Some Bunny is TWO ↠ Iris' Peter Rabbit Second Birthday Party Weekend!

Our baby girl is officially a big bad two year old! Cue all of the mama tears. For some reason two hit me harder than one did, I was so excited to hit the one year milestone and sigh a deep breath of relief to have made it with only a few bumps and bruises to a walking and talking toddler. But two, oh no, that seems too big, TOO FAST! I wasn’t ready.

Everyone asks me if I’m scared for two when I tell them her age now while we’re out running errands, but truth is I’m so excited for this age! When I was a preschool teacher, I mainly worked with two and three year olds, so I’m in my element now! Toddler meltdowns don’t scare me (mostly), this is when the fun really starts.

We celebrated Iris’ birthday weekend in Wichita, KS this year with my family and the party started from the moment we arrived. We were also able to see our friends and make our first visit to Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, KS so I’d say she had an amazing birthday weekend. We went to Tanganyika on Saturday, had her Peter Rabbit party on Sunday, and then her actual birthday was on Monday (Labor Day) this year.

Tanganyika was even better than we expected and we can’t wait to go back! Iris got to feed giraffe and lemurs, pet kangaroos and a giant turtle, and watch penguins eat their fish. I couldn’t believe and was so proud of Iris for petting the kangaroos, that was one thing I didn’t think she’d be ready for, but she was! You never know with toddlers, one thing you think they’ll love they don’t want anything to do with and then something you think will freak them out they are allll about.

We really enjoyed seeing lots of animals we don’t have at our normal zoo and a few that we do in more open habitats. Iris had so much fun exploring with her friend Mason!

For her Peter Rabbit party, we made signs and cupcake toppers to fit the theme, a cheese ball shaped like a carrot, and chocolate covered strawberries with orange chocolate. These turned out a bit of a mess, because the chocolate was so thick, but they still tasted good!

We started a tradition last year with her Iris in ONEderland party of getting an antique or vintage looking version of the book and letting guests giver her wishes and sign it as a party guestbook. I love that she’ll have something from each of her parties to keep and remember everyone who came to help celebrate her.

I also do her birthday meals and cake on our “special” plate, just like my mom always did for us. The plate she got to use this year is the one I used growing up and my mom found one just like it for us to use at home. ♥️

Iris received so many thoughtful gifts that she couldn’t wait to get home and play with including a water baby, lots of new books to read, a bigger trampoline, and her first little car. So much fun!

For her actual birthday we went to the park and rode a train and did the slides roughly one billion times, ate more cake and ice cream, and went for pizza with family. Perfect day for our sweet big girl.

We decorated our bedroom doorway with streamers and balloons so she would see them as soon as she woke up. I love starting traditions that we’ll continue and expand on as Iris grows up. What are your birthday traditions? I want to know, thoughtful family traditions are my favorite thing!

We’re finally back to a good routine since getting home last week. We were in a bit of a post-birthday week fun hangover! It doesn’t help it’s been hotter than it’s been all summer since we got home. Iris just wants to be out jumping and driving, we can’t wait for fall weather!

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.

♡ MALLORIE

Beauty Favorites in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee ↠ St. Somewhere Spa Margaritaville Island Hotel | 3 things to know before getting a lash lift!

In the past month I’ve had the privilege of visiting St. Somewhere Spa in the Margaritaville Island Hotel at The Island in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee twice. It is such a gorgeous spa, located inside such a fun hotel surrounded by so many shops and restaurants. Definitely a place to visit if you live in the area or plan to visit!

I was able to try the new lash lift and tint ($80 and $25), an express facial ($80), a 90-minute massage ($120-150), and a Pedicure in Paridise with gel polish ($75+). See the very bottom of this post for all the specials they are offering my readers! I’ll get to my review of the lash lift and tint and the three things to know before you get one for yourself, so if you’re here just for that skip down a bit. I got the massage and pedicure on my first trip to St. Somewhere Spa, so I want to go into those first.

The 90-minute massage at St. Somewhere Spa by Mark was, hands down, the best massage I’ve ever had at a spa. I’m not the only one who thinks so, because the masseuse is up for best in Pigeon Forge (if you’ve had a massage there, make sure to vote)! I’ve been plotting how to make this a regular thing now. 

My gel pedicure is still going strong one month later! The mani-pedi part of the salon is so pretty, it makes getting pampered that much more fun. As you can see in the pictures, they have large glamorous booths and you get to hang out in the comfiest robes while sipping wine or mimosas. Perfect spot for a girls trip or afternoon out!

The express facial, lash lift, and tint were all done by Kristale. She started with the facial and it was also up there in my top three best facials (and I’ve had a lot of them). I definitely recommend doing a facial before your lash lift and tint so your face is clean and lashes are prepped. I was so relaxed, which was nice since I had no idea what to expect from the lift and tint experience and was a bit nervous going in. 

Kristale used the new organic line they will be carrying as of October 1stin the spa, Eminence Organic Skin Care. I don’t know if it was the products or a technique she used on my face, but as I mention in the video the redness and roughness around my nose that I’ve talked about in previous youtube videos was GONE after this facial! I couldn’t believe it. I’ve had it for over two years now, since I had Iris, and nothing has worked. No other products or treatments did a thing. Now if I could just figure out how to get rid of the dark spots I got during pregnancy, that would be great…

If you live in (or near) Knoxville and want more info about Eminence and switching to an organic skincare line, make sure you’re on my email list (I don’t flood your email, promise) we have something special in the works and you won't want to miss it!

Make sure to watch my youtube video below on all my thoughts about the lash lift and to see the entire process in action, but I will say it does feel a bit strange, like you have weights on your eyes while the product is sitting and you have the silicone shields on your eyes. It isn’t painful though, just strange. There are a few things I think you should know before deciding the get a lash lift.

Here is the lash lift immediately after it was done, no makeup…

And here is what the lash lift and tint look like with mascara and eyeliner...

1.    Bring a contact case!

If you wear contacts, make sure to bring a case with solution to take them out before the lift and tint. I didn’t know this and we had to be extra careful during the process. I ended up tossing those contacts when I got home (it was close to time anyways) just in case. But it will go much smoother and you won't have to worry if you take them out for the treatment.

2.    No water on lashes for at least 24 hours.

To not mess with the perming process and get the best results and lashes that last, you want to stay out of the shower for 24 hours or more if you can. Or if you do shower, make sure to shield your eyes. This is good to know before hand in case you have an event you’ll want to schedule the lash lift a few days before.

3.    A lash lift is better than lash extensions!

This one is my opinion, of course, but I did A TON of research before deciding to try a lash lift and tint. I have wanted to try extensions for years, but always chickened out for fear it would ruin my natural lashes. The upkeep is also a lot and I know many people stop getting them for that reason alone. You can’t use serums and oils on your face, which you know I love, when you have extensions so that also stopped me from ever trying them. And then there is the fact that once you decide to stop extensions or take a break for a while, your lashes get sparse while the extensions fall out and before new regrowth. 

A lash lift on the other hand, gradually fades and goes back to your natural straight lashes if you don’t get another lift or don’t make an appointment in time. They also are supposed to last for 2-3 months; I’ll keep you updated on that! I didn’t think the lift would give me as dramatic results as extensions, but my lashes look like falsies now! I am OBSESSED. They look so much fuller and longer than when I just use a lash curler at home. Everyone will have a different experience, depending on your current lash cycle and length of your natural lashes, but I didn’t realize my lashes could look this long on their own.

I’m soooo excited to let you know they are giving a FREE lash tint to my readers, just use the promo code FREENAPS. Make sure to tag me on instagram or wherever you share your results, I want to see allll the pretty lashes! 

They also offer 20% off for anyone that lives in the Pigeon Forge and surrounding areas (that’s you Knoxville friends!). You also get the discount if you are staying at the Margaritaville Island Hotel or the Margaritaville Inn in Pigeon Forge. I have a few cards for 25% off, so let me know if you plan to visit soon and I will make sure you get one before your trip! 

There is free valet for spa and hotel guests, so you don’t have to walk from the parking lot to The Island for your appointment, make sure to use it! Just make sure to tip them, of course.

I want to know, what is your spa treatment of choice? Let me know in the comments!

♡ MALLORIE