Passport Photo Outtakes

On Monday I posted our weekend vlog and most people were dying over the photos I inserted from taking Skylor's passport photo. I wanted to tape the whole experience but I was using the camera I brought to video, to take the damn photo! You can watch the vlog here if you missed it.

You see we tried taking Skylor to get his photo taken a few weeks ago when we had Tracen's done. He screamed bloody murder and I started crying, proclaiming to all of SAMS Club that WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GO TO MEXICO! 

A bit dramatic, I know, but if you could have seen the freaking hoops we had to jump through to get a picture taken you would have cried to! I even asked the women if he could be crying in the photo...would they accept that. 

Can you imagine. Us going through customs and the guard looking at his passport photo. 

I'd probably get arrested right there for them thinking I kidnapped the kid, forced him to take the photo (which I had to) and then dragged him to Mexico. OUI!

I figured I would share all 30 somethin photos that didn't make the passport requirements, they are just too good to toss in a virtual trash can on my laptop.

If you even for the slightest moment think I'm over reacting picture this.

Jerek holding his phone playing Miles from Tommorrowland just above my camera, while I have a bag of chocolate cookies in the other hand, talking in a baby voice "look right here Sky! You're the cutest Sky! You want a piece of candy baby! Okayyy you gotta sit reallllllyyy good for mommy and daddy!!!!

This went on for 30 minutes.

I would snap a view, take my SD card out and let the girl look at what I got on her computer and see if they matched up to what the passport photo requirements require. They didn't do we would throw the SD card back into my camera and start all over. We also failed as parents and forgot the diaper bag at home so we used his beloved blankey to constantly wipe his face free from chocolate. However we couldn't let him hold on to the blanket or he would want us to pick him up. It was a grueling process.

But we did it. Now we just have to pray the passport people doesn't reject the photo and application that we just sent in because we have 8 weeks till the wedding!

Do yourself a favor and get your kids passport photos taken when they are still in your womb!

My Favorite Pinterest Recipes

Pinterest is my go-to everything finder.

You want to find inspiration for your wardrobe, Pinterest.
Your living room needs a facelift, Pinterest.
You don't know what the hell to cook the people in your house, PINTEREST!

If I ever try claiming a recipe is my own you can call me a blatant liar because I know zero about cooking! I'm the girl that follows recipes to a tee and still can't get them right. Jerek can whip something out of nothing and it's one of the things I'm most jealous about! His cooking skills are up there with Chef Ramsey, perhaps I'm biased though.

I've had my fair share of Pinterest fails but figured instead of concentrating on what I suck at lets talk about some accomplishments! I know a lot of my readers are moms and I'm hear to tell you all these recipes are very I'm really busy, I'm a mom approved! Jerek has even tried all of these meals when I've cooked them. Some of these are repeat offenders and I make them time and time again!

My Pinterest cooking hasn't been limited to just these that I mention but these are just the ones that I've made well decent and we've actually enjoyed eating!

Chicken and broccoli shells and cheese

Avocado cream cheese and salsa stuffed puff pastries

Cheeseburger flatbread melts

Balsamic glazed steak rolls

Asparagus with balsamic tomatoes salad

One pot meal

Homemade calzone pizza

5 ingredient easy white chicken chili recipe

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the easy meals I've been whipping up by some amazing chefs and fellow bloggers. Remember that cooking and baking can be fun, cooking with kids can even be fun, and no, that is NOT the wine talking! Try something new, it doesn't have to be hard but try something new once a week and you'll be surprised how liberating, relaxing and even joyful it can be! 

Friday Faves

This has been SUCH a busy week! Jerek has been holding reviews at work, I've been attempting to not shut down plants in Mexico due to part shortages and the boys have been crazy, per usual!

It's been a little bit since I've had a Friday Faves post so I thought we were due for one, shall we!

1. Last Friday Faves I mentioned how I was contemplating doing a Capsule Wardrobe and unlike Vlog/Blogmas, I DID IT and I've been loving it! If you want more info on what it is, watch this video and if you want to see what is in my capsule wardrobe watch this video!

2. As you know, I'm mildly obsessed with watching YouTube as well as producing videos for my own channel. I've been on team #nocable for like YEARS now, we're just waiting on our contract to run out and then we are saying bye Felicia to it. One of my favorite film makers, because he's MORE than just a "vlogger" is Casey Neistat. This dude is cool, he's laid back, doesn't give two fawks and makes some killer videos. You may have seen his video for Nike before or perhaps his video series him and his brother made and sold to HBO. Like Stop. Anyways, he started daily vlogging last year, lives in NYC and is killin it in the game of life. Having his son in his teens, dropping out of high school and really making a name for himself, this guy is super rad. I'm 110% positive Jerek is sick of me always talking about him. Check out his channel and don't worry about getting sucked in, you'll find your way out...somehow!

3. My wedding dress alterations are on the 2nd of February and I need to find shoes before I go so we know what to hem everything to. Since it's freezing in Michigan the sandals aren't exactly out in full force yet so I'm trying to find some options but am not having the best luck. I'm not doing heels , unless I find some chunky ones I just can't like without cause well I've had two kids and whenever I try and wear them I look like I'm dancing to the nae nae song when they sing and break your legs, go and break your legs.... it's not a cute look! I also want something that are comfortable and I'll wear while we're there because shoes you will wear only one day and that give you blisters make ZERO sense to me! Here are some options I've found. 99% of you have no idea what my dress looks like but think like beachy meets whimsical meets outdoorsey meets I dunno, just tell me what shoes you like, kthanks.

1  |  2  |  3  |  4

4. Again with the wedding coming up, I've been trying to really watch what I eat while also still enjoying what I eat, it doesn't have to be a catch 22 people! I've been turning to my trusty Pinterest boards lately and have been making green juice/smoothies as home. It looks like I'll be making more of them at home especially since I just bought this one while at work today and it was $5.99. Shoot me in the big toe on that call! I wanted the juice so bad that I didn't look at the price until I forked over my debit card. Smooth move Chels, smooooth move.

5. Eyelash extensions. Yes, they are a thing and mine are light brown with blonde ends. Without mascara I look like I have rat eyes. Okay, I'm being dramatic but really guys, I look like a little mouse. I have a great mascara routine that I don't stray. I love me a good pair of Ardell demi wispies when we are hanging up our PJ's and going out for the night. HOWEVER, a ton of my girlfriends and even my aunt have lash extensions. They transform your whole face when you have them! I knew I wanted to get them before the wedding so I've been on the hunt to find someone local that I love and can recommend to others. If you are in Metro Detroit area PLEASE send me info on places you swear by!

Happy Friday and enjoy the weekend!

2016 Goals

February is almost here and I've been dragging my feet about this years goals for myself. This is because I've been busy trying to not fire my travel agent for the wedding lord give me ALL the strengths!

Two years ago I wrote this post, and followed up with this post last year. We are now at the start of 2016 and I'm pretty happy with how 2015 went! Sure we've gone through some hard and trying times, but who hasn't, but it's been filled with great, amazing times as well.

I've captured a ton on video of my family, filmed weddings, births, parties and holidays. As 2016 approaches I want to keep up with my monthly goals and set some new yearly goals like I've been doing. I love checking back on these every few months to see where I am and how I can improve on things.

2016 GOALS

1. Run a 10k- I would love to go visit a Allie in San Fran and do one there (how beautiful and fun would that be!) there but that requires a trip and those cost money, sigh.

2. Go see Megan's new baby!!!- One of my best girlfriends from college lives in Orange county California. After years of surgeries and infertility she finally got pregnant and is expecting a baby boy in May! I'm hoping I can squeeze in a whole family trip later in 2016 so we can see him and hit up Disneyland but regardless I really need to get out there!!!

3. Fill up my calendar with weddings, birth and event jobs- Last year I started taking my videography further than just our family vlogs and started shooting weddings and have been booking up for 2016, it's been great! I would love to add in a few more weddings, births and possible small business events for the year. I'm only going to take on a certain number of jobs to ensure I still have time for my family and filming my own projects. If interested in more information, (you can email me at eastwillowgrove@gmail.com or click on the videography tab at the top.)

4. Solo dates with just one child- Tracen recently told me he loves coming to the store with just me, I can tell he loves the one on one time we get with each other. I want to make sure I continue to do this with both kids, as well as Jerek does with both boys, it's important. Whether it's me or Jerek or together, we need to make efforts on taking just one to the store, one to run errands, one to help cook dinner, etc. I truly believe that not only do you need to constantly date your partner, you need to constantly show that same love and affection to your kids with one on one activities.

5. Donate every month- Each month I want to either donate money, items or time to a different organization. Whether it's $20 of dog food to a shelter, a bag of un-used cosmetics  or women products to a women's shelter or a day volunteering at a soup kitchen. Do more and be happy with what you have.

I've said it before but I don't believe in resolutions, I believe in goals and striving to achieve them. If you don't achieve them it's water under the bridge. BUT you have to try, that's the one consolation.

I hope that you've all set goals or have ideas in your head of things you want to accomplish this year, no matter how big or small they may be! 

40 Questions Beauty Style

Today is Thursday but it's my Friday because I took work off tomorrow and really today starts my weekend so like HI, WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND!

A few days ago a friend and fellow blogger, Sara, tagged me in a recent post she did regarding 40 questions all about beauty. I loved seeing her answers to these questions and while many of mine were similar in products we use, a lot of mine were totally different!

Sara and I have quite the opposite lifestyles though, read, I have 2 kids, and she doesn't! While I found out she uses a lot of the same products I use there are many things I do differently, probably because I'm a mom, because I'm almost 30 and because I'm lazy as faaaaawkkk!

I get TONS of questions from my Instagram, YouTube or Blog when I post make up or hair tutorials on what products I use, where I buy them at, etc. I figured this was a perfect opportunity for me to answer a bunch of these questions and perhaps help my fellow mommy's out, ya feelll!

|| SKIN CARE ||

1. How many times a day do you wash your face? 
If I'm lucky, once. I always wash it in the morning. This is because 50% of the time I don't wash it at night so I HAVE to wash it in the am! A few times a week I pretend I have my shit together and wash my face twice but that's if I'm highly caffeinated and had a great day a work...IE: not often!

2. What type of skin do you have?
Normal to dry. In the winter I have severely dry skin in my T-zone as well as on the rest of my body.

3. What is you current facial wash?
I use a bunch of different ones depending on what I'm faced (pun intended!) with. I use Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne wash followed up by Garnier Cleansing oil for dry skin. I've also been using the Soothe Line from R+F for awhile now and have really noticed a difference in my skin. However my hair and skin get use to things and stop working so I have to alternate things around so my body doesn't start acting crazy.

4. Do you exfoliate?
Yes, about once a week. Since it is so dry I can't over do it. I usually do it on the weekends when I know I'm going to be giving my skin rest from makeup for a bit.

5. What brands do you use? 
I switch between St Ives , Neutrogena Deep Clean and the Freeman Charcol & Black sugar mask. All very affordable and do a great job.

6. What is your typical night beauty routine?
Pass out in bed with a full face of makeup on...no really, that is me most nights. On a GOOD night I will exfoliate or a do a mask, than wash and rinse my face. Following this up with a moisturizer and serum/oil and a big glob of Vaseline covering my forever chapped lips. I then pop my retainers in and put some of my Mario Badescu drying lotion on my current breakouts and crawl into bed. Jerek gets to sleep next to one real hot piece of ass!

7. What moisturizer do you use?
As mentioned I use the R+F Soothe line but switch it up with the Men's Nivea After Shave Balm (watch Nikkie Tutorials and you will know why!) and usually at night the Cetaphil lotion.

8. Do you use eye cream? 
I've used some R+F eye cream before and it was amazing, but I ran out and never got back into it. I probably should now that I'm nearing 30 and my sleep schedule is so off!

9. Do you/did you have acne prone skin? 
Thankfully, no. I have been noticing I'm seeing breakouts more as I get older but I'm 99% sure that's because of my answer to #1.

10. Do you tan? 
I use to all the time, hell I worked at a tanning booth but I swore that shit off over 5 years ago. The only tanning I do is faux tanning with my Loving tan 2-hour mousse! I did a whole post on it here and also today posted a picture on IG of how dark I look! It's literally THE BEST TANNING PRODUCT OUT THERE!!!

|| MAKE-UP ||

11. What foundation do you use?
I'm guilty of having about 10 in my collection but I honestly only use two 90% of the time. I should probably just toss the rest but I don't. My drugstore all time favorite is  L'Oreal Ture Match, the BEST drugstore option for medium to full coverage, no questions asked! My high end is hands down the Too Face Born this Way! I'll be wearing this at our wedding in the Mexican sun and it will look flawless! It lasts 12+ hours, has a dewy finish, but doesn't make you look sweaty and covers everything! I have a full review on it here if you'd like to see more pictures and how it covers. I wear this 2-3 times a week when I'm pretending to be Beyonce and be all flawless and shit at work.

12. What concealer? 
For every day wear I use the Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Light. For full coverage when I have blemish's or I'm attempting to do the Kim K light under eye look I use my IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under eye concealer. That shit covers ANYTHING up!

13. Do you know your undertone color?
My face has a pink/cool undertone. I use to buy things that were warm and I would try to get that "tan" look and all I did was make my face look muddy and real dirty. Buy foundation that is your skin tone. Get matched. It's freaking free people!

14. What do you think of fake eyelashes?
LOVE them. They can transform your eyes or entire makeup look, they also show up SO much batter on camera in photos or video.

15. Assuming you use makeup brushes, how often do you wash them?
*crickets* once a month....*crickets* once every two months... *crickets* uhhh a few times a year? I'm SO guilty of not washing them enough! I try to give them a deep clean once a month, it usually ends up being every two months. I do spot clean them with makeup wipes every time I use them though...so that counts for something, right? My beauty blender I don't wash, I literally will just go buy a new one...I'm THAT lazy.

16. What brand of mascara do you use?
I've tried $2-$40 mascara and there are only two that tickle my pickle. I do one coat first of L'Oreal Telescopic mascara then I follow up with two coats of L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara. This has been my routine for years now and every time I try something new I get super disappointed so I stick with what I know and love now!

17. Sephora or Ulta? 
Ulta, Sephora requires you to go INTO the mall and ain't nobody got time for that! Plus coupons yo, coupons.

18. Do you think setting sprays work?
Work, yeah I think they do. Are they God's gift to world, hell naw! I use Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray when I'm going out or to a function and I want my makeup to last through the night.

19. Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes? 
Yes, without SOMETHING on your lids for that shadow to stick to it just won't! I use to use the Urban Decay Primer Potion but after that sample ran out I now use the NYX shadow base or I bring the left over concealer from under my eyes up on my lid and wah-la, eye shadow primer it is!

20. Primer for the face? 
I use the Nivea Mens After Shave Balm as a moisturizer  which also acts like a primer for the face since makeup sticks to it so well. I've pretty much given up my old face primer (Benefit's POREfessional primer) or I'll use for special occasions, its just really expensive!

21. What is your favorite eye shadow (color or shade)? 
No one shade but my all time favorite palette is the Urban Decay Naked original! I've had mine for years and haven't hit pan on any of them. You can create SO many looks from one palette with 12 shadows it's amazing!

22. Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
I use pencil on my water line and either liquid or a felt tip for my wing. Although I still suck ass at liquid, I'm improving over time.

23. How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? 
Not too often I suppose?

24. What do you think of pigment eye shadows?
Meh. I have a few samples but I basically just mess around with them for fun, nothing serious.

25. Do you use mineral makeup? 
I use to use mineral foundation every day but I now I tend to use my Bare Minerals Original foundation on the weekends when I'm going for a more natural, light coverage look.

26. What is your favorite lipstick?
I love the NYX Round Lipstick's. They are so creamy and long lasting with a ton of color options and an amazing price tag. (My ALL time favorite is Thalia, hands down.)

27. Favorite lip gloss?
NYX Butter Glosses. I have 3 of just Creme Brulee! Along with another 7 different colors. The consistency is amazing, the color options have a huge range and the price tag is super affordable.

28. What is your favorite blush? 
To be fair, I'm not a huge blush fan. I think this is because of my pink undertones I don't normally like to bring out the pink in my skin. I do wear Milani Luminoso every day since it's so subtle.

29. Do you buy makeup on Ebay?
No. I buy anything and almost everything off Ebay but I never buy makeup. You just never know if something is new, real or what. I draw the line at trying to find a good deal on makeup that way.

30. Do you like drugstore makeup? 
faahhhh shoooo!

31. Do you go to CCO's (cosmetic company outlets) 
I've never been and it's never been a lust of mine. I'm good at using my points and coupons as needed and I know myself and would end up going nuts at a CCO just because things are cheaper!

32. Did you ever consider taking makeup classes? 
I almost went to cosmetology school when I was working at the hair salon but then realized I would have to touch peoples feet for pedicures and said hell to the no...literally, that's the ONLY reason why I didn't go. FEET ARE SICKKKKK!!!

33. Are you clumsy when putting on makeup? 
Only when I'm in a rush. Which is 90% of the time. So yes, yes I am! I've spelled almost a whole bottle of expensive foundation on a BRAND new white shirt. I run into walls, fall up stairs and trip over my own two feet. Applying makeup is no different, I'm a klutz!

34. Name a makeup crime you hate? 
Cake face, spider eyelashes, face mask, super thick winged eyeliner, orange foundation...the list goes on.

35. Do you like colorful shades of makeup? 
Many girls I watch on YouTube can pull it off, but with my blue eyes, I don't feel like I can as much. That's where you brown eyed girls win!

36. What celebrity always has great make up?
Celebrity's GET there makeup done BY someone else so really, THEY aren't the ones doing it so credit should not be given to them for always having great makeup! YouTube man, you tube has some amazing makeup gurus/artists on there. A few of my all time favorites are Jaclyn Hill, Nikkie Tutorials and Kandee Johnson. These are a few of the really big ones I watch but there are TONS and tons of others that do amazing work!

37. If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would it be?
Mascara, my eyelashes are SO light it makes a WORLD of difference!

38. Do you think you look good without make up on? 
It's nothing to write home about but I know I'm pretty lucky to feel confident in my own skin. I don't have any major scars from acne and my overall skin tone is okay. I'm 100% okay with what I look like bare face. If you have watched my Snapchats or my vlogs on YouTube you will see me with no makeup on most of the time.

39. In your opinion, what is the BEST make up line?
In drugstore world I think L'Oreal or NYX. The price points are great and the quality is amazing. For a higher end, I LOVE Too Face and Mac probably the most.

40. What do you think of make up?
Makeup is an extension of who I am. I'm still the same loud and annoying mom of boys with or without it. Some days putting makeup on gives me a boost of confidence I've really been needing and other days it does nothing. It's amazing what makeup can do. During Halloween the tutorials on YouTube are RIDICULOUS! It can give women confidence within themselves and can be very empowering. If you are someone that wants to rock a full face of makeup every day, YOU DO YOU BOO! And if you don't want to put a drop on your face, that is 100% okay with me too, but when people, mostly women, talk down about someone because they have "too" much makeup on or "not enough" that is where the issues lie. And if you see me with makeup on at the gym it's probably because I'm too lazy to wash it off, remember question #1 or I just came from work, so stop talking smack about girls at the gym with a face full of makeup on, mmk!

Life Lately + the forever sickness + family time

Bronchitis took over my body. I'm not talking about the 'man cold', although you would have thought with all the complaining I did it was the man cold, I'm talking about I've been sick since before Tracen's 5th birthday. In true Chelsea form I dragged my feet about going to the doctor. Scratch that, going to urgent care because I don't even know who I picked out to be my PCP. I haven't seen a doctor in years, minus my OB that is. I just don't, I don't see doctors because I don't get sick. Sick enough to drag my ass there that is.

I normally get a bad sinus infection about twice a year that really knocks me off my feet. This is usually when Michigan weather acts like a whiny little bitch and my body just.cant.take.it.

| Tracen and our newest nephew Charlie finally meeting |

I mostly suck it up, chug some a.m. cold meds and blow my nose a gazillion times which ultimately I look like Rudolph for about 3 weeks.

But then that's it.

I'm usually good and am back on my merry way.

This time was different. I got a sinus infection the week before Tracen's birthday and did the usual eat all cough drops like candy, drink 5000 ounces of water and carry a box of tissues around with me every where I go.

But it wasn't enough.

On day head cold/sinus infection just vanished. I woke up and I could actually breathe through my nose. However the morning after that I woke up and thought my lungs were going to fall out of my mouth as I coughed uncontrollably for what seemed like hours. 

One time when I was little I got strep and didn't know I had it and it got so bad it dripped down the back of my throat and my mom took me to the hospital because we thought my appendix burst I was in so much pain. 

| my niece Raegan at Tracen's birthday |

Thankfully I wasn't in that much pain. But when I started coughing, which was all the time, I was gasping for air and it sounded like major smokers cough (note: I don't smoke.) 

I spent Christmas morning sleeping at my moms in a lazy boy trying to get rid of the migraine I had from coughing so hard. We then drove to my grandma's house where I crawled into the twin size bed I grew up sleeping in for sleepovers. New Years Eve was here and we were having a small party at our house for family and friends. Everyone kept asking if I had gone to the doctor. My answer was still I'm working on it.

New Years day was upon us and I set my alarm for 8 am, Urgent Care opened at 9 and I will be damned if I spend hours at that place (I ended up spending 1.5, ugh) Just as we expected I had Bronchitis and the coughing had gotten so bad it was giving me migraines and even bruising my ribs. I went to CVS, grabbed the antibiotics, steroid's and inhaler and was on my way. It's been a week and while the cough is pretty much gone the amount of phlegm spewing from my mouth is straight up disgusting. 

| Family cough potato time |

One of my goals for this year is to pick a new PCP and go get a physical. This may sound like a ridiculous goal but I'm not someone that rushes to the internet or calls my doctor the first sign of a sneeze, I'm actually the opposite, as you can tell. I'd like to be someone that is somewhere in between, where I realize when it's time to go see the doc and not after I've been suffering for 4 weeks.

| THE best big brother I've ever seen |

I realize I just wrote an entire post complaining about how I've had bronchitis while there are much worse things going on in the world but as already mentioned, I'm quite the whiny betch lately, I'm sorry. If you follow me on Snapchat you would have know this though. I think every day I gave play by plays about how horrible I felt but then never did anything about it. I'm still not sure why Jerek is marrying me because I'm SO freaking stubborn! At least I threw in some really cute pictures from the last 3 weeks, that helps, RIGHT ???

Life lately has been hectic! I thought after Tracen's birthday and the holidays things would calm down but all that really happen was we packed up our Christmas decor and added more things on the to do list! Such is life I suppose!

If you've missed me here on the blog never yo fear, I've posted a few videos this past week so you can catch up there what I've been up to! A 2015 year in review, a capsule wardrobe how to, MY 37 piece capsule wardrobe and a new vlog from this past weekend! AND if you REALLY start to miss me here I'm always on Snapchat (@eastwillowgrove) or on Instagram (@eastwillowgrove).

I'll give you a teaser and tell you that I'll see you Thursday for a beauty post, stay healthy people!

2015 Year in Review

Happy New Year! 

There is so much to say from this past year I figured a video reviewing it all might be better. Cheers to 2015 and hello 2016, the year of our wedding! XX