

No casting of judgement, just encouragement and ears to listen and share as we go through these years 

I love our play dates, I need our play dates, without I would feel so alone

The mothering role is one that needs great support from others in the same role 

So thanks for the sips and the snacks and the play and I look forward to our next play date day

xoxo
Audrey 

How Long Should I Keep My Makeup? by HAL

Clean out your makeup bag like you clean out your closet, if you haven't worn it in 6 months its time to clear it out. Check out my most recent vlog where I share how long I keep my personal makeup for.

If your interested in getting a copy of the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual for yourself you can buy it in store or online at The Book Keeper.

I would love to hear your opinions and experiences on how long your makeup lasts.

If you have any beauty topics you would like me to discuss in my videos please comment below, I am always looking for content ideas.

If you are interested in a makeup lesson you can email me at heatherlapier@gmail.com or send me a text 519 384 8778.

And if you want to connect I love interacting and sharing on my socials:

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Website

SnapChat - heatheraudreyl

Thanks for hanging out! 

A Winter Day

Today was just a regular Monday but it was such a great day. All we did was go to Story Time at the Library in the morning and then were around the house the rest of the day. Tyler worked late so it was  literally Luke and I all day.

Last week was a long week, as I mentioned in some previous posts I was feeling out of sorts but just like that, I have my groove back. Some days are easy and some days are hard, I think thats true for any job. It was true for me when I was in the working world and it is true for me in mommy world. I try very hard to stay calm and ride out the tough days still trying to find joy in the little things. I loved all the little things today and wanted to record a few here because these are the memories I want to keep of this special time with Luke.

I had a mother revelation when I was dressing him this morning, "if I let him help, he won't fight so much". It was true, he didn't fight so much and just like that we move on to a new level.

Luke is learning to play more on his own which makes it easy for me to do a quick task. Doing little things here and there throughout the day helps me to be more focused on Luke when I do get down on the floor and play with him.

Luke will bring me books to read to him and then sit in my lap, we read a lot today.

When Luke wants some food he makes the mmmmmm sound while standing very close to you. He tried my hot chocolate today and loved it. I will now be sharing my hot chocolates with Luke.

Luke ate soap in the shower tonight and was not so happy with the taste. I started to smell his soapy breath and make a silly face and he laughed off the situation. It was fun and his breath really did smell like soap.

I live in Canada, winters are long, cold and grey but I decided last winter that I was going to embrace this season. I am ok with the slow moving days, staying cozy, gaining some weight and just relishing in this time in my life. With any new season or change in my life it takes me time to find my rhythm but I always enjoy the journey. I am excited about the winter days ahead!

xoxo
Audrey

Ombre Lips by HAL

Tyler went back to work this week after being off for an extra long Christmas break. Luke and I both loved having him home. This week has been an adjustment for us while we find our groove again with just the two of us throughout the day. Luke and I have both been sick this week so we haven't got out that much. I have had some blue moments but we are getting through it and our health is on the mend. I took a quick time out for myself to get creative with my lips and filmed this little makeup tutorial. For me, creating is therapy.

I have never done a lip look like this before and I normally don't apply this many products to my lips but I wanted to give it a try. I used black eyeliner to achieve the dramatic and exaggerated outline for my lips and then went lighter with each product from there. I loved the way this look turned out. Tyler on the other hand doesn't care for lip products on me because he doesn't like getting the product on him when he kisses me.

These lips are one of the styles I save for girls nights out, along with my high waisted pants;) There are just some things guys will never understand.

Have a great weekend and always have fun with your makeup, I try to!

Beat Winter Blues

In the past, the winter months can make me feel blue. I have also struggled with anxiety and depression through various phases of my life but as I learn more about myself and develop tools to cope with these feelings, I am able to get through challenging times while still enjoying the many blessings I have. I am not an expert on depression, anxiety or the winter blues, I just wanted to share some of the things that help me cope in case they could maybe help you too.

I would love to hear how you cope with the tough times in your life, please comment below.

Thanks for watching!

Through Luke's Eyes - London Children's Museum Giveaway

Last weekend we went to the London Children's Museum, it was the second time for Luke and I but the first time for Ty. I do my best to get Luke and I out to experience adventures at places like the London Children's Museum and I love to experience new things through Luke's eyes. I always fill Tyler in on our adventures and take lots of pictures so he can see what we are up to during the week but its awesome to be able to experience these excursions as a family as well.

The last time we were at the LCM Luke couldn't walk yet and while our Adventure Day was a great experience I knew the museum would be an entirely new place for him to explore this time around. Luke loves to take part in the everyday activities around the house and so much of the LCM makes the everyday life accessible at the level of a child, to make it their own and let their imagination run free.

In addition to the imagination play, the museum offers spaces where children can run around. Winter has fully arrived and its nice to have indoor places to burn off some energy. Luke has recently discovered the joy of the slide so we spent a lot of time taking him down the tree house slide, which dad and I enjoyed too! Check out this quick video, Luke does the cutest dance at the end!

One thing that isn't pictured here is the star show we enjoyed. You enter a round room (the space ship) count down for blast off as the lights go down, then the stars are cast onto the ceiling and you are told stories about the different constellations. Luke was a little hesitant about the dark but he enjoyed it after we reassured him a few times that mom and dad were right there with him.

The London Children's Museum offers something for a range of age groups so I know we have many years of fun at this spot ahead of us. I think as Luke grows there will be new things to discover and Tyler and I will continue to see things through a fresh perspective. On our drive home we both agreed how cool it is to be parents and experience things through Luke's eyes. It is our blessing to be able to help him learn and grow.

I am excited to be able to send a few of you to the London Children's Museum as well, all you have to do is share this post on the social platform of your choice from the share buttons below and tag me. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Contest closes at midnight on Sunday January 10 and you must be a resident of Ontario to be eligible. There are two family passes (two adults and up to 4 kids valued $50 each) up for grabs. I look forward to connecting with all of you.

Weekend wishes friends!

Holiday Wrap

I hope you had an amazing Christmas, New Year and soaked up all the special moments the holiday season has to offer. I love everything about Christmas but as I looked through our Christmas photos last night, I realized its all the little moments that happen in between the big ones that are dearest to my heart. Here are some fun photos and a little recap of my favourite moments for our holidays.

Christmas Book Advent

We counted down the days of December by reading a Christmas book every night before bed. Tyler and I agree this will be a tradition we continue for years to come. The family time together at the end of the day was priceless, in a season that becomes consumed with tasks this activity forced us to carve out family time each day. We read books about winter, Santa and Baby Jesus, I loved the mix of books offering a variety of topics surrounding the Christmas season. 

This advent was in partnership with The Sarnia Bookkeeper a book store located in Sarnia offering a wide variety of Childrens books to adult books and beyond. You can shop in store or from their website and you can connect with them on their Facebook page too.

Around The House

I love spending time around the house and cherish those days between Christmas and New Years when there isn't much to do except play with our new toys, watch movies, eat and snuggle. 

Out and About

When we do have to leave the house, it is always an adventure but especially at Christmas time. There are so many more exciting things to explore and discover its never a dull moment. Anytime of the year, doing the most simple everyday tasks with Luke is an extraordinary feat as I experience the world through his eyes but the magic of Christmas brings everything into a new exciting light! 

Family Time 

Sometimes I wonder what we would do without the holidays reminding us we need to spend time with our families. Sure, its not always fun loading up a car for a big day trip but the time spent with family is priceless and when I just chill out and enjoy the people around me some pretty funny stuff happens, like my Grandpa and I snapping together on SnapChat! (check out the video below)

Light Show

I love Christmas lights, they are definitely one of my favourite things about Christmas! They bring a special cozy holiday magic to my home and Christmas cheer to everyone driving by homes that are decorated in the seasons colours. Christmas lights take effort to put up and I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who puts in the work to decorate their homes and our city parks, to bring joy to our communities at Christmas.  

I am so grateful for the joy Christmas brings me every year. I will hold this years memories close and wait with anticipation for next Christmas!

xoxo

Audrey