November 2020 / Mainly Marta :: A Motherhood + Lifestyle Blog

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Welcome

What started as a digital diary to document a newfound journey as a stay at home mom / wife has quickly evolved into my own little corner on the internet where I share all that life brings my way -- the good, the bad, and those "aha!" moments. All with a hint of sarcasm, a dash of truth and bold European wit. Thanks for following along!

11.30.2020

Gift Guides For The Men In Your Life



Hey y'all, it's day two of my gift guide series and since we talked about gifting the ladies yesterday, it's only fitting that we talk about gifting the men today. I hope you enjoy this series and are inspired by the guides I've whipped up today. 

As always, I want to insert my famous disclaimer here -- some links listed are affiliate links which means I do make a small amount of commission if you purchase through them. There is never any pressure to buy anything, but when and if you do, each purchase does help support me + my sweet little family. 

If you decide that you want to try + purchase Beauty Counter skincare products from these guides, would you mind buying through my link -- click here. I recently started my partnership with them in the pursuit of using cleaner beauty products and helping others to do the same (read more about my why + the great switch by clicking here). 



For Him :: Husband | Dad | Boyfriend

◨ Slippers 

Countermen Fresh Essential Bundle

Flannel Robe

Fossil Watch

Wallet

Green Bluetooth Speaker

Leather Sneaker

Scarf

Yeti Mug

Belt

Chess Set

Countermen Shaving Cream

Baseball Cap

Duck Boots

Nose Hair Trimmer

Counterman Body Wash

Headphones 

Water Bottle

Silk Tie




Teen :: Brother | Son | Guy Friend 

Basketball

Mario Bro Sweaters

Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Mini Pool Table

Tennis Shoes

Windbreaker

Darth Vader Device Holder

Bluetooth Speaker

Millennium Falcon Wireless Charger

Pac Man Mug

Hot Sauce Set

Dickies Beanie

Counterman Exfoliating Cleanser

Backpack

Water Bottle

Coffee Bar Soap

Muscle Massager 



Little :: Boy | Brother | Nephew

Train Set

Dinosaur Island

Little Patient 

Gas Station

Wooden Binoculars 

Wooden Guitar

Sling Shot

Taco Truck

Wooden Tradesmen 

Fishing Set

Eco Bricks

Wooden Hero Set

Rockets

Wooden Block Set

Stories of Adventure


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11.27.2020

Gift Guides For The Women In Your Life



So, it's the day after Thanksgiving and I thought I'd get in the holiday mood -- by starting a mini blogmas series! It's a little early and a bit more relaxed this year. I'll be publishing a series of gift guides up until the 10th of December and then I'll stop the guides to resume holiday content like winter oily blends and a little reveal of the boy's holiday bakery in the playroom, some crafts, etc.

As always, I want to insert my famous disclaimer here -- some links listed are affiliate links which means I do make a small amount of commission if you purchase through them. There is never any pressure to buy anything, but when and if you do, each purchase does help support me + my sweet little family. 

If you decide that you want to try + purchase Beauty Counter skincare products from these guides, would you mind buying through my link -- click here. I recently started my partnership with them in the pursuit of using cleaner beauty products and helping others to do the same (read more about my why + the great switch by clicking here). 

ALSO, just wanted to take a moment before the festivities begin to say that I am so thankful for you, each click, and the community we've built here! Your support means everything to me and I really cannot stop gushing about how far we've come together. Without you, this blog would just be another corner of the internet, so I just want to take this moment to thank you for sticking around and engaging with my content. I really do appreciate you! 

Now, let's get to those gift guides, shall we? Day One is all about the women in our lives! Let's get gifting!



Wife | Girlfriend | Mom

Satin Sleep Set

Cozy Robe 

Blush Slippers

Lip Trio

Beauty Counter Adaptive Moisture Lotion

Queen Mug

Stripped Pink + Grey Pajamas

Pressed Flower Necklace

◨ Beauty Counter Deluxe Mini Set

Handmade Lavender Soap

Medium Transport Tote

Glass Jar Candle

Beauty Counter Golden Hour All In One

Kai Rose Perfume



Teens :: Sister | Daughter | Bestie



Beauty Counter Counter Control Collection

Fuzzy Socks

Knotted Head Band

Personalized Birth Flower Ring

Laced Brown Suede Booties

Green Jewelry Box

Beauty Counter Lip Gloss

Beginners Knitters Kit

BlueTooth Record Player

Sherpa Sweater

Jane Austen Novel

Squeeze The Day Mug

Beauty Counter Glow Shimmer Oil

◨ Cozy Buffalo Plaid Coat

Little Book of House Plants

Compact Vanity Mirror 

◨  She Reads Truth Bible




Little :: Girl | Sister | Niece 



LeleLerele Doll

Doll House (with Furniture)

Piki Basket

Peg Family Set

Wooden Beauty Set

Baby Care Set

Hazel Village Ada Doll

MiniKane Doll

Wooden Tea Set

Music Stars Book Set

Dress Up Belle Gown

Rattan Doll Bed

Pink Eco Wooden Block Set

Plush Horse

Jolie Kitten 

Unicorn Clips

Sing Pro Microphone

Felt Coffee + Donut Set

Fairy Mice

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11.23.2020

The Great Switch

I wanted to take this week's post to announce my partnership with BEAUTYCOUNTER! As many of you know, I don't consider myself a beauty guru, but a good skincare routine has always been on the to-do list especially as I approach my 30s. 

So, I am taking a moment to share my relationship and history with beauty, skincare, and makeup on the blog. I always want to be upfront and share the entirety of my experiences with you guys. I'll be sharing why I switched and what I am hoping to accomplish with this mini side gig. This one lengthier than usual, but I wanted to share it all. So here goes! 

My Chaotic History With Beauty

Growing up, I wasn't allowed to experiment with makeup. My mom was never one to wear it and my father was always saying no to any inkling of me mentioning makeup. I never got that trying on your mom's lipstick stuff and my parents always told me to take pride in the natural, God-given beauty that was given to me. 

In high school, I'd save every penny and then sneak a Loreal or Maybelline foundation + mascara through the door. I was terrible at color matching and it showed because every time I'd put it on, I'd get a little lecture about how pale it made me look. My mom warned constantly that cosmetics would age my face and it ruin my skin. My dad would chime in saying that I was already beautiful and that God made me perfect and you cannot enhance perfection. I really didn't need it they said, but my pimply skin was screaming otherwise. 

My college days were no different, except the lectures became less frequent and it became more of a sigh from my father when he noticed that I was wearing makeup. I was never a full face of make up kinda gal, but if he noticed I had some on, he made sure I knew that he disapproved. 

After I got married, my husband said he didn't mind makeup, but he also wasn't a fan of pops of color either which was fine because, with my inexperience, I wasn't going to get courageous now. But with a green light from my guy, I signed up for all kinds of subscription boxes (read about what I tried here) and I bought a ton of products on my search of what works for me! Drug store brands, high-end brands, and products that were exclusive to Sephora and Ulta, I tried a lot of things. It was great for two years until it wasn't. 

My face was always breaking out from products no matter how hard I scrubbed them off at night. I bought all kinds of cleansers and removing wipes + towels. No matter what I was doing, it didn't help. Nothing was truly amazing -- it was good for a while, but then the breakouts and cystic acne would pop up. To add to the pimples, my eyes were constantly stinging from eye shadows and mascara I was using. When it came to skincare, my face would either be too oily or too dry and no treatment was really helping. My pores got so large that I felt like any wider and people would start to fall into the black holes they were creating --  kind of dramatic, but it was a horror story. I hated looking in the mirror.  I was over it and that made me stop trying to find the right products. I would just use makeup I had on special occasions and then brace for the aftermath of breakouts and super irritable skin.

The Switch

One day, I was peeping Instagram stories and a good friend of mine was sharing her journey with BEAUTYCOUNTER. She was gushing about how they are trying to pave a way on Capitol Hill for more regulations on the ingredient list of cosmetics. I was impressed with the information she was sharing but moved along because I was over makeup at this point. Each day, this friend would share what Beauty Counter did for her, and I engaged with the content because I am always pro-supporting people in their side hustles.

Then came the day when she asked if she could send me some samples and if I'm going to be 100% honest, I almost said no. I really was disappointed with skincare products and I wasn't wanting to try anything else, but this friend had always been supportive of me and my endeavors, so I felt like I couldn't say no. 

So, in came the samples and I avoided them for a week. One night, I decided on a whim that it was time to try it (just in case she was gonna ask me about how I like them). To my surprise, I actually really liked the cleanser she sent me and the moisturizer left my face feeling really soft and moisturized instead of the usual weird drying, but oily feel the other products gave me. 

Each sample lasted for 4 days and when they were done, I was actually sad about it. I was seeing an improvement in my breakout and in the texture of my skin, so I went to my friend and started asking questions. I basically bombarded her with all kinds of questions over a span of several days. I even asked if there was something that BEAUTYCOUNTER offered that she would not recommend and y'all she straight up told me there was. It was that moment when I knew she wasn't just selling and promoting BEAUTYCOUNTER for the perks, it really was a brand that she loved and wanted to share that with others.

So I ordered some full-sized products and after seeing the results for myself, I decided to sign up as a "consultant." 

The Partnership / Consultant Gig | updated 12/4/21 

So, first off, I hate the word consultant because it makes me cringe. I am not and probably will never be a beauty guru. I am a semi-crunchy mom and I want to invest in good CLEAN skincare. Signing up for BEAUTYCOUNTER was primarily for the discount, but as I use these products, I am seeing how good they actually are which makes me want to encourage others to make the switch too! It's too good not to share. So, I like to look at this as another long term collaboration and partnership because essentially, that's what it really is. 

BEAUTYCOUNTER has a great rewards program called Band of Beauty that gives you 10% of your total purchase back to your account for future orders as well as 10% off every product + free shipping on orders of $100 or more. I love that there are no minimums, autoships, or pressures to buy or sell their products. The only catch is that it's $29 to sign up, buuuuuuut wait, don't let that be a turn off because if you spend $50+ you get a free gift that values more than the initial sign up fee. 

Annnnnnnd, if you do end up spending $100 or more when you sign up for Band of Beauty and choose me as your consultant during check out, I'll reimburse you that $29 sign up fee as a way to say, hey, thanks for giving clean beauty a chance

if you're ready to sign up, click here for a little tutorial on how to sign up for Band of Beauty. 

Sooooo, yah! I made the switch and hope you will too. In the meantime, I'll be sharing more about the products, how to use them, what I love, what I don't, and why it's worth every penny here on the blog and on Instagram. I hope you follow along and then, one day, try it out for yourself. 

I'm here for you if:

◪ you have any questions
◪ you want to chat about the switch
◪ you are curious about the products + want to sample some 
◪ you want to jump in & sign up for the rewards program
◪ you want to learn more about being a "consultant" 

basically, anything you need, I'm your gal, so don't be afraid to reach out, email or slide in the DMs. 

12/2021 -- an update
I am no longer a consultant as of December 2021. After a year of being a consultant, I decided that it wasn't for me -- I am still a Band of Beauty member, but ditched the repping gig. 

What they don't tell you when you sign up is that they expect you make them at least $1200 every six months. I made the quota the first term, but the second term, I fell short. They stripped me of my status as a consultant which is fine, but to become a consultant I would have to pay the fee again + buy another starter kit.

so, it's a rip off if you're not constantly trying to sell the products and doing a good job of it. The discount was really nice, but if you're not gonna hustle, I'd just save your money and not buy into the consultant realm of things. 

11.16.2020

Affordable Home Decor | Winter Edition


Hi friends! Today I thought I'd share some cute winter decor items from Hobby Lobby, Amazon and Target. We set up our King of Christmas Tree and have slowly started decorating for Christmas. We're in the holiday spirit, and thought we'd scratch the itch of those of you who are waiting until after Thanksgiving by sharing these cute finds. As always, just want to mention some of these links are affiliates which means that I would get a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. No pressure, just a tremanous amount of gratitude for all the support. 


Target Wall Decor / Signs 

Locally Grown Trees

Noel Sign

Joy To The World

Joy (wreath)

Merry Christmas

Sleeps Til Christmas

Comfort & Joy

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Tis The Season

Fresh Farm Christmas Trees


Hobby Lobby Signs + Decor



For Unto Us A Savior Is Born 

Small Joy Nativity

Joyful

Oh Night Divine 

White Merry Christmas

Joy To The World Striped Pillow

Noel Pillow

Sage Glitter Pine Tree

White & Blue Glitter Nativity 

Frosted Crabapple Wreath

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him

Shimmer Lantern 

Luke 2:9 Metal Sign


Amazon Holiday Decor



Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Red Plaid Pillows

Mini Artificial Christmas Trees (green, white and gold)

Merry & Bright Mug

Rustic White & Silver Candles 

3 Christmas Books

Balsam & Cedar Candle 

Red, White, Green Stocking

Christmas Tree Plate

Jesus Is The Reason

Gnome Trio

Reindeer Figurines 

11.09.2020

cozy pullover sweaters | '20 fall ⬝ winter

Brrrrrr. It's chilly outside and that means it's my favorite time of year. Oh, you know... that wonderful transition from a warm fall to a cold winter or what I'd like to call sweater weather. So to celebrate, I thought I'd round up some of the coziest sweaters on the market. 

Per usual, just taking a minute to announce that some links listed are affiliate links which means I do make a small amount of commission if you purchase through them. As always, there is no pressure; I'm just wanting to be upfront and honest. Annnnnd, of course, to thank you dear reader for all of your support!

$50 & Under 


Over $50 

◮ ombre sequin cropped sweater 

dotted eaton puff sweater

cable knit puff sleeve sweater

baez striped sweater 

get with it rust-colored mock knit sweater

rust orange dotted sleeve sweater

space-dyed sweater

black, white, yellow plaid sweater

cream ruffle neck pullover sweater

multi colored beige sweater

rust + white striped alpaca sweater 

camel brown cashmere sweater

marled multicolor sweater

cobalt blue turtle neck


Cozy In Sherpa  

camel brown

olive daze sherpa

brown animal pattern

antique rose sherpa

mint green sherpa

asymetrical grey 

half zip sherpa 

11.02.2020

a mini devotional; lean into Him (+ bonus oily blend)


in the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: 
God has made the one as well as the other 
ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭


it’s hard not to look at the world and feel hopeless right now. things happening on scales both big and small can leave you crippled with fear if you go down the rabbit hole long enough. friendly reminder that on both good days and bad days, you are still taken care of by the Savior. He sees you, He hears your whispers, and He’s ready for you to cast those worries on Him.

as we approach election day, no matter the result, remember that He is there for you. He sees the uncertainty in your heart and He knows it all. As we cast our ballot, I am also casting my faith in the One who is in control. I hope you do too -- no matter the outcome.



oh, and before I forget, here's the oily blend I'll be diffusing on election night -- just in case you're feeling anxious and want to use some oils to help reduce the stress. 

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