Magnolia Notes

Score!

2012-02-12T00:20:00.001-06:00

Are you a self-professed makeup junky like me?

Then run to the nearest Burke's Outlet (We have them in the South. Not sure if they are everywhere.) and look in the makeup section.

Why?

Because I just found Stila Lip Enamel gloss for $3.99...They are originally $20+.

I love a bargain. *sigh* I picked up Giggle (hot pink), Joy (sheer red), and Euphoria (berry). I am happy to report that these glosses are long lasting and not sticky.

Definitely the find of the year makeup-wise!

I just FEEL smarter...

2012-02-05T20:31:00.001-06:00

Remember my discovery of Coastal.com? Free glasses?

They came in early last week, and they are perfect! The prescription is spot on, and I've been very pleased with the quality.

A little outlandish,yes. But I love them!

I also popped back in to the site to check out some of their other prices, and they have another special going on for Valentines. $50 off of your order when you add a lens upgrade. So considering another pair!

Undergoing Underwriting

2012-02-04T21:57:00.001-06:00

If you've ever bought a house, you probably still get a little shiver down the spine when somebody says, "Closing."

But do you know what's worse than boogie monsters, prepaids, spiders, and having to come up with a year's worth of home insurance premiums?

Waiting for an underwriter to render judgement upon your mortgage application.

You've probably guessed that we're buying a house...Errr. Attempting to anyway.

Here is my advice for anyone going thru this process:

1.) Get Pre-Approved, NOT Pre-Qualified. Pre-Approval involves having your lender run a credit report, checking your bank accounts, and verifying your debt-to-income ratio, which you should have already done prior to setting up your appointment. Don't let it sneak up on you! Google "debt-to-income ratio" to figure out the math. It's easy!

2.) Set your limit and stick to it. You should have a serious conversation with yourself, your spouse, your partner, etc about what you really do and do not want in a house/neighborhood. This is most often a 30 year committment, and frankly, NOBODY looks at houses without getting a little emotionally involved. Better to have the basics sorted before you start looking at that charming little wreck down the road. You'll also be less likely to bump your budget up, say, $80K...

3.) Get Thee to a Buyer's Agent. Do you know what the Seller's Agent's job is? To get you to buy THAT house. A Buyer's Agent, who also wants to get you to buy A house, is more concerned with getting you into a house that fits your criteria. Look for one with extensive knowledge about the area you want to live in and who will champion on your behalf. Our agent has been an invaluable resource for neighborhood knowledge, places to avoid, houses to avoid, and the information about the process.

4.) Even if it looks perfect, have it inspected. Let's be serious, home inspections aren't cheap...You know what else isn't cheap? Digging your charming little wreck out of a pit after the foundation fails on you. Best to just search the web for a CERTIFIED and LICENSED inspector in your area. And no, your Uncle Handy Manny is probably not the best idea either.

Have I followed my own advice, you say? Yep. Now I'm sitting back and cooling my heels while we wait on appraisal and underwriting.

Wish us luck, and if anyone wants to commiserate, comment below!

Free Nerd Chic Glasses? Why, yes, I will!

2012-01-27T20:46:00.001-06:00

I've never been one of those people who only wore their glasses at home...You know? Where no one else would possibly see them?

I've pretty much always been a glasses loving n.e.r.d. Especially funky, trendy frames in unexpected colors. Unfortunately, glasses are expensive. I'm pretty sure every optometrist must have ten kids to put through college, because glasses usually put a crimp in my purse budget.

Knock, knock...

Who's there?

Costal Contacts

I stumbled across this gem of a site while watching YouTube videos.

And do you know what? They have a promo code for a free (FREE) pair of prescription glasses! (Firstpairfree)

Check out these puppies:

Yeah, that's a multiplication and division sign on the corners. Be jealous. These are so mine.

And I only paid shipping. *Sigh*

January Favorites

2012-01-26T20:57:00.001-06:00

Good evening, my lovelies!

While the hubs is at work, I thought I would catch up on my blog a bit. Here is what I LOVED in the month of January:

1: Pinterest - Look, if you're not on Pinterest, don't start now! It is the crack of the social networking world. I curse the day I was introduced to it...As we speak, I'm checking my feed. Crack.

2: NPW Vanilla Nail Polish Remover Pads - I found them in the check out line at Ulta for a buck or two, and they are a treat unto this world. Alcohol and acetone free, they have some sort of cuticle oil built in. I adore them. (www.npw-USA.com)

3: The. Colorblock. Tote. - This is not your mother's grocery sack, ladies. This is the epitome of totes. Thick canvas, leather details...I've had a love affair with this bag this month. Mainly because I can shove a LOT of stuff in it.

4: Sakroots iPad cover - I'm usually that rebel you see toting a nakey iPad. I know, I know. Terrible. Right? But I found this gem in a TJ Maxx for $16. L.o.v.e.

That's about it. What did you love this month?

Yeah, I did it.

2012-01-23T21:13:00.001-06:00

I have no excuse for myself other than...Well, okay, no excuse.

I saw this phone case on YouTube, and being a bunny mama, I had to get one. This is the Rabito Bunny iPhone case in light pink.

I'm slightly ashamed at how excited I was to find this in my mailbox today.

Return from the Black Lagoon

2012-01-22T22:39:00.001-06:00

Hellooooooo?

Anyone out there?

Yes, it's me. Again. It's been almost, what, two years since I updated this blog. I went AWOL on my little blogging community, something I have regretted for some time.

Let me catch you up on my life:

1.) Two years ago this March, the rental home we were living in burned down. That put a cramp in my blogging style, which we have really just now started to recover from. Thankfully, we are both alive, employed, and have a new rental house. Unfortunately, we did lose most of our belongings in that fire and two of our precious pets.

2.) I'm still working in Human Resources. I added a few duties that allow me to do design work again, which pleases me to no end. Ah, Adobe, my friend.

3.) David is still nursing, but he's at a hospital now instead of hospice.

Other than that...Not a lot of change. I hope to rejuvenate this little blog and get back into the habit. Here's what you can expect from me:

1.) DIY projects. I've done a little of everything in this two year gap. Jewelry, sewing, painting, etc.

2.) Reviews. I'm still into makeup and beauty products, and I'm still pretty damn opinionated. ;)

3.) Ramble...ramble...oh, look! shiny thing!

4.) Recipes. Yeah, that's right. I cook.

Colorado, here I come!

2010-03-07T13:54:00.000-06:00

Well, I mean...Not this minute. But in a few days, yeah. Totally there!

Anyway, I'm having a few anxieties about the great trip to Colorado. I'm not scared of flying, per se. I love looking out at the scenery. I think I'm more worried about the process of the airport. It has been several years since I last flew, and I've never done it by myself. Any tips for packing for a two night, three day business trip?

I'm debating on sticking with a carry-on or checking a bag. All those regs about what you can and can't take in your carry-on! I totally support the TSA, but I'm nervous as hell that I'll get there and have to dump half my bag.

So, give 'em up, ladies! How would YOU pack?

Loreal Voluminous

2010-03-03T19:44:00.000-06:00

So, I've been trying to use Loreal Voluminous mascara for the past two days. And I must confess, I just don't get it. It makes my lashes look beautiful, but after a few hours....I'm smudge city. I can clean it up, but in another hour or so, I'm looking like rocky raccoon again.

Everyone else seems to love this mascara. Is it just me having these problems?

Thank you all for the comments on my last post! I'm so glad to be back. :)

Okay. So I'm a bad blogger (And a few favorite products!)

2010-03-01T21:40:00.000-06:00

I know. I promised some posts, and I went AWOL. I have no excuses....Other than:

1. I'm working on a few big projects at work. I'm in charge of fundraising for Relay for Life for our plant, and I'm also the new publicity chair for the county's Relay for Life.
2. I'm going to Colorado for training in relation to one of my big projects. I'm doing some work for all four plants, and I have to learn a new software, which is based out of Colorado...What a hardship, right?
3. I'm having some medical problems. Nothing to worry about, I hope, but I'm going to a neurologist in April. I'm taking a medicine for nerve pain in my skin, and it makes me really loopy.

But here is some new info about products I'm OBSESSED with right now:

1. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure (?) in Thinking of Blue. I may have the name wrong, but this shade is the perfect cream navy blue. The formulation is amazing. Go directly to Walmart, do not pass go. Buy this stuff! It is a top, base, and it has a hardener in it as well, I believe. I use two coats, and they last for days!

2. Tresemme Brunette/Red head shampoo (Brown bottle)- I'm not usually one to rave about shampoos, but this product is perfect. It really removes nasty color-changing deposits from my reddish/brown hair, and it leaves it shiny and soft. It also has a very nice scent as well.

3. Bath & Body Works HandiBac Anti-Bacterial Hand Lotion in Fresh Lemon - I hate lotions. No seriously. I only have three types of hand lotion I'll even consider using, and this is now one of my most favorites. It has surpassed Mary Kay Satin Hands for me!

4. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Pink Whisper - This is the prettiest baby pink gloss ever. Yes, it is kind of sticky, but it is well worth it. It is glittery, but it isn't chunky. Just try it out! I fell in love with this shade, and I went back for the peach as well. They are my staples now.

Also, I'm on day 1 of my Revlon Color Stay Foundation, so I'll keep you posted on that. Does anyone have application tips? I don't use liquid foundation much, so I'm a little out of practice.

Again, I'm sorry I've been all MIA. I have missed the blogging community, and I hope to get back in the swing of things soon. Anybody living in Colorado want to come save me from the big bad airport? :-/

A day in my life and upcoming posts

2010-02-13T20:19:00.000-06:00

I have been crazy busy lately. It has been a struggle to get things accomplished at home and do my articles and post here. I've slacked big time on all three. Here is a little day in my life:

6:20 a.m. - Wake up sluggishly after going to bed at 11+ p.m. Stumble blindly into the bathroom clutching the portable heater from our bedroom. It is 30 degrees here, and we haven't turned on our gas heat yet. That stuff isn't cheap!

6:30 a.m. - Took my shower last night, so I break out the flat iron. Attempt to smooth bed head while shivering in my jammies.

6:45 a.m. - Put on the exact same makeup as day before: Clinique dramatically different moisturizing lotion, Clinique concealer, MAC studio fix powder, L.A. Colors duo blush in blushing pink/mauve (It was $1, but it is GORGEOUS!), brown eyeshadow quad plus ice white shimmer for inner corner, Rimmel Volume The Max mascara, and MAC blankety lipstick.

7:00 a.m. - Throw clothes on in mad dash.

7:15 a.m. - Drive 30 to 45 minutes to work.

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Answer the phone, do paperwork, laugh with hilarious coworkers, work on new project for company, etc etc. Almost non-stop action until closing time, when I turn off my lights, lock up my area, shut down my computer, and clock out.

After that, I drive the 30 to 45 minutes home again and stare blankly at the fridge. Thankfully, my considerate hubby, who gets off an hour before me, usually has a plan. Bless him.

Anyway, I basically LOVE my new job. My title is Human Resources Representative/Receptionist, and I'm working on a new project for all four of our plants, which I am super stoked about. Everyone is exceptionally nice, and I can't think of one thing about what I'm doing that I hate.

Here is what is coming up:
1. B-day/V-day/D-day Haul
2. Review of Sally Hansen Salon Manicure in Thinking of Blue
3. Swatches of Clinique creme eyeshadow in Rock Violet and Different Lipstick in A Different Grape.

I LOVE you all! Happy Valentine's Day!

V-day nails!

2010-02-08T18:39:00.000-06:00

We got snowed in again today, so I decided to watch a few nail art tutorials on YouTube. I was then possessed of the desire to paint my nails using my own V-day inspired design.

I used:

1. L.A. Colors top coat/base coat

2. OPI's Vodka & Caviar

3. Revlon Colorstay in True Sheer Camisole

4. L.A. Colors Art Deco in Black

PS: To make the hearts, I used a needle. I'd advise a.) a better tool and b) a better nail polish than the Colorstay. It was very goopy.

Photo editing: Making life prettier than it really is. (JK)

2010-02-08T11:52:00.000-06:00

I've always been into photography. I took a class when I was younger, and I've always had two or three cameras for different uses. Recently, I've been asked to take photos of couples, wedding dress shopping, etc. I'm pretty flattered about that! But do you want to know what my new favorite discovery in photography is? Picasa 3!

I used to use Adobe Photoshop (etc, etc), and I also use Aviary.com sometimes. But I was recently playing around with my husband's computer, and I edited a few photos using Picasa 3. I love this program. It has the standard cropping, straightening, lighting features, and it also has some neat tools! You can "warmify," glow, soft focus, etc.

Here are a few examples:

It is free, easy to use, and has a great interface. Try it out!

Extensions: Cheating is fun.

2010-02-07T20:59:00.000-06:00

So, as you know, my hair is only about shoulder length. I've always wanted nice long hair, and before my wedding, I decided to buy some. Those that can't grow, buy! ;)

I purchased a set of the Remy human extensions at Sally's in August, and I've loved them ever since. They were fairly expensive at $80, but I got a nice discount from the Sally's because of my wedding. They were very sweet! Here is a picture of me wearing them lightly curled:

It gives you kind of an idea of what I look like with the longer hair. The color is a bit off, since I've lightened and dyed my hair red since I purchased these. I don't really have any shots of me with a good view of them. I'll work on that!

Here are a few facts about human hair extensions:

1. You can straighten, curl, or otherwise heat style them. Just like your own hair though, you don't want to be too harsh on them.

2. You can dye them. Just treat them like your own hair. Be gentle when applying the dye and condition afterwards.

3. You should wash them every so often if you're using hairspray or other styling products on them.

4. If you want the extensions to look more natural, either cut them yourself or take them to a styling and have her cut them with your own hair.

5. You don't just need extensions for length. They are great for volume too! If you want more volume, place them closer to the top of your head, leaving enough hair to cover the weft.

Hope these little tips/facts were useful to you! I love mine, and I'm so glad I got them.

How to: Use an eyeshadow trio

2010-02-02T19:13:00.005-06:00

This is by request.

This is just one way to use an eyeshadow trio. There are tons of ways to place the colors, but I use this one a lot. It looks very natural, and it only takes a minute or two. If you want something a bit more dramatic, you can pack the second darkest color on your lid and place the darkest color in your crease!

Hope you enjoy!

Stolen: One word answers!

2010-02-02T17:52:00.000-06:00

Just stole this from Jennifer at Becoming Briggs. It looked like a lot of fun!

One Word Answers

Your Cell Phone? PDA

Your Hair? Red

Your Mother? Missed

Your Father? Hilarious

Your Favorite Food? Pasta

Your Dream Last Night? Strange

Your Favorite Drink? Coke

Your Dream/Goal? Motherhood

What Room Are You In? Den

Your Hobby? Photography

Your Fear? Fire

Where Do You See Yourself In Six Years? Mommy

Where Were You Last Night? Jackson

Something That You Aren't? Shy

Muffins? Cinnamon

Wish List Item? iPad

Where Did You Grow Up? Noxubee

Last Thing You Did? Makeup

What Are You Wearing? Jammies

Your TV? Hairspray

Your Pets? Many

Friends? Awesome

Your Life? Fun

Your Mood? Bummed

Missing Someone? Davy

Vehicle? Car-olla!

Something You Aren't Wearing? Socks

Your Favorite Store? Marshall's

Your Favorite Color? Pink

When Was The Last Time You Laughed? 5:00

Last Time You Cried? Iono?

Your Best Friend? Rachel

One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? Walmart

Facebook? Addicted

Favorite Place To Eat? Robins!

At home dermabrasion

2010-02-02T14:01:00.000-06:00

While bargain hunting at Marshall's recently, I found a nifty little product that I was pretty excited to pick up to the tune of $12.99: Neutrogena Pure Glow Microdermabrasion.

The kit is basically all you need to give your skin a new glow at home. Here is what you get:

You also get 2 AA batteries to run your little scrubber thing.

The foam pad that covers the machine is replaceable, as is the cream with aluminum oxide micro-crystals.

The instructions basically tell you to wash your makeup off, dip the wand into the cream, and dot it on your skin on your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. You then use the wand to buff the cream around your skin (no more than 2 minutes in any place), and you get a choice of 2 speeds. When you're done, you wash the cream off with a warm water and moisturize with your favorite cream.

You repeat this process nightly for 7 days (every other day if you have sensitive skin). After that, you will continue to use the kit 1 to 3 times weekly.

I've been using it for about 3 days now, and I notice a difference in how my makeup goes on and how my skin looks. I feel like my moisturizer is more effective now, and I don't have any irritation from the system. I also feel like my skin is more "glowy" than normal. I will post a picture once I'm done with my 7 days.

I noticed on Makeup Alley there are a couple swaps available for this product if you can't find it in stores or online!

Dum da da dum....Employed Girl girl girl!

2010-01-28T20:27:00.002-06:00

Yes, you heard me right! I got the receptionist / human resources rep. job at the big factory! :) I'm super excited, and I start on Monday! Thanks for all of your support and well wishes. I'm a bit scattered at the moment, so I'll be back to posting regularly soon. Promise!

<3!!

Valentine's Day gift ideas for the fashionista

2010-01-28T20:26:00.000-06:00

Refer your husband to my latest article for the big V-Day, ladies!! :)

Valentine's Day gift ideas for the fashionista

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Quick! Think happy thoughts!!

2010-01-26T19:28:00.000-06:00

I got called in for a third interview today at the big company for the HR/receptionist position. They read the job description off to me, and it is a lot closer to HR than it is to reception. I would do payroll, events planning, benefits stuff, etc. This could be huge for me! I should hear tomorrow morning!

THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS! I'll keep you posted! :)

NOTD: Pink Pearl

2010-01-25T21:46:00.001-06:00

Has anyone else used this $1.00 brand? I'm in love with this baby pink color. It has just a smidge of shimmer to it, but it mainly looks creamy. I'm obsessed with these shades right now for my nails. This only took two coats, but I probably could have gotten away with one, actually. :) I found it in Dollar General.

Drugstore mascaras

2010-01-25T21:31:00.002-06:00

Another article just went live. Read ahead to find out a few of the options for drugstore mascaras!

Drugstore mascaras offer a cheap alternative to department store brands

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Coming up:

Tips for using eyeshadow quads (ex. covergirl, etc) as requested by Jennifer at Becoming Briggs!

Coolest thing ever!

2010-01-25T11:58:00.000-06:00

Some of you have been sent products to try or have been in contact with the makers of special products before, but since I am relatively new to "beauty blogging," I haven't ever been approached by a company.

Well, today I got an email from the creator of Curlformers thanking me for my post about them on the 15th. He was very nice, and he even told me that the picture on my post of a girl in Curlformers is his daughter! :) It is a family business based in the UK (I believe), and I was so gratified to receive a thanks on my review. It made my day!

Read my Curlformers review!

Now I am off to do my second interview at the big company! Yes, that is right. I got the second interview! :)

In my opinion...

2010-01-23T20:35:00.000-06:00

Customer service is key. Having worked with the public for awhile, I recognize that it is often not your store but YOU that sells the product. If you give great customer service, customers will come back.

That said...I went into a Sally Beauty Supply tonight to try and get a few quotes for a story I'm working on. I know that most retail stores have regulations about giving quotes, but you can usually get approval from an upper manager for generic quotes about products, etc. Not only did I get "shut down," they mistakenly talked about "shutting me down" while I was still in the store...SHOPPING! No joke here. I was courteous in asking my initial questions and introducing myself, and three associates (including the manager) proceeded to talk about "We don't let no news people in here. I shut her down!" They didn't realize I was still there until I turned to tell them, "Thank you for your assistance" before leaving.

You what you also shut down? Any chance of me returning with my wallet in hand!

I will be finding a Sally's farther from my home but with MUCH better service.

Sorry for that rant! lol

So...You want to see my baby?

2010-01-22T21:30:00.000-06:00

Yeah. That's Big Mack. He's grown quite a bit since we got him, hasn't he? *Sigh*

He's just so cute that we have to forgive him for :

1. Peeing on everything.

2. Attempting to pee on everything.

3. Eating the Christmas tree (It's still up. It's a holiday tree. I'm putting hearts on it for V-day. Yeah.)

4. Crying like a baby when he doesn't get his way.

He is pretty sweet though. :)

Dressing for success: Appropriate interview attire

2010-01-22T21:09:00.002-06:00

This is my latest article. Check it out for tips on how to dress for interviews. Sorry if you find any errors, I was having trouble focusing. Normally, I'm a lot sharper! lol Please feel free to comment on the story and send story ideas or questions my way.

Dressing for success: Appropriate interview attire

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My favorites courtesy of Ashwini @ Clearly Beautiful

2010-01-22T15:43:00.001-06:00

Since I am already working on another story for the Examiner, I'm going to do this fun post. I love these kinds of things. :) Thanks, Ashwini, for suggesting it!

Colour - Hrmmm. Grey and pink. And green...And teal...Lord, help me.

Animal - Pen'guinz...Yep.

Band - The Beatles. I'm old skool.

Singer - Michael Buble. *drool*
Song - "All You Need Is Love" (my processional AND recessional at the wedding. One instrumental, one original)

Film- That's hard. Uh..."The Care Bears Movie" Care bears...Stare!!!!
Food - Pasta salad.
Drink - Sweet tea.
Restaurant - Reddddd Robin. Mmmmmmmmmmm!
Shop - Marshall's, TJ Maxx, and Ross. I cheat.
Website - YouTube.
Magazine - People Style Watch
Sport - College football.
Team - Hotty Toddy! Ole Miss. Yeah. I'm cliche.
TV Program - Ghost Whisperer
Place - Mississippi University for Women! 'Dubya girls: best in the world!'
Season - Fall
Beauty Product - MAC studio fix powder foundation. Oh, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.
Hair Product - Aussie leave in conditioner
Make Up brand - MAC. Though I, sadly, can't afford it much!

Perfume - Juicy Couture (the original perfume)

Fashion find: Sunglasses

2010-01-20T21:39:00.000-06:00

I'm not usually a big spender on sunglasses. I have a pair of Vera Wang for Kohl's sunglasses, which were $20, but that was rare. I just recently noticed that those were getting pretty worn, and I've been using a cheapie pair my gram gave me. Then...Dum da da dum! I went to Marshall's.Ya'll know I love a deal. I love finding really good products at places like Marshall's and TJ Maxx for way cheaper than they should be.

I found these Juicy Couture sunglasses, which currently retail at $135 on the website, for $29.00 That was pretty expensive for me, but I had been watching them and watching them. I had some money saved up, so my husband told me to go ahead and grab them before they were gone.

I love the way they look, and they are pretty understated and go with everything. Man, I love Marshall's.

I'll probably be doing an article on designer sunglasses at discount prices for Examiner, because seriously, you can find some great deals. That store also had a pair of women's Calvin Klein aviators in blue for $7.00.

NOTD and new article on Examiner.com

2010-01-20T21:15:00.000-06:00

Hey lovies,

How is everybody this week? Things are great here. Still plugging away on finding a "job," but things are looking up. I'm getting some nice hits on the Examiner site, so the more views I get, the better the pay. I was the "Most Popular Jackson Examiner" the other day!

Anyway, I painted my nails yesterday using Essie's Curtain Call and Borghese Celestial Silver. I did a french tip effect, so I thought I would show you. I got both of these polishes at Marshall's for $2.00 a piece. :)

As you can see, pretty subtle, but I like the "princessy" feel.

Here is the link to my new article, please check it out and feel free to comment. Thanks!

Jackson Beauty Examiner

Designer bags at discount prices

2010-01-18T19:39:00.000-06:00

My second article for The Examiner just went live. Go check it out for tips on finding designer bags at discount prices-- Not just in Jackson, TN. This is good for any location!

Designer bags at discount prices in Jackson

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Why I'm glad Ebay hates me.

2010-01-18T17:10:00.001-06:00

Well, in all fairness, Ebay doesn't hate me. We have a love hate relationship. You see, when you bid on something, you start to get attached to it, and you can't do that.

As I mentioned in my last Ebay post, I was bidding on a beautiful leopard print Dooney & Bourke bag. My max bid was $50, and I was winning up until about an hour before the end of the auction. Am I disappointed to have lost the bag? Kind of.

Let me tell you why:

I discovered a whole host of stores in Jackson that have little pockets of beautiful D&B bags. Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Stein Mart. Last night, my husband and I were out exploring the local TJ Maxx for the first time (I love this store. Everytime I see one I go in!) Usually, they have two or three D&B bags for pretty high prices. Not so last night, buddy!

I found this beauty for a song:

This is a solid leather construction Medium Drawstring bag, a style which coincidently was named by People Style Watch as the "it" bag of the new year.

The reason I got this bag so cheap? It had a pen mark down the front. I took it home and put a little rubbing alcohol on that sucker, and it was good as new. I also got a promise from the manager of the store that if that didn't work, I could return it.

Motto of the story? Sometimes you just have to dig a little and be patient. If you want a luxurious $400 bag without the heafty price tag, you have to think outside the box!

Tag: Tattoos

2010-01-18T13:44:00.000-06:00

Deanna and I are all about getting people to own up to their ink lately! I was super excited to see her beautiful tattoos, and I'm ready to show you mine too!

Though some people do think tattoos are trashy, to me, they are a way to express myself on my skin. I can keep all of them covered or show a few at a time. I also tend to pick designs that are at least feminine or 'pretty.' And my favorite artist (Cory Hand) usually chooses colors to that "go with" all of my other tattoos.

Here we go:

Triquetra: My 1st tattoo. It is a Celtic knot representing the Holy Trinity. I'm Irish Catholic, so I went for traditional. :)

This tattoo is in memoriam for my mother, who passed away from lung cancer. It is a reminder that when life is hard sometimes all you can do is breathe, and also that my body is a temple. Lungs aren't that easy to replace!

This heart infinity symbol is for my husband. He has an infinity symbol on his arm for me. We got these on our anniversary last year.

I have a skeleton key on my collar bone, to remind me of my childhood. Our house only had skeleton keys, and when I was little I took all of them out of the doors and played with them...We never got them matched back up to their respective locks. All my parents could do was laugh! I loved shiny things. :)

This was my funny tattoo (Several celebrities have it!), but it also has meaning to me. Sometimes I let people walk and talk right over me. Especially in professional settings. I got this at a time when I was feeling disrespected at work by some of the employees, and it helped me to remember that I don't have to sit back and take it! Lindsey Lohan attributed a similar meaning to her's as well.

Okay, that is very hard to see...But it is a star in my ear. My tattoo artist calls it the "baby star tat." I got this on my birthday last year. I just really wanted a little secret tattoo in my ear, lol.

This is a cover up tattoo designed by Cory Hand of By The Book Tattoos in Columbus, MS. He is, without fail, my favorite and most used artist. He designed this for me to cover a bad magnolia tattoo. The meaning of this is "giving love to the world." He "cut a heart-shaped hole" in my back through which my heart bubbles out to everyone. We added "All you need is love" at the bottom, because it is my favorite Beatles song, and it expresses the idea of the tattoo perfectly (to me). This tattoo was featured online by BME News, a body modification website.

I have one more tattoo on the inside of my left pointer finger of a teardrop (Don't have a hand picture). Cory convinced me to do that one, and I must say that when people start whining or when I want to pout, it is VERY useful. It never fails to give people a laugh. I just hold it up under my eye, and they crack up, which is what I'm all about. I love to make people laugh!

Sorry this was so long, but I have a ton of tattoos! lol Hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about me, and I hope you'll fess up too! :) I tag EVERYONE!

A tragic loss

2010-01-18T12:30:00.000-06:00

A weird thing happened Saturday night as we pulled out of Birmingham, Alabama after a day of shopping. The traffic was terrible and we were crawling at a snail's pace on the fringes of the city. We began to see blue lights and fire trucks and ambulances, and we assumed there was a wreck up ahead of us. It was a fire. The Days Inn in Hoover had caught fire, and the flames were shooting out of the roof. It was horrible. I think we were all saying a little prayer in case anyone was trapped inside. Me especially, because I'm terrified of fire myself.
Little did we know that, in a roundabout way, my husband and I knew the four students who died in the blaze. We found out today that they were students at our beloved university. We didn't know them personally, but when you go to a campus as small as ours is, it just doesn't matter. The four girls lived in my old dorm. Three of them were pledges in social clubs that I had friends in.
On facebook, I see the statuses popping up amongst all of us alums and our current students affirming that a storm of prayers is going on today. But my heart still hurts for them, and I don't even know what they looked like.

Remedy: Straight hair blues? You too can be a Curly Sue!

2010-01-15T16:27:00.000-06:00

Okay, here's the deal:

I have very straight hair. I have never had good luck with curling tools: rollers, curling irons, etc. They just don't give me the perfect curls I have always longed for. Until....Dum da da dum!

I heard about this neat product:

Photo courtesy of Curlformers.com

Curlformers is a no-heat, curling tool that you can use to give you perfect curls every time! I have been using these for about 8 months now, and I have been in love with them from day one.

Here's how they work:

In Sally's you can purchase the Curlformers themselves, which are flexible plastic tubes that are pre-twisted into ringlets, and you can also get the "hook" you need to pull your hair through them.

Basically, you take the hook and slide it through the curlformer, hook it on to a small section of hair (damp is preferable) and pull the hair through the curler. That's pretty much it. It takes a little practice to get used to it, but you can re-use your Curlformers indefinitely.

How many do I need?

When I purchased my Curlformers, I had barely shoulder length, pretty fine hair. I only need one package of the "Long and Wide" Curlformers. They come in different sizes, and the girls at Sally's can usually tell you what you'll need. You can also buy these things in a kit with a bunch of different sizes and a hook, but that gets pretty expensive. Now, I have hair past my shoulders, and I feel like my hair is a bit thicker. I can still get curls without buying an extra package, but I have to be careful how I section my hair.

Pros and Cons:

1.They are kind of expensive. I think I paid a little more than $20 for my little starter kit.
2. They are indestructible. Well, basically. They stayed curled no matter how many times you use them.
3. For me to get the best curls, I put them on damp hair and sleep on them, which ain't the best night's sleep I've ever had. You CAN blow dry them, but that seems to take too long for me.
4. No joke, these curls last for HOURS. I spray them with a bit of hairspray, and I'm out the door.

Nobody paid me for my endorsement, and I bought everything on my own. I do highly recommend them to ladies avoiding heat styling. Check out their website: http://www.curlformers.com . Or go to Sally's to see them in person!

That's me on my first try with Curlformers.

Ebay: An obsessive compulsive's worst nightmare.

2010-01-14T20:22:00.000-06:00

Have you ever bid on anything on Ebay? Plugged a few "wish list" items into the search engine looking for the best "deal" ?

Yeah. Join the ranks. It seems like everyone and their mama is using Ebay these days to procure even the most limited edition of items. Don't get me wrong. It is a wonderful outlet for those of us trying to save a dime by buying items at lower than retail cost. I am currently bidding on a Dooney & Bourke bag in the double digits myself. It is used, but I'd take a used anything if it was a couple hundred dollars cheaper.

BUT...And there always is one! I find myself becoming obsessed with checking back to make sure the bids are still the same...Eyeballing pictures of my lovely little leopard print beauty. I almost wish I had just gone on down to the Macys and picked up a brand new one to avoid the stress. Ha. Like I have $335 laying around for a purse.

Who doesn't love getting something for practically nothing though? I can't deny that getting this beauty

Image courtesy of Dooney.com

at less than $50 would certainly make my year bright.

And it certainly would be nice to win. I will confess to having liberally cursed the first time I bid on something on Ebay and almost lost...I'm far too competitive, darlings.

Help Kandee Johnson!

2010-01-14T17:28:00.000-06:00

Do any of you read Kandee "The Makeup Artist" Johnson's blog? She is in some serious trouble, and she needs help. Go to her blog to check out her latest post regarding her legal battle. http://kandeethemakeupartist.blogspot.com

She is a positive and inspiring person, who is one of the number one beauty gurus on YouTube and has a huge blog following as well. She is thinking of holding a sale on ebay to raise money for legal assistance, so keep an eye on her blog for the date!

Thanks!

Hold the horses...Reporter? Grant Writer?

2010-01-14T12:52:00.000-06:00

So we all know that sometimes good news just snowballs. What I didn't realize was that after months of disappointment on the hospice job front, I would be getting opportunities left and right.

Two days ago, I was offered the position of the Jackson Beauty & Style Examiner on Examiner.com, which is a very reputable online news source. It is a contractor position, and I get paid by page views (or something like that). I'm still in the "background check, W-9 filling out, first story review" process, but all is looking well. (For those of you who don't know, I graduated with a degree in Communication, and I worked in newspapers for awhile.)

Then today, I got a message from my MIL (Who has her doctorate and works for a rather large school district) about another Dr. who is looking for grant writers to work for her. I gave the woman a call, and it looks like I might have another job as a grant writer for literacy. She's reviewing my samples, but she is already talking about my first grant writing project.

Um...I still haven't heard back from my other full time job (receptionist), but I'm starting to wonder how I'm going to manage all of these things...

Any ideas, people?

Help.

Bow-tastic

2010-01-13T17:29:00.000-06:00

After reading the wonderful Aya's (Strawberry Koi) post on homemade hair bows, I was possessed of a desire to create my own. Her instructions were flawless, and it only took me a few minutes to whip up this beauty with some spare ribbon:

So basically, if you're interested in these lovely bow creations or in vintage clothing, hairstyles, etc...Go check this lady out! She does fabulous tutorials on YouTube under the same moniker, and her blog is always lovely.

You WILL enjoy it!

Knock it Off!

2010-01-12T21:51:00.001-06:00

Who hasn't at one time or another been curious about fake (Knock off) purses, perfume, sunglasses, or what have you? It gives you a little boost to have "the real thing," but have you ever indulged in a little harmless "foolery" ?

Today, I was strolling around Cato's waiting on my interviewer to finish assisting a customer, and I stumbled upon a stand of "Inspired By" perfumes. Preferred Fragrance Inc. puts out several perfumes that are modeled after extremely popular designer brands. They attempt to package them in similar packaging and do it for an insane price. Read: $4.99 for a gigantic bottle.

Now, in most cases, you get what you pay for. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by some of the fragrances on display. Bamberry Weekend (Burberry Weekend) was a lovely scent as well as the mock DKNY's Be Delicious, whose name I forget. Since they were so affordably priced, I picked up La Vida Loca, the Viva La Juicy knock off.

I pick up a lot of berry notes in this and citrus (which are present in the designer fragrance), and I think I am smelling the floral in it as well. My husband loves it!

The staying power of these types of perfumes isn't that good, but for $5, I'm not really ticked about it. It did last longer than I thought it would, and since it is packaged so nicely, I won't mind a bit toting this around with me for a midday spritz. It's a bit of harmless fun, and I can save my special perfume (Burberry London) for special occasions!

One down. One more to go.

2010-01-11T12:01:00.000-06:00

Just got home after my first interview of the week. I felt as if everything went well, and the person from Human Resources that came to talk to me after I was done with the panel interview said that I did very well. The job is much more than I realized. The receptionist at this company really gets to do quite a lot in HR, etc.
The panel told me that they are doing several interviews this week for that position, and they would be calling me back if they require a second interview.

Hopefully, I got it! That would be great news!

Job Hunt + Blush

2010-01-08T22:39:00.000-06:00

So, I really cranked it into gear this week with my job hunting. I applied at various places including a clothing store, the hospital, and a large company looking for a receptionist. Fortunately, I got two phone calls today (two days after applying and sending my resume), and I have two interviews set up with the clothing store and the large company. I'm pretty stoked, and I'm equally nervous. My resume is good, and I have marketable skills...But I'm always nervous that I won't get back into the workforce. Wish me luck!

In other news,

I recently tried Maybelline's Dream Mousse Blush in Soft Plum...And I'm in love. A lot of Makeup Alley reviews said there was too much glitter, but I didn't find that to be the case. I guess I'm just not noticing it. I really love the texture and the way it goes on my skin, and I adore the color. In fact, I picked up their Dream Mousse Concealer tonight to try as well, since my Clinique is almost out. Have any of you tried these products?

Photos courtesy of Maybelline.com

Remedy: Sinus Rinsing

2010-01-06T19:29:00.000-06:00

It sounds gross....It is kinda' gross, to be honest. But if you have chronic sinus problems, you simply have to try this.

Photo courtesy of Neilmed

For about $10, you can safely and painlessly irrigate your sinuses yourself. The kit comes with everything you need to create the saline solution used in the process and for several uses thereafter. You simply boil some water, let it cool to lukewarm, and follow the instructions. The process is similar to the use of nose sprays, except the water goes in one nostril and comes out the other!

My husband and I have been using this for about a week now, and I really notice a difference in his snoring and my sinus pain. Try it out and see what you think!

(PS: Not a company paid endorsement.)

First Blog Awards o' the New Year

2010-01-06T19:07:00.002-06:00

Ashwini over at Clearly Beautiful (Who is going vegan for six weeks. No seriously. That takes will power!), recently nominated me for not one but TWO fabulous blog awards. I am uber excited about that, and I thank you very much, love!

Here they are:

I'd like to nominated the following girlies:

Vanessa @ http://cosmeticschickchat.blogspot.com

Emily @ http://emloves.blogspot.com

Eliza @ http://eliza-mcclellan.blogspot.com

Deanna @ http://deannalovesprettythings.blogspot.com

Bangin'

2010-01-06T18:54:00.000-06:00

After the new color, I felt a really serious urge for some new bangs.

As you can see, I chose a really heavy bang. I really enjoy this look when worn with very straight loose hair or even pulled back into a bun. I can pull the bangs to the side for a piecey look as well. I also feathered a few pieces of hair on the sides as well to give a little connection between the length of my hair and the bangs when I pull my hair back.

Tips on cutting your own bangs: (Yes, I cut my own bangs. Almost always!)

1. You can cut them wet or dry but be aware that wet hair shrinks pretty substantially as it dries. Make allowances for that when cutting or be prepared to utilize some nice barrettes for a couple weeks. If you cut it dry, it can be a little harder to make your lines straight. You counteract this by cutting a little bit at a time until you get it how to like it. Also, it is practically impossible to make a perfectly straight line, so to disguise that cut upwards into the hair with the tips of your scissors. Just make little cuts to blend the hair line and thin it a bit.

2. Use very sharp scissors, and place a plastic bag (like walmart) in your sink as a lining. If you neglect that step, you'll be fishing pieces of hair out of your sink for the next 10 years.

3. Go slow. You can't add hair back on, but you can always cut more off.

4. If you want to try different styles of bangs, I recommend searching on YouTube. They even have videos for Bettie Page (retro rockabilly style) Bangs!

Good luck! Don't be afraid. Bangs grow seriously fast!

Yucky McYuckins

2010-01-04T17:08:00.000-06:00

In addition to having unusually cold weather this week, I am getting used to a new and extremely powerful antibiotic, which makes me feel totally yucky. The bright spot in this week? We may get snow!!!! I'm like a little kid checking the window regularly. :)

Coming up:

1. New remedy for sinus problems! A-mazing.
2. Cowboy Roses and Earring Holders courtesy of daddy and hubby!
3. New bangs for moi!

Vibrant or Bozo?: Toning tips for the color challenged

2010-01-02T19:46:00.000-06:00

[My last post talked about how my husband and I went to Walmart, and I let him pick my next "red" dye to try. (They were out of my favorite color.) He picked Herbal Essences Paint the Town Red #44, which is a VERY vibrant deep red. ]

No makeup. Yay!

Since I've been dying my own hair (and other people's) for years, I figured, whatever the outcome, I could fix it. I used the dye over my own slightly faded medium to light auburn, it came out a lot more red than I was willing to contend with. It was a beautiful shade, but I didn't like what it looked like with my eyebrows. I LOVED what it looked like with my eyes and skin. I kept wavering between liking it and feeling like bozo. (Believe me...The picture doesn't do it justice! It was a VERY red, red!) Needless to say, we made a quick stop at Fred's today, and I picked up a color to tone it down.

Quick fact: If you need to tone a color down, try a shade lighter than you would normally pick. It often turns out darker than you would think!

They were having a sale, so I picked up two boxes of dye for $5. I got a medium brown and a dark mahogany brown (just in case). Medium brown layered over a darker red, will usually result in a darker auburn that isn't quite as Ronald McDonald.

I love this brand, and I usually differ back to it after trying other brands. It is the cheapest, and it always works for me. My hair usually feels like silk afterwards. BUT (There's always a but.) the gloves that come with this brand are terrible. I borrowed some of my husband's powder-free latex gloves! :)

In addition to switching gloves, I always section my hair off before I dye my hair. If you don't, you run the risk of missing patches. Yuck!

That's three sections secured with hair ties then clipped out of the way.

After I took care of those steps, I mixed the dye according to the manufacturers instructions, and I only left it on for about 15 minutes. I didn't want to get rid of the red. I just wanted to tone it down a bit. After my time was up, I rinsed throughly and conditioned using a Herbal Essences after color conditioner. I saved my packed of Colorsilk conditioner for later. It is a good conditioner, but the packets are messy!

Here is my finished color:

Yet again, the lighting doesn't really do it justice. It is a very deep auburn. The brown balanced it out just enough, and when the light hits it, the red is amazing.

Should you decide to do your own color, don't panic. Unless you are trying to go from black to blonde or something crazy, you can probably achieve what you want at home. Just do a little research on the brand you like and the color wheel, and you should be good. If you have an "Uh Oh!" moment like I did, just think logically about what color could tone it down.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post a comment!

A new color for 2010

2010-01-01T23:43:00.000-06:00

So you know how lately I've been a medium to light auburn? Well, I let my husband pick out my hair color tonight, since Walmart was out of my usual shade...And he picked Herbal Essences Paint The Town Red...

Let's just say I'm pretty vibrant.

Pictures to follow.

Initial Review: Clinique 7 Day Scrub

2009-12-30T17:26:00.000-06:00

Confession: I am the world's worst about actually taking care of my skin. No joke. I'm terrible about not putting on sunscreen, and I rarely exfoliate...And...Shh! I don't take my makeup off every night. I know! It's bad. But, I'm getting to the age where if I don't start taking care my skin somehow, I'm going to look like a Jim Henson creature from The Dark Crystal.

Enter Clinique 7 Day Scrub. I received a sample of this with a gift-with-purchase, and I tried for the first time last night.

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

All in all, the texture is not as gritty as some I have tried that made me feel like I was going at my face with sandpaper. It had just enough texture to make me feel like I was doing something. Afterwards, it rinsed off fairly easily, and my skin felt very smooth. After applying my Dramatically Different, I really did feel the difference in the texture of my skin. I'll have to try it a few more times to tell you what I really think of it. Here is what Clinique has to say:

"Nudges away roughness, flakiness to refine skin. Helps lessen the appearance of fine lines. Clears the way for moisture. Suitable for all skin types."

It was also voted a "Reader's Choice" by Allure Magazine.

Has anyone else tried this product?

Christmas Surprises

2009-12-30T17:08:00.000-06:00

I have been debating for the last few days over whether or not I would share two very special gifts from my husband with you guys. I'm very anti-bragging about "things" in my daily life, so I was pretty nervous about posting this....But since you are all so very nice, I figured I could show you without anyone thinking I was trying to be "bout it, bout it." Yeah, I went there.

Normally our Christmases are pretty small, because we've been struggling college students for the last three years. This year....(Thanks to the fabulousness of the Kay Jewelry account!), he surprised me:

Photo courtesy of Kay.com

Probably the most important part of this gift to me was that he picked everything out himself, so I was naturally in tears!

Thank you, hubby! You are the bestest!

Mini Haul: Cosmetics

2009-12-28T21:37:00.003-06:00

Here are a few things I picked up with some Christmas money:

1. NYC Liquid Eyeliner:

Image courtesy of NYC Cosmetics. Click here for their website.

I picked up this liquid liner on a whim at Ulta. I've been looking for a liquid liner recently. I haven't used one in a very long time. As a matter of fact, my first experience with wearing eyeliner at all when I was 12 was with a liquid!
I was skeptical about this product. It cost about $1.50, so I wasn't sure about the quality. I was definitely surprised! I wore this all day today with nary a smudge. The color is pearlized black, and it is pretty pigmented. It went on like a dream.

2. Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Baby Baby:

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Image courtesy of Clinique.com. Click here to purchase.

I picked up another Clinique lippie at Belk this weekend while in Meridian, MS. I stood at the counter for a long time looking at testers and swatching, and I decided upon this beauty. Now this isn't really a long lasting lipstick, but oh, is it a joy to reapply. It is true to its name: buttery and shiny. The color is a soft pinky nude, and it has a VERY subtle shimmer. It has the best texture of any lipstick I have ever used. At the (for me) expensive price of $14.00, it is SO worth it.

3. OPI Vodka & Caviar:

Image courtesy of Amazon.com. Click here to buy for $4.75!

Picked up another bottle of OPI polish at Ulta. They had it on offer for 'Buy 1, Get 1 50% off,' but I didn't partake. I really wanted a long-lasting red polish, and I've been pretty happy with the OPI formula and brush. I put this on top of a chipped coat of $1 red polish, so I won't show you a picture on my nails until I fix it. :) I really love the color so far though. I think it is a great red for fall as it is very rich and not quite as bright as a cherry or fire engine red.

Hope you enjoy this teeny-tiny haul. I especially recommend the lipstick...Honestly, your lips will thank you!

Back Again!

2009-12-27T21:02:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone!

I hope all of you had lovely Christmas times with your families and friends. The hubby and I have just arrived home from our huge Christmas trip. We went to the Mississippi Delta to his family (3 hours from home), and then we drove down to my family in central MS (4 hours)...And then we drove another hour south to my grandmother's house! Very busy people.

I will be posting sometime soon about some new makeup products I bought with Christmas money, and I'm excited to share them with you. Hopefully, that will be up tomorrow.

Night!

Infinity Scarves

2009-12-23T13:26:00.000-06:00

Lately, I've been obsessed with infinity scarves. Well, not exactly lately...I've actually been wanting one of these since last year. They seem to really be hitting their stride. Take a look at these affordable beauties!

Spiegel Small Infinity Scarf - $29

Nordstrom Brazen Fringed Infinity Scarf - $46

Oak Black Rib Knit Infinity Scarf - $56

If you are interested, the Limited also has a great selection of super affordable infinity scarves online! Check out their website here!

As for me....I'll be wearing this lovely blue scarf in numerous ways during the winter weather:

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, lovies!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things: Jewelry

2009-12-20T16:09:00.000-06:00

I was thinking about what type of post I wanted to do today, and I decided to start a series called "These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things." MFT's for short. I will pick a category and give you a glimpse at what I'm loving right now. Today's category is jewelry.

Bird cage necklace by Claire's Accessories. $7.99

I just got this last night on our trip to Jackson, and I love that it looks antique and delicate. I'm obsessed with birds also!

Silver stud earrings by Claire's Accessories. $5.99

I had a pair like this in gold that I got from Burke's Outlet, and I broke them. I was devastated. I'm glad to have a new pair, which I will probably wear every single day! Tough but chic.

Gold and orange/red chain necklace from Burke's Outlet. $7.00

My husband tucked this beauty in my stocking last year to my surprise! I forgot all about it, and I didn't discover it until this week. It's a bold piece, and I've been wearing it with a lot of grays and yellows. It's gorgeous!

What are your current favorite jewelry things?

Quicky Tip and Site Suggestion!

2009-12-20T01:13:00.000-06:00

I learned this tip from Elle of AllThatGlitters21 (YouTube and Blogger):

If your shoes are rubbing blisters every time you wear them out to parrrr-tay, try slathering on a thin layer of vaseline on your heels and other rubbed spots before you shoe-up for the evening. The vaseline keeps the shoes from creating those nasty blistered bits, and it keeps you on the dance floor allllll night long!

Photo Courtesy of Mad About Shoes

Check out Mad About Shoes for more fab pics of gorgeous shoes like these Dior hotties!

News, Reviews, and Wedding Ring Blues

2009-12-20T00:42:00.000-06:00

Hello Lovies,

It has been an interesting week involving trips to the clinic, Christmas shopping, and planning for Christmas trips. I had a bad result on a recent medical test, so I'm scheduled for another trip for further testing on the Eve O' Christmas Eve. No worries. Nothing too serious!

Here's the fun stuff:

- Reviews

1. Rimmel Airy Fairy Lipstick - Picked up this cheapie lipstick at Walmart recently after watching a video on YouTube. The consistency is pretty good. Feels a bit grainy to me, but it isn't terrible. I do love the color, and I've been carrying this with me lately. It is a pinky nude. Go try it out.

Photo Courtesy of Buzzillions.com

2. Burt's Bees Carrot Nutritive Body Lotion - Found a sample size of this in a bag of mine. Barely opened. I got it in a trial pack awhile ago, and I totally forgot about it. It has 99.5% (I think) natural ingredients, which I am all about, so I tried it on my face a couple of nights ago instead of my usual Dramatically Different. I actually loved the consistency. It was very thick and had a pleasant fragrance. It felt very nice on the skin, and the next morning...My concealer went on like a dream.

Photo Courtesy of Burt's Bees

-Wedding Ring Blues

I lost ANOTHER diamond out of my engagement ring. Actually, the same space as before. Just a tiny diamond surrounding the center stone. But still. We took it to another Kay Jewelers tonight, and I will proudly say that they completely replaced the ring for me. They offered me a repair also, but I decided on the new ring. They were extremely helpful, and I never once felt as though it was my fault for losing a diamond. The manager felt that the setting must have been flawed.
If you are shopping for jewelry or are shopping for that special bridal set, go to Kay Jewelers. They take care of you!
And this is my ring!

Photo Courtesy of Kay Jewelers

O' Christmas Tree!

2009-12-15T19:11:00.000-06:00

We are just now getting our decorations in order, so I thought that I would show you what I did to my tree this year. Every year is a little different, and I'm currently obsessed with peacock feathers...So I used a ton of iridescent feathers to add a little life to my fake tree.

I used silver curly branches, two types of peacock feathers, gold and silver ornaments, and burlap and gold ribbon.

What's In My Purse

2009-12-14T19:17:00.001-06:00

I'm sorry for the quality of the video. I did it in a hurry. I always love these videos, so I encourage you to try it and let me know. I love to know what other women carry! Someone should do a tag where they weigh their purse, lol.

In other news, my husband is currently checking our slightly used fake christmas tree for baby mice as we just interrupted an entire mouse family in their nesting while unboxing it. Does this kind of thing happen to anyone else?

Weekend Jaunt and Congrats!

2009-12-11T16:28:00.000-06:00

I'm off again this weekend, my lovies! Yes, I know. We never stay at home on the weekend. That is to be our new year's resolution. To stay home more often!
Happily, my wonderful sister-in-law is graduating from the University of West Alabama with her degree in Business Administration (I think that is it!), and we are going to show our support and congratulations. We are also going so that I can spend some very important time playing with those wonderful babies, my niece and nephew! Can you tell that we have a touch of baby fever here at our house?

As a matter of fact....Congratulations are also in order for my friend Jennifer over at Becoming Briggs! She is to be a mommy in July! Go check her out. She is an amazing blogger and a very talented fiction writer. I know this, because we took fiction writing together in college! :P

Have a fabulous weekend! I have a video for you as soon as we get back!

New development on the job front

2009-12-11T14:26:00.000-06:00

For those of you who aren't interested in things like this, just skip this post! :)

Lovies, you know how long I have been waiting to hear from the hospice company I applied to about a position marketing or as volunteer coordinator...I haven't exactly had an answer, but I at least have hope. They asked me to come and sign up as a volunteer and get trained, and that could give me further opportunities to show what I can do. (I know that I still have people in my corner that are fighting for me to get a position, so I still have hope. )
I finished my training today, and I have to go through a couple tests and background check type things to finish the program...But then I'll be an official volunteer! I am very excited. I hope that this does in fact lead to a career with this wonderful company.

Home Remedy Round-Up

2009-12-08T14:20:00.000-06:00

Here are a few home remedies I've gathered from several sites and tried out:

Garlic - This is a natural antibiotic, so it works extremely well for tooth aches. Place a clove on the infected tooth, and you should notice almost immediate pain relief. You can also chew and swallow this once a day to give your body a boost during illness. In the case of an earache, you can pour a little garlic juice in your ear and then apply a moist heat like a warm wash cloth.

Salt water gargle - Salt helps draw out impurities. Also a great tool during tooth/mouth problems or sore throat. Use iodized salt in warm water. Do not swallow!

Vinegar - If you have a sun burn that is really bothering you, rub white vinegar on it. It will take the sting out of it. After the vinegar drys, the odor will fade away, so no worries there.

Honey - I often use a teaspoon of honey in warm (not hot)herbal tea to sooth a sore throat. Honey has antibiotic and antioxidant properties as well, so it's a great addition to your diet. An old singer's trick is to drink warm tea with honey and lemon before a performance.

Quickie Lippie

2009-12-07T21:04:00.000-06:00

This weekend I was able to pick up another nude lippie that I'm loving. Clinique's High Impact Lip Color in Nude Beach is a lovely and wearable shade. I picked it up looking for an alternative to Mac's Honeylove, which I have an on again-off again relationship with. Honeylove is gorgeous, but somedays, it just doesn't work for me. Nude Beach is very moisturizing and has a very subtle shine.

Nude Beach is on the left; Honeylove is on the right.

As you can see, NB is a little darker and has a pinker base, but I think they are two great shades to have in your arsenal.

A wonderful surprise

2009-12-07T20:41:00.000-06:00

Hello Lovies,

It has been a very busy weekend at our house, hence the lack of posting. David was off duty this weekend, so we could attend a wedding in our old college town and also meet my sister for the first time since I was about 1. You can see it was a very eventful weekend! It was made even more special by a surprise addition to our family.

On Saturday, we headed down to Tupelo for lunch with my sister, and we stopped in Selmer to gas up the car for the hour long drive. As we pulled into the gas station at Walmart, we noticed an older gentleman and his grandson with a truck displaying a sign that said "Free Lab Puppies." Two of my favorite words... Free and Puppies. So after we gassed up the car, we drove over to pet the pups and find out their story. And...We ended up bringing one on the trip with us. He's 6 weeks old and fat as a piglet! Meet Big Mac:

Holiday Photos!

2009-12-03T18:56:00.000-06:00

Want to see some pictures from our Thanksgiving Holiday? Of course you do! Let's get started!

Garlic Cheddar Drop Biscuits

Sweet Potato Casserole (Pecans came later!)

My cousin Jackson chopping firewood.

The cherry pie my MIL made!

Campfire at the farm

My daddy singing cowboy songs. He's the real deal.

Me enjoying the chilly weather with my green hat.

MIL and BIL

The Spread

That's about it! I have a few more, but I'll spread those out. Hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit of our family and Gypsy Thanksgiving from Two States.

To Dye For...

2009-12-02T18:35:00.001-06:00

Let's get a few things out on the table here.

1. I haven't seen my natural hair color since I was 15.

2. I still HAVE hair left. (And it looks good!)

3. I don't pay anyone to dye my hair. I am cheap

In the last year, my hair has been dark brown, black, black and pink, dark red, light red, light brown...I may be leaving a few colors out. A lot of people are afraid to dye their hair, and I can understand that. Once you dye it, it can be sort of hard to get back to where you started.

If you aren't afraid to dye your hair, here are some tips for you:

1. The darker you go, the harder it is to strip it. This is not to say it can't be done. You can use Loreal Color Remover ($7.00 at Walmart) or buy bleach at the beauty supply stores. I use the color remover, because it isn't as harsh.

2. If you can cut back on your washing, it will preserve your new hair color. And when you do wash, pick a shampoo formulated for color treated hair. Don't forget to condition your ends!

3. Think of hair color like you do your clothes. Is there a color you won't wear because it washes you out? Same principle here. If dark colors tend to make you look pasty, maybe you don't want to dye your whole head jet black? eh?

4. Your dye came out a shade too dark? Ruh Roh! Get thee to a soapery! No seriously. Hop in the shower and use a bar of soap to lather up. It'll lighten it just a smidge.

If you're just totally unsure where to start, take a trip down to your local drugstore. Look at the boxes of hair color. They usually have guides on the side of the box giving you an approximation of what your color will be if you use that dye. I use those guides a lot! They aren't foolproof, but it works pretty well!

Dye Glossary:

Semi-Permanent - Washes out or fades after so many shampoos. If you're a blonde going darker, this could mean more washing.

Permanent - It's in there until it grows out or you bleach it!

Warm, Neutral, Cool - This principal is based on the fact that everyone falls into a certain spectrum of color. Check out this website for more information!

Henna - Natural dyes. Lucille Ball used to do a henna rinse to get that gorgeous red!

Highlights - Brightens up your hair with shades lighter than your natural or "natural"

Lowlights - Adds depth with shades slightly darker than your natural hair.
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Hope some of this helped, ladies! Of course, if you get in a pickle...Please go to a salon instead of trying to fix it yourself! (Okay...I'm a hypocrite...I usually fix it myself. I always (ALWAYS) keep an extra box of dark brown dye in my bathroom! )

Lovely Blog Award

2009-12-01T20:11:00.000-06:00

I recently received the One Lovely Blog Award from Emily at Emily Loves, and I am super stoked about that! This is my first blog award, and I am actually starting to feel like it is totally worth the effort I put into working on my baby blog. Thank you for your kind words, Emily!

The rules for the this award are to tag 15 people and let them know you have given them this award. Well, I searched and came up with these 7 bloggers. I don't see the award listed on their site (or I must have missed it!), so I'm going to give it to them. If I think of more, I will add them. :)

Kandee of Kandee The Makeup Artist - Kandee is a professional make up guru, who is possibly the most inspirational person...Well, ever! She always has great how-to's, and she always has a positive word to say.

Danni of Oh, Hello Friend - This blog is dedicated to design inspiration, and she has some really great interviews with artists. I am always picking up new ideas from this gorgeous blog.

Laura of Lollipop26 Writes - I got hooked on Laura's YouTube videos, and I ended up adding her here. She has product reviews and is very knowledgeable about different products and what is being talked about in the market.

Deanna of Deanna Loves Pretty Things - Deanna does awesome product reviews, and she often includes photos of things she is trying. She's currently doing Project 10 Pan, so you should check out that on her blog too!

Noelle of BeautyGirl24 - Noelle has a little bit of everything from fashion to beauty. She swatches products, and I love that. I also love that she uses products from different price ranges.

Absolutely Not Martha - This blog has recipes, fashion, etc etc. I'm all about it! Fashion + Food. I'm there!

Ruby of Cakies - Ruby's blog usually sucks me in with all of the photos. I am addicted to photography, and her photos make me happy. It doesn't hurt that she is just plain adorable!

This and That!

2009-12-01T19:26:00.002-06:00

Hey Lovies,

I'm finally back from our TG holiday. We did a good bit of cooking at my house, and my husband and I also drove the 3 and 1/2 hours to get to my family as well. Anyway, I'm back and ready for blogging!

Here we go:

Laura's Apple Blackberry Pie

5 Fuji apples
1 bag of frozen blackberries
Prepared pie crust (I made my own, but why make life harder?) and sheet of pastry dough for top crust.
1, 2 (10) cups of granulated sugar
Pinch of cinnamon

No seriously. You don't need 10 cups of granulated sugar, but it is pretty much up to your discretion. I used 1 cup and a smidge.

1. Peel your apples and cut into quarters. Core the apple by slicing down on the side of the apple through the core-bit thingy.

2. Put your apples into a saucepan with enough water to just barely cover them. Add sugar and pinch of cinnamon to taste.

3. Cook apples until soft. They'll be sort of goldeny-brown and a bit translucent around the edges. It will also be very fragrant! Yum! Turn heat to low.

4. Add your frozen blackberries to the mixture and stir gently. You don't want to completely break up the berries.

5. Pour the whole shebang into a pie crust and cover with the sheet of pastry. Trim the edges and cut a vent in the center. I do about three slashes in the top crust.

6. Cook at 450 until crust is golden brown.

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Upcoming Posts:

-One Lovely Blog Award! Thank you, Emily!! <3

-Meet my family!

-Sweet Potato Casserole (No, it isn't just for Thanksgiving!)

-Hair dying tips and tricks. Take it from a really cheapskate expert!

2009-11-30T17:53:00.001-06:00

Finally back after the holidays and full of ideas! Will be posting recipes and photos soon!

2009-11-25T13:06:00.001-06:00

Battle of the cats today. Wiley keeps putting his paw down on Lu's tail and holding it down. Lucifer is not inclined to take this lightly. Oh the joy and amusement cats bring.

Hey, Goodlookin'. Whatcha' got cookin'?

2009-11-24T02:29:00.001-06:00

Yes, it is 2:13 a.m, and I am awake. Since my melatonin isn't working for me anymore, my sleep is all over the place. Since I am up, I figured I would toss out a recipe for the dinner I made tonight:

Honey Mustard Glazed Pork Tenderloin:

-Yellow mustard
-Honey
-Garlic powder
-Onion powder
-Pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 450

This glaze is really going to be done to your taste. I eyeballed the whole thing and kept tasting until it was just right for me. A general rule of thumb is to use more yellow mustard than honey. Honey goes a long way. You also just want a pinch of the spices, so they'll just be in the background adding a little pop.

1. I cut two nice medallions off of our tenderloin (We keep a big tenderloin cut into sections in our freezer for weeknight meals. You can also do this with hamburger meat!), and I skewered them with two bamboo skewers each. This helps you stabilize the meat for grilling.

2. Spray a little non-stick spray on your stovetop grill pan or on the actual grill.

3. Baste your medallions and lay them on the grill until you get grill marks. Baste the opposite side, flip.

4. Once your medallions are grilled on both sides, take them off of the grill and finish them up in the oven on the same grill pan (a regular sheet pan will do) to get the center cooked through. Baste again on both sides of the meat before putting them in the oven.

I kept an eye on them, and I ended up cooking them for about 10 more minutes until done.
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I also tried out a new biscuit recipe. I ended up modifying it, so I'll give you the updated version:

Quick and Easy Drop Biscuits:

-2 cups self rising flour
-4 tablespoons mayo (No clue. It was in a recipe online.)
-1 to 1 1/2 cups milk
-Pinch of salt
-Pinch of sugar

Preheat oven to 450.

1. Start with the dry ingredients and get those incorporated well in your bowl. You don't need a mixer to do this. Just use a fork or a spatula.

2. Add in the milk slowly. You're looking for a soft texture. It doesn't need to be "together" enough to roll out, because you're going to be doing these in a "drop biscuit" style. You just want enough milk to bind the dry ingredients together.

3. Take a tablespoon and scoop up a nice little mound of dough. "Drop" it on the greased cooking sheet. It should be about the size of a golf ball.

Cook for 7 to 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them. For some reason, biscuits can creep up on you. One minute they are raw, next minute they are done!

Hope you enjoy these recipes. All in all, they are pretty quick and easy!

Butt in a Rut

2009-11-23T14:42:00.000-06:00

I'm having one of those days.

It didn't start out that way. I got up early and started working on my menu for Thanksgiving. I am cooking for my husband's parents and his younger brother. I had a really good time working on that, and I hopped on here and read new posts from several of my favorite bloggers.

Somehow, it just went downhill. I started thinking about the job that I applied for a couple weeks ago, and I got down. Haven't heard anything back from the company yet. I felt pretty confident when I left training. I know that I was straight forward and honest about my reasons for wanting to work in the hospice field. My heart is in the job! I know from having done hiring, etc for my last job that sometimes it just takes awhile... but don't you just hate waiting everyday for a phone call and not getting one?

I signed up with the job center in TN today, and I took a look at the jobs they are offering. I also went through the newspapers for the surrounding counties. None of the jobs are the type of work I'm searching for. I left my last job after close to two years. I loved coordinating the fundraisers for my store and working with the community to get books donated to children. I learned from working there that I really want to work with people to make sure that they are getting what they need to be happy and healthy.

I'm fortunate in that my husband has a very well paying job, and I'm not bragging. Our first few years together were tough. I was working in retail, and he was in nursing school. I'm lucky to be able to look for the job I want and not the one I need.

That said...If anyone in West Tn knows of a job in hospice, non-profits working with the community, or organizations working with the less fortunate...Holla.

In and Out

2009-11-23T13:02:00.000-06:00

Ins:

-Nokia E71x, I love you.
-Maybelline eyeliner in Raisin.
-Psst! Dry Shampoo for creating volume.
-Rimmel lipstick in Airy Fairy.
-OPI nailpolish in Parlez Vou OPI?
-Creating holiday menus!

Outs:

-Palladio eyeliner. You smudge!
-Blackberry Curve 8310. You betrayed me.
-Melatonin supplements for sleep. How dare you stop working?!

Update on Cell Phone

2009-11-22T21:52:00.000-06:00

Let me just say a big old thank you to Walmart and AT&T!! They went ahead and got my upgrade pushed through, and Takeisha and Connie of WM helped me get everything set up and switched from BB to Nokia!

Update on Pros / Cons of Nokia:

Pros - Screen clarity (Gorgeous), sound, customizable, easy to navigate, reads messages aloud, tells you who is calling.

Cons - Slightly weird keyboard, doesn't allow full track ringtones

Cell phones?

2009-11-22T15:10:00.001-06:00

Okay, so I'm due for an upgrade from AT&T (Hallelujah!). Upgrades always sneak up on me, because it seems like just yesterday I got my Blackberry Curve 8310. In light of this, I'm going to do a quick review of the BB and post a couple of cheapie PDA's that I'm considering for my new phone.

Blackberry Curve 8310

Image courtesy of CNET

Pros:

-Customizable! You can change menus, ringtones, backgrounds, colors, EVERYTHING. There are tons of free themes out there from great designers such as Nancy Drew, etc.
-Kitchen sink phone. It will do everything but buy your groceries. Facebook, Twitter, email, messenger, text, mms, video, photo, audio notes, internet, etc.

Cons:

-Freezes. A lot. I've read a lot of reviews about this and experienced it first hand. If you don't do daily maintenance (delete messages, clean memory, etc), you will want to kick this phone. It once took me five minutes to get my phone to clear the unlock screen.
-Plastic casing scratches easily. I didn't have this phone for a week before I had two bad nicks in it. And I babied this sucker.
-I have a lot of errors. Not sure what's up with that, but I get a lot of "uncaught exceptions." No bueno.

Overall:

I love the Blackberry brand. This is my second BB, and I would probably get one again...Provided I could upgrade to the Bold or Tour.

What am I switching to?

Image courtesy of CNET

The Nokia E71X is a steel frame construction, super slim dynamo. It is currently the thinnest qwerty smartphone available, according to CNET. I wasn't originally sold on this baby, but after doing some extensive research, I'm super psyched to get this sucker tomorrow! It is also one of the cheapest available to me at $29.00!

Features:

Wifi, music player, camera, qwerty, GPS, etc etc. I'm most excited about the Wifi and the very sturdy casing. Can't wait to use this baby!!!

Hair Care

2009-11-21T12:05:00.003-06:00

Have you ever woken up the morning after you worked so hard on your hair, and it actually looks better than last night? Geez.

Image courtesy of fabsugar.com

No, seriously. There is a reason for this. Chances are you're washing your hair, putting product in it, drying it, and styling it every day. Your hair also probably wants to kick you in the butt sometimes.

Try these tips:

1. Take a look at your shampoo:

A) Is it clarifying? If so, are you using a ton of product every day? If you aren't, you probably don't need to clarify daily. Use this shampoo once or twice a week. If you have color-treated hair, beware!
B) Did you know that your shampoo is really concentrated stuff? Seriously! Take half the bottle and pour it into a clean, empty shampoo bottle. Fill each the rest of the way up with water. Shake it a bit to mix it. Your hair will get just as clean. Promise!
C) Are you conditioning every day? You probably don't need to. Try mixing just a tiny dab in with your shampoo instead of a full on coat. Also, shampoo is more for the roots, and conditioner is for the ends of your hair.

2. Washing your hair every day could actually be causing it to be more prone to oil. The more you wash, the more oil that is taken away. Your scalp thinks it is time to produce more! It sounds hard, and I was the worlds biggest sceptic about this. I cut back to washing every other day, and my hair looks TONS better. It's also 10 times more manageable and has more volume. Now, I wash my hair and let it dry naturally (Overnight sometimes). I get up and either touch it up with a straightener or curl it. If you prefer to blow it dry, just go ahead and put a little product in there like normal. Touch it up the next day with the blow dryer or flat iron and go!

If you are really concerned about your hair getting oily or smelling less than fresh, try a dry shampoo. I bought "Psst!" from Walgreens for $5. If I need to touch up the crown of my head or my bangs, I spray a bit there and fluff it out. It smells pretty good, and it keeps your hair looking fresh!

Hope some of this helps you!

PS: If you are having trouble getting in the swing of a new hair washing schedule, do it over the weekend. You can sort out the problems without feeling self-conscious at work or school!

Lemons into lemonaid...

2009-11-20T15:30:00.000-06:00

Last night, as we were eating our pork tenderloin with rice and field peas, I went all Incredible Hulk on my lovely silver fork. It was one of those moments where you put exactly the right amount of pressure on something at the right place, and it bends just so:

Yep. No kidding. You should have seen my face. I could have bent the fork back into shape, but this sort of sparked an idea in my mind. The designs were beautiful up close, and I decided to try and make something out of it.

Using some bolt cutters and (wait for it) a dremel drill-like manicure kit, we remove the prongs and bent it into a pendant.

I had a few other dangly bits left over from a necklace I haven't worn in forever, so I strung them all onto a long chain with some beautiful ribbon.

I will probably fiddle around with it by adding a second chain to make it look a little more tangled, but I'm pretty happy with where it is going.

Everyday objects. Sometimes you don't notice the details until the whole is broken into parts.

I will never recover...

2009-11-19T21:15:00.001-06:00

My sister in law just sent me this little movie on Facebook, and I'm pretty sure I laughed myself silly...This is good, because I'm still waiting to hear about the job. I am also sick...This makes for unhappy Laura.

The three men are my husband, my brother-in-law, and my father-in-law.

ENJOY!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

The times they are a'changin'

2009-11-19T16:47:00.002-06:00

Positive Things Happening Today:

1. Lou the cat deciding that instead of hiding under furniture and refusing to come out, he would jump up on the bed and play with me.

2. Getting to talk to my grandmother this afternoon.

3. My grandmother mailing me some new books!

4. Sending my love story over to Nicole at Teacups in Peony.

5. Despite not hearing any good news over whether or not I got the job, not hearing any bad news either!

Goodnight all!

2009-11-18T21:39:00.001-06:00

Top 5 for today:

1. Getting my second follower! Thank you!

2. Making yummy tortillas for dinner.

3. Finishing "Same Kind of Different As Me." - Must read!

4. My husband loving my curled hair.

5. Watching Glee and Ghost Whisperer with my hubby! <3

Rumpled Rugkins?

2009-11-18T13:34:00.000-06:00

We have a gorgeous area rug that we received for our Wedding in August. This rug is amazing. Chocolate, sage, burnt orange, creamy goodness in rug form. It also has this insane personality of its own. It has huge wrinkles in it that refuse to budge. I called my grandmother (a former home economics / english / science / etc. teacher), who is my Guru of all things domestic.

Here is her advice for beating a rug into submission:

1. Get a spray bottle of water. (I used my steamer vacuum).

2. Dampen the rug. Don't soak it, especially if the floor underneath is another carpet or hardwood. Dampening will allow the wrinkles to relax and the rug to flatten out.

3. Use very small finishing nails to tack down the corners on one end of the rug and pull the rest of the rug taught.

4. Holding the rug taught, have someone tack down the other corners.

5. Allow the rug to dry before moving any furniture back into place!!

This is really a two person job. My husband steamed the rug, and I tugged on the wrinkles. He lightly tacked the corners, and I held the rug taught.

Wrinkles are gone!!

I didn't take a before picture of the rug, but here it is right after we got done:

Owl be right there :)

2009-11-17T16:41:00.000-06:00

Today, these little owl salt and pepper shakers made my day with their cuteness.

I bought them at a farmer's market for .50. I hope you see something that makes

you smile today. :)

Epheriell Designs!

2009-11-17T14:55:00.000-06:00

Endless Forest Lariat Silver Necklace - $23

Silver Spirals Urban Sterling Silver Earrings - $18

Artist Jessica Van Den's jewelry designs are sleek, modern, and fantastically priced. I read about her on Down and Out Chic, and I'm officially in love with her Etsy shop. I already have several pieces picked out to give as gifts. And a few to give to myself ;)

Drop Caps

2009-11-17T13:08:00.005-06:00

o you want to add a little flair to your blog post? Check out Daily Drop Cap, a website from typographer and illustrator Jessica Hische. She has a ton of beautiful letters to choose from, and she even includes instructions for how to use them. They make me smile!

I must say that I stumbled upon this fabulous website through a convoluted series of clicks. I started out browsing through the blog Absolutely Not Martha, a wonderful place to get inspiration. I clicked a photo there that was linked to Ffffound.com, a website for image bookmarking. Several minutes of drooling later, I found Jessica's beautiful site.

You. Must. Go.

Pixi Makeup Kit Review

2009-11-16T18:21:00.001-06:00

Picked up this makeup kit at Target to replace some makeup that I threw out, and I decided it was good for a quick review:

Pixi makeup is apparently a brand out of England that Target is now carrying along with Boots. I picked up their Must Haves kit in No. 3 Ravishing Rosy.

Pros:

-Compact kit. Fits easily in my purse.

-Brushes feel great. Shed a little but not much.

-Good color payoff.

Cons:

-Lip glosses are a little grainy.

-Every single product is glittery. You have to be careful not to go overboard. I would have preferred a matte option in blush.

-It is hard to fit a powder compact or lipstick in the kit.

Overall:

I like the look the kit provides. I tame down the shimmery effect by tapping my brush off and just applying a very tiny bit of the blush, which is really all you need. It comes off as a nice pretty look. I definitely like being able to throw a complete makeup look in my bag!

There are also two other color combinations available, so be sure to check them out at Target!

OPI Polishes, Fall Favorites!

2009-11-16T16:10:00.003-06:00

1. Owl Ring - $7.99 at Rue 21. I love owls, and this ring was a great price for a good statement ring. Love it!

2. Boots - $29.99 at Charlotte Russe. LOVE them. I haven't had a pair of boots in a really long time, and these were love at first sight. They have a nice chunky heel and a great buckle detailing.

3. You Don't Know Jacques by OPI - $8.50 at Ulta. I love this nice muddy grey color. Today is really nasty and rainy outside, so I painted my nails to match the clouds. :) It did take 2 coats to get a nice opaque color, so be forewarned.

4. Barefoot in Barcelona, Miami Beet, You Don't Know Jacques, and Parlez Vou OPI (sp?) - Buy 2, Get 2 at Ulta. I've only tried Barefoot and YDKJ, but so far...I'm loving them! This was my first time using OPI polishes, and I'm really impressed by the quality of the brand.

Beauty Diary

2009-11-16T15:49:00.002-06:00

Eliza of Makeup Junkie just posted this tag, and I thought it was really fun. Here are my answers!

1. What time did you do your makeup today? 1 p.m. I didn't decide to go out until late in the day. It is raining here!

2. What’s the least expensive beauty item you used? Rimmel mascara. It is in the purple tube. Not sure what the name of it is. It was about $7.49 and came with free eyeliner.

3. What was the biggest problem you needed to correct? Dark circles under my eyes. This is a pretty common problem for me, so I have it down to an art.

4. Did you apply false eyelashes? No. I rarely do this for everyday wear.

5. Did you do anything while applying make-up? Took photos of some new makeup for a review post.

6. Biggest make-up mishap today? Discovering that my new mascara doesn't have a lot of staying power.

7. Did you have a makeup inspiration in mind? I wanted something pretty neutral and light.

8. What was the most time-consuming part of your makeup routine? Eyes. I usually have to stop and fix mistakes or add more.

9. What part of your routine is the most fun? Lipstick and mascara. It really wakes my face up!

10. What part of your make-up makes the biggest difference in the way you look? Concealer under my eyes and around my nose and mascara.

11. Neutral or colorful eyeshadow? More often than not, it is neutral.

12. Liquid or mineral foundation? If I use foundation, I use mineral. I feel like I get a more natural look with it, and it is better for my skin. I've used BE and Maybelline.

13. Do you do your hair or make-up first? Hair. I like to get it out of the way, since it takes more time.

14. Did you pack a make-up bag to take with you for the day? Yes. I took powder, eye drops, lipstick, and my teeny tiny makeup kit.

15. When did you finish your make-up? 1:15 p.m. Low maintenance, baby!

Home again, home again jiggity jig...

2009-11-15T15:11:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone,

After a very long but productive week, I am finally home in Tennessee with my hubby and our menagerie. The training seminar went very well, and I learned a lot about hospice and hospice marketing. I also got a real feel for the company's beliefs and values, and that makes me really happy. Still don't know if I got the job, but I'm really hoping so.

After I left training Thursday night, I drove up to Columbus to celebrate homecoming and Reveler stuff with my lovely social club sisters from Jesters and Revelers. I got to see a lot of my favorite people including Maddox, my 1's baby boy!

For those of you not from the W, we don't have many sororities. We have social clubs, which are like sororities that are just on the W campus. The two that I belong to use the "Number System," which is basically a way of identifying family lines and matching girls to the correct line. Each number represents a different type of personality or idea. The meanings of the numbers are secret, so I can't bust those out on the internet. But that gives you something to work with when I say, "my 1, my 2," etc. For those of you who want to know, my number in Revelers is 10 and in the Jester Honorary Social Club, I am a 12. :)

Anyway! So I did a lot of socializing and saw a lot of friends, which did my heart good. But by Friday night, I was terribly homesick, so I drove home after homecoming. I got home about 2:30 a.m. David was still up waiting on me. :) He was pretty happy for me to get home too.

On another note, I brought home an extra special surprise! My friend Erin (my former roommate and pledge sister) had a cat that she was desperately trying to find a home for, and we decided to take him in. His name is Lou, and he is a tabby cat with big beautiful eyes.

Fall fashion, etc!

2009-11-08T21:54:00.000-06:00

Hubby and I just got back from our trip to the Mississippi Delta for his mom's award ceremony. She was voted one of Delta University's Alumni of the Year! We were super proud. :)

I also have some photographs from our trip, which I will upload ASAP. I have a few swatches of OPI nail polishes that I am loving right now, and I even have a few pictures of new loves. I'm trying to go ahead and get in the bed early tonight, because tomorrow will be a long day of driving. I'll be heading to a seminar on hospice marketing tomorrow. I believe there will be WIFI where I am going, so I'll try to get those photos up for you soon.

Goodnight, my darlings. Hope you enjoy the brand new layout.

2009-11-06T21:11:00.001-06:00

Not only does the Tupelo mall now have an Ulta, my darlings, it has a sale on OPI! Buy 2 Get 2! Go! Go now!!!

My husband's unfortunate luck.

2009-11-06T15:31:00.001-06:00

This is for Jennifer, who wanted to know more about David's unfortunate luck:

When I met my husband, Davy, he seemed like the normal, guy next-door-type fella'. I was a little under-impressed at his penchant for sleeping through Introductory Physics with Dr. Estalot three days a week, but by all accounts, he was a pretty nice guy. I usually ended up at the bar where he worked part time, and we got to know each other better from there. I learned a few valuable bits of information about Davy:

1. He is extremely smart. He slept through physics, because he was bored stiff. He finished the class with a near 100 average.

2. He is the consummate nice guy.

3. He has, if not the worst, then certainly the most unusual luck of any person I have ever met.

He has a rod in his leg from a little incident that occurred at a party thrown by his friends. He was at said party, having a good time with the boys, letting the good times roll. He was feeling magnanimous, so he gave his last beer to a stranger. In retrospect, he probably wishes that he'd just kept that one for himself.

The guy was a crackhead loosely connected with the people throwing the party. He ended up starting a fight with a friend of David's, and his friends jumped in as well. David has a very strong sense of honor, and he couldn't be havin' those guys jumping on his friend. Yep. He jumped in the mix, and the crackhead popped him one in the jaw for his trouble. Davy took a bad step in his cowboy boots and broke his leg.

If you really want to question his unusual luck... He once stuck his hand in the microwave, and it came out bleeding and cut to the bone. There was nothing in the microwave that could have cut him. It was like the immaculate conception of cuts.

No joke.

10 Random Facts

2009-11-05T20:26:00.004-06:00

We are a little bored so here are 10 Random Facts about me AND my husband.

Laura's 10 Random Facts:

1. I am 4'11". Yep. Suuuuper short.

2. I have 9 tattoos, and one of them is in my ear. However, I absolutely HATE tacky/trashy tattoo placement or subject matter. I try to make sure that nothing I get is something I can't hide for certain situations, and I only get things that I think are in some way feminine. And they all have to coordinate.

3. I read anywhere from 3 to 4 books a week. I read so much that I can no longer afford to be picky. I read junk.

4. I have a birthmark that covers the pad of my ring and pinky finger of my right hand and also a small piece of my palm on the right side.

5. I have a purse obsession. Just ask my husband.

6. I HATE most terry cloth towels. They feel weird to me and skeeve me out.

7. I LOVE hello kitty.

8. I met my husband in physics class, and I didn't know that I already knew his sister. His last name is really unusual. I'm just THAT oblivious.

9. I love gadgets. I love having the next big thing.

10. I always carry a camera. I have a big one I use for serious photography, but I always keep my compact on me. Non-negotiable.

Davy's 10 Random Facts:

1. I really hate random fact things, but my wife is making me do it.

2. See number 1.

3. I have lived in 8 different places, including 2 different countries and 5 different states.

4. I can fix anything given proper tools and enough time.

5. I've many different types of jobs: cardboard recycler, camp counselor, cook, waiter, bartender, bouncer, janitor, EMT, fireman, and finally a registered nurse.

6. I can put a full sized pick-up truck on blocks in under three minutes, five if I have to take the wheels off.

7. My favorite golf driving range is the rooftop of Goen Hall on the campus of Mississippi University for Women.

8. I slept through a tornado that caused massive damage to the area surrounding me.

9. I have floated a raft down a road.

10. I am the only person you are likely to meet who has been punched in the jaw and consequently broken their leg.

Sparkly Bling! And pretty nails!

2009-11-05T16:40:00.002-06:00

Learned a new tip for cleaning my engagement ring and wedding band.

1. Place rings in cup of warm water with a little bit of dish washing liquid and allow to soak for ten minutes.
2. Gently clean rings with soft bristled toothbrush.

Shazaam!

Opportunities

2009-11-05T12:23:00.001-06:00

Today, I went to fill out an application at the hospice where my husband works. They are needing more volunteers, and I have experience in volunteering and also in recruiting volunteers. Ideally, I would like to have the position of volunteer coordinator. There isn't one at that particular office as of right now, but it has been mentioned that if I can go through the training and then get others to volunteer, I may be able to get the job. I really hope so. I would like to work for the company, and I feel like I can do the job. I just hope that the position can be created at this office.

Hands on!

2009-11-04T15:18:00.002-06:00

My hands have been super dry for the last couple of weeks, and I am healing two tattoos on the inside of both my pointer fingers. Not cool. For those of you who are having dry skin problems during these cooler days, try Suave's Advanced Therapy Moisturizer. I'm really loving it. I put a dab of Aquaphor on my tattoos, and I coat my hands with Suave. No irritation for the tats so far. I have also used a dab of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizer on my hands, and I thought that worked really well also.

Creative Kicks in the Butt

2009-11-04T13:20:00.001-06:00

Having trouble getting your creative juices flowing? Try these ideas for digging out of that rut!

1.) Change your medium- Are you a writer suffering from writer's block? A painter with a stockpile of blank sketchbooks? Switch things around! If you are a writer, commit to one week of "drawing" your feelings/thoughts/ideas. You don't have to be a great artist. Just sketch out ideas. If you must write, make your words beautiful. If you are an artist, sit down with a few great books and write down ideas for new art in your sketchbook. Instead of gravitating towards things that you usually love, pick things that aren't your usual style.

2.) Switch playlists with a friend- We all end up playing those sames songs over and over on our iPods. Sometimes you can recharge your creative juices by just listening to something you haven't heard before.

3.) It's Fall! Yay!- I don't know about you, but Fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves are changing, and the air has a little bite of cold to it. I love it. Take your camera and a few ziplock baggies and go outside. Take a walk somewhere you haven't explored. Keep your eye out for little keepsakes like an acorn or a beautiful leaf you can press in your journal. Use different angles and perspectives when taking photos. Try something new!

In and Out

2009-11-03T15:08:00.002-06:00

Saw this post on Lollipop26's blog, and I loved the idea of it. Here are mine:

In:

Lighter hair for fall- I have had black hair for a couple months now (I usually go to black hair for fall.), and I decided to lighten it up for a change. I chose a medium auburn shade, and I'm loving it. I think it really brightened up my skin.

Purples and magentas- I recently picked up a few new pieces of clothing, and I'm really gravitating to the purples and violet colors for this season. I think they are really beautiful, and they add a nice pop of color against dark jeans.

Moisturizing religiously- I have just recently seen the light as far as moisturizing regularly. I am using Clinique's Dramatically Different every day. It is wonderful!!

Out:

Washing my hair every single day- It is true. You can skip a day. It is better for your color and for the actual hair. I wash every other day most of the time. I let my hair dry naturally, and I section it and flat iron. I use Sally's generic flat iron guard spray. I don't have to use very high heat, because my hair is naturally straight. I can sleep on it, and it still looks good for the next day!

Dressing for a size- Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT look at the size of that shirt or those pants. Look at the fit! Don't say, "I'll buy it in a size smaller and work my way into it." Don't set yourself up for failure there. Look great at every size by buying clothes that fit you properly. Buy a few special pieces and inexpensive staples. When you do drop those pounds, you can easily replace them.

Internet again!

2009-11-03T14:26:00.004-06:00

Alas,

It is wonderful to be able to post from my laptop instead of my Blackberry. Admittedly, it is wonderful to be able to send short little posts at any time from anywhere, but it is hard to really get to the meat of the story when you only have so many letters to work with. It did help me keep in the flow of posting though.

Anyway, our internet was set up yesterday by a wonderful technician from AT&T around 1 p.m. He helped me get our new account set up and got us on our way. Davy came home and set up the wireless router, and we had some quality time facebooking after dinner! lol

Our house is finally starting to really get settled. My next project is setting up the office as a creative space for me to work on projects. I want to get that organized with my craft supplies and reference books. I think it will really help me to get started working on things again.

Here are a few photos from our life lately:

2009-11-02T12:27:00.001-06:00

This weekend was tons of fun! We went to Jackson Friday night, and we went to a flea market in Crump on Saturday. I found a child-sized guitar in great condition for $20! When we get our internet up, I am going to look up some tabs.

2009-10-30T12:08:00.001-05:00

This has been a pretty long week so far. Probably because my sinus infection is hanging on. Davy has been on call twice this week, but we have the weekend to explore our surroundings. We want to check out the Pinson Mounds, an Indian burial and ceremonial site a few minutes up the road. Very exciting! Hope the weather stays clear.

2009-10-27T11:32:00.001-05:00

Sorry it has been so long!

I just discovered the best product ever! Well, one of them. Demeter's pure soap fragrance is my new favorite perfume. I bought a 1 oz bottle at TJ Maxx for $6. Their website sells the 1 oz for $20! I would still pay that price though. This perfume is clean, simple, and fresh. It isn't too sweet, so I don't get sick of wearing it.

Find some! Now!

http://www.demeterfragrance.com

2009-10-21T18:33:00.003-05:00

Cooking bacon wrapped pork tenderloin medallions dredged in the same spicy brown sugar seasoning from the chicken wrap recipe. Yams and cous cous sides! Yummmm.