Glam Bag Review & November Birchbox

About a month ago I signed up for my first Glam Bag.  I wanted to see how I liked it compared to Birchbox.    I have loved Birchbox but some of the boxes are more skin care and I'm more of a beauty product junkie!

November Glam Bag!

What I got:

Brown makeup bag

{perfect purse size}

Starlet Intense Eyeliner in Chocolate

{this isn't as creamy as Urban Decay but it's still good, love that it's full size!}

Benefit They're Real Beyond Mascara

{this has a plastic brush which I am not a fan of, still a good mascara}

BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Dare Devil

{love it! not too 'sticky' and a pretty color}

Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow in Matt Batali

{pretty purple shade, I'm a fan of the Balm!}

And the sample I was most giddy about getting...

Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Millionaire

{party in a bottle! what's not to love?}

So my overall reaction to Glam Bag....a resounding yes, yes, yes! I'm impressed.  Now I realize I'm basing this on one month and really hope I don't have to change my tune!

November Birchbox

What I got:

Masqueology Revitalizing Eye

MCMC Fragrance in Phoenix

{smells so nice!}

One Love Organics Aromatic Body Serum

{feels nice, seems to absorb into skin well}

Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer

{gives off nice tiny sparkles, great for special occasions}

Extras

Masqueology Masque Cleanse & 7D Moisture Cream

Pillow box to reuse

This is a good box. The three things I tried I really like.  

As far as keeping my subscription, I still enjoy Birchbox to stay on board.  It is my first love!

So I'll just treat myself twice a month now! Hee!

Happy Friday!

{Sharing} 12 Days of a DIY Christmas

Gotta share a fun series with you today that my bloggin' buddy Emily of Putting Down Roots is starting! 

12 Days of a DIY Christmas starts of course on December 1 and will end December 12.  It's a great time to share you favorite Christmas stuff........

Recipes Family Traditions Your Christmas Family Pictures Crafts DIY galore Inspirational thoughts {on Christmas}

ETC   

Stop by her blog to see what she shares and then link up your favorite posts, even from last year!  And of course all your awesome ideas you have for this year! 

You will love Emily's creativity, it's beautiful!

Look what she did with curtain panels!....

Photo courtesy of Putting Down Roots

Amazing I say!

So write this down on your Christmas To Do List!

*Putting Down Roots Blog*

Happy Thursday!

Soiree Day-Trim A Tree

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! I have loved seeing all the Christmas trees sprouting up on Instagram! That's what I'm working on today.  And speaking of Christmas trees, I found the cutest Trim A Tree party that I just had to share! Jenny of Bloom Designs gave her girls a sweet soiree with their friends that included yummy treats and fun crafts.  Someday I am going to do something like this for my crafty friends!

♦

Trim A Tree by Bloom Designs

{Want to pin this fabulous party? Then please go HERE.}

All photos courtesy of Bloom Designs.

I got to admit...I'd love to be invited to a party like this! Fun stuff! Be sure and go check out the entire party!

Love all the party printables?  Well Jenny sells them in her Etsy Shop!

Check out her shop....Blood Designs Online.

And her blog.....Bloom Design.... for great party inspiration!

And if you're like me and working on trimming your own tree today, then happy decorating!

And Happy Soiree Day!

Soiree Day-Thanksgiving Printables

It's Thanksgiving week! Are you ready? I kinda thought I might be hosting my side of the family this year but doesn't look like I am since my mom is now retired. So I'm off the hook! I just get to enjoy sounds like.  But many of you may not be so lucky so here's some ideas for you!

Thanksgiving Party Collection by Pizzazzerie

2012 Thanksgiving Collection by The TomKat Studio

Thanksgiving Printables by Party Box Design

Thanksgiving Printables by Mommy's Idea Notebook

Fall & Thanksgiving Printables by Big Red Clifford

And check out Peonies and Poppyseeds for all kinds of Thanksgiving Printables....even a cute fry box!

Hope your Turkey day prep is going smoothly!!

Happy Soiree Day!

{Christmas} Prepping For Advent & A Treat!

What's this you say? A Christmas post before Thanksgiving is over? Yep!! 

Because it's about Advent!!

Basically Advent is a countdown to Christ's birth. And there's all kinds of ways to do so! Last year I came across Truth In The Tinsel and loved it and used it in my own way. 

Remember my book?

Well it's been on my mind lately because I need to decide how to do it this time and I wanted to make sure and let you know that there's a new feature to Truth In The Tinsel.
Printable Ornaments are now available!
If you go through the ebook there's crafts and activities to do with your kids, well now you have the option to make simple ornaments. Great for toddlers and if you'll be doing a lot of traveling this Christmas!

Bingo Advent Calendar by Smallgood Hearth

By PaperCrave via Pinterest

The bingo card and the popular Advent box from Silhouette were my 2 favorite ideas from last year.  I was excited to find something similar to the box at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago and snatched it up since it was 1/2 off! And back in the summer I found a bingo card at an antique shop so I have both options! I'll be saving one for next year I do believe! Don't worry I'll show you which one I do this time and how I use Truth  In The Tinsel with it. ☺

Now for a treat!! 
How about a discount on purchasing Truth In The Tinsel?
I'm excited to offer you 20% off! Just use code VINTAGEGWEN when checking out!

 You can click on the button on my side bar or HERE.
UPDATE:
Black Friday Sale!! 
Recieve the Printable Ornaments for free when you purchase the ebook on Black Friday!
{Note: do not add the ornaments to your cart.  When you purchase the ebook then you will get a thank you email with a link to the ornaments.  Discount codes do not apply to this sale and will resume after Black Friday.}

Happy Monday!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Being Thankful

There are several 'thankful' projects going around. Several friends are posting 30 days of what they're thankful for on Facebook. The Idea Room has a Grateful Gram project for this month that's similar to the photo a day challenge.  And I even saw someone incorporate 'thankfuls' on their own to the photo a day challenge.  I've enjoyed them all!

Today I just wanted to share some good words about being thankful. 

via

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Created by me!

Happy Weekend lovelies!

{Home} Fall Mantle

Time to share my fall mantle! I really wanted a banner of some kind but since I won't be hosting any Thanksgiving dinners I think it's ok this time.  And I've just had too much on my plate!

The only new thing is the red bucket! My mom gave it to us with some fall goodies.  When I got all the fall stuff out Lil' Hunkie thought I was putting out Christmas too.  He's definitely ready!

The Christmas decorating is going to be a fun challenge this time since the decor is in the barn and we have a whole new house to do! I'm looking forward to it!

Have you signed up for the Christmas Ornament Swap yet?

Go HERE!

Happy Thursday!!

{See my Link Parties Page for the link ups.}

A Christmas Ornament Swap!

{Happy Veteran's Day! Thanks for defending our country!}
"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."
-Joseph Campbell

Happy Sunday all!  

Today is the official day to sign up for our Christmas ornament swap!

I'm so excited to be partnering with Marilyn & Ginger!

A Christmas Ornament Swap
Details

♦Sign up is between November 11-18th.
♦Open to US/Canada citizens.
♦Ornaments must be received no later than December 8th!
♦Ornaments can be made or purchased with personal touch being the goal. Browse all your partner's social media outlets and blog to get creative.
♦Value should be about $10 not including shipping.

♦There will be a link party to show off our goodies!

Any questions? Don't hesitate! You will receive an email shortly after November 18th advising you who your partner is.
Join us in spreading creative Christmas cheer!

Please use form below to sign up!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-For Our Good

"It'll make you feel better." 

"It's for your good."

Those are 2 phrases I have caught myself saying to Lil' Hunkie recently.  He's been sick for over a week now and when he started running a fever to the doctor we went. The poor little guy has issues with allergies and has to take heart medicine and now an antibiotic for a left ear infection.  So getting the medication down him has been one heck of a chore.  He threw a fit.  I threw a fit.  He threw a fit. I broke down and started bawling.  And my husband didn't know what was going on!

I was just worn out.

  I know and you know medicine can be beneficial.  But a 3 year old?

Not so much.

Now I dont' think God ever gets tired. But.  How many times have I thrown a fit and declared that I didn't want what was good for me, what was in my best interest? Apparently plenty or God wouldn't have brought this to my attention through a 3 year old! Ouch!

There's a reason we call Him Father. Because He knows what He's doing and has even experienced life and death on earth.  

Romans 8:28

King James Version (KJV)

 ^"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Be blessed this weekend!

{Home} Fall Front Porch

Wanted to share my fall front porch with you today.  With Halloween being over and having Lil' Hunkie's birthday party last weekend I wanted to get the porch decorated for fall.  I should have just done it sooner!  Even though we don't a have a large porch it is bigger than the last one we had so I bought double the pumpkins and flowers.  I didn't change my wreath or flag.  I'm holding out as long as possible on my wreath since I used it our wedding.  It is looking just a little ragged so I'll have to think of a way to spruce it up for next time.  The only new thing I added was our house numbers on the front door, which I purchased from Vinylize It's Etsy shop for $10 and am so very pleased with the outcome!

And wouldn't ya know it, I didn't notice the bow being messed up till I took all the pictures!

And I had a crock pot to break and managed to save the insert to use on the porch. I thought I'd give ornamental kale and cabbage plants a try for some variety!

Getting the porch decorated has really gotten me excited for Thanksgiving!

Anyone else?

Happy Thursday!

{See my Link Parties Page for where I'll share at.}

Soiree Day-Happy 3rd Birthday Lil' Hunkie!

With the passing of Halloween not only does it mean the holidays are coming but it also means it's time to celebrate Lil' Hunkie! Last Saturday was his 3rd birthday.  And man how I can't believe it!  

Since his birthday fell on a Saturday and my husband was off work I planned a joint family party and Lil' Hunkie had the best day ever!  I had asked him what kind of birthday cake he wanted and his response was "blue cacakes" (cupcakes) so I went off blue for the decorations.  Looked through my pins and found a free printable party from Catch My Party in blue and green.  Just something simple and easy to add other items like balloons, paper fans and garlands. It was a crazy day on Friday prepping and I spent most of the early evening/evening cleaning then when my boys went to bed I made the cupcakes and put out the decorations so they would be a surprise for Lil' Hunkie in the morning.  And let me just tell you, even though I didn't do a whole lot, it felt like I did because of staying up late!

 {I really need to learn I'm not a spring chicken anymore!} 

But!

Lil' Hunkie's reaction to all the decorations made it totally worth it.  When I walked into his room the first thing I did was sing 'Happy Birthday' and loved on him. He acted all shy and bashful and then started singing with me! Then we did our normal morning routine. It took him a good 5 minutes to notice the decorations, which he had walked past. And when he did, the next 5 minutes of excitement, and jumping up and down, and cute words just melted my heart and made me thankful that I put just a little extra effort into making his day all that more special.  The first thing he said was, "Momma! What did you do to my curtain?!" Referring to the dinning room curtain. Silly guy! And then "And look Momma there's more on the firepace!", and "For me?", and "For my birthday!" I loved every minute!! It was a great moment!

I simply just used a toothpick for the cupcake toppers and if I had a fancy punch I would have made them a little smaller. The printable set comes in pink and purple for girls too!

Blue garland and green paper fans came from Hobby Lobby. 

Lil Hunkie has 6 cousins with one on the way and with only one of those being a girl so gathering up stuff for the thank you favor bags wasn't too hard. Found blue and green candy(On sale Halloween candy-Pretzel M&Ms, Mike & Ike's, 3 Musketeers, and suckers ) and then added lip whistles (Hobby Lobby) and a catch the ball gadget thing (Walmart). And yes I made a bag for Lil' Hunkie that had stickers instead of a sucker.  

Loved how it all turned out and especially loved how Lil' Hunkie enjoyed himself!  His two favorite toys...a keyboard and a Dirt Devil vacuum which he wanted to bring in the bathroom during bath time and sleep with! And now that I've blogged this I have proof that he LOVES to vacuum! Muahahaha!

Happy Soiree Day!!

{See my Link Parties page for where the parties are!}