Kid Brother's Birthday

On April 3rd, my kid brother turned fourteen. After we got home from manning the store, we headed over to hang out with my family and help with the preparations. We helped my mom make dinner {homemade burgers!} and I wrapped my brother's presents while my husband had fun social time with the boys playing video games. My sister frosted her homemade cake; she makes the best cakes!

I put the wrapped presents in a laundry basket and then hung out by the BBQ with my mom. When I bounced back in, I discovered my sister's cat, Georgia, had climbed into the basket and made herself at home.

She meowed and begged for attention, the silly girl.

Later, we found out that she'd ripped up one of his presents.

That's the birthday boy sitting down glaring at me. He was super excited to be turning fourteen but, being a manly boy, he didn't want to show it.

That's my sister, supervising the situation. 

Isn't he cute as he waits for his dinner to be served?

My husband was having a grand time. He hasn't experienced a whole lot of Deaton-style birthdays, so he really enjoys them when they come around.

The kitchen got quite busy.

Mom doesn't like her picture being taken but I took it anyway. Sorry about that, mom. :)

Dinner is served!

After dinner, we had cake and ice cream. The cake was chocolate, if I remember correctly. It was delicious nonetheless.

Maddy punched the candles in place while Izac brought the ice cream in to soften up.

He blew out the candles, with cameras flashing and clicking all over the place. Okay, so mine doesn't have a flash. But still, you get the general idea.

Then the birthday boy opened his presents.

While being filmed and watched by everyone.

He got quite a lot of cool stuff. My husband and I got him glow sticks and a pocket notebook. He loves those!

I kept my sister company in the kitchen while she served up the dessert.

We had a bit of fun, like in the old days, making faces at each other and taking pictures. Then critiquing the pictures afterwards.

It was so touching to have my big happy family gathered around for my kid brother's special day. Everyone getting along and being so....happy.

I almost cried several times. I think my brother had a really good birthday this year.

A Lip Coverage Tour

I go through lip balm like you won't believe. Oddly enough, I've only tried a select few flavors from the few companies I've come across. So this made for an interesting experiment in figuring just what have I tried from whom and did I like it at the time? Turns out I've tried more than I thought I did and discovered whole new flavors that I now want to try so very much! Anyway, off we go on this little tour for your lips.

Our first stop is Chapstick. Classic Cherry has been my favorite flavor for a long time, mainly because when I first decided that, I hadn't had any other flavor.

Classic Strawberry makes a nice change from cherry.

Classic Spearmint was a wonderful discovery - who knew they made minty lip balms, right? But spearmint isn't one of my favorite flavors in general so it doesn't rank too high up. I still have my hardy-used first tube of it floating around somewhere.

Moisturizer Original. I use this every day and go through it super fast. My husband doesn't know if this is a good thing or not.

For Christmas my husband got me a three pack of Moisturizer Green Apple and I love it! So green apple-y and yummy!

Also around Christmas time I was sent a free sample of Moisturizer Raspberry Creme` and it is now one of my very favorite Chapstick flavors!

Active Sport Ready came with the free Raspberry sample so I gave it to my husband. I wasn't particularly fond of the sun block-flavored kisses I got for awhile afterwards but that's okay.

Medicated is always handy to have around. Speaking of which..... I think I have to go shopping.

Flava Craze Grape has a very sweet smell which I used to full advantage when my husband and I were courting and couldn't technically kiss in public. The poor man would eventually give in after being driven crazy by my sweet smelling lip balm.

Flava Craze Fruit was his favorite flavor when we were courting. Don't ask me why.

Flava Craze Blue Crazeberry is a weird flavor. It wants to be raspberry {I think} but its something else entirely. Plus it makes my lips look a very odd purple color.

And now for the flavors I haven't tried yet but have decided I really want to! Peppermint is right at the top of the list because I love peppermint anything!

Seasonal Spring Flavor Cake Batter would be great to get my husband. He loves cake - unless it's carrot or German chocolate or has coconut on it.

Seasonal Spring Flavor Velvet Cupcake would also be a fun flavor to try.

Seasonal Flavors; Candy Cane, Apple Cider and Chocolate Truffle. I can't believe there was a chocolate Chapstick and I didn't force my husband to find and buy it for me!

I haven't personally tried the Classic Original but my brothers have and well, they haven't died from lip poisoning or anything so I guess it's safe.

Moisturizer Vanilla Mint looks so yummy!

Update: I got this flavor shortly after writing up this post and it is yummy, but it can't decide if it wants to be vanilla or mint. Very interesting.

Now we're leaving Chapstick Avenue and heading over to Blistex Boulevard. I grew up familiar with Medicated Lip Balm because that's my mom's preferred lip balm choice.

Fruit Smoothies: Melon Medley, Berry Explosion, and Triple Tropical. All very sweet, fruity and smooth. I really like the berry one. My husband hasn't "tried" these yet; they were before his time. *winks*

Medicated Berry Balm sounds like a really good flavor to try.

Along with Fruit Smoothies Orange Cream.

And this pretty Silk and Shine variety.

Raspberry Lemonade Blast could be too sugary sweet but it still looks good to try.

Around the corner we have Softlips Causeway, with Raspberry heading the way. This is the only Softlips product I've tried; the rest are all on my Want to Try list. I had rather liked the affect of this one.

Vanilla

Cherry

Strawberry

Mint

Wildberry

Seasonal Flavor Peppermint Stick

Seasonal Flavor Jack Frosting

Seasonal Flavor Sugar Plumb Berry

Seasonal Flavor Winter Mint

Watermelon

My husband will hate me if I get Coconut Cream because he doesn't like coconut. *evil grin*

Off to the right is Smackers Alley where you can find Lip gloss Pink Lemonade,

Lip Gloss Strawberry Kiwi,

Watermelon,

Strawberry,

and Vanilla. At least, I'm pretty sure I've tried the strawberry and watermelon. These lip glosses are very sugary sweet and sticky so I don't like wearing them a lot. But I married a man with a sweet tooth.....

Sugar Crystals would be something he'd love.

I have tried Sparkler Strawberry {and strawberry Kiss of Color but that's not pictured}.

Vanilla Frosting

and Raspberry Spritz would be fun to try.

Chocolate Lip Frosting was the first chocolate lip product I bought and I still have it. I save it for special occasions when I want to tempt myself to eat my lip gloss. Hmm, I think I need more chocolate. Brb.

And while we're at it, let's poke our head into Loreal Lipstick. Blushing Berry was the first thing of lipstick I ever bought and it is a beautiful shade.

My mom gave me Cinnamon Toast because she didn't think it was her color.

And then I got British Red {or Drumbeat Red or something bright reddish anyway}. My husband likes this particular shade; his favorite color is red.

And that's that. I can't tell you which lipstick colors I'd like to try in future because they all look different in the store. Anyways, enjoy!