HI! Sweet "Sugar and Spice" Kiss GEL Nail Strips VLOG Tutorial!

Hello! I am happy to be blogging/vlogging again. With a big family move and new baby this past year it was all on hold. Now that we've found ourselves settling in to beautiful Seattle and parenthood (click here  for more on my new mommy journey:); I am able to share my beauty and lifestyle with you again! Please feel free to read invisibly or show yourself and follow me on my social sites, I'd love to bring you goodies and hear from you too! Whatever you're comfortable with ;) But hopefully you'll show yourself sooner than later since life is only getting more media-esque and I can't connect with you otherwise! So, here we go..!

My first share will be in the category of a long time favorite of mine: Nail artistry!

I regularly stop by beauty sections anywhere possible and this last time it was at my local Walgreens (between $6-$15)... I had been getting gel/shellac on my nails in the salon for almost six months and decided to give my nails a breather and I also wanted to get a little creative myself so I had to scope out all the new nail goodies... with florals in season and IN FASHION thanks mostly to Katy Perry's cover shoot for VOGUE {JULY 2013} (florals, roses, and romance galore! ...gorgeous! refreshing!)... I was drawn to these pastel gel strips:

"SUGAR & SPICE"

Although the box instructs you to finish with gel and finishing light (available separately), I knew I'd most likely be able to apply the strips and finish them with a clear coat and be satisfied with the normal 10-day wear that nail strips offer. 

I got creative with the frecnch mani option and used Revlon's "FLIRT" as a base and this is what I got:

Easy peasy + gorgeous! 

Easy to apply: CHECK! Long Wear: CHECK! Easy to remove: CHECK!

YUM!

Its really a simple pleasure that spices up your life.. I see my nails more than anyone... I try to keep my nails attractive even if simple but these are perfect for Valentines Day, date night, or for just treating yourself gooood! 

Click Here are for ALL the DESIGNS! 

($5.99 + Shipping!)

And Here are some of my favorites! 

"MY SPACE"

"DEBUTANTE"

"STARRY NIGHT"

"FAIRY DUST"

"MENAGERIE"

"ROYAL FLUSH"

Aren't they gorgeous! 

Watch my video if you haven't already to see 

just how easy they are to apply!

Hope this brightens up your day sweet doll!! 

Talk to you again soon + I look forward to keeping in touch through INSTAGRAM + Twitter! I'm @AmberBaptista on both!! x)

Watch the video tutorial here or 

to link straight to my YouTube Channel, 

CLICK HERE!: )

New Beauty Vlog is up... VOGUE Inspired Fresh & Romantic Date Night LOOK! {Step by Step}

Hello Beautiful!

I have finished a new beauty vlog! It's Inspired by the July 2013 Issue of VOGUE featuring Katy Perry. She has adapted a crisp clean floral look and its breathtaking!

       

My husband and I embrace date night more these days. We've found it to be a non-negotiable after becoming first time parents.

Please come with me to my beauty studio as I show you how to create this look step by step. It may entertain you, bring a laugh, teach you some new makeup tips! haha! C'mon!
Click the video to enter my makeup studio::

Fresh, Clean Eyes with Feminine, Bold Red Lips... Perfect for xoVALENTINES DAYxo!..or Date Night! ...for EVERYONE! Single or Committed! xoxo)

The NAIL LOOK is currently under editing and will be posted soon!

Please Video Reply, Tweet, or Instagram me with your inspirations from this look! 

HASHTAG: #amberbaptista

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/AmberBaptista

INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/amberbaptista

BLOGGER: http://amberbaptista.blogspot.com

PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/amberspice/

EMAIL Beauty Business Inquires: amber.baptista@gmail.com

PLEASE: Comment + Share + Favorite + Thumbs Up + SUBSCRIBE!

Thank you for watching! 

xx, 
Amber Baptista ....muuuuuuah!

An Auggie Rocket Update! ...

Hi World!

Today I'm six weeks old! Me and mommy went and bought me a new swing today, I think its nice but I love being in daddy's and mommy's arms best. Right now I'm taking a nap and letting mommy work :)
Til next time,
August F. Baptista

One of my Very Favorite Photos of August so far!

Well it has just been over a month since our little August bear joined us real LIVE in person! haha! I've filled my phone with pictures, pictures, and more pictures - he is just too cute and I'm trying to soak it ALL in! :)

 This photo is actually a collection of pictures of him smiling. Something he loves to do and that we love to see! He is a very happy and healthy baby! This photo collage makes me smile and is just a reminder of how blessed we are! He had his one month doctors appointment and is almost 12 lbs now! ...all breastfed! haha!! What a nice reward for one hardworking momma! x) He also got another shot that left Dany and I stunned and heart-achy from his painful cry! haha! It hurts us too!! :'(

 Well, here is the cute picture!

...Don't forget to follow me on Instagram (Follow @amber_spice) where I share my photos which regularly include our little guy but also other yummy pics!

Love ya'll! Thanks for stopping by! Leave comments if you were here! I love hearing from you!

xoxo, Amber Baptista x)

I Got a "PUSH GIFT!" ***My Push Gift Story***

WHAT IS A PUSH GIFT?

Push Present:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A push present (also known as a "push gift," "baby mama gift" or "baby bauble") is a present a partner gives to the mother to mark the occasion of her giving birth to their child. In practice the present may be given before or after the birth, or even in the delivery room. The giving of push presents has supposedly grown in the United States in recent years. [1] A “push gift” is any type of present loved ones give to a woman who has recently given birth to a child.[2] The name “push gift” although indicative of a vaginal delivery does not exclude those women who have given birth through a C-section.

The beautiful gold necklace was my push gift and
the framed photo of Dany & August was my gift to him!
Read on for the details!

Yeah that's right... you can still get a push gift if you never really "pushed" lol!

A girlfriend of mine mentioned to Dany that he needed to get a push gift ready for me to give to me after delivery. We had never heard of it before, but of course, you know I loved the idea and encouraged it! lol... Everything up til delivery had been busy and I honestly didn't think Dany had time to go jewelry shopping or much less make room for it in our budget while baby planning but lo and behold...!!! ...After our whirlwind/beautiful baby had arrived and we had been transferred to our Mommy/Baby room for recovery (and after I had caught up on rest and put my crankiness behind us..) He surprised me!

As he approached me  in my recovery bed with gift in hand I shockingly thought.."nooooo..." hahaha... but YESSS! He had!! hahaha... (awesome!!!)

We had gone to a Christmas artistic market where artists were showcasing their work and I ooed and awwed over this ladies work of taking real rose buds and gorgeous leaves and covering them in gold to preserve their beauty... they were all gorgeous!! Well I guess when I was taking one of my many pregnancy restroom breaks... he picked out this beautiful gold leaf shaped like a heart!!! I LOVE IT!!

I was so surprised and REALLY felt honored! I think perhaps he was even more thankful he prepared for it since it all had really turned out to be more of a labor ordeal than we had thought it would be, hehe!

I, on the other hand, never planned well enough to thank my amazing labor partner with a gift.

BUT! haha... on our discharge day from the hospital we had to make a stop at the pharmacy to grab my medicine... I went in (in my robe! ha!..fun!) and after carfeul shopping and creative thinking I uploaded this picture from my iPhone to the pharmacies photo app. I had captured it in our recovery room and printed it for my proud and deserving husband who was now a proud, loving father who deserved to remember the beautiful payoff of getting to welcome our new son in to the world and my full health after so much enduring and loyalty to me at my bedside during labor. It only took me 7 minutes from the time I uploaded my picture to printing by the way!!! FAVOR!! haha ;) I grabbed a beautiful frame (also in the pharmacy, ha!) and it just worked out so beautifully. I waited til we got home to thank him for everything!! :') He loved the pic!

And there you have, our PUSH GIFT story! :)

I hope this encourages you to plan ahead to honor those who labor in love for you (in any way) and maybe if you have a pregnancy in your future, you can carry on the beautiful idea or share it with expecting friends!

Thanks for letting me share my joy with you!

Do you have a push gift story too?! Or something similar? Share it below!!!

Love ya'll! x)

♥, 

amber baptista xxx

 You Can Also Find Amber Here:

Follow @amber_spice

Post-Partum Gratefulness (Vice Depression x)

Hey Ya'll! Well It's almost been a week since being home from the hospital and it has been CRAYZAY! Crazy as in a whole new different routine to learn, body to recover, emotions to deal with, etc. I decided that I really didn't want this blessing of a season to pass me by while I try to deal with my changing hormones and lack of sleep so I made a conscious decision to be more grateful and push all the darkness out of my new heaven :)

  I made this little grateful board (haha sounds like a kindergarden project! lol.. I never got over my love for arts and crafts;) It's just a few things that make my heart fill back up with joy when I start feeling overwhelmed. There are tons of things that I've gleamed from this new adventure but these few things come to mind when I think about this season and what it's REALLY all about. Here's to saying no to depression during one of the happiest times of my life!

You Can Also Find Me Here:

Happy Birthday to Our New Born Baby Boy...

Hello! I'm officially a mommy now!!! This is our cute little baby boy! Born Yesterday!!! I'm still recovering from all the drug after effects (yes, we ended up going for a c-section but, surprisingly, with no regrets:) I was in labor for three days and it was sooo in order! ;) I'm nursing now and still getting down the perfect, cozy swaddle for August (although Dany seems to be a pro already!! lol).. my nurses are still nursing me too! (As I wrote this my nurse was sticking me with more pain relief and now I'm super groggy! haha ...It's all been crazy/great!) I'll bring ya'll more details soon, but for now, I had to get out some pictures and his official birth details for you! Thank you for your support and prayers as always!! Love, Amber Baptista You Can Also Find Me Here: