The Musings of a Working Mom

This month's theme is "GOOP".  The Birchbox team partnered with the team at goop.com to give their subscribers the "inside scoop on all things wonderful" ranging from recipes to city guides to a "collection of must-try essentials" (i.e. this months box samples). This month's Birchbox includes: 1.   amika:  Obliphica Nourishing Mask (Full-size, $12-$40) - Packed with omega acids and vitamin C, this lush conditioning mask boosts shine and even helps repair split ends. 2.   Chantecaille: Faux Cils Mascara (Full-size, $42) - Meet your new wand love - this water-resistant mascara delivers exceptional volume, length, and curl. 3.   DDF: Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer (Full-size, $85) - This high-tech moisturizing serum fills in pores and wrinkles for instantly smoother skin, while peptides and vitamins provides long-term anti-aging benefits. 4.   EVE LOM: Cleanser and Muslin Cloth (Full-size, $22-$55) - The balm-like cleanser gently pur...

I know that Nars products are on the pricey side but the quality of their products are hands down worth every penny.  Not only are their products very pigmented (thus you don't need to use a lot and therefore it will last you a very long time) but the products don't fade or disappear throughout the day.  I really feel that you get great quality products for the price you pay for with Nars products.   One of the products I recently decided to splurge on was this Cordura Eyeshadow duo.   I have found myself reaching for this duo for a quick and easy eye look.  I place the lighter shade (on the left) on my lid and blend it out with a matte light brown (like Mac Soft Brown or Urban Decay Buff or Tease).  I then place the darker shade (on the right) on the outer corner and down onto my lash line and blend/smudge it out.  Add a highlight eyeshadow (like Mac Vanilla or Urban Decay Virgin), line your upper lash line with a liner or shadow, and a couple ...

I'm not a big crockpot person...that is until now.  I know, I have 3 kids and I should be using a crockpot to make my dinner prep/work easier but I never felt the need to get one.  Well, I finally broke down and bought one and just at the perfect time!  The kids and I went to a local apple orchard and brought home more apples than I had planned...so what to do with all of those apples?  Well make applesauce of course!  I found the easiest, most delicious recipe using my crockpot.  You can add as much or little cinnamon as you like, or omit it all together if you don't like any seasoning in your applesauce.  Not only do we like to eat our applesauce plain as a snack, I like to top my greek yogurt with some applesauce and a handful of granola for a tasty breakfast treat.  You can also substitute applesauce for oil in most baking recipes for a healthy alternative.  What a great way to use up all of those apples before they go bad! Crockpot App...

The days are getting shorter and the air is getting cooler and it's about time, I never thought that this heat wave would end.  I love the fall- the crisp, cool breezes, the leaves changing colors and I especially love wearing boots, sweaters and scarves.  September is over and here are my favorites for the month: 1.   Blushes - Nars Oasis and Tarte Blushing Bride :  these blushes have a warmth about them.  Fall usually makes me want to wear more plums and berry shades and these blushes really scream "fall" to me!  I love wearing these blushes with a soft, neutral eye.  And although both of these blushes appear to have a lot of shimmer in them, they don't translate onto your skin that way.  These two blushes give such a nice glow and flush of color - perfect for a fall day! 2.   Rimmel Stay Matte Powder with Real Techniques Powder Brush - this powder has really lived up to its name and is my new favorite setting powder.  It really...

My creative juices have been flowing lately thinking of new ideas for snacks for the kids after they come home from school.  Here is a great article I came across in my e-mail inbox. I love me some Food Network!!! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/50-after-school-snacks/index.html

I was spoiled - up until now, my twins had been in a full day preschool program that provided breakfasts, snacks and lunches.  Now that they are in Kindergarten, I have found that being creative makes all the difference in if your child eats lunch or not.  But I am always looking for creative ideas - Here is a great article I stumbled across with loads of great sandwich ideas to add to your child's lunch rotation. http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/everydaycooking/family/kids-lunch-ideas

Here are my favorite makeup brushes for FACE: FYI - I am not sponsored by Sigma brushes but I do have an affiliate link on my pages, which means if you click and purchase any brushes via my link, I will receive a commission from your purchase.  But I would not mention any products that I do not love to use and would not mislead you in order to make any money.  Having said that, I do love their brushes!  I have purchased both their Premium Professional kit as well as their Essential Kit, and a couple of their Sigmax precision face brushes (F82/F84).  These brushes, in my opinion, are comparable to MAC brushes but are a fraction of the prices of the MAC brushes. For face, I love using a couple of brushes and one "tool".  For liquid foundation, I love using my  Sigma Sigmax F84 Angled Kabuki Brush  and my Real Techniques Stippling Brush.  For powder and mineral foundations, I love using the Real Techniques Buffing brush, MAC 182 Kabuki brus...