THE LIFE OF ME

MOVING ONWARD AND UPWARD!!

2011-04-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone...its been over a year since I've given this blog some love. Lots has gone on and I hope I haven't lost all of you. I just wanted to let you know that I will be switching my blog and I wanted to formally invite you to come visit and stay a while!!

Click here for some exciting news on my new blog and make sure to become a follower :)

Miss and love you all!!

Meagan

How in the HECK?!

2010-04-01T06:15:00.001-07:00

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I can't believe it is already April. Where has time gone? I feel like the older I get the faster time goes!! Yeesh!! I'm pretty sure I was celebrating Christmas last week :( Oh well....guess I'm going to have to get used to it.....especially since it means the weather is going to get better!! It is supposed to be 81 and sunny today and I must get some sun. You could call me Casper right now....I'm that ghostly, vampire white girl that has to mix her own foundation because nothing matches me right now! :(

So what's been going on? I've missed out on a lot the past couple months and you need to fill me in! Let me know you're alive. I've just been working and schooling it and trying to get everything ready for nursing school apps in January.

I had a pretty dirty rotten, no good kinda day on Tuesday and I'm going to tell you about it! Class registration for summer semester was on Monday....I need ONE class to complete my pre-reqs and I'll be ready to apply. Long story short, I thought I was registered and found out Tuesday that I wasn't....and the class was a big fat CLOSED!!! Talked to the professer and he basically told me tough cookies, there was nothing he could do. :( To top the day off, I received a phone call to inform me that my application for instate tuition for summer semester was DENIED and could resubmit my paperwork for the fall if I liked...:( I might as well just dump a few hundo's in the trash can!!!! $$$$$

But I think about it like this.....if I don't get into the class, there is a good reason why. There is something that I will need to accomplish during the summer and God has something planned. I will also have a little more free time and might be able to take a real vacation :) Woo Hoo...that's a plus.

So I'm gonna run for now, but I'll be back :) Gotta get ready to be a nerd and work with some bacteria samples and biochemical tests! Happy April!

A work in PROGRESS!!

2010-03-30T09:36:00.000-07:00

Hello blogworld!! I've been MIA for a while and I'm working on getting a new page started. I'm thinking I'm tired of this one, but we'll see. Let me know what you think. If you guys want me to stick around, or at least blog more, let me know. :) I posted a little bit of what I've been up to on my make-up blog....lots of fun stuff going on! So check it out....Miss you guys!

Swagbucks!!

2010-02-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

Hi all....quick post while I have my computer on and actually getting the internet!!

Hope everyone had a happy Christmas and wonderful new year!! I know I did. My life these days consists of School, School, and Work x 2!!! Crazy life.

I am thinking about starting a new blog....for some reason I'm just over this one. But I will let you all know if I switch locations.

Before I go, my friend introduced me to swag bucks and I thought I should let you all know. Its a free search engine that you use and you earn free bucks that you can then cash in for a variety of things.....giftcards are the best thing i've found so far! My friend had so many points she was able to buy enough amazon gift cards to buy a laptop for herself for christmas.

If you want an invite, just send me your email and I will personally send you the information or you can click here and it should take you right to the registration page! Happy searching and shopping!!

3-10...I'm slacking again!

2009-12-10T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hey that rhymes! So, last we spoke there were a lot of things going on! Christmas season was kicked off when J and I headed to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra!!!!

It was my birthday present from J and I had such and amazing time. We both got dressed up and had a night on the town! If you haven't been to see TSO and you are a huge Christmas fan like me, I definitely recommend going to see the show. It is fantabulous!

Also, on Tuesday, J graduated from the academy!!! Woo hoo! I was so proud of him and he looked so amazing. Gotta love a man in uniform :)

After the graduation, J's mom and dad took everyone to Chili's and we enjoyed a little food and a few drinks before heading home for the evening.

Now I'm just trying to get myself ready for Christmas. I said I was going to start shopping early, but that didn't work out too well! It's the 10th and I only have a few things picked up. Arg. I'm stressing because there are so many other things I need to get done before I can start shopping. Number one priority right now is to study because I have three finals in one day. Tuesday is going to be a little crazy, and it doesn't help that I have to work the closing shift on Monday. The mall is open later and later due to the holidays, so I get off work at 10:30 and then have to drive 45 minutes home....EEK!! Guess I'll be doing the all-nighter thing if I don't get my studying done before work. But after Tuesday, it's smooth sailing. Class will be over until January 11, I can start my shopping, and enjoy time with friends and family! :) I can't wait.

How are you all coming along with your holiday shopping? Am I the only one in the procrastination boat?

It's time for me to get ready for class! Have a great day :)

Merry Ho-Ho!

P.S. It's finally cooling off a little bit. Yesterday it was in the upper 80's and I was laying out...today its raining and COLD (meaning its in the 60's). But that's better than nothing. Guess my blood is thinning out! HA!

2....Let it snow!!

2009-12-02T10:24:00.001-08:00

So it's not going to snow in FL, but my mom called me this morning to let me know it snowed in Ft. Worth this morning!! So that means I could have snow on Christmas!! Woo Hoo!! I can only hope.

Quick post for now.....I just finished writing up a test for J to practice and study for his final test tomorrow before graduation!! I can't believe the academy is almost over!

Now I'm headed to slap on some makeup and head to MAC! I'll be back to post some more after work :)

Only 23 days!!!

1.....and so it begins!!

2009-12-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

Heellloooo everyone!! Are you out there? cricket. cricket.

I know it has be about 10,000 years since I last posted, but blogging had to take a back seat for a bit. I needed to reorganize and readjust a few things in life and I must say things have settled nicely. There are still a few things working out in the mix over the next few months, but I'm going to try my hardest to keep you updated about them! :)

So here we are, right at the very beginning of my favorite time of the year!!! CHRISTMAS season is upon us :) You would usually find me sitting at home watching Christmas movies, eating cookies, snuggled up with a gi-gundo blanket.....but Christmas time in Florida is much different than in KY!! Today, December 1, the temps got up into the 80's and it was bright and sunny out. Big change! Mind you I'm still crackin' into the Christmas movies. I had to go dig those out of storage before Thanksgiving! HA! My movie binge started with watching Elf with Will Ferrell....funny stuff. That's all I have to say.

I have quite a few Christmas movies, but I'm looking to expand my collection. So here's your challenge....what are your favorite Christmas movies of all time?

I'll be back shortly with more updates on my Christmas fun!! Missed you all and hope you're still out there somewhere :) Merry Ho-Ho!!

Making a Difference!

2009-10-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up bright and early to make it to my volunteer orientation at Florida Hospital. I didn't really know what to expect, but I was really excited about it all. The orientation was close to two hours long and during that time all I could think about was I was now one step closer to getting into nursing school! Everyone that spoke to us was so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. I can't wait to start! I will be able to make connections and get first hand experience in the field. I don't know what area of service I will be in, but my top three choices are Peds (I might be able to be a snuggler and hold the babies in the NICU), Nursing, or patient transportation. I CAN'T WAIT. The next step is an interview with the director of volunteers, so I'm hoping for a call soon! Keep your fingers crossed for me! Until tomorrow!

101 Dalmations....no Posts!

2009-10-12T09:37:00.001-07:00

So yeah, I did it again. I fell off the face of the earth after my 100th post, but I promise I have a good excuse. Life did another loop-de-loop on Meagan's Roller Coaster of Life. Right after my last post I found out that my job threw a wrench in the plans. Right before I was to get health insurance and other benefits, they cut me from full-time 40 hours to part-time 20 hours. I knew it was a possibility to have my hours cut, but I never imagined it would be this much. I was shocked, didn't know what to do. I called my parents and they both told me that it would be fine, God has a plan.

Since then, I've put in my two weeks notice and accepted an position at......duh duh duh.....MAC Cosmetics! I am so excited. I worked there for about two and a half years when I lived in KY and I'm so excited to be back. My first day is the 18th of this month and I couldn't be happier. I am definitely upset about leaving my lovies at my current job, but they understand my situation and made me promise to come back and visit!! So life is getting back in order :)

On to some other news. My birthday is a month from Wednesday...November 14th. Yes, I am born exactly 9 months after Valentine's day....do the math! I am visiting my mom and dad the week before my birthday, and I don't know why, but I felt like it was a good time to try and start up my "healthy living" again. I am currently taking human nutrition and let me tell you, its much easier to eat the right foods when you know exactly how the bad foods harm your body. So now that I'm eating healthier than before, I figured I could pick up my exercise routine as well. I am going to be doing a little something similar to Amanda at 20 Times a Lady...Spilling It. She started Jillian Michael's Shred video and is documenting on her blog and I really liked how she did it. I am going to be doing something close to that, but I am not just sticking strictly to the JM video. I'll be talking about all my exercise and how it's changing my body. I'm going to take photos, before and after, and measurements....and if...I mean WHEN I make it to my 30 days I will do a new post of my results. So be sure to read back to this post and check up on my progress :)

Day 1
I started my day off with a bowl of cereal and a weigh-in. Not as terrible as it has been, but not exactly where I would like the needle to point. I'm not too worried about losing weight, I just want to be less jiggly and have a low-fat muffin top instead of a extra large, extra goodness added muffin top. I did the first day of the JM Shred video. I love the video, due to the fact that its only 20 minutes. 20 minutes is definitely enough to spend with this crazy workout woman!! I did today without weights because I don't have any. I'm going to look around the house for something to use instead of buying. Here's to day 1!!

Day 2
I woke up this morning with a killer headache all along the right side of my head and down into my shoulder. I hate hate hate when this happens and I usually end up spending my day in bed with a washcloth over my eyes and out of commission, but today I wasn't going to let this conquer me. I got up and ate a bowl of cheerios and took some medicine. Hopped back in bed for about 45 minutes to let the meds kick in and then it was work out time. The endorphins seemed to help because I feel great now. I am definitely a little sore, but the workout help that. I did a warm up from a class I used to teach called Pure Barre. I love love love that workout, but there aren't any studios down here that offer the class. I'll do a post on that technique another day. After that warm-up, I did the Shred and had to make myself finish. My head just wasn't in the game today, but I finished and I feel fab!! Now on to lunch, shower, and to class!

Day 3
Today was a crazy day. I had so much to do and I was so extremely sore that I couldn't work out. I could barely walk!! I had an orientation and could barely make it from my car to the meeting room. J helped work out some of the soreness and a hot shower worked wonders.

Day 4
Today was a new day! I finally got a full nights sleep and it was amazing!! I haven't slept a full night in so long. I got up this morning and was ready for my workout. My body feels much better today, but in a weird way I like the soreness. Makes me feel like I'm doing something right. Excited about tomorrow....Halfway through my first level of the Shred.....I'm just ready to see results in my body!!!

100 + 100 = Mad Love!!!

2009-09-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

It's finally here, my 100th post! Woo Hoo!! And guess what else....M my 100th follower! I feel so loved. :) I've been stressing so much about what I was going to write about, but I'm just gonna let it flow! I was pretty busy this past week planning and preparing for a bridal shower for my friends Matt and Kristin. It was the first bridal shower I've thrown and the first I've attended....so I don't know how well things turned out. I thought things were lots of fun, but who knows!!! So here's the run down....the theme was "Around the Clock" so everything was time themed. It was so cute. We had food from breakfast, lunch, and dinner.....games that involved alarm clocks, bubble gum, and purses....I'll have to go into that at a later date. But it was successful, in my opinion. :)

On to some more fun news....I'm doing a scarf swap hosted by a bloggie friend and got my swap info the other day! I'm so excited because its a chance to meet new people, but it's also swapping one of my favorite things ever.......fall and winter accessories. I am obsessed with cold weather and love love love scarves. So I'm over the top for this swap! My swap partner is Amber...head on over and check her blog out...its too cute! Can't wait to get to know her and pick out her perfect scarf!!

Until then :)

99 bottles of beer on the wall....

2009-09-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

....maybe not! But this is my 99th post! I can't believe I'm about to turn 100!! Well it could have happened sooner if I wasn't such a slacker for a few months...in a row! But it is here. And now I have to think about what I should say. Its like my acceptance speech, even though I haven't won any awards. Hopefully someone, I won't name names (ayneKay if you know pig latin), won't run up and steal the mic and knock me off my soapbox. Ha Ha! I felt so bad for little Taylor. That crazy-haired man had no right and doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut!! ARG!

So maybe I'll post about make-up....I just raided MAC and got everything for free! Or maybe I'll chit-chat about the upcoming UK vs. UofL game that I know you want to hear everything about. Or maybe I'll just throw you for a loop and discuss my love for all things shiny. Who knows...you tell me! What do you want to hear?

Have a great Tuesday...I'm off to take a test....that I haven't studied for. I blame it on work :(

Remembering....

2009-09-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

I found this picture online here. I think its a beautiful, simple representation of what we need to do....REMEMBER. Remember those who were lost and those who were able to go home to their families.

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.”
- President George W. Bush

This day touched all of us in some what shape or form. Join together in remembering!

These are some bad Mama Jamas!!

2009-09-11T06:00:00.001-07:00

These Police Women of Broward County are absolutely ridiculous! I just got done watching a couple episodes last night and I want to be one of those bad ladies! I'm pretty sure I could take down a few crooks....who am I kidding?! I'll leave the rough stuff to them and keep watching the show. Ahhhh....reality TV kills me! Happy Friday!

My Mecca!

2009-09-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

My job took me here on Friday....Mall at Millenia! This place is amazing.....absolutely huge. I could spend a whole weekend in this place and still not make it in all the stores I wanted to go in. Sad part was, we only had about a hour and a half to visit, so I went to MAC! Great experience! I'll be back soon to show you what I walked away with and how I didn't spend a cent! What's your favorite mall or store to visit?

Forever 21...Yeah Right!

2009-09-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to beat around the bush....I had a disappointing trip to my favorite store ever....FOREVER XXI. I was so excited to make my way into a more established store that had a huge selection! I had saved up some dollars and budgeted a new top or two and guess what happened.....I GOT NOTHING!!! Not even a piece of jewelry or a pair of shoes. :( I tried on dresses and tops and skirts and pants and the conclusion I came to is maybe I've grown out of this stage....in size and in age! I can't believe how short and small everything has gotten in this store. Am I crazy or have any of you had this problem? The cute little dresses I tried on were more like shirts and would never pass at work! I was sooo upset, because everything is so stylish and affordable :( Maybe I just need to keep losing the lbs and the clothes will look better. For now, I'll just save my dollars and buy something different....maybe a new flat screen or a new bed! ha ha!

Have a great Hump Day!

Labor Day Love

2009-09-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I had the pleasure of working all weekend, but I did manage to go out and have a little fun. J's best friend, Bologna, had a birthday gathering at a local watering hole and it was a blast. So nice to get out of the house with my love and enjoy an evening with friends. I don't know about you all, but I love seeing J with his friends. He is too funny. When they get together, they're like kids again and I get to hear a ton of great stories! Here are a few pictures from our fun night :)

Ahhhhh....C-A-T-S, CATS, CATS, CATS!!

2009-09-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

It all starts today!!! Wish I could be there, but I'll be watching from work. Go CATS!

Beam Me Up Scottie!

2009-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

My current obsession!

J and I went to see Star Trek.....I'm pretty sure I'm hooked. I've never seen any of the originals, but this has to be one of my favorites of the season. I still haven't seen Harry Potter, though!

For those of you who've seen the original films....Are the worth watching?

Meet my New Nephew....

2009-09-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Cheddar! One of my best friends and her boy just got this adorable little pup. He's a Golden Doodle and I could just squeeze him until his eyes popped out. Don't worry, I won't really do that. Promise.

I want a puppy so bad, but a recent experience has reminded me about how expensive they can be!!! I think I'll just stick to taking care of my nephew and possibly buying a fish.

Arts and Crafts!

2009-09-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

I tried to be cute and make my own monogrammed plate....a jewelry holder for my bedside table or to act as a coaster for my night time water. My initials are MDW.....see if you can figure out what went wrong....

Every time I do this! I know the last initial is supposed to be in the middle, but I like my first initial. If I wanted to do it the right way, I think all I'd have to do is turn it upside down..... Ha Ha Ha!

Back to school, Back to school!

2009-09-01T06:00:00.001-07:00

So class started last Thursday. I'm in my second round of anatomy and physiology and I' thinking this is going to be a pretty good class. I also start my first day of nutrition today and I'm a little peeved about it. I signed up to take the class at my home campus.....which is in my backyard! I seriously could walk to class if I didn't mind sweating a little. Well I checked to make sure I had the right classroom number and they completely switched my campus!!! I now have to drive 15-20 minutes from one campus to the next and I'm thinkin' that traffic is going to be a pain! Arg...oh the prices we pay for education. Sorry about my rant.

Have a happy Tuesday :)

Up Up and Away!

2009-08-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

So the other night I was sitting on the couch with J. It was midnight and we had just finished watching a movie and out of no where the sky turns from black to bright orange! I was not really paying attention and thought maybe a cloud had parted and the moon came through, but no.....
I just happened to have it on the news when the movie was over and I hear....Shuttle is now 4 miles out.....and then it hit me! The shuttle was finally launching!! Woo Hoo!!

Since moving here, I've seen several launches, but this was the first night launch and it was absolutely amazing. The whole sky was orange and I stood there in awe. I tried to take some pictures, but my camera is a little outdated.

This picture does no justice. I was a little late in snapping my shot, so all I got was the tail end of the launch right before the shuttle went into orbit. Too neat.

If you run with dogs, you're going to catch fleas!

2009-08-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

We'll I guess that's not the best analogy for my situation, but it works! Ha Ha! What I'm getting at is that being around the older generation is rubbing off on me! :) In my position I have the privilege of participating in activities and leading some activities of my own. Yesterday we had a presenter talk about crocheting and knitting.....and I'm hooked! I've always been interested in both of them, but now I am jonesin' to find my needles and get to work!! One of my residents is going to show me everything I need to know. She is fabulous! If I could tell you what she used to do for work I would....she's actually famous in the New England area. But I'm excited. I can't wait to get started. I found a website that has great patterns if any of you want to knit or crochet yourselves.

www.lionbrand.com

These are a few projects I want to start on:

The week is almost over!! Woo Hoo!!

Oh Brother Where Art Thou?

2009-08-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

My brother and I finally got to hang out this past month. It was the first time I'd seen him since Christmas. He spent a semester in Europe for school and those seven months felt like forever!! Glad you're back Bub and I hope to see you soon! Love you!

Gotta love KY!

2009-08-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Are there favorite hometown things from your state that you just can't live without? For me, there are tons of things from Kentucky that I love and miss; things you can't find anywhere else.

1. Magee's Bakery - My first birthday cake came from this shop and I've had several since. Chocolate cake and butter creme icing.....TO.DIE.FOR. My brother actually got me a cake from there last birthday....such a sweetheart :)

2. Hall's on the River - home of beer cheese! I don't' know if you have a clue what it is, but beer cheese has been a staple in my life since I was an infant. It's a spread that can be put on anything, but my favorites are to top plain saltine crackers and also in a bowl of chili with some jalapenos!

3. Nothing goes better with beer cheese than an ice cold Ale 8. O.M.G. I can't explain it. You either love it or hate it. The closest thing I can compare it to is ginger ale, but soooo much better. Outsiders say its somewhat like swamp water.....I promise its not that bad!! You'll have to try it to trust me :) And if you do, make sure its in a long neck glass bottle!!!

4. Keeneland - This place is magical! They have races two times a year, fall and spring. Fall meets are perfect because its right when the weather starts to change....the leaves are changing colors and there's a little crisp in the air. Amazing. Spring meets are the beginning of summer. Right before spring break (if you're in college), the weather is starting to warm up and its a great time to wear a cute spring dress. The atmosphere is like no other.....you have to check it out!!

5. Anything UK - Being raised by UK graduates and being a UK graduate myself, I can't help but say that I bleed blue. I was raised tailgating at football games...no not the kind of tailgating that happens in college. Fall football ranks up there with fall meet at the horse track. It just makes me smile!!

What do you love about your home state? About where you grew up? Hope you're having a great week!

Still getting used to Florida!

2009-08-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

As time goes on there are more and more things that I find odd about this state. As I mentioned in a previous post, the wildlife is ridiculous. Aside from the roadkill walking around, there are a few other things I'd like to talk about.

When I lived in KY I had a tanning package at a tanning salon and was know to get my nails done every now and then. It just made me feel better about myself. Sun Tan City was a place I could go to clear my head a get a little tan, if I needed one.Another place I would go would be the gym. I loved the gym in KY. It was never crowded when I went, offered great classes, and had a great cardio room.

Now, in FL, I can't find anything like at home. Tanning beds are outrageously priced and the salon techs have no idea what they're talking about and the gyms....they're so expensive I don't even dare walk in the front door.

I mentioned getting my nails done earlier.....in KY acrylics are also reasonably priced and you have plenty of options when it comes to finish. You can have color or french, gel or acrylic. I was always one to have acrylic overlays on top of my real nails and have them airbrushed french. I was shocked to find that every nail salon in My Neck of the Woods, Florida doesn't airbrush! Arg.

I'm still trying to get used to all these changes. What about you? Are there any differences between states that just drive you nuts? Or am I just crazy?

I need to vent....

2009-08-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

***This is a warning.....I've had a day. And you're going to hear about it! Read at your own risk.

Ever had one of those days? You know, where nothing seems to go right, everyone gets on your nerves, and throw hormones in the mix, you have one helluva day? Well I've had a full week like that. I'm about to pull all my hair out. Today at work, mind you I wasn't supposed to be working today, people seemed to forget common courtesy and work ethic. I didn't know how to react.....I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, I wanted to quit. I'm really tired of being treated like someones B-word! AHHHHHHHHHHH!

Ok, enough of that. I feel better now.

A few good things that have happened.....

1. J and I got to visit his uncle for a few days and he took us fishing! It was a blast. I haven't been fishing in years and I loved it. We fished a salt water river that had about 2-3 feet of water. I caught the first couple of fish.

2. J started his new job and let me just tell you, he looks like a doll in his uniforms!! I am so proud of him. He is such a hard worker and I love to hear his stories from the jail!!

3. I have started using a budget. I'm not the best at it just yet, but I'm trying. If anyone has any suggestions or tips I would greatly appreciate them. I know it sounds dorky, but I love having my budget and feeling grown-up. Ha Ha!!

Well I'm off to make some dinner. J gets home from work soon and I thought it would be nice to have something ready for him :) Have a great Friday night!!

Happy Monday!

2009-08-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

.....this means nothing to me. My schedule is all out of whack now that I have to work weekends. It'll be Monday and I'm thinking it's Wednesday! Yikes. Anyone else have this problem?

I'm so excited this week, because I actually get two days off in a row and I don't have class! I'm so happy. Tomorrow I am headed to a little town on the Atlantic coast to go fishing with my boyfriend and his uncle! I haven't been fishing in so long, this is going to be such an adventure! I am also going to try and visit my little brother. He's flying in from TX to visit and I'm going to try and make our paths cross. I didn't get to see him for 7 months, so now I have to play catch up.

Today is also the official start of Halloween diet....you know what I mean. That time of the year when you know Halloween is only a few months away and you have to make sure you're in super good shape and lookin' good for your costume!! No? Maybe that's just me. I also do this because my birthday is right around the corner from Halloween and I want to look my best :) So the weight watchers is back. Sodas and fast food/eating out are gone-di. And running is in full effect! I ran Saturday for the first time in a while. J is getting ready for the academy and persuaded me into hitting the pavement with him. Not bad for taking a month and a half off....1 mile in 9 minutes. Stop laughing!!! That's good for me. And hopefully it'll get much much better!

So that's all for now....enjoy your week :)

I LOVE LAMP!

2009-08-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

...wait, I mean I love pen!! I have a new find that I have to tell you all about! I have a mild obsession with office/school supplies and I'm very particular about my ink pens. I don't like anything that has too wide of a tip or too fine of a tip. I don't want anything that smudges. I had gotten used to the fact that I'm not the best speller and I'd have scribbles on my paper because of mistakes...but now I don't have to worry about that!

Introducing!!!

Pilot Frixion Erasable Gel Ink

These pens are amazing! They are a step above old erasable ink pens. This gel only requires friction to remove the ink and there is no left over residue!! The pens come in a variety of colors and sizes. My favorite size is the 0.5 mm tip. Not to thick, not to thin! Find them in your local Target or order them from www.jetpens.com! You gotta see it to believe it!

So, am I the only weirdo with an obsession for school supplies?? :)

National Chocolate Chip Day!

2009-08-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Look at me....two posts in one day! But I couldn't miss the opportunity to wish you a Happy National Chocolate Chip day! I'm sitting at my desk right now waiting on a batch of cookies to come out of the oven. I am instructing a class on how to make cookie baskets today at 2:30.....that's if I don't eat all the cookies first! :)

What's your favorite chocolate chip? I like the mini's the best!!

edit....I'm way off with the holiday....its actually may 15th....but my residents will never know :) just don't tell on me!

What I love about my new JOB!

2009-08-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

1. Swimming with the residents every Saturday morning! I get the opportunity to instruct water aerobics and socialize with the residents and it is so much fun!

2. Happy Hour! Monday through Friday from 4-5 pm I have the opportunity to enjoy live music played on the grand piano, wonderful finger foods from our 5 star kitchen, and dancing with the residents! Last night was a treat, I got to learn some swing :)
3. Playing games all the time!! Last night I shot 2 under in Wii Golf. I'm signed up to learn how to play the real Majong. Phase 10 is a big hit on card night!

I get to be a kid at work and I love it! What do you love about your job? It's always nice to point out the positives. Have a great Tuesday!

I forgot what it's like....

2009-08-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

...to have to work every day from sun up to sun down. Phew! My life for the last month has been turned upside down and thrown in a blender.....a good blender, but a blender none the less. I started my new job and feel like a big girl again. Class is finally over for the summer and I managed to finish up with A's across the board. Hopefully all my remaining semesters turn out the same!!!
Now that things have started to settle down, I'm trying to reorganize my life. I have to figure out when there is time to play (I work weekends...boo!), time to rest, time to eat, time to work out, time to spend with J, and time to blog! I miss my little outlet so bad. Its amazing how much better I feel after posting a new blog and getting to catch up on everyone else in my blog world.
I've been keeping a list in my planner of everything I want to tell you about that has happened in the last month. I'm not going to unload on you this time....I'm going to try and spread it out. It'll give me something to talk about. So, pull up a chair and lets get cozy. I'll tell you a few stories if you tell me yours!

Fight Night!

2009-07-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Anyone else out there enjoy watching the fights? Or am I the only weird female that enjoys this kinda stuff?? HA! Last night J, his friend Bologna, and I went to my friend's Kristin and Matt's for the big event. It was a blast!! After a long day at work it was nice to spend the evening laughing with friends and screaming at the television!
This guy was absolutely ridiculous....poor Frank Mir's face :(
Ouch!

For some reason I'm redneck jokes keep popping in my head! You might be a redneck if....you're a chick that loves to watch UFC....BAH!

Happy Weekending....

Pictures to play catch-up!

2009-07-11T11:52:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pictures to catch you up on what I've been doing the past couple of weeks!! Starting with the Texas trip.....we pretty much we in one spot the whole trip. Can you guess where that would be?

I demolished that poor book. Water and heat aren't the best thing for softback books! Oh well, it was a good read :)

Justin decided he was hungry and grilled up some burgers!!

As if the burgers didn't fill him up, he decided to try and eat my face!

Heading out to eat dinner at Razzoo's!

Cupcake Cake that I helped put together. It was for J's cousin's 9th birthday party.

A fellow blogger, Muppet Soul, went to visit Michael Jackson's home the day of the funeral to deliver a sign we decided to make. Photos are courtesy of Muppet Soul.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!!

Oh we're off to see the wizard.....

2009-07-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well...not really! Had to do a little something to get you attention. I haven't been around for a few weeks and I thought you might have quit reading!

So I guess a little explanation is in order....I mentioned my trip that was planned for the 4th, which went perfectly, and my new job! Between those two events, I have put my relationship with my laptop in a standstill....and I feel terrible. I have tried to keep up with my reading and commenting, but I sadly have to admit that that has gone to the wayside as well. But I'm getting back on track. I don't have a whole lot of time to talk, but I just wanted to say hi!

I'll be back soon with pictures from the trip, details about the new job, and how I said goodbye to MJ!!

On the Road Again!!

2009-06-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hello all!! Happy Monday! I don't know about you, but I am sooo excited to have a long holiday weekend coming up that I can't stand it. Like I said in my last post, I'll be headed to visit my parents on Wednesday with J and we will be relaxing by the pool for the rest of the week. I just love being with family for the 4th of July. When I was younger, my family would usually be on vacation right around this time. It's been a while since our last trip together, so it will be nice to all be in the same spot....minus my lil bro :(

So in honor of my upcoming trip, I've decided to let you in on a few favorites of mine that I will hopefully be able to pack up and take with me!

1.I am most excited about taking this item with me!!! We've made a few trips to FL together before we moved down, but we haven't made the trip to TX together. This will be a first :)

2.I have wanted this swimsuit for at least the last two summers. It is sooo freakin' cute. I love the idea of a mismatched swim suit. I've been doing that for a while now and this suit is perfect. Won't be taking this with me, just the thought of it! Ha! Hopefully after I get a little bit of money saved up from work and the summer season is over, I can find this bad boy on sale!!

3.A little reading material for the plane trip and poolside! Any recommendations on good reads for the summer?

This is going to be such a great little trip, before I start another big girl job! So excited and I can't wait. I have my meeting tomorrow for my drug test and then an A & P exam (again) tomorrow afternoon and then I'm Texas bound! I will be sure to post some pictures while I'm gone of the fun things we get into.

Happy Happy Monday :)

News News News!!

2009-06-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

So it has been an amazing last few days. I am happy to announce that I, Meagan Desha, have a JOB!!! You read that right....I GOT THE JOB!! I am soooo excited. All that is left after 4 interviews is a drug test and paperwork. I'm definitely not worried about the d.t. :) My first day is July 6th and I can't wait. Not to go into too much detail, I will be planning events and parties and activities and playing all the time!!! I just can't explain how happy I am.

Also, I got my grades back from my last two anatomy and physiology tests and I'm still on track for an A. It was really hard having two exams in the same week, but it was just preparation for when we have 4 exams in a row. OUCH.

Lastly, I just booked a ticket back to Texas to visit the rents.....AND J is going with me!!! He has been able to visit yet and this will be the first time he'll be meeting my dad. I'm so excited that I'll be spending the holiday weekend with my family before I start my big girl job. I just can't quit smiling!!! :)

Have a great day! And don't forget to swing by my make-up blog and leave me some love over there :) MAKE-UP DESIGN WORK

Fantabulously Frugal Giveaway!! She's done it again!

2009-06-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

Fantabulously Frugal has done it again! She's doing a great giveaway from BedroomFurniture.com! Go check it out at her site.

Fantabulously Frugal

Make-Up Tip Monday!

2009-06-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hello all!! I know its been a while since my Make-Up Tip Mondays, so I thought I would do it better than ever!! I have posted my very first video tutorial on my make-up blog (where the Make-Up Tip Monday's will be from here on out) and I'm soooo excited!!!!So please head over to my make-up blog and check the video out. Let me know what you think!

Dedicated to my Daddy!

2009-06-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to wish all you wonderful dads out there a Happy Father's Day and a special hello to my Dad-O a few states to the west! I miss you and wish we could be spending the day by the pool, relaxing! Love you, Daddy!

Bestie!

2009-06-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends from home made it down to Florida for a vacation with her husband and a few other friends. I haven't seen her since her wedding in October!!

We enjoyed a peaceful day at the beach in Indian Shores. It was a lot different than the beach I've been going to lately. The beach was gulf-side and the water was wonderful!

We saw a few of these....freaked me out, but I got over it.

Needed a little of this....

But I had a great time! Makes me miss Kentucky that much more, but also makes me feel privileged to live so close to the beach....my favorite place to relax :) Where's your favorite place to kick back and relax?

And the wait continues...

2009-06-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

So I told a fib.....but it wasn't really my fault. Yesterday I told you I would know about my job today....well, didn't work out that way. I had my final interview today where I presented my information and ideas on how I could help the company and received a tour of the facility, but got nothing in regards to actually being offered the position. I was meeting with the director of the facility and thought I was going to be told either way today, but disappointingly enough, I'm still waiting. The director said a decision has to be made by next week, so tack another week on to two months I've already been waiting. Geeze! :( No big deal. I hope its worth it.

Now I'm on to studying every free moment I have until next Thursday night. For some reason my A & P professor decided to give us two tests and two quizzes in one week! Eek. But before I start, J and I are going to soak up some sun in the back yard for about an hour, not because its fun or anything, but because I need my Vitamin D! ha ha! Yeah right!

By the way, did anyone watch the Magic/Lakers game last night? Did you see the poor woman that fell out of her seat and got stuck on national television? It was the last 11 seconds of the game and the announcers were talking about the game....little blonde woman in the background thought it would be fun to get in the picture and completely falls out of her seat! WOW! I can't find it on youtube, but if I do, you'll definitely see it! I shouldn't laugh, but man. Classic!

Preparation and Packages!

2009-06-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

Such a great day! I have been finalizing a few things for my final interview tomorrow and I am so excited. A little nervous, but excited! By this time tomorrow, I will know if I will have a job or not. I'm hoping its the previous.

J and I drove by the brand new facility I could possibly be working at yesterday and it almost cost us our lives!!! Well, I could be exaggerating a little bit. But the facility is located right next to a very small private college and I'm guessing someone was late for class, but the car driving behind us decided to zoom around us and clip us off! I'm pretty sure if the car was going any faster, the duct tape and bungee cords would fly off and the car would fall apart. Seriously, there was no one else on the road but us two, but he just about took out the whole front driver's side panel. I was fumed....and I was driving. So what did I do....the road rage kicked in and mama went after the sucker. I followed him right into the college parking lot and around the whole building and as I'm driving, J said, "So what are you gonna do when he parks?" HA HA!

My response......GET HIS LICENSE PLATE NUMBER! I don't know what I was thinking. I'm pretty sure I wasn't thinking...I was mad! Oh well...what can ya do.

Next up....I got a little package in the mail today! I was so excited. Ms. Angela at Sweet Tea Diaries sent me the cutest picture frame!! Thanks Angela! I loved the stationary you used for the card. Where did you find it?

Can't wait to put this bad boy in a new apartment!! Thanks again Sweet Tea!

YES!!!

2009-06-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

I got a call today to set up the final interview with the company I've been talking about for months now!!! I am sooo excited. Things are looking really good and this girl could possibly have a job by the beginning of next week!! I've put together a presentation for my interview in hopes to impress the boss man.

Wish me luck!

Get it!

2009-06-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

So I saw this the other day, thanks to Mrs. Watermelon Tree and I couldn't help but fall in love! Two of my favorite things in one video....dancing and athletic pants!! Enjoy...great way to start off the day :)

It's Here!! It's Here!!

2009-06-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Get way excited!!! I've finally posted my makeup blog!!

Makeup Design Work

is finally in business. Its not completely finished, but I couldn't wait any longer. Head on over, leave me a comment or two, and become a follower....if you want! If I can get a few followers I'm going to do a makeup giveaway!!!

Fantabulously Frugal Giveaway!!

2009-06-09T07:12:00.001-07:00

Holy moly, she's done it again! Fantabulously Frugal just finished up 31 days of giveaways and she's already back at it. This time its the motherload! All of her favorite things have been bundled up into one! And I want it.

So here's the deal.....swing on over to her blog and check it out. When you sign up, let her know that you saw the giveaway on my site and we'll both get extra entries!!!

I've been a bad girl....

2009-06-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

Just a few things I've picked up over the last few months....mostly on the trips home with Momma :) What do you think?

I miss my long hair!!!

2009-06-08T06:09:00.000-07:00

Its official....I want my hair back. But I'm pretty sure its already been sewn into about 7 wigs....hey, I have a lot of hair. BUT I WANT IT BACK.... :( The donation was for a great cause, and I wouldn't change it for the world, but how long is it going to take to grow back??

With my old roomie....called my hair "my drapes"!

My pigtails were so easy....I need them!
My curls were fun too!!

And then there was the half up, half down...with a little teasing!

And then my purple and red highlights! Oh man! Don't mind the stupid expression.
**Edit...These aren't really highlights. I had colored extensions put in because I was too chicken to color my hair. I've never colored/highlighted my hair for real! :(

no curls = tears ;(

Maybe by the time I grow my hair out I can lose some weight and look better! Arg!

Giveaway Time!!

2009-06-07T20:35:00.000-07:00

A great giveaway for the summer....especially if you plan on traveling!! Go sign up for your chance to win a $100 gas card!

http://myblondereality.blogspot.com/2009/06/time-for-me-to-have-giveaway-come-sign.html

A giveaway for us makeup lovers.....hop on over to .......Makeup Babble.....

**Edit**
One more giveaway to add to the list! Blake's Momma over at No Apologheez is giving away two super cute LP headbands! Go take a peak and get yourself entered!

Whirlwind of a Weekend!

2009-06-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Hi folks! I hope you all are enjoying the last day of your weekend.....I'm kinda sad that it's almost over because it has been such a great adventure! A lot has happened since the last time I posted so I'm going to update you a little bit....

I finally heard back from the job I've been interviewing for last Wednesday to let me know I'm still the top candidate for the position and I'll be getting a call to schedule a final interview.....so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying that this is where God wants me to be. I'm trying to keep my spirits up about not having a job, knowing God has a position just waiting, but its getting tough.

J also received a call from HR to let him know he was being offered a conditional job offer pending his final interview!!! So excited for this news!! He's finally gotten a break and it was for something that he really wanted. Things for him are starting to look up :)

Later in the week, I saw that the job I have been interviewing was re-posted on the Internet and it kinda bummed me out. I wish I could just find out either way. I know I need to be patient, but I do my best to be professional and prepared for my interviews, and I would like the common courtesy of professionalism from my interviewers. Have any of you had experience with unprofessional potential employers?

Other than the job thing.....J and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary!! It's very hard for me to believe that we have been dating for a year already. When we met, it was almost instant that we knew we would be together for a long time :) J still doesn't believe me that I was the first one to try and make a move when we first met.

For our anniversary, we acted like little kids! J and I went to an arcade and played the day away while it poured and poured outside. We weren't going to let the rain spoil our day! All the games were old school arcade games that we love!

I apologize for the mess I was!! It was raining outside.

My favorite game!!

Had a little trouble....the machine tried to eat my tickets!

Enjoying some great greasy (not healthy at all) food. I promise I will be back on my diet soon. I have to!!!

You have to have dessert....And a few more games to top it all off!

After the arcade and lunch we headed home to get ready for a movie. I took J to see....

And gave him this....

And made him this...
Not the best picture...but I took a post-it pad and wrote a reason why I love him on every page :)

We had such a great time. It reminded me how much I love him and how excited I am to spend the rest of my life with my best friend!! God has blessed me in so many ways.

This weekend was also J's nephew's pre-school graduation....

T-Man is third from the right. He looked sooo cute in his little khaki's and button-up with the sleeves rolled up. His momma sure knows how to dress him!!

T-Man's little sister saying a prayer with Grandma and Pop Pop.

J with his niece, Em Em.

It was such a blessed week! I hope every one's week was just as great as mine!

Almost Hump Day!!

2009-06-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

Hi ya'll!! How's it going this lovely Tuesday morning? I'm up and about trying to make myself do my homework for class, but I figured a short little blog wouldn't hurt. I finally figured out the background crap on my page.....well at least for now; until I pay someone to re-do the whole thing!! ha ha! I just wanted something a little new and reader friendly and I got myself in a huge heapin' mess.

While trying to fix my page I also decided that I was going to start my blog dedicated to make-up and tips. I'm going to start branching out with products and try to give tips for the recessionista's we are! So Make-up Tip Monday will be on another site when I get it up and running. I'll definitely let you know when that happens, but you have to promise you'll run over and become a follower so I don't feel like a loser!

That's all for now....gotta get studying. Have a great Tuesday and I'll be back soon!

Extremely Upset....

2009-05-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

So I took it upon myself to start messing around with my blog layout and I promise that I backed up my template, but blogspot has changed everything!!! Has anyone else had these problems? I can't pick a main font or my blog colors or anything. I don't know what to do. I'm about to just start a new blog and see if that will work.

Help....Blogger in distress :(

Questions, Inquiries, Advice....

2009-05-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

I need help! I've had a few people tell me the font on my blog is hard to read. So I need you all to let me know. I've been told the "blue" font is hard to read....but I had no clue my font was blue.

I'm in the mood to maybe switch up my layout and I would love to have a personal design, but being unemployed doesn't allow for those luxuries :( Do you have any suggestions on how to give my blog an update? I found my current blog layout at thecutestblogontheblock.com and they have some great free layouts.

Blog in distress....

Good News. Good News!

2009-05-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

No, I haven't found out about my test grade but I did find out that two of my friends have found out some wonderful news of their own!

First, on of my closest friends from high school that I miss terribly is having her first baby. She found out its a GIRL!! I'm so excited for her and her husband.

She happens to be one of the cutest pregnant girls ever!! Thin as a rail with just a little bump :)

Second, one of the girls I danced with in college just found out she made the Colts dance team!

My little Sam's all grown up!! Congrats girlie, I'm so proud of you!

Does anyone have any good news to share?

Waiting in Limbo!

2009-05-29T07:29:00.000-07:00

G'day, girlies and ghouls! How is everyone feeling? Its Friday morning and the weekend is almost here! Such a great feeling, except for the fact that now I'm waiting in limbo. Has this ever happened to any of you....don't know how to feel....whether to be happy and excited or nervous and sceptical? Well I'm there. My test is over and I felt like things went pretty well, but that is always bad news. Any time I think I've done well on a test I totally screw it up.

So now I'm just waiting. Don't know when I'm going to find out my scores, but hopefully soon. Oh well...

Now on to good news....

I'm trying to make some weekend plans....don't really know what I should do. Do you all have any suggestions? I was thinking a beach trip....we actually have a day that is forecasted to be sunny...for the first time in weeks!!!

Well have a great afternoon as you watch the clock slowly count down the time remaining until the start of the weekend! Be safe, be kind, and please rewind!

Test, Exam, HEADACHE!

2009-05-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

Good morning my fabulous friends!! Just a little request.....I have my first A & P exam today for the summer semester and I'm freaking out! I need to get back to studying, but if you could keep me in your thoughts....I'm such a nerd, having test anxiety! HA! Have a happy day. I'll be back :)

I'm the Queen...I wish!

2009-05-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hello, my eloquent editors! I have a few things to catch up on...

Stephanie over at "I Do" at the Zoo has kindly passed on the lovely Queen award to little ole me :) I love it when I get awards. Its too sweet and it just puts a smile on my face for days! Thank you Ms. Stephanie!!

Here are my duties as the Queen of ALL Things AWE-SUMMM....

1) List 7 things that make me Awe-Summm!!

2) Pass this award onto 7 Awe-Summm bloggers!!

3) Tag the 7 bloggers and let them know they are Queens also!!

4) Link back to the one who tagged me!!

So here we go:

I'm living it up in the sunshine state! I am blessed with sunny weather and beautiful beaches.
I have the best girlfriends ever! Even though I don"t live close to them, they are still the most kind, caring, thoughtful friends a girl could have.
I get to see my love's face every day :)
My family means the world to me....without them I would be no one.
I love learning....that's why I'm back in school! HA!
Dancing is the best past-time ever! It lightens the heart and uplifts the lips into a wonderful crescent shape :)
Just like Ms. Stephanie, I have a guilty pleasure for my shows. I actually write down in my planner which shows come on which days.....Bachelorette, Jon and Kate, So You Think You Can Dance?......

Now to pass it on.....because I'm usually the last one to receive an award, most people already have this recognition. So.....I'm passing it on to all my readers! Let me know why you're awesome!!

La De Da!

2009-05-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Howdy do, dudes and dudettes!

Hope you've had a wonderful start to the week and an even better Memorial Day weekend!! My weekend was fabulous. J made it back safely in the midst of 10,000 storms and we played all weekend. I surprised him with cupcakes!! I was so excited to make them, but it took forever! HA! I made the mistake of assuming there were cupcake tins in the house to use, but all we had were muffin tins. The muffin tins were a little bit larger than a regular cupcake tin, so my baker's delights turned out a little more like a mini-cake than a cupcake! There were only 4 holes in the tin so I could only make 4 mini-cakes at a time. So it took about three hours to bake all the tasty treats.

I was anxious to try a new almond poppyseed cupcake recipe, but I didn't have the money to spend on all the ingredients, so I just got a funfetti cake mix and added almond extract.

It had the same taste and they were wonderful....if I do say so myself! I'm pretty sure I ate more of them than J did. That's why I go through such dry spells between baking.....I'm the one who inhales the desserts and then feel guilty for eating them all! But they were so good!

Here's the recipe for almond poppyseed cake mix:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cupse granulated sugar
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons almond extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour your cake pans or add liners to cupcake tins.
2. Bake times vary. For a larger cake pan estimate cooking time around 40 minutes. Cupcakes take less time. Make sure to keep an eye on the cakes and when they look to be golden brown, do the toothpick test. Insert toothpick into centers until it comes out clean.
3. Remove cakes from heat and allow to cool no less than 10 minutes before decorating.

There are plenty of options when it comes to icing, but I like a buttercream icing that is whipped. It makes for a lighter icing that's not over the top sweet!

2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg white
1/2 tablespoon water
3 tablespoons butter, softened

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Beat at low speed to mix. Beat at high speed until smooth and fluffy, approximately 5-10 minutes. If too stiff, beat in a few drops of water.

4. Icing the tops of the cakes and enjoy!

Friday Friday Friday!

2009-05-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Hello my colorful cupcakes!

I'm so glad its Friday! That means J will be here tomorrow afternoon!! This past week has been so lonely without him. The sun has started shining and its a beautiful day. Have a multitude of things on the to-do list:

-clean bathroom
-study for A & P
-workout
-call insurance company
-laundry

There's lots more, but I definitely drawing a blank right now. I have to prepare a surprise for the boy's return, but I'll have to tell you about it after he gets back....he's a reader. :)

So ladies and gents, enjoy the last day of your week!

rain rain go away....

2009-05-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

By golly, how are ya!? It is a rainy mess today in FL. I haven't seen the sun shine since Saturday. YUCK! Since its been raining, I've spent my bored days inside the walls of a local shopping patagonia! It was lovely. I got to spend some time with J's sister and her little girl and also tagged along with the "play group." Let me just tell ya, mom's are amazing....especially these moms. I kept thinking to myself....I would go nuts with all this chaos and these lovelies just took it with a grain of salt. I have to tell you, if I would have spent any more time with the little ones, I would have wanted one of my own. In due time, Meagan. Just not now! ha!

Have a wonderful evening!

My feelers are hurt!

2009-05-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

I lost a follower....I'm sad. Any of you lovelies out there ever lost followers? I hope I haven't bored someone to death or offended them :( Boo.

**Update....I must have scared another one away. That's 2 in 24 hours. I'm deadly. :(

Bachelorette....weird guys!

2009-05-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

Watching the show right now.....very excited its on...but is anyone else weirded out by the awkward introductions??? Guys are so much worse that girls when it comes to acquainting themselves with someone new! From my count, our Bachelorette is really excited and will be floating to the moon from all the drinks she having made for her. Come on guys....COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW AND ORIGINAL!!!

Make-Up Tip Monday!

2009-05-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

Aloha!! Happy Monday to you all! Hope every one had a great weekend. I made it to my movie last night and let me tell you....I LOVED IT! I can't wait to buy it and watch it again. It was actually really nice to go to the movie alone :)

I want to apologize for not throwing any tips your way last week. I promise this week I'm making up for it. So in review, we've gone over preparing the skin, choosing a foundation, which brushes to use, and concealer. We are now on to the fun stuff!!! COLOR!!

Today we will start with adding contour and highlights to the face!

Any of you ever have issues with not having high enough cheekbones or a double-chin or a large forehead? Did you know that you could fix all that with make-up? All you have to do is use different shades of color to accent the shadows and high planes of the face. When choosing the correct colors to use, keep in mind the finish as well. Your contouring color should be two to three shades darker than your base foundation color and have a matte finish. Your highlighting color should be two to three shades lighter than your base foundation color and should have a finish of anything but matte. For both highlighting and contouring, you have the option of using powder, cream, or liquid. I like to recommend powder for beginners and then once you get comfortable with the placement and blending, you can try liquid and creams.

This picture is kind of a template for where the different colors should go to shape the face.

This picture is definitely the on the extreme end of highlighting and contouring, but it maps out the perfect placement of color.

When contouring, I like to use an angled powder brush. It helps with getting in all the little nooks you need to accent.

I like to use a smaller brush when highlighting the face. Something that is fluffy and able to gently brush on the product.

Some of the best tips that helped me when I first started contouring and highlighting were these:

1. When contouring, have your light source coming from behind. This will help project shadows on your face and help you locate the areas of the face that are to be darkened.

2. When highlighting, imagine yourself walking through a piece of cling wrap. The parts of the face that hit the cling wrap first are going to be the areas that you will highlight.

3. Add a touch of your highlighting color to the inner corner of the eyes to brighten up the face!

This takes practice, but is very beneficial when you get the technique perfected. It makes such a difference, especially in photographs. Good luck and let me know if you have any question!!

Illusions of the eye...

2009-05-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

Bonjour! How are all you lovelies??? I, myself, have been bored out of my mind! lol. J is playing super hero in Tornado Alley helping his aunt and uncle clean up their destroyed yard. He's gone for a few days and I'm here trying to figure out how to keep myself entertained.

Yesterday I went out and piddled around town. I hit up TJ Maxx....twice, Target, Publix, Charolette Russe, Forever 21 and Finish Line. Sad part is....when you don't have a job, you can't buy much. I ended up with a cute little jersey knit dress and a few rings and I added lots to my lengthening "wishlist". It was nice to just get out of the house and get a little exercise.

Today, I've done the nails, tried to soak up some sun (the sun wasn't being cooperative), and I'm thinking about heading to Picture Show to partake in some solo screenplay action. Have any of you seen Confessions of a Shopaholic? That's what I'm headed to see and I'm hoping its not terrible!

So enough about my pity party I'm planning.....wanna see some interesting things I encountered while visiting my parents? Come on, I promise it will be fun!!

Have you ever been deceived by packaging? Maybe purchased a bag of chips to open it and find only a few crumbs in the bottom? Well this happened to me twice in TX.

My mom and I are bubble gum freaks. We love to chew bubble gum and sew, chew bubble gum and cook....pretty much anytime we're together, we're always crackin' on some bubble gum. Weird I know, but we were walking through Target and saw some Double Bubble gum.

We were expecting to get the little gumballs that come out of the kiddie gumball machines. You know, the kind you have to have three or four pieces to get a good chew? Well what we were expecting is not what we got!

These puppies were whoppers! A pleasant surprise for the bubble gum lover.

Next, while shopping in Target, we also picked up some Popsicles. I have a problem, I love sweet stuff. Well, when it comes to Popsicles, I always hate how half the popsicley goodness is all the way down the stick and it is extremely hard to eat. So, I found these...

Popsicle MIGHTY MINIS! The box showed to be the perfect size and check it out, they are SLOW MELT! I was thinking the mini-pops would be half the size of a normal Popsicle and they would be a wonderful cool, sweet treat for out by the swimming pool....

HA!! These things were tiny. A Popsicle for newborn! Slow melting?? That's because they don't have any time to melt...you can eat these thing in one chomp! Disappointing....well not for everyone....

My puppy loved the icy treat! Perfect size for her :)

And to put a little smile on your face....where else would you see something like this??

I might have to get this mailbox for my new house...when I get one! ahahahahaha!

Time flies....Just like I did on an Airplane!

2009-05-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

Ok.....so sue me! I've gone on another non-posting spell...I apologize. Wait....no I don't. It was all for a good cause. I am safely back in the big sunshine state and had a blast with my parents back in TX. I will have a post up soon of some of the interesting stuff that happened while out of town.

But for now, I must get back to writing my first essay of my second round of college! Oh how fun...NOT! Talk to you soon, Lovelies!

I just love being home!

2009-05-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

Look what I did.....with a little help from Mommasita! Its a work in progress, but its the quilt I've been working on with my mom. My family is big into Christmas and ever since we were little we've had homemade Christmas pjs....well this quilt is made from all of our old jammies, plus some Christmas fabric from my Nannie's collection. I love this quilt so much and I can't wait for it to be finished!!

What are your favorite family traditions during the holidays?

Wine Basket....Giveaway!!

2009-05-06T15:21:00.001-07:00

Look at this beauty! More Wine Please is giving this bad boy away for her blogaversary!! What a great way to celebrate :) Hop on over to her site and sign up for the giveaway. If you let her know that you saw it on my site and I sent you, we'll both get an extra entry! One for me and one for you, just the way I like to share my wine!

Good luck Winos!

Yeah to my 50th follower!!!

2009-05-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

Half-way to my goal!! My 50th follower is Prep in the Big Apple!! So glad you're a reader!

I'm all smiles!

Wednesday Workings

2009-05-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

Howdy do! Just another wonderful day in longhorn country....except for the weather. I was hoping for sunshine and tanning oil, but it has been raining and storming the whole time. I'm not going to be too happy if a tornado spawns up in the front yard! EEK!

So today is a very happy day, and would be much better if J was with me. It is our 11 month anniversary !! I know, sounds kind of high schoolish to still count the months, but I love it! After the 1 year mark, then things are counted by half months.....until we get married and then it's down to years! I think....what do you think? But if J is reading....LOVE YOU BABERS!

I have a funny story for you....for some reason, I've had puppies on the brain. I want one....really. stinkin. bad. But right now is not the time and place. But I can still window shop, right? So when I have spare time, I search for dogs on this lovely thing we call the Internet! I'm very picky when it comes to dogs that I want and feel I can take care of. Small to medium in size, no aggressive behavior or history, hypoallergenic, and cute as a button!! Well after some research this week....I know what I want:

A SCHNOODLE!!

A schnoodle is a Schnauzer and a poodle mix. And it is sooo stinkin' cute!

Insert funny story here....so when I found this dog, I felt the need to tell everyone I'd found it. I sent emails, made phone calls, and chatted online. Well, have any of you heard of skype? Its kinda like AIM but you can make phone calls with it through your computer. My family uses it to stay in touch with my brother. So, sometimes while my dad is at work, I will chat with him, so I decided to tell my dad about this new puppy find!!

This was the message: Dad! I want a schoodle!!!

End quote!

I waited and waited for a response, but nothing. I chalked it up to him being busy and figured I would talk to him about it later. He came home and I proceed to quiz him about this new found love.....he said let me guess...you want a schoodle!?

Holy cow, he must have gotten my message! Uh-oh....somethings not right. My dad had a weird look on his face :( Apparently my dad was giving a big presentation at work, using his laptop and a projection screen with a power point project as a visual aid. Ummm...can you guess?

Right in the middle of his presentation, my message (see previous quote) popped up on his computer!!!! Mind you, the statement said nothing about a schoodle being a dog and I'm sure no one knew what it meant. Now they just think I'm a whacko! Thank goodness I don't live in TX and these people will never meet me!

Embarrassed?? That would be this girl. Oh well.

Well I must go get ready! I have another day of errands with the Moms! Have a great one :)

Happy Fifth of May...I don't speak spanish

2009-05-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

Ha! My lovely J sent me that this morning in a text. What a sense of humor that boy has!! :) I hope everyone has enjoyed their day as much as I have. I don't know about you all, but it doesn't get better than hanging out with your Mom all day laughing, shopping, and not having a care in the world.

Today was another busy day with mi madre! We shopped and shopped and shopped some more. We were on a mission to try and get a few things for an upcoming trip my parents are taking. I got a few things for myself. I'll post them tomorrow!!

The outing was concluded with a lovely meal at On The Border! I've never eaten there, but it was wonderful and a great way to celebrate the day. I had the taco melt, chips and salsa, and a spectacular glass of sangria!

YUM! YUM! YUM!

Buenos Noches!!

Make-Up Tip Monday!

2009-05-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

Top of the week to ya, ladies and gents! I hope your weekends were wonderful and relaxing. I am sitting in Texas, loving the weather, but missing my other half. My mom and I have been on a mad creating frenzy and it has been so much fun! I will have tons of pictures to put up soon.

But for now, on with the tips!

I want to thank you ladies for submitting your questions on the last make-up tip post. I want to answer some of those now. Last week we talked about foundation application. My lovely followers expressed that they didn't like the squishy make-up sponges, which is a great thing! But they had questions on if using your fingers is acceptable. You have to think of it this way.....you wouldn't paint a nice picture with your fingers, so you wouldn't want to do your make-up that way either. Using your fingers doesn't allow for an even application and can make things streaky. Other than the streakiness, using the fingers on the facial skin, whether clean or dirty, adds unwanted bacteria and it increases the oil production on the face. So if you're having issues with oil, this could be a reason.

Now for the new stuff....we've talked about prepping the skin, picking a foundation, the proper brushes to use, now we need foundation's best friend....concealer! There are many misconceptions I'd like to clear up about concealer, because it can be your best friend too!!

Concealer's purpose is to cover up any unwanted spots or discoloration. Concealer can be used with or with out a foundation and should be applied with a brush. Because of the area you would be placing the product (under the eyes) is very sensitive, using a brush will not cause as much damage to the outer skin and underlying tissue. Also, if you are using the concealer to cover up a pesky pimple, you don't want to add more bacteria to and infected pore by using your fingers. Using a brush that is smaller with condensed bristles will allow you to cover up almost anything!!!

When choosing your concealer color, I always like to go one shade lighter than your foundation color. This will bring a highlight to the under-eye area and will decrease the look of of a blemish. Gently pat the color on the needed areas and blend out.

Most people think that concealer goes on before foundation, but after a few trials and errors, I've found that you can achieve a much smoother look with better coverage if you put the concealer on after the foundation. You won't get those darkened spots on your face that won't buff out! So try that out and see what you think!

When it comes to color of concealer, I like to recommend something that is in the rose family as apposed to the golden. This is great for covering the purpleness under the eyes and redness of blemishes.

So there you have it! Another Make-Up Tip Monday! Please let me know your questions and if there's anything specific I need to talk about! I'm doing this for you!

Good evening, goodnight, and goodbye!

Playing catch up!

2009-05-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

I've been postponing doing this post, but here it goes! I've been tagged in a few blogs and I wanted to pass on the love :)

First, Mrs. Katie at Such a Loverly Life... sent me the Kreativ Blogger Award!

The award rules are to list 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you LOVE! Be sure to tag them and let them know that they have won. You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard or in your blog to let the whole world know... you are Kreativ!

1. I love God and my faith!
2. I love my love :) Mr. J
3. I love my family....the best people in the world!
4. I love my friends...the ones that are close and the ones that are far!
5. I love music....all kinds!
6. I love being creative!
7. I love blogging!

So now I get to tag 7 of you lovelies! Don't forget to post your love!

1. Shannon @ Mr. and Mrs. in Training
2. Pink Julep
3. Not Just a Pretty Face
4. Anna @ Accidentally on Purpose
5. Lucy Marie @ Lucy's Life
6. Taryn @ The Colorado Desert
7. Ashley @ The Happy Little Home

Next, one of my new bloggie obsessions, The Luckiest Mrs. tagged me to do a question survey.

1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog: replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own
2. Tag other un-tagged people.

What is your current obsession?
Getting into nursing school and finding a CRNA program!

What do you think your name says about you?
My blog name and my real name are one in the same. My name means strong one, and I think I'm just that!

Who was the last person you hugged?
My momma :)

What is your favorite dinner?
I love love love breakfast for dinner....biscuits and gravy, hash browns, eggs, and sausage with syrup!

What was the last thing you bought?
A race ticket for the Derby!

What are you listening to right now?
The news about the Dallas Cowboy's Practice Facility collapse. So sad, please pray for the victims and their families.

What is your favorite weather?
That's a tough one....I love warm sunny weather perfect for a beach day, but I also love fall when the leaves start to turn all kinds of colors and there is a crisp coolness on the air. But wait, I love the winter too, when it starts to snow and its cold enough for it to stick! I pretty much love all season without extreme weather conditions!!

What is your least favorite season?
Tornado season!!! I hate storms. I might have a different answer after my first hurricane season. :(

What is in your bathroom cabinet?
toothpaste, toothbrush, lotion, and J's contact goodies!

Say something to the person who tagged you.
The Luckiest Mrs. is one of my new bloggie favorites! Such a sweet girl and a great read!

What is your favorite tea flavor?
As long as its sweet, it doesn't matter! I like my tea like syrup....yum :)

What did you want to become as a child?
I wanted to be a veterinarian, but the I realized I couldn't deal with dying animals :( Now I'm going to work with dying people instead! Ha!

What do you miss?
My J when I'm gone, my family when I'm in FL, and my friends, lots and lots!

What's your favorite brand of jeans?
American Eagle for lazy days and MEK or Arden B for dressing up and lookin' cute!

What's your favorite dessert?
I love all things sweet. I love cakes, cookies, pies, and the list goes on and on...I'm lovin' some cupcakes right now too....Almond Poppy Seed with Buttercream Icing!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
To the MOON!

What's your favorite movie?
That would have to be The Wedding Date...I'm such a sucker for a good love story!

What is your most challenging goal right now?

I've been postponing doing this post, but here it goes! I've been tagged in a few blogs and I wanted to pass on the love :) First, Mrs. Katie at<a href="http://suchaloverlylife.blogspot.com/"> Such a Loverly Life... </a>sent me the Kreativ Blogger Award! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5g2TMaq_T2I/Sf5T61x3BeI/AAAAAAAAAXc/Ln_aEqE7gko/s1600-h/kreativ_blogger.jpg"></a> The award rules are to list 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you LOVE! Be sure to tag them and let them know that they have won. You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard or in your blog to let the whole world know... you are Kreativ! 1. I love God and my faith! 2. I love my love :) Mr. J 3. I love my family....the best people in the world! 4. I love my friends...the ones that are close and the ones that are far! 5. I love music....all kinds! 6. I love being creative! 7. I love blogging! So now I get to tag 7 of you lovelies! Don't forget to post your love! 1. Shannon @ <a href="http://gregandshan.blogspot.com/">Mr. and Mrs. in Training</a> 2. <a href="http://pinkjulep.blogspot.com/">Pink Julep</a> 3. <a href="http://prettyface59.blogspot.com/">Not Just a Pretty Face</a> 4. Anna @ <a href="http://annalovesbuckeyes.blogspot.com/">Accidentally on Purpose</a> 5. Lucy Marie @ <a href="http://lindsaycramp.blogspot.com/">Lucy's Life</a> 6. Taryn @ <a href="http://thecoloradodesert.blogspot.com/">The Colorado Desert</a> 7. Ashley @ <a href="http://thehappylittlehome.blogspot.com/">The Happy Little Home</a> Next, one of my new bloggie obsessions, <a href="http://theluckiestmrs.blogspot.com/">The Luckiest Mrs.</a> tagged me to do a question survey. 1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog: replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own 2. Tag other un-tagged people. What is your current obsession? Getting into nursing school and finding a CRNA program! What do you think your name says about you? My blog name and my real name are one in the same. My name means strong one, and I think I'm just that! Who was the last person you hugged? My momma :) What is your favorite dinner? I love love love breakfast for dinner....biscuits and gravey, hashbrowns, eggs, and sausage with syrup! What was the last thing you bought? A race ticket for the Derby! What are you listening to right now? The news about the Dallas Cowboy's Practice Facility collapse. So sad, please pray for the victims and their families. What is your favorite weather? That's a tough one....I love warm sunny weather perfect for a beach day, but I also love fall when the leaves start to turn all kinds of colors and there is a crisp coolness on the air. But wait, I love the winter too, when it starts to snow and its cold enough for it to stick! I pretty much love all season without extreme weather conditions!! What is your least favorite season? Tornado season!!! I hate storms. I might have a different answer after my first hurricane season. :( What is in your bathroom cabinet? toothpaste, toothbrush, lotion, and J's contact goodies! Say something to the person who tagged you. <a href="http://theluckiestmrs.blogspot.com/">The Luckiest Mrs.</a> is one of my new bloggie favorites! Such a sweet girl and a great read! What is your favorite tea flavor? As long as its sweet, it doesn't matter! I like my tea like syrup....yum :) What did you want to become as a child? I wanted to be a veterinarian, but the I realized I couldn't deal with dying animals :( Now I'm going to work with dying people instead! Ha! What do you miss? My J when I'm gone, my family when I'm in FL, and my friends, lots and lots! What's your favorite brand of jeans? American Eagle for lazy days and MEK or Arden B for dressing up and lookin' cute! What's your favorite dessert? I love all things sweet. I love cakes, cookies, pies, and the list goes on and on...I'm lovin some cupcakes right now too....Almond Poppy Seed with Buttercream Icing! If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? To the MOON! Who would you want to meet in person? I can't think of anyone off the top of my head. I've met so many wonderful people in my lifetime already! What is your most challenging goal right now? Learning to live life without an income, finding a job that works with my school schedule and figuring out how to stay positive and keep my grades where they need to be. What’s your 5 year plan? Get into nursing school, finish nursing school, get married, get into a CRNA program, and mabye have a little one!! Why is today special? Because I get to spend it with my parents. My mom and I are out getting into trouble. What is my favorite sport to watch? Football!! I'm lucky enough to be in love with the best lookin, quarterback sackin' football player around :) To play? You can say its not a sport, but I still think it is. Cheerleading is my favorite sport to play. I know dancing isn't really a sport, but I'm pretty good at that too. What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own? All the jewelry that my grandfather has given me and the ring that my mom had made for me from my grandmother's old ring. <div style="text-align: center;">Alrighty....I tag: Katherine - <a href="http://justlovelykatherine.blogspot.com/">Just Lovely</a> <a href="http://europafox.blogspot.com/">Europafox</a> Ashley - <a href="http://drewashleyporter.blogspot.com/">Drew and Ashley</a> <div style="text-align: left;">Next, Anna at Accidentally on Purpose gave me the Lovely Blog Award.... </div></div>

Learning to live life without an income, finding a job that works with my school schedule and figuring out how to stay positive and keep my grades where they need to be.

What's your 5 year plan?
Get into nursing school, finish nursing school, get married, get into a CRNA program, and mabye have a little one!!

Why is today special?
Because I get to spend it with my parents. My mom and I are out getting into trouble.

What is your favorite sport to watch?
Football!! I'm lucky enough to be in love with the best lookin, quarterback sackin' football player around :)

To play?
You can say its not a sport, but I still think it is. Cheerleading is my favorite sport to play. I know dancing isn't really a sport, but I'm pretty good at that too.

What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?
All the jewelry that my grandfather has given me and the ring that my mom had made for me from my grandmother's old ring.

Post your current favorite picture:

I know I just posted this picture a few days ago, but I love it. It makes me smile!

Alrighty....I tag:
Katherine - Just Lovely
Europafox
Ashley - Drew and Ashley

Next, Anna at Accidentally on Purpose gave me the Lovely Blog Award....

*Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 5 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they've been chosen for this award

My recent finds and new loves:
Kristin @ The Future Mrs. McCormick
Sweetpea @ Horse, Hound, and Home
D.A.R. @ Just Another Day in Paradise
Stephanie @ "I Do" at the Zoo
Chelsea Marie @ This & That

Last but not least....I'm closing up with some Crazy 8's! My lovely Watermelon Tree tagged me for a game!

8 things I look forward to:
*Flying home to see my family.
*Flying back to see my J
*Christmas
*Sweets
*Blogging
*Shopping
*Haircuts
*Date Night

8 things I did yesterday:
*Fly to TX
*Wear faux eyelashes
*Play in the rain
*Buy a race ticket
*Take a 4 hour nap
*Get dressed up
*Listen to hail hitting the sky light
*Eat McDonald's...don't judge!

8 things I wish I could do:
*Bring J to TX to meet the rest of the family
*Get a new digital camera
*Buy a house
*Get a puppy
*Go skydiving
*Visit my friends in KY
*Visit my sister from another mister in ST. THOMAS, USVI
*Visit my brother in France

8 Shows I watch:
*Biggest Loser
*Brothers & Sister
*Grey's Anatomy
*Ultimate Fighter
*United States of Tara
*Hannah Montana....I know people, one of these days I'll give up the Disney Channel.
*Law & Order: SVU
*Who's Wedding is it Anyway?

So did I win?

Now I get to tag you...here are the rules.

1) Mention the name of the person who tagged you.
2) Do the lists of 8.
3) Tag 8 bloggers of your choice.
4) Let them know that they have been tagged!

I don't know if I can pull out 8, but I'm going to do my best....

The Bona Fide Preppy Bride
Southern Bride
The Monogrammed Nest
Domestic Divas Fancy
Just a Girl
Peppermint Bee
Post Smith
The Pink Tutu

Whew....I did it. Sorry if any of you have already received these awards! If not, enjoy! I look forward to reading your replies. Time for me to jet....I'll be back with some answers to make-up questions and to pass on some more tips! Until then....

A day at the tracks!

2009-05-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

And their off!!

Well they were yesterday! I made it to Texas in one piece, without a medical mask, and headed straight to the race tracks!! I was so excited to be celebrating the Derby with my parents and other UK alum. The track was beautiful and they actually had horses running there. So we ate, drank and watched horses all day! Our group had been set up under a great outdoor tent that provided shade and shelter through out the day. There was live music, great food and raffles for this Kentucky girl!

Throughout the day there were contests, but the only one I paid attention to was the Hat Contest. The turnout wasn't the best, I guess these women don't understand the importance of the Derby Hat. My favorite was this little girl...she's getting started early!!

This picture doesn't express the grandness of this hat...coming out of the red flowers on the right side of the hat were large black and white feathers adding some pizazz and style. This girl had it going on!!

You might be wondering why the pictures are foggy....well in Texas weather, if you take hot hot temperatures and add a complete torrential downpour, you get visible humidity. The fog was just lingering in the air an fogging up my camera lens!

The fam snapped a quick photo and made a quick dash for the car when the rain finally held up...

But before we mad it to the car, I saw this.....

Does anyone want to explain what a tater tangle is? I'm lost! HA!

Happy Sunday :)

2009-05-02T05:49:00.001-07:00

Happy Derby Day ladies and gentlemen!!!

Today is such a wonderful day for Kentuckians! I am sitting in the airport waiting to catch a flight to Texas where I will be greeted with a hug and mint julep!! Today I am hanging out with the rents at a track in Dallas where we will be attending an alum event for the University of Kentucky. I am so excited!! It will be the closest thing to Keeneland I can get for now. Keeneland is the horsetrack in KY that was the host of fall and spring meets that were the excuse for half the campus missing Friday class on opening day!!

I hope all of you have a great day and i'll leave you with this....

Tough girls come from New York. Sweet girls, they're from Georgia. but us Kentucky girls, we have fire and ice in our blood. We can ride horses, be a debutante, throw left hooks, and drink
with the boys, all the while making sweet tea, darlin'. And if we have an opinion, you know you're gonna here it!!
-Ashley Judd

Flash Rave....the power of the people!

2009-04-30T10:02:00.001-07:00

So I am still signed up to receive my old college's newspaper. I check my email and open up the link to find this....

http://kykernel.com/2009/04/29/%E2%80%98flash-rave%E2%80%99-ends-in-library-evacuation/

Why couldn't these things have happened while I was there? What a mess!!!

Make-Up Tip Monday!

2009-04-27T17:59:00.001-07:00

Good evening ladies and gentlemen! I hope the start of your week has been a wonderful one, cause I know mine has been. I started my work-study program at school, which was wonderful, and I also had an INTERVIEW!!! I was soooo excited to out in the job world again. I did have a few hesitations though.....the job I found and applied for was from Craigslist...eek! Anyone heard of the Craigslist Killer???? I was soooo nervous as I continued drive into the middle of nowhere to find my interview location. The interview was held in a warehouse.....I know what you might be thinking, trust me. I thought it too. But everything was great. The warehouse was their temporary home because they are getting a brand new facility!! Sweet!

The interview was a dream. I was amazed at how the job/job description was made just for me!!! My hopefully soon-to-be co-workers were lovely and I can't wait to hear back from them. I just had a feeling about it. I couldn't stop smiling, I was so happy!!

Now on with the make-up tips!!!

Over the past few weeks we've been working ourselves up from the beginning of make-up applications. We've talked about skin prep, choosing the right foundation, and now we will discuss foundation application!

To me, proper application of foundation is just as important as the make-up its self. Most foundation wearers are stuck in the era of the sponge....

I cringe when I see these things. Now they are good for cleaning up eyeshadow flakes after application, you know, the little sprinkles you get under your eye after you've put your shadow on? But I do NOT recommend using these sponges for foundation, whether it is for powder, cream, or liquid. Why? For these reasons:

-if you are using a liquid or cream, the sponge soaks up your product and doesn't give it back!! You are wasting anywhere from 25-50% of the product you paid hard-earned money for!! Stop! Thief!!

-the purpose of a sponge is to absorb....so its going to absorb anything on your face that it can. The sponge will soak up all the oil and bacteria on your face and the give all that yummy stuff a home to reproduce! YUCK!

-a sponge will not lay or place product on your face like a brush will. Like I mentioned before, the sponge wants to soak up the make-up, so its not going to give you a smooth, even application.

-when you use a sponge with a powder foundation, do you ever get a dark crusty layer that appears on the top of your compact? Well that is the oil from your face that the sponge drank up and spewed out on your precious make-up.....more yummy bacteria! Yes!

"What do you recommend, Meagan?" you might be wondering...

BRUSHES

That's right ya'll, BRUSHES! There are a variety of brushes available to you that will help with your foundation application.

For liquid and cream foundations you can use any brush you want. The more compact the bristles on the brush, like the brush third from the left in the picture above, the more product you will be able to pick up. This brush will give you a lot of coverage. The proper way to use the brush is not in a paintbrush motion. Paint-the-fence, Paint-the-fence, up and down, up and down.....NO, no no no no no no, NO!! All this is going to do is move the make-up around and give you a streaky finish. What you want to do is pat the skin with the brush to place the product on the face.

You can also use a fluffy brush to put a liquid or cream foundation on. Yes, I said it, a fluffy brush like the brush you've put blush or powder on with your whole life can be used as a liquid foundation or cream on your face. I love the result of using a fluffier brush. You place the make-up on in a circular motion, working the product on little by little. This will give you a more diffused look, an airbrushed finished. Flawless skin!!! Ooh La La!

When it comes to powder foundation, I would stick to the brushes on the right side of the picture. As you can see, there are a variety of sizes of fluff brushes. This gives you the choice of light, medium, or heavy application. The fluffier the brush, the less product will be placed on the face.

So that has it. Use brushes! I know I'm partial to MAC brushes because they last forever, but if you cannot afford to splurge on a full set or even one brush, stop by your local drugstore and pick up a few to try. I really like the make-up brushes at Target. The Sonia Kashuk make-up tools. They are the closest to my beloved MAC.

Things to remember when using your brushes:

-wash your brushes once or twice a month. More if you apply make-up daily. Use a small amount of make-up removing facial soap or an antibacterial soap diluted in water to wash your brushes. RINSE THOROUGHLY! Make sure you get all the soap out, gently squeeze excess water out, and lay on a paper towel to dry over night.

-don't get discouraged if you are first starting to use the brushes. Just like anything else new, you have to practice. It will come to you and you will notice the biggest difference!

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.....PLEASE!!?? I haven't heard from very many people on my little posts! :( I love your comments and especially your questions!

Peace out!

Saturday Shenanigans

2009-04-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday was such a wonderful day. I had my last lecture class of the semester, finding out that I barely have to pass the final and I will still have an A in the class!! Never did this happen in the first round of college. It just shows that it pays off to study hard during the semester :) As soon as class was over I headed to an outdoor music festival with J and his best friend Bologna! It was a great time. From the pictures I've had up, I'm sure you can tell J isn't a little guy. And being the football player he is, this festival is a great way to for him to get out some aggression. Get out aggression?? you might be wondering. It was a Rock/Metal festival! This was definitely a new experience for me, but I had a great time! I was on sensory overload. So many things to see, I felt like a kid with ADD in a room full of shiny things! I spent the beautiful day with my best friend and it was great! Here are a few pictures from the day...

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. I know I have! It's always great to spend your free time with the ones you love. I have a busy week ahead of me and I pray that everything goes well. I start my work-study at my college tomorrow and as soon as that's over I have an INTERVIEW!! I'm so excited. Hopefully the job will be legit. I will be back tomorrow evening to let you know how it went and to give you your make-up tips for the week! Get excited!!!
P.S. I want to thank Katie @ Such a Loverly Life... and TheLuckiestMrs. for tagging me in there posts. Be looking for some awards that I will be passing on soon!!

Big Dreams

2009-04-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

Today has been a day. Just when things were looking bright, the hammer falls. I had just a little breathing room for the summer, but that's been sucked up like the air out of a space saver back. Good googalie-moogalie! I can't catch a break here. I have to remember that every cloud has a silver lining and my time will come. Just breath Meagan, just breath.

For now, I can dream...

a new digital camera for my photography fix...

a new handbag....doesn't even have to be real :)

with a wallet to match...still doesn't have to be real. I like to call them designer replicas!
Having a matching purse and wallet is like having matching panties and bras....so much fun but not always tangible.
a place to call my own....a little country home with a yard and a wrap-around porch.

bedroom furniture to be proud of for that house that I dream of having :)

We all dream...why not dream big. One of these days I will have these things, hopefully sooner than later. What do you dream of?

Quick update

2009-04-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of those who said a quick prayer for J yesterday! The interviews went perfectly. He's already received a call to schedule the second half of the interview process, which is extremely exciting!! The second half of his interview is tomorrow morning, so if you don't mind, just a few more prayers would be amazing! Its J's turn for a break.

And more good news to add....I found out yesterday that I got a scholarship and grant money for this summer's classes!! I'm so excited. God is helping me out, knowing I don't have that job yet :)

I'll be back later with some more juice, but in the meantime, please keep us in your prayers and also say a little prayer for my friend and blogging buddy Brittany is at the end of her pregnancy and having a few complications. Just pray that she has a sweet baby girl and that her health gets better.

Have a glorious day and I'll talk to you soon!!

Family is such a great thing!

2009-04-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

Good morning lovelies! How is everyone on this beautiful day? I am running on zero sleep and a bowl of rice crispies and feelin' fabulous!!! Last night was a very restless one....it is a very big day for J and I guess I couldn't stop thinking about it and praying for him. J has a full day of interviews!! We are very excited about this and I would really appreciate if you kept him in your prayers. Its been a struggle since we moved finding work and this would be a great opportunity for him!

Yesterday was an awesome day as well. J and I went to see my grandfather before he heads back to his "summer" home! He's my little Goose....:) Heading south for the cold, wintry months and then back north for the summer! It has been such a blessing to be close to him and being able to visit. It has really brought us closer together and helped us form a special bond. I don't know what I'd do without that man!!!

I'll leave you with a story, in honor of Earth Day....about the little plant that could! So I have this plant....it is nothing extravagant, its just a small little clover plant. My mom got a part of the plant from my grandmother and then once it grew big enough, she split the plant and started growing me one of my own.

Now let me tell you, I don't have the best of reputations with plants. My thumb is purple.....very far from being green. While living in KY I did my best to take care of the innocent plant, but not really paying it much attention. On my move down, I made sure to carefully transport the plant to not cause much stress.....but let me tell you! My little budding bundle of joy did not like it one bit, and got very angry with me.

Slowly, one bye one, my clover plant began to lose leaf-by-leaf....

until there was none.....
These aren't my actual plant, but I was so devastated by the situation I couldn't bring myself to take pictures of my seedling's slow death... :(

After a little research, counseling, and tender love and care, I have become the mother of a full-grown sassy sprout!! I don't know why, but I love this plant. Sounds a little crazy, but I get a kick out of waking up every morning and visiting her out on the back porch, having a little conversation and counting the clovers and baby sprouts!

And for the first time ever, its starting to grow tiny little white flowers. I'm sooo excited! Ha Ha....the littlest things make me happy :)

So I'm headed out to wait on my prince's return. Hopefully things have gone well and I will have good news to report soon! Have a great day and I hope the sun's shining where you are! Have a great Earth Day!

P.S. What are your feelings on the new phenomena of Twitter?? I'm lost. I don't get it.

Make-Up Tip Monday.....and much, much more!

2009-04-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Wow....that's a lot of M's! Just wanted to grab your attention....so I could introduce myself. Hi, my name is Meagan. Remember me? I didn't know if you would, seeing as its been FOREVER since my last blog. I apologize and hope to be able to get you caught up on what's been happening in my neck of the woods, well not the woods....maybe I should say, what's been happening under my umbrella on the beach :) There, that's better.

Well loves, I took a bit of a sabbatical to try and reorganize and regroup. School was starting to get a little hectic and I was getting a little overwhelmed, so I decided that I would take a little breather, gather my thoughts, and hope for a little peace! It definitely worked. My class is almost over, my grades are better than ever and the stress is no more! Woo Hoo! I've decided that being stressed and worrying is definitely overrated. God has had a plan for me since before I was born and I need to trust in that and in Him and it will all be just fine!

Since the last time we've "chatted" lots and lots has happened. I'm most excited about the fact that I won my bracket in the NCAA tournie against my family. My brother decided the family should compete and a prize should be awarded. I went along with it, thinking I would come up dead last, but low and behold....I WIN! :) My prize...a plane ticket back to Texas to visit! I'm so excited to be going home again so soon. I haven't gotten to spend this much time home since I was in high school.

Speaking of my brother....we had a little scare. He has been studying abroad for this semester and during his spring break he was traveling to Italy. He happened to be there when the lovely earthquake shook the town of L'Aquila to its core. I woke up to a phone call from my mom telling me about the earthquake and that my parents had yet to hear from my brother. I was in shock. My heart was so scared and then I remembered the message from church just the day before. Our senior pastor preached about trust. It was a hard pill to swallow but it was so true, about the fact that God has a plan and His will be done. Whatever the outcome of the event, it was because it was what God wanted to happen.

As I prayed that day, I tried to not be selfish, asking for God to be with the families that were suffering and that had lost everything. I prayed that His will be done. The day stretched on and it wasn't until dinner that evening that my family finally heard from my brother! The earthquake had woken him up that morning, but he didn't think anything of it and went on about his sight seeing and traveling. I was so happy to find out he was ok, and that my parents nerves could be at rest. God was good that day, like he is everyday. I just know he has big plans for my brother and He kept him safe that day.

Easter came around right after this. This year's Easter was a little different for me. I was with a new family, in a new state, at a new church.....and it was wonderful! The family went to church on Saturday night, a sacrifice we made to allow others to attend on Sunday morning, and the celebration was amazing. I am the kind of person that loves to worship through song and the musical performance for the Easter service was absolutely amazing!!! We have such a gifted worship team at our church and it is wonderful that God has brought that group of people together!

Sunday was a day for us to celebrate the resurrection and be with family. We were blessed with the most beautiful day and planned our events outside to enjoy the weather. I had a blast decorating Easter eggs....

and watching J construct a giant, big kid friendly, slip-n-slide......

and playing with the kids....

It was such a great day!

That's all I can think of that was important while I was gone....if I remember anything else I will let you know!!

Moving on...

Make-up, make-up, make-up!!

Our next step in the process is foundation!! How exciting!? That sounded a little sarcastic, but it wasn't meant to be. I love foundation and telling everyone my little secrets about it. As we talked about before, prepping the skin for make-up is very important. Make sure you read about how to do so here and here!

We'll start our lesson today with some of the myths about foundation. When I worked at a make-up counter I had hoards of people telling me how much they hated foundation and that they would never wear it and when they left the counter.....foundation was their best friend. It is all a matter of knowing your skin, knowing what you need, and knowing the proper techniques for application. We should already know about our skin types, so we are going to talk about what kind of foundation you need.

Foundation can be a scary thing, if you don't know what you're looking for. Foundation is a product that is used to correct discoloration in the face and create a blank canvas that is ready for color application and enhancement. You want to make sure you are using a quality product for best results. And remember quality doesn't mean most expensive!!! You can find some great products at your local drug store!

Ok....here's the low down. There are several types of foundation to choose from. You have options of coverage and formula. Here is a list of the different options and their descriptions:

Coverage Types

Sheer - This foundation is very lightweight with minimal coverage. It is used for those who don't need a lot of color correction on the face and is the least noticeable.
Medium - This foundation is the standard coverage formula. Not to much and not too little. This foundation is usually buildable, meaning you can have anywhere from a light to medium coverage in one foundation depending on how many layers are applied.
Full - This is the most coverage one can get. I don't like to use the term "heavy" because people mistake this for the weight of the make-up. Many full coverage are heavier than a sheer foundation, but aren't much different. This foundation will completely cover the skin and create an opaque canvas.

Foundation Formulas

Liquid - Liquid foundation is one of the most popular types of foundation. It comes in a wide variety of colors, coverages, finishes. Can be used for all skin types, especially dry.

Cream - Great choice for those who have dry skin. Medium to full coverage. Many people ask for a "cream-to-powder" but my experience with those aren't the best. They tend to be a little more drying to the skin. Instead you can get a cream foundation with a matte finish instead of one that leaves you looking shiny.

Powder - I love a good powder foundation. Make sure to note the difference in a powder foundation and a setting powder for oil absorption. A powder foundation gives more coverage and does NOT need to be placed over another foundation unless you are looking for extremely heavy duty coverage. Good for normal to oily skin.

Mineral - Mineral make-up is great for all skin types. If you are looking for a lot of coverage, this might not be the product for you.

Hopefully this information will help you figure out just what you need for your skin type! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! I will answer as best I can. I had one question from my first make-up blog that I wanted to answer.

"This is a brilliant post! I love St Ives Apricot scrub as well. The primer tip is great though - I'll have to try that! What do you recommend as a good long lsting foundation? I am currently running about 4 trying to find the perfect one! I find Bobbi Brown Luminous comes off by lunch time and is shiny and makes my skin look sallow, Double wear is great but too heavy ... Look forward to hearing your tips! ~ Europafox"

For a long lasting foundation, first use the primer. What this does is prevents the face from absorbing all your make-up. When you go through your day and it seems like your make-up is wearing "off", it is really disappearing into your pores! So use your primer! I have used several foundations on the market and I am hooked on M.A.C. they have a ton of great foundations that match every skin color and are long lasting. I would recommend a foundation that isn't a satin finish. If you like liquid, try studio fix fluid. It is a medium coverage, natural matte finish. It won't add excess shine and pairs well with the primer. If you like a cream, try studio tech. It is also a medium coverage, natural skin finish. It wears a little heavier than the studio fix fluid. And lastly, if you like powder, try just plain studio fix. It is their powder foundation that is amazing! It has great longevity if paired with the primer.

Another thing that might be causing the make-up to come off is how you are applying the foundation. It is very important to use a brush to put all color on the face. It reduces oil production and allows for proper placement of the product. I will talk more next week about the proper application of foundation, but for now, I hope this helps! Thanks so much for the question, Europafox!!

So there you have it! Hope you enjoyed this long post....please let me know what you think! Have a great Monday and see you soon!!

Make-Up Tip Monday....on Tuesday!

2009-03-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

A big apology goes out to you all for not having this posted yesterday....instead of blogging I was posted up in bed all day long with a very uncomfortable stomach bug. I wish it on no one! But on with the good stuff!!

I was glad to hear that you all enjoyed the post last week and decided that I should continue. I didn't receive any questions last week, so I'm going to continue our discussion on skin for just one more week. And then I will move on to the juicy stuff!

Last week we discussed preparing the face for make-up. Cleansing, moisturizing, and priming the skin are three very important things that need to be done before you apply make-up. Before we get started on the foundation, I want to talk a little more about the skin. Everyone has a different skin type, which means everyone will have a different ritual before make-up application and everyone will wear different make-up types.

To choose the proper foundation, one needs to determine the right skin type.

Normal Skin Type: In normal skin, the oil glands produce sebum at a moderate rate, resulting in a balanced state, not too oily and not too dry. Normal skin looks consistently plump, moist, and vibrant. This skin type has the privilege of being able to wear any and most make-up.

Dry Skin Type: Dry skin is caused by under or inactive oil glands that do not produce enough sebum to keep the skin naturally lubricated. It usually has a dull appearance, feels dry and itchy and is sometimes sensitive. This skin type must stay away from anything to drying when it comes to foundation, but has the privilege of being able to wear make-up with natural oils in them.

Combination Skin Type: Most people have at least two different types of facial skin at any given time. The combination of skin is frequently characterized by an oily "T-zone" (forehead, nose, and chin) with the skin around the cheeks, eyes, and mouth tend to be dry to normal.

Dehydrated Skin Type: This is the most misdiagnosed type of skin. Most people feel they have dry skin, because it is flaky. Having flaky skin is the biggest characteristic of dehydrated skin. It is a build up of sebum that usually occurs around the nasal folds or cheeks. This just means that you need to drink more water! This problem can be treated with a prescription of 8 glasses of water a day and continuing a good regiment of cleansing and moisturizing.

Oily Skin Type: Oily skin is cause by overactive oil glands. Too much sebum is produced, resulting in skin that is greasy and has a wet appearance. Oily skin types are prone to develop acne and clogged pores. Despite these drawbacks, oily skin generally remains younger looking over time. My secret tip for dealing with oily skin is to treat it with more oil. Most oily skin types choose to cleanse their skin with anything and everything that will strip the oil from their faces and steer clear of products with oil. So here's the secret, what does oil repel? Water, right? So why would you cleanse your face with a water based product? I have found that that using a regiment of Cleanse Off Oil and Green Gel Cleanser has proved to keep oily skin in check.

A few pumps of the Cleanse Off Oil mixed with a little bit of water, carefully mix together and begin to work over the face just like a normal cleanser. Rinse with water and then dry face with a towel. Alternate this with the Green Gel Cleanser, using one on day one and the other on day two. You might find you like one better than the other, which is definitely ok! Remember you can always stop by your nearest M.A.C. counter and ask for a sample and talk to there artist for more information.

Here are the product descriptions from maccosmetics.com:

Cleanse Off Oil
An industry-strength oil-based makeup remover that's gentle on the skin. Botanically formulated with oils of olive fruit, evening primrose and jojoba seed and absolutely 100 percent mineral-oil free. Massages onto the skin to loosen all makeup, including waterproof mascara. Emulsifies into a lotion-type liquid with water: rinses off easily, no tissues required - and no residue! Protects with vitamin E. Skin softening and conditioning. Good for all skin types.

Green Gel Cleanser
Fresh, vibrant, skin-tingling cleanser with refreshing extracts of cucumber and algae. Full-on foam, yet delightfully soap-free. Conditions, nourishes and hydrates leaving skin clean, clear, smooth and protected. For a blast of freshness for the skin; just activate with water.

Now you have the basics for learning about your skin. I know its not the most fun topic, but it is kind of like having to learn the alphabet before you can learn to read. You have to know the building blocks. I hope you find this post helpful and I would love to hear what you think. If there is anything you need to know about make-up or your skin, don't hesitate to ask. If I don't have the answer, I will find someone that will!! Happy reading and enjoy your week!

Such a Lovely Homecoming!

2009-03-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lapse in posts....life has been a little hectic since my return to Florida. My trip home was fantastic. I was able to spend 10 full days at home with my parents, which I haven't done since the summer after my freshman year in college. It was a chance for me to relax, veg, not worry about school and pretty much be a kid again. My mom and I had a great time sight-seeing and crafting, even though we didn't get as much done as we would have liked. Here are a few pictures of my last days in TX:

We went downtown to have dinner and drinks and had a great time. My parents are so stylish...Dad isn't afraid to wear pink and Mom and I both love damask!!

My mom and I went out for a day and piddled around town. We stopped a cute little shop called the Trading Post and saw some great things at ridiculous prices. The first three pictures are thing that I would love to have to decorate the house I do NOT have. The last picture of the sign is a little play off something Little Miss Sarah said before the election in November. Thought it was cute, but doesn't pertain to me seeing as I don't have an children! Ha!

We visited the Cupcake Cottage!!! TWICE :) If you live in the Fort Worth area, look it up. A-MA-ZING! My favorite were the almond poppyseed with buttercream icing!

We went to the Apple Store. I'm addicted.

And....we went to the Fort Worth Running Shop! My mom is wonderful and bought me a new pair of running shoes for my new adventure. Its so nice to be spoiled every once in a while. These are the shoes I got. Apparently, Michelle, the winner of last season's Biggest Loser is from that area and got the exact same pair of running shoes from the exact same store a few months earlier!!

I definitely wasn't looking for anything cute, but just something that was comfortable and helped my running. I was lucky enough to find these after trying on about 6 pairs of shoes and they are amazing. I've only run in them once, but I can already tell a difference in the way my shins feel after running.

I had such a great time in Texas, but I was very glad to get back to Florida! I missed J and his family and being in a routine. When I arrived home from the airport I was greeted with a bunch of lovely stuff in the mail! I haven't had a chance to let you all know, but I won my first giveaway! I was so excited!!! I won the Best of the Midwest....the giveaway done by two of my blog friends!! Read here about the giveaway! I won Lisa's gift and absolutely loved it. I am still enjoying all the little goodies :) Thanks Lisa!!

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the giveaways at ~*Sweet Tea Diaries*~

Spring Cleaning....or maybe a little MAKEOVER!

2009-03-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

just a quick post.....Sweet Tea Diaries has done it again....hosting a great giveaway. She is giving away a blog makeover session from The Blog Fairy. Check it out!

Make-Up Tip Monday!

2009-03-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I thought I would do a little something different. I am going to start two post during the week, Make-Up Tip Monday and Featured Friday! I will tell you more about Featured Friday in a little bit, right now I want to let you know about my new Monday fun. I worked as a make-up artist at M.A.C. cosmetics for 2 years and fell in love with the industry. I have currently been doing freelance work at weddings, photo shoots, and special events. I thought I might take my knowledge and help any of you that had questions or wanted to learn a little bit more about make-up application and your face! Since I haven't been able to get any questions from you all, I'm going to start with my first post and hopefully the inquiries will follow!

The topic of today's Make-Up Tip Monday is skin! Before you ever place make-up on your face, whether it is a heavy application or just getting ready for a day at the beach, you have to prep the skin. The skin is composed of 3 layers. The visible layer is the epidermis, which does not have a blood supply. This means it relies on the next sub-layer called the dermis. The dermis contains collagen, nerve endings, blood vessels, and oil and sweat glands. The collagen in the dermis gives structure to the skin, and provides the infrastructure for elastin and hyaluronic acid to be retained. Elastin is responsible for the skin's elasticity and the hyaluronic acid retains moisture. More collagen in the dermis enables more elastin and hyaluronic acid to be present. The subcutaneous layer is made up mostly of fat which provides warmth and absorbs shock.

It is very important to take care of your skin. Use the proper steps to cleanse, moisturize, and protect your skin, on your body and especially on your face! Always use an SPF before your make-up. A lot of the time, the SPF in your foundation isn't enough.

This is a picture of a young girl who wanted to see her sun damage. When you're younger, the effects of the sun aren't visible to the naked eye. Add an ultraviolet light and the image on the right is what you see. All the freckle-like spots are the sun damage that is irreversible. You must protect your face!

A few products that I am very fond of are:

This is a very affordable scrub that comes in a variety of, what I like to call, flavors. There are different levels of scrubs based on your need. You should not exfoliate every day with an intense scrub. If it is a fine-granule scrub, you can use it every other day. If it is more coarse, you can exfoliate every two or three days.

This is a very light-weight moisturizer from Neutrogena with an SPF of 20. For those of you worried about wrinkles, it is an anti-wrinkle cream. It contains retinol and antioxidants, making it an affordable preventative and repairing moisturizer.

Things you want to stay away from:

- "cleansing" sets. If you are struggling with acne or breakouts, a set is great, because your face is out of balance. Use something like Proactive. But if your skin is pretty blemish-free, stick with a cleanser and a moisturizer. Having to use a toner, means your cleanser isn't pH balanced and when you use it, it messes with the pH balance of your skin. The toner is used to bring your skin back to a pH that is in an equilibrium state.

- cleansers that suds! I know that getting a good suds makes you feel like you're getting a good cleanin', but that means it has a detergent in the cleanser and it is drying your face out and doing some not so happy things to your skin!

Last but not least, my official tip of the day! Use a primer after you cleanse and moisturize your face, and before you apply any make-up. My favorite primer is M.A.C.'s Prep and Prime Skin, without SPF.

This product is silicon base with caffeine and green tea extracts. Its purpose is to be a barrier between your face and your make-up. Prep and Prime holds your moisturizer in your face and prevents excess moisture-loss. The silicon allows for a smooth feel that fills in fine lines and wrinkles so your make-up won't settle in those little crevasses. The silicon also helps with make-up removal, because it doesn't allow your face to absorb the make-up. Prep and Prime gives you a longer day wear in your make-up and allows you to use less product!! The neatest thing is the caffeine and green tea extracts fight redness in the skin. Another reason you don't have to use as much product, because you are not fighting to even out and cover up unwanted discoloration on the face.

This product can be worn with or without make-up over it. I love how it makes the skin feel and how it evens out the skin tone. If you want to try a little, hop over to your nearest MAC counter and ask for a sample.

And there you have it...our first Make-Up Tip Monday! I hope you find this information helpful and please let me know what you think! I need more topics to write on, so let me know what you need help with....please!!!!

Have a great week....only 4 more days until the weekend! God Bless!

Drum roll please.....

2009-03-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

So after hearing all your suggestions and pleas to not cut my hair here's the end product!!

Before

Please excuse the sucker....I had to have something to keep my mind off what was about to happen!

I had about a million little ponytails all over my head. The average person's hair would have about two or three and I had seven or eight.

And then it began....

Gotta have a sense of humor!

After

The final product! This is after my first wash and straighten. You never know how its going to really look until after you do it yourself.

These were the inspiration! Katherine at Just Lovely suggested the picture of Sophia Bush on the right and I found the picture on the left. A great combination because I have curly hair and can wear it both ways.

So all in all it wasn't too traumatic! I still can't believe I cut a foot plus of hair off, but it was all for a great cause. I also found out about a new program while getting my hair cut. It is a program to help with oil spills....There are over 2,600 oil spills a year and it has been found that hair and fur are the most absorbent when it comes to cleaning up oil. A group of very smart people started taking hair clippings from salons and turning them into hair mats to be used at an oil spill. The mats are then sent to a farm where a certain kind of mushroom fees off the oil in the hair mats and removes it. Using this cycle, the mats can be used up to 16 times!!! The salon I was at participates in this great program and so should yours!!! The link to the website is here

Matter of Trust

Check it out and get your salon involved!!!

Thanks again for all your suggestions! Have a great Saturday :)

Don't you just hate when this happens.....

2009-03-18T09:08:00.001-07:00

...just another reason for me to get a hair cut!!

On to other business:

I WANT TO BE A RUNNER!!

I want to get back in shape. I feel like I've just let things go and its all moving downhill. Yuck!! So I've been doing a little research oh how I can get myself into shape and how to become an amateur race runner! I've looked at a few 5K's around my area and I think I've narrowed it down.

Jim Payne Blue Ribbon 5k Run for Kids House

I'm so excited. I haven't signed up yet, because I want to make sure I can get a few weeks of running under my belt. I get back into Florida on the 25th and I will start then. (I'd start now, but I didn't bring anything in the form of a running shoe with me.) I will have 7 and a half weeks to prepare. I'm not completely out of shape, but I have never been able to run long distances. So this is the plan....I'm trying to find a running program that works for me. I'm going to start my running and I want you to keep me accountable. I want to finish this and start a new chapter! I've prayed about it and God's all for it! :)

My goals for running are:
-Finish my first 5K
-Lose 15 lbs
-Feel better in my own skin
-Find a new hobby :)

I want to add a weight and mileage tracker on my page....does anyone know where I can find that?

Have a great day!

Happy St.....what was that again??

2009-03-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

oh yeah....ST. PATRICK'S DAY!! Such a lovely day to wear my favorite color....thank goodness I accidentally packed a little green shirt in my suitcase. And on to business....I have so much to say and so little time.

I would like to start out by saying that J is such a sweetheart. As you all know, I am in longhorn country visiting my family and J is back in the sunshine state. Last night while I was sleeping, he sent me the sweetest text message letting me know how much he misses me and loves me. It is always so nice to feel missed and loved :) It just warmed my heart.

Next, I LOVE TARGET! I should probably own stock in it. My mom and I went on a mission to try on the new maxi dresses that are so hot and found some great things along the way. And of course I whipped my camera out and started taking pictures :)

This was my favorite of all my pictures....the cutest pig watering can!! I wish I had a garden to water :)

On we go....as I posted earlier... the countdown to the big CHOP!!

I'm cutting the hair and I need some advice. I cannot decide how to cut my hair. I have been growing it out to donate it to Locks of Love or Beautiful Lengths and I'm ready to do it, but I'm extremely nervous. I know I'm doing it for a good cause, but my hair has become my security blanket. This is where I need your help.....I need to decide how short I should go and what style I should do.

Here's a little about my hair:
-it's thick. I mean if you are blindfolded and you have a real horsetail in one hand and my ponytail in the other, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

-it's coarse. One strand of my hair equals about 5 strands of normal hair.

-its curly. Once its wet it has a mind of its own. Ringlets in the back and wavy everywhere else. I love to wear it curly so I need a style that goes both ways.

-there are about six different colors in there! I've never dyed my hair, but it definitely looks like I do. It bleaches out in the sun, so I'm expecting it to become a lot more blonde due to the fact that I live in Florida.

This is a picture from about 6 months ago, at a football game with some of my best friends! I miss them so much. The hair is about 4 or 5 inches longer now. This is the only picture that I could find that showed most of the length and the color.

So there you have it. The details...and now I need your help. Help me find a style and not just something straight and blah. I need so spunk and I need to learn how to do something new :)

Have a great holiday and can't wait to hear your ideas!

I'm leaving on a Jet Plane!!

2009-03-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

So I lied....I thought I would be in Texas by now, but I was a little confused on my arrival times! Eek. Right now I'm sitting in the airport at my terminal and could think of nothing better to do than post a blog :)

A few things to report....Mrs. Smith and Lisa are doing one of the most fun give-aways every!! They are high school friends that have decided to do this together! Please make sure to check out their pages.... Post Smith and Like a Valentine

This is just a little tid-bit of what they're doing...THE BEST OF THE MIDWEST!!! Woo Hoo!!

Now to the fun stuff...I need to vent a little bit about airport....especially the one I'm in right now. Lately I have been used to flying in and out of smaller more local airports. Right now I'm flying out of a large metro airport and its sooo much different. These are three things I could live without at airports.....

1. Cab Drivers.....those suckers drive like bats outta you know where....gracious!
2. Snotty flight attendants that think they own the airport. I'm standing in line to purchase my one and only soda for the week (I gave it up for Lent...and you know Sunday you should feast!!) and two flight attendants thought it would be ok to just slip right in front of me without asking, saying thank you, or even acknowledge the fact that I was in line first! Arg.
3. Broke-down terminals....just take a look at the pictures:

I know they need to remodel...but seriously? I don't know how safe it is to use a disposable pie pan for a sprinkler system!!!

Sorry for the rant! Just thought it was interesting. Time to power down, spread my wings, and FLY!!

God Bless!

Hook em' Horns!

2009-03-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

....just wanted to let you know I will be heading to spend 10 glorious days in the great state of Texas...home of big hair, sweet tea, and bible-beatin' beauties!!! I'm headed to visit my parents, whom I haven't seen since Christmas. But don't worry....my computer is making the trip with me and I will continue to post and update while I'm there.

A little preview for the week:
-Countdown to the big CHOP
-Cupcakes in a fLaSh
-To swim or not to swim?

Have a great day of rest and next time you hear from me...I'll be livin' large and lovin' life!

Ride em' cowboy!

Deja Vu...

2009-03-13T08:48:00.001-07:00

...didn't we just have a Friday the 13th last month? Oh, wait, we did! Lets hope this month turns out as lucky as last month! I don't necessarily have the best of luck with Friday the 13th....a couple of years ago I actually wrecked my White Beauty, and its all been down hill since then. Until now!

This is NOT a picture of my car, but it did kind of look like this. It wasn't one of my proudest moments :(

But moving on....

One of my new blogging friends has tagged me in her most recent post! Yeah! My first blog award!

~*Sweet Tea Diaries*~

is a blog that I read religiously along with a few others. Check it out if you get a chance!!

What I've been tagged to do is to reveal 10 Not So Cute Things about myself....if I admit to these things, then that makes them real, right? :) While I am a little hesitant to let you in on my bad habits and unattractive quirks, I'm going to bite the bullet and go for it!

So here we go:
1. I brush my teeth with my eyes closed. I kinda have a phobia of watching others, or myself, in the mirror for that matter, brush their teeth. It makes my mouth twitch uncontrollably.
2. I'm a procrastinator.....as organized as I am and as time-conscious I try to be, I put most everything off to the last minute. It's when I do my best work....HA!
3. My bedroom is a mess...I clean it and the nest minute its a wreck. I think there are little clutter fairies living under my bed that can detect a clean room!
4. I hate doing laundry. When I lived in my apartment by myself, I would go a month without doing laundry.
5. I have a problem with not returning phone calls. For some reason, I think, if they don't leave a voicemail, it wasn't that important.
6. I have IAD.....Internet addiction disorder. I love my laptop!
7. I rock a hair-do for as long as possible....meaning I only wash my hair about once a week. The cycle is....wash, dry, straighten, wear it straight for a few days, half-back a few days or with a headband, and then the lovely ponytail! And then it starts all over!
8. I spend 90% of my day in my pjs.....I don't have a job and I study all day, so why put on a cute little sundress and make-up when no one is going to see it.
9. I hate eating healthy.......but if I didn't, I would blossom into Moby Dick's wife! Gotta love those genes.
10. I am a bi-polar shopper.....one minute I can be the most frugal, money conscious consumer and the next minute I'm splurging on things I absolutely do not need!

These are just a few of my not so cute qualities :) Now I want to hear from you! Let me know if you can top my 10!
1. Mrs. Smith at Post Smith
2. Katie at Such a Loverly Life...
3. Lisa at Like a Valentine
4. Ashley at The Happy Little Home
5. La vie est belle! at Southern Bride

Happy Blogging!

Introducing...

2009-03-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

...with love apparel

My very old friend from high school has recently decided to display her craft on Etsy. Since a lot of the blogs I read are from moms-to-be, I thought you might be interested in this little gem.

...with love apparel

This shop has some of the cutest outfits, hats, and blankets from everyday wear that I have ever seen. Located out of Lakeland, Florida, the designer and fabricator of these great outfits does all her own work and couples it with lots of love and tender care. she even takes custom orders!! Her work is crafty, yet stylish. What a great way to make your little one stand out!

Here are a few pictures of my favorite outfits....one of these days I will have a little one of my own to dress up in these great items!!

I hope you enjoy and find lots of things you can't live without! Good luck shopping and if you have any questions, just let me know!!

Peak-A-Boo...Who Are You?

2009-03-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

.....so I see all these people reading my blog and visiting my site, but no one is commenting or following. Even if you aren't a member of Blogger, you can still comment! I'd love to hear what you think of my page! Introduce yourself, even if it's only to say HI!

Have a great day! It's beautiful here and I hope its nice where you are!

Its a JUNGLE out there!!

2009-03-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

Since I've been in Florida, I have had the privilege of getting to witness a whole new array of wildlife. Never before have I witnessed an armadillo trying to cross the road,

or made friends with a giant moth, the size of my hand, on the front door,

or had a nice conversation with a giant turtle on why its not very smart to sunbathe in the middle of the road!!

I'm so used to seeing little dear running around or a few squirrels with big, bushy tails looking for food, or a few cardinals flappin' around. I've seen all these crazy animals and I haven't even been to visit the zoo yet! Soon, though, very soon!

On to different news....J and I headed to the beach AGAIN this weekend. The weather was perfect, not a cloud in sight, and we got there in time to find a great spot that wasn't already engulfed by this years heard of Spring Breakers. We spent the day doing what we do best...relaxing. It was very uneventful, but wonderful at the same time. It wasn't until the next morning that the excitement would start! (That's a little foreshadowing)

That night J and I ventured over to my friend's house to have a fun-filled night of finger-foods, Guitar Hero, and UFC!! While pretending to be the next Jimi Hendrix, I started to feel a little warm. I had noticed that I had a very defined tan line before heading to play, but when I woke up Sunday morning and looked in the mirror, I scared myself to death!!!

I was not too burnt, but I looked like Octo-Mom!! It looked like I had gotten a full syringe of Restalin injected into each lip!! I seriously felt like Will Smith in Hitch! I almost took pictures to display, but they would have been to painful to look at! Apparently I had a reaction between the medicine I was on and the sun and my lips were two swollen sun blisters :( I'm still nursing them back to health, but I'm glad to report I don't look like Lisa Rinna post-op.

Last, but not least, a little lesson about hair! I am taking a trip to visit my parents coming up soon, and my mom and I decided it was time for a haircut. Feeling like I needed something new, I started doing a little research on face shapes and hair styles. This is what I found! Maybe it will be helpful to those of you who are looking for something new.

Finding the Right Haircut for your Face Shape - found via MSNBC

Determine Your Shape

Pull all your hair back, away from your face, in a headband. Look at your hairline and chin line. If it helps, draw a few dots with eyeliner to help you see your shape. Be sure to be honest about what you see, so you can make sure to pick the perfect style for you!

Heart-shaped Face

What suits your shape: Forget blunt bobs and super-short styles. To flatter a heart-shaped face, a combination of a side part accented by bangs, and chin-length (or longer) all-over layers. Adding pieces that hit at the jaw fools the eye into seeing a more oval shape instead of a pointy chin.

Heart-shaped stars
Long: Reese Witherspoon
Side-swept, fringy bangs with a side part and flowing layers

Medium: Christina Ricci
Eye-skimming, soft bangs with face-framing, long layers

Short: Jenny McCarthy
A deep side part that sweeps hair across the forehead, combined with choppy, chin-length layers

Square-Shaped Face

What suits your shape: Lots of face-framing layers and a side part can soften angular facial bone structure. It draws attention to the cheekbones and makes an angular face seem less severe.

Square-shaped stars
Long: Gwyneth Paltrow
A side part camouflages a right-angled hairline, and pulled-forward long layers cover a square jaw to make it seem less prominent

Medium: Jennifer Garner
Tousled waves with long, face-framing layers partially cover the jaw to downplay angles and add fullness

Short: Selma Blair
A shaggy, layered cut with a deep side part balances the strong angles of the jaw

Round-Shaped Face

What suits your shape: Round-faced women can minimize fullness with a cut that features a middle or slightly off-center part and face-framing layers. Flowing pieces of hair that cover the sides of the face temper full cheeks and make the face appear longer and leaner. Long, side-swept bangs that end at the cheekbones also help create a more chiseled illusion.

Round-shaped stars
Long: Jennifer Hudson
Tumbling curls with shorter layers that cover the sides of the face and add volume to the back sections slim the cheeks

Short to medium: Cameron Diaz
Worn straight or wavy, face-framing side sections help camouflage roundness by covering the sides of the face

Pixie: Renee Zellweger
Longer pieces on top with close-cut locks in the back help make cheekbones look more angular and less full

Oval-Shaped Face

What suits your shape: Most styles will suit you. (Lucky!) Everything we do to flatter heart, round or square faces is meant to make them look more oval-shaped.

Oval-shaped stars
Long: Beyonce
From straight, sleek styles to Diana Ross-inspired masses of curls

Medium: Kate Winslet
A one-length cut with subtle layers in front and on the sides is truly versatile, and switching from a middle to a deep side part complements waves or straight strands

Short: Eva Longoria A chin-length, side-parted style -- worn wavy or straight -- works on most women, regardless of the shape of the face.

So, good luck with the hairstyle decision, be on the watch for crazy animals, and look for my post on picking the perfect swimsuit for your body shape!

Superman....to the rescue!

2009-03-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

For some reason, J decided to play catch with the roof. Probably because I was too busy blogging :) Well instead of the roof playing nice and throwing the ball back, he decided to keep it!!! J had to get the ginormous ladder out of the garage and have a little talk to with Mr. Roof. Thanks to his communication skills and my super spotter/ladder-holder skills, the ball is safe and sound back on solid ground!

What a BeAsT! :)

Loves~

Dance Dance!

2009-03-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

So if you didn't know....I love to dance! All kinds of dance....hip-hop, ballet, line dance, two-step, doesn't really matter! I started my dancing career in high school after a cheerleading injury lead to surgery and a doctors suggestion of no more tumbling. For some cheerleading squads that would have been ok, but my high school team was extremely competitive and if you couldn't tumble, you couldn't be on the team. So, I took up dancing. I danced for my high school my senior year and decided I wanted to keep dancing. This lead to a few of the best experiences of my life!

I chose a college and tried out for the dance team. To my surprise I was chosen out of hundreds to be a member of the University of Kentucky Dance Team!

We danced for football and basketball and everything in between. I'm the first #24 closest to the left...not looking towards the camera!

Here we are after a game against the Gators....boo! Sorry.

For those of you who are sports fans, you know who this special guy is...

Dancing for my Wildcats lead to dancing for a professional arena football team in KY.

This is from year 1 of 4 spent with this great team.

Now that I'm in Florida, I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. I miss dancing so much and I can't seem to find anywhere for "adults" (even though I still have a hard time considering myself one) to get their groove on. I found a place in Orlando called Vibe. It seems great and offers all the classes I'd love to take, but there's one little problem.....its freakin' expensive!!! Holy moly, I can't pay $150 for 4 classes a month! Seriously, there has to be somewhere out there that isn't so expensive and will allow me to live out my dreams of becoming the next winner of So You Think You Can Dance? :)

Speaking of dance shows...MTV has taken the crown in producing dance shows. America's Best Dance Crew has to be the best reality competition show ever....or right up there with America's Next Top Model. ABDC Season 3 is down to the Finale TONIGHT! The final teams are:

Beat Freaks

Quest Crew

I can't decide who I want to win....the girls or the guys! They are both amazing groups and I wish they could both win. Make sure you watch tonight at 10 pm ET/PT!

Now its back to studying and stressing out about my tests! Saturday after class I will be hitting up the beach AGAIN and Sunday, hopefully attending the Festival of Chocolate!

Just one more day til the weekend!! God Bless!