What I Packed: Toiletries & Beauty

One thing I think everyone hates doing is packing. I mean, unpacking is the absolute worst, but packing is just terrible. At first it's fun and you think about cute outfits you're gonna wear, and items you bought specifically for a trip or pieces you don't get to wear enough, and then the doom sets in. Can I bring just two pairs of shoes and make them work for everything or do I really need to pack all four? How can I pack such and such without ruining/wrinkling/breaking it?

A few weekends ago, I started this blog post for my beauty items and just didn't get it finished in time to post before we left.  I thought about scrapping it altogether, but I always like to see beauty and travel posts and went ahead with it. Full disclosure, my beauty/bathroom bag tends to be larger than my clothing! Since we were gone for just less than two weeks, had a full agenda including a wedding, I thought out what I’ll be packing that will get me the most use and be versatile. When I first seriously started thinking about what I wanted to pack I promised myself that I wouldn’t overpack and paid attention to which products I used most often and which I could leave at home.

Vegas: What I'm Packing

This weekend marks our 5th wedding anniversary and to celebrate, Matt and I are headed to Vegas! I'm so excited to get away and some time to ourselves. We rarely get any time for ourselves and when we do, it's always with an agenda. We have no plans and no schedule for the weekend and I can't wait! All we have on our to-do list is eat, sleep, and lounge by the pool. It's supposed to be cooler temps with possible rain so I'm not sure if we'll get too much time at the pool, but I'll be ready!

For the last week, I've been planning my outfits and what to pack and I finally had a chance to lay everything out to see how it would look together and make sure I don't forget anything. It's not a new concept by any means, but I like to lay everything out and see how I can make the most of what I want to pack. Can I mix and match them? Is there something I can leave home to keep a lighter bag? I always pack a few extra outfits or pieces like jeans or a cardigan and there's still one outfit I need to try on to see how they look together in real life, but I think I'm all set otherwise!

Sweater (old, similar here) // Soft Shorts // Sandals (love these too!) // Purse // Necklace

I've tried these shorts on so many times at Target and I've always loved them because they're so soft, but just never bought them. They're on sale for $15 and I thought they'd be perfect for walking the strip or driving home. My SIL gifted me this gorgeous blue handbag from my Spring Wishlist for my birthday and I can't wait to use it this weekend! There's a ton of pockets and the color is perfection!

Tank // Shorts (Old Navy last year, similar here) // Purse // Necklace

I'll probably wear this outfit on the way there. This peplum tank has been on repeat a lot lately (I have it in white too), it's so easy to just throw on and head out the door. I bought these shorts last year when I was pregnant and they're so comfortable. They have pockets too! I wish I bought every pair last year, luckily a lot of shops have similar styles in this year so I can add some more to my closet.

Hat (Old, similar here) // Cover up // Suit (Victoria Secret- in store only, similar here)

Sunnies // Kimono (Forever 21 last year, similar here) // Top // Bottom

I'm really hoping and praying that there's good weather this weekend, because all I want to do is lounge around the pool and the hotel's lazy river. What's a vacation without a pool day?

Pants // Top (similar here) // Necklace

If you follow me on Instagram, you've already seen this outfit- I wore it on Sunday to celebrate my birthday with a family BBQ. I'm obsessed with these pants and necklace! Palazzo pants are so cozy and soft to wear and they're great in the summer since they're so lightweight. The necklace is amazing, I won it from Brittany's IG giveaway and I love it! It pairs so perfect with the pants and my blue crossbody above, I always get so many compliments on it! It's a great statement piece for sure.

Top // Shorts // Sandals (love these too!) // Lipstick (Coral Crush)

I'm still loving this outfit! It's definitely a go-to for me. I plan on wearing this for walking the strip and shopping during the day. I picked up this fun bright coral and haven't really had the chance to wear it, but I hope to bust it out this weekend.

Top (similar here) // Jeans // Purse // Lipstick (Long Legged & Fabulous) // Shoes

I've been saving this look for a date night (see it on in this post) and we plan on doing a nice dinner one night and this is what I'm gonna wear. I LOVE the lace detailing on this top and flutter sleeves. It's so feminine and chic. I ordered a dress too last week and if it arrives in time, I'm going to pack that too as an alternative or second nice meal outfit.

Only three more sleeps until our trip! Can you tell I'm excited? I haven't been to Vegas in so long and I used to go all the time to party back in college. It's definitely going to be a different trip this time and I've never gone just Matt and I. I'm really looking forward for us to reconnect and get some adult time and recharge together.

What are your favorite Vegas shows and restaurants? He wanted to surprise me with Britney tickets, but she just had her last show last weekend! We want to check out a show while we're there, what do you suggest?

A SLC Weekend

Just over a week ago, one of the most important people in my life passed away. My Grandpa left this life to join my Grandma in eternity and I know that they are so extremely happy to be reunited again. I didn't want to post about it anywhere, like I had before with my Grandma. It was just too hard now that I don't have either of them. It was a beautiful funeral, lots of great memories were shared, it was wonderful to get together with family we hadn't seen in a long time and catch up and reminisce. This is all I really want to say at this time, but I really appreciate the love and support from everyone.

My sister, her fiance, and Ellie and I flew out Wednesday morning and Matt followed up on Thursday. Ellie did great on our last trip on the flights, and I was worried now that she's older that it would be harder for her and I. She was such a dream though! It was so great on all four flights round trip! Big thanks to my sister and future bro-in-law for keeping her entertained!

When we got in, we relaxed and visited with family. I could have stayed up all night long talking and laughing! Before we picked up Matt, we headed to a restaurant my BIL found on the Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives website called the Blue Plate Diner. It was such a neat place; lots of vintage decor, knickknacks, a jukebox, and an old school milk shake counter.

Of course, I didn't eat anything that Guy Fieri suggested (no thank you to Corned Beef Hash), but this giant waffle covered in bananas and home style potatoes was delicious. The bananas were perfectly ripe and my mouth is watering looking at this pic. Matt was totally sad to miss out.

After we picked him up, we headed to the City Creek Center (also known as the prettiest mall ever) to walk around and show the guys. I love this mall and check out it every time I'm in town. Ellie was so excited about her Tinkerbell doll, it was so cute!

After our little shopping trip, we crossed the street to one of my absolute favorite places- Temple Square. It's so beautiful in the spring time and I couldn't resist getting a few family pics. I wish we had brought our good DSLR camera, because the whole square and Temple are gorgeous. My lame IPhone pics don't do it justice!

Friday was the funeral and we spent the day with family before we had to fly out Saturday morning (at the crack of dawn). I really wish we could have stayed longer. I know I haven't lived there in some time now, but it still feels like home to me. The time we spent went by so fast, I hardly have any pictures. None with cousins, my dad, or anyone! I hate not having the pics, but I'm glad I spent the time together with them present and not on my phone too (which is why I have some rather boring pics). 

Hope you had a good weekend and an even better start to your week. Thanks for reading!

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Best.Mail.Day.Ever. I LOVE Image Skincare products (see my reviews here) and am so happy to try their Body Spa Cell.U.Lift Firming Body Lotion and Prevention+ Daily Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30. Image Skincare has the most amazing products and I can't wait to review these two for you guys!

I posted this for Throwback Thursday #tbt of some of my best girlfriends on a Vegas trip a few years back. Oh how I miss my blond hair and extensions!

The hubs loves SPAM, but I just can't get on bored. I just don't trust canned meats and he made me try it- my verdict: it's ok. I would never want it again or buy it, but he picked some more up when he went to the grocery store -__-

The hubs and I go to the stores the day after every holiday to pick up our favorite sweets, this is the last of our Reese's PB Eggs and they were delicious. The holiday shapes have such a better taste than regular cups, they have a better PB to chocolate ratio I think.

I saw this beauty blender at Target and had to share. So many beauty gurus swear by these sponges and you can find it for a great price now! I didn't buy it myself because I use a brush for my foundation. Have you try this sponge before?

My sister found the perfect pink from Sally Hansen! It's Sweet Talker and for the life of me I haven't be able to find it anywhere. I'll just use hers until I see her next, he he he. This is three coats- the first coat is pretty sheer, but it builds to a pretty shade.

My new F21 top from this post, my lollysheep chain necklace, and day 2 hair/curls. 

I saw this quote on Pinterest, and it's exactly how I've been feeling about the changes about to happen in our lives.

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My Sally Hansen Pacific Blue polish was and exact match to my bubble necklace! 

F21 Dress (worn as top), Old Navy Maternity Jeans, Nordstrom BP Flats 

I've been obsessed with smoothies the whole pregnancy and have been using the Yoplait Smoothie mixes and adding OJ, lemonade, kiwis, and bananas. It's so delicious! It says it's two servings, but I've been drinking it all to myself. I've found that it's about the same amount of smoothie as a regular Jamba juice cup or my plastic tumblers.

I'm so so so excited that my sorority big sis and my grand big sis and I are all pregnant together. It's been such fun news to share and our text messages are classic. I love that I have two women so close to me that I can connect to and lean on. 

This past weekend was my SIL's bach party and this was our view from our beach house, gorgeous right? 

Here's the view at sunset, so beautiful! 

One night we went bar hopping and one bar served my Shirley Temple in a pitcher, I loved it! The best part? It was non-alcoholic like a Shirley Temple is supposed to be! LOL 

I have been obsessed with kiwis now that they're in season, I'm eating a few every day. I eat mine like an apple, I swear you can't taste the skin/fur at all! Plus, the skin of a fruit has the most vitamins! 

Be sure to link up and share your IG pics! Follow me at Kristen_Lawler

Fall To-Do List

Seeing all the fall to-do lists on blogs and FB, the hubs and I were inspired to make our own list. We always talk about what we want to do, but life usually takes over and the frivolous stuff gets put to the back burner for "next year". Not this year baby! We are gonna be on it!

Apple Picking
I found this awesome place near our home, Oak Glen, that I can't wait to check out! I've wanted to go there for two years now and this year is the winner! Not only do you get to pick apples, you also get to make apple cider, one of my faves! Plus, they have all kinds of apple goodies to sample and buy. Oh, I'm so excited!

Visit a Pumpkin Patch 
Last year the hubs and I went to our alma mater's pumpkin patch and had a great time (see the post here- we also visited the bug fair) and plan to revisit the festival again this year.

Pumpkin Carving & Baking the Seeds
Pumpkin carving can be so hard, it amazes me what skill some people have with it. Last year, the hubs and I carved our own from the above pumpkin patch trip and we saved all the seeds to bake...and never baked them! What a shame! This year will be different though!

Family Photo
I love having photos taken that we can hang and use for projects. Even though we don't have children yet, I'd like for us to take pictures every year. 

Weekend Getaway
I've been pretty conservative with taking days off work and now I have two weeks to still schedule! Time for a getaway if you ask me! Matt and I were thinking of just going somewhere close by like a camping trip or back to Palm Springs. 

Visit the Beach 
Matt and I live in CA and hardly ever go to the beach. We'd like to take a day and just walk around, eat, and enjoy the view. 

What are some of your fall goals? Are we missing anything on ours?

California Sunshine

This past weekend I got the chance to finally visit my sister down in San Diego. I die. It's so gorgeous there and has such a great energy, not to mention the shopping and the taco shops!We had such a great time together, it went by too fast. I'll have to make another trip down there!

We went to The Beachwood and had lunch and hung out on their rooftop. It was a pretty sweet place and a ton of fun! If you get the chance to go down to PB, you want to definitely check this place out!

After The Beachwood we hopped around to some other places and just had the best time!Lahaina was a cool small bar with a huge outdoor patio. It was packed shoulder to shoulder!

I haven't seen my sister in forever and it was so great to spend time with her. Just looking through the pictures make me want to go back asap! Can't wait for my next trip down.

Utah, my Motherland

Just over a week ago, I got to go back to my hometown to visit my family and friends and had such a great time. Even though I haven't lived in Utah for sometime now (as of May 31st it will be 13 years since the move) it still feels like home when I visit. I love the culture, the gorgeous scenery everywhere you go, the people, the food, and most of all my loved ones. Here's some pictures of my trip, including some Instagram shots (my username is kristen_lawler).

I took Grandpa to get some custard (it's just like ice cream, but better) to a little place he and Grandma used to take my sister and I all the time. This place has chocolate and vanilla everyday and a third flavor of the day. It was always such a thrill to see what the flavor of the day would be when we were young. 

I also visited my Grandma who has now moved into a home. She has Alzheimer and it's so heartbreaking. I thought I would cry the entire time, but only did a few times. I was proud of myself. My grandparents are two of the most important people in my life and had a huge hand in raising me and helping me to become the person I am today. I miss them so much, I've thought about moving back to Utah a hundred times just to be closer to them. 

While I was there, I also visited the City Creek Center and it's seriously the prettiest mall I've ever seen! The architecture, the colors, the area, everything was so pretty! I could have spent the whole day there. The mall spans three blocks. I even visited it twice! 

They have some great shops and I picked up a few things, but nothing crazy. I also met a few of my childhood friends and we had such a blast catching up and shopping. It was so good to see them, these two girls I've known since preschool. It's so cool that we've kept in touch for so long.

I also got to see one of my besties new home that she and her family built. It was stunning! I loved all of it and immediately called my father-in-law to hatch a plan to get my husband and mother-in-law on board for moving out there.

 

I also came across some old family photos, isn't my sister the cutest with her wild hair?

 

Grandpa and my dad at dinner 
PS my Dad is still adamant that Wolf should have been my name and that I should consider naming my future children that. 
Oh you missed that awesome post? Read allllll about it here.

   

I love all of the Jazz coverage and reading the newspaper each day, even though the season is long over for us.

   

The swing my grandparents have on their back porch. All 14 of us grandchildren have swung in that swing and I remember telling my grandpa to push me "higher! higher!" in it. 

 

Oh, and I saw this girl wearing the cutest outfit at the airport. I couldn't stop staring, her hair was amazing too! I'm totally going to copy this whole outfit. Excuse the creeper pic, she was on the phone and I didn't get a chance to ask her for a proper pic. LOL. 

I also spent time with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. I wanted to take pictures, but I totally forgot! I had the best time hanging out with them. It made me miss everyone even more! Every time I visit, I always want to move back. I seriously contemplate it too, I look at job postings, places to live, do a mental pros/cons list. I think I'll eventually end back there, but only the Lord knows! I can't wait to go back again though and I think I'll visit again in the summer time. The weather was perfect and it was nice to have a lighter suitcase. I usually visit in the winter because I miss the snow, but I think it's a valid excuse now to visit at least twice a year. 

Have you ever moved out of state? Do you ever go back and visit your hometown?

**Don't forget to enter my $50 Kiki La'Rue Giveaway!**