Boom. Pow. Sparkle.

 

What's a little family to do {when baby bean is bouncing off the wall at the booty crack of dawn, the cupboards offer dust bunnies instead of coffee grounds, and someone or two woke up on the wrong side of the bed} on miss America's big day? 

Why, bust out our finest red, white, and blue

and pledge allegiance to buffalo wings, huckleberry lemonade, and ice cream cones. 

of course. 

And even though my allergies decided to disrupt the annual love affair with sparklers, piccolo petes, and grand finales,  

good ol' George Washington heard my prayers and

a few of those TNT pop-its just so happened to be tossed under my feet by some charming {feral} children.

I'll take it. 

God Bless the USA

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Generation Apple

When I first moved out of my parents' house after high school, on any given night I'd receive a phone call from them. 

You'd think it would be them asking me how I was doing. 

Telling me of how a single tear rolls down their face every time a glance into my bedroom was met with chilled emptiness.

That life was not the same without my constant wit, beauty, and charm in their day to day. 

You'd think.

Then the reality of life in the form of my Dad's voice would come through the speaker, 

"Hi Bonnie, we are trying to watch a movie, but now the sound isn't working on the tv."

Throw the addition of wi-fi, laptops, smart phones and iPods into the mix and I'd almost become an episode of "Outsourced." Only, funnier.  

Little did I know, that my generation had been groomed for this. All those years of Super Mario, Windows 95, and blasting Celine Dion's "Let's Talk About Love" on my Discman had prepared me for these phone calls. 

...

So, what is Baby Bean being prepared for? 

Rocket scientist. Presidential candidate. Ikea "Blirgenblag" creator. 

The sky is the limit.

I mean, he promptly opened Photo Booth and pressed "enter" to take those photos. All by his 7 month self.

And then he broke my left arrow key off and attempted to eat it. 

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Amazing $4 Summer Skin

 

 {via}

"The Nubian Heritage African Black Soap line combines the ancient medicinal properties of black soap with the hydrating properties of Shea Butter to balance skin. Our traditional African Black Soap recipe contains palm ash, plantain peel extract, tamarind extract and papaya enzymes. This powerful combination has traditionally been used to treat eczema, acne, oily skin, psoriasis, and other skin ailments. In the apothecary tradition, Nubian Heritage updates African Black Soap with active botanical extracts and salicylic acid to more effectively treat acne, balance skin tone and improve skin texture. Daily use of the line will result in cleaner, clearer, healthier skin."

This stuff is incredible. 

in.cre.di.ble. 

I had to share.

Preach it. 

Testify! 

The Holy Grail of Soap.

Prepare to be converted if you believe in soft, glow-y, and clear skin.

{I have combination-sensitive skin, that usually has to be balanced with an apple cider vinegar toner to get my PH levels ship-shape}

 

Pros

It wipes away any and all traces of the day: oil, dirt, makeup, and baby drool: Check

Leaves your face squeaky clean, (but not drying): Check

Balances skin tone: Check

Improves skin texture: Check

Haven't even had a hint of a smidgen of a pimple in ages: chhhhhhheckmate to you, Hormones.

Cons

It literally is black soap. like, the color of ash. Which is a little funny to see on your washcloth after you're all clean, annnnd the cloth has dark grey marks all over it like you just came home from the coal mines (doesn't stain). 

That's the only con. and it's more like a fraction of a con. 1/4 of a con. Forget I even mentioned it!

...

I'm scrubbing through my second bar now and never looking back.

Also, this soap is my daily reminder of the time I spent in Rwanda. 

That I still have yet to see the movie I "starred" in, {long story}

which I'm sure, by now, has won me an Academy Award. 

At least my skin will be red-carpet ready. 

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

 

Current Favorites {A Giveaway}

 This is my teeny tiny drop in the blog bucket way of saying "thank you." 

Thank you for being here.  and for letting me share the little, medium, and big things of my silly billy goat life.

Especially, thank you for putting up with a ridiculous amount of baby bean photos these past seven months. 

And for putting up with the things I write, like "silly billy goat."

That would be the "I just spent the past 8 hours with a seven month old" talking. 

Want to see a picture? 

hehe.

again, thank you and you and you! 

Words can't express enough, so maybe a few goodies will do the trick!

{Shabby Apple sponsored the gift card portion of this giveaway. Major props to them. I added my other favorites to sweeten the thank-you-guys dealio}

 ...

{Shabby Apple} $50 Gift Card

{BaubleBar} Wishbone Pendant

{Urban Decay} Naked Palette

{moment of silence}

I know. right?!

...


How To Enter

{mandatory}

*Must be a follower of The Whim Wham Life

*Show Shabby Apple some love. Comment below with what you'd use fifty apple buckaroos on. 

*Show me some love. Comment below with what Shabby Apple item you'd buy me. {just kidding}

Really Realllllly Want to Win

{keep comments separate to count as additional entries}

*Follow @shabbyapple and @whimwhamlife on Twitter {+1 entry}

*tweet, blog, or facebook about this giveaway {+1 entry}

Giveaway is open to U.S. Whim Wham Life readers, thru Sunday, July 8th. Winner will be contacted Monday, July 9th.

...

Can't wait to see who wins! 

I'm positively giddy. 

This must be what Santa feels like. 

or Oprah. 

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Completely Unrelated

 You know things in life have been busy when you can take the unpacked suitcase that laid around for five days after a trip, and it gets you through another trip. 

And with yet another trip around the corner, I'm tempted to do that magic trick again. 

Don't judge, you know deep down that this is a genius idea. 

 

How's this for another idea:

A Giveaway. 

tomorrow. 

be there or be square. 

and when I say there, I mean here.
 

  

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

June Bug

This time last year, we would hurriedly toss our picnic basket and quilt in the car as the welcome warmth streamed hot and heavy through cloudy cotton wisps. 

Our lazy afternoons spent in a rhythmic dance alternating between sun and shade.

This time last year, we were also anxiously wondering what life would look like as the Fall arrival inched nearer and my stomach grew larger. 

While we filled ourselves with chunks of sweet watermelon, the undeniably bitter taste of imminent change wouldn't wash away. 

one. two. three. 

How can you be ready for three, when you're still figuring out two. heck. you're still figuring out one. number one. yourself. 'cause let's be honest, the world revolving around you, that still exists. darn. 

Somehow, we did it. 

We're here. together. 

And the world is different because of it. 

Picnics... those are different too. 

They're better. 

xoxo

{Bon Bon}

Drink Up: A Recipe

This is one of our favorite thirst-quenching drinks in life, especially during the months of june, july and august. 
A big batch of this and a porch swing. 
Life is complete. 
Jesus himself could return, and you'd be like, "holy inconvenience. I better be able to take this with me, mister." 


{a sacrilegious recipe post. 
only you, Bon Bon, only you}



... 


Almost Sonic Cherry Limeade

Sprite

Limes

Maraschino Cherries

Grenadine

Ice

Mix your Sprite, fresh squeezed lime juice, cherry juice and a splash or two (or seven) of grenadine in a pitcher. 

Add lime wedges and cherries. 

Pour into cups filled with crushed ice. 

Boom. 

Summer in a glass. 

a 44 oz. glass if you want to be Sonic copycat official.

xoxo

{Bon Bon}