Friday: the usual

Friday: the usual

by | Jul 19, 2013 | beauty, Loves, Real Life

1. Per usual, I painted my nails.  I tried a little something different this time, but I might need practice.  I stuck a pin in a pencil eraser and tried the whole polka dot thing.  I’ll do better next time.  However, I did notice just a few minutes after painting them that, hey…wait a second…they match my twitter background!  

2. Since all of the distractions weddings are over for the summer, I decided it was time to kick up the productivity.  Since I am focusing on writing my second book and working on making something happen with the first one, it’s up to me how little much work gets done each day.   I always had a “general” idea of what I wanted to accomplish each day, but sometimes I’d find that I’d spend an entire day cleaning the house and no actual “work” got done.  Enter: schedule implementation.  So far, it’s working wonderfully for me.  I feel such satisfaction when I cross something off the list.  It helps me balance the housework and my actual work.  And it also gives me a structured idea of when my workday actually ends so I can implement actual time to relax.  winwinwin
3. I mentioned in a post earlier this week that I’ve been eating an obscene amount of quesadillas.  I’m not proud to say that the number has only increased since the day I ran that post.  Myra is doing her best to run a hard stop on the quesadillas.  I made it all the way through Thursday without one.  It’s like quesadilla rehab.  Now because I can’t have one it’s all I want.  
4. I gave up on this season of The Bachelorette.  I generally don’t like The Bachelorette as much as The Bachelor for the obvious reason: there’s less drama because boys aren’t as caddy as girls.  But good Lord, Des’s season is just a snooze fest.  For the first time ever, I read the spoilers before the season ended.  I realized it was time to give the season up when they were gearing up for the week of hometown dates and I still didn’t know who the guys were.  
5. Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover.  It’s the sequel to Hopeless, and it’s one of those same story different point of view books.  We all know by now how I feel about those.  But none-the-less, I love Colleen Hoover, so I gave it a read.  I didn’t really care all that much for Hopeless, let me just put that out on the table now.  The subject matter is dark and uncomfortable, so I was completely leery of Losing Hope because it already had two strikes against it: the POV and the subject matter.  But I am so glad I gave it a chance.  I liked it so much better than Hopeless, which strikes me as odd considering it’s the same story.  Because the story is from Holder’s POV, the uncomfortable subject matter isn’t as shattering because it doesn’t appear in such detail.  I didn’t like Holder in Hopeless.  He seemed like an angry jackass who was unreliable.  Seeing his side of the story, however, I fell in love with him.  Different elements of the story that were left a mystery in Hopeless get uncovered in Losing Hope which I enjoyed.  I’d highly recommend it!
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linked with: h54f, thenailfiles, bookclubfriday

Reminiscing with Scents

Reminiscing with Scents

by | Jul 17, 2013 | Throwback

I don’t know about for you, but scents almost always trigger memories for me.  A lot of that might be due in part to the fact that I generally reserve certain scents for certain events.  Or better yet, especially in HS, I’d get obsessed with something and then any time I smell that particular scent, I’m brought right back to certain moments.

I want to share with you some of my all-time favorite scents.  But I didn’t want to just list them out and say “here you go.”  So I thought I’d share the “memory” or moment or time frame they bring me back to!

Reminiscing with Scent!

Reminiscing with Scent! by hodgespodges featuring juicy couture perfume

1. Calgon Hawaiian Ginger Body Spray: It’s hot.  So hot.  And I can’t rip the wool jacket off quickly enough.  I’m left wearing a black shirt with “bibbed” pants.  A look unacceptable anywhere else.  A look that outside our pack would be made fun incessantly.  I head towards the back of the bus and slam the window down hoping for a breeze.  In pinch my fingers in the process, ouch.  I turn and see the BFF spraying herself with a body mist.  “Ooooh!  Crucial!  Spray me, spray me!”  high school band bus

2. Bath And Body Works Sheer Freeshia: I’m sitting on the floor in front of the floor length mirror behind my door that has been too short for several years already.  That’s what I get for hanging it in middle school.  Who’d of thought I’d go through a growth spurt.  Yeah, me neither.  It’s an ungodly hour.   I apply a little makeup, dry my hair and slather my arms and legs in lotion.  I grab my books and keys and run out the door; I can’t be late for first bell.  daily high school scent

3. Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy: I stand and watch as her mom slips her veil into place, and I’m doing my best not to cry.  She turns to me and suddenly I’m on duty.  Time for her shoes.  I kneel and slip her foot into each shoe and carefully buckle them.  The click click of the photographer’s camera is the only sound as she stands: a completed bride ready to walk down the aisle.  She smiles and me and the tears I’d tried so hard to keep at bay slide down my face.  It’s time to go.  Every wedding since 2011

4. Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Wish: It’s that moment.  The one where they’re all staring at me: my best friends: my bridesmaids.  I’m all dressed, and it’s just about time to go.  All that’s left are earrings and perfume.  I spritz myself, and I let my mind soak in the scent.  Today is the day.  Today is the day I’ll finally get to call him my husband.  I slip my earrings in and just stare for an extra second in the mirror to take it all in.  I gather my dress in my arms and walk out the door.  Let’s do this. My wedding perfume; 2010
5. Perry Ellis Love: He’d been gone a month.  Only one month and already my heart felt like it couldn’t take it for another second.  But I wasn’t going to let myself think about it.  Stop thinking about it.  He’s home now.  He’s only home for two weeks.  Soak it up.  I finish putting on my makeup and squirt myself with my new perfume: the perfect Christmas gift.  The Christmas decorations are still up, and the Tree makes me smile as I walk down the stairs.  “You ready?” I ask.  Only 5 days until he leaves again.  Don’t think about it.  Daily perfume (gift; xmas 2012)

Now, anytime I wear (or smell!) any of these scents, I think about that specific time.  If you’re getting married soon, I highly recommend purchasing a new perfume that you don’t wear until your big day.  Then anytime you wear that scent, you’ll be reminded of it (and so will your husband… wink wink).  
linked with: randomwednesday 

What it’s like.

What it’s like.

by | Jul 16, 2013 | Throwback

Well, guys.  It’s that time of year again.  What time is that, you’re wondering?  The time when football steals away my husband until December.  I’m pretty used to it by now, but I thought I’d give you a little glimpse into being a football widow.  

  • I’ve eaten more quesadillas than I care to admit.  
  • I also begin to survive solely on “quick” foods–mostly veggies and mushrooms.  
  • I read a lot of books.
  • I watch a lot of TV.  This is about the time I search for a new TV series to get sucked into.  This year it’s New Girl.  Last year it was Hart of Dixie.
  • I’ll realize when I finally say something to the dog around 2:45PM that I haven’t actually used my voice all day.
  • My husband is nothing more than a hazy ghost that I see through half open eyelids at varying ungodly hours of the morning.
  • The laundry is suddenly full of very stinky clothing.
  • Once games actually start–on Saturdays you’ll find me sitting in the stands, usually alone, staring at a field hosting a game I know nothing about.  And I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
And with that, I thought I’d share something that my friend Mia shared some time ago since football season is on the horizon (and if your husband happens to work at a university that offers HS training camps, has already begun–like here). 

THE FOOTBALL WIFE
The good Lord was creating a model for football
wives, and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said,
“Lord you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What’s wrong with
the standard model?”
The Lord replied, “ Have you seen the specs on
this order? She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both
father and mother, be a perfect hostess to 4 or 40 with an hour’s notice, run
on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to
carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be
willing to move to a new location 10 times in 17 years. And oh, yes. She must
have six pairs of hands.”
The angel shook her head. “Six pairs of hands? No
way.”
The Lord continued, “Don’t worry; we will make
other wives to help her. And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it
can swell with pride in her husband’s achievements, sustain the pain of
separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough
to say, ‘I understand,’ when she doesn’t, and say ‘I love you,’ regardless.”
“Lord,” said the angel, touching his arm gently.
“Go to bed and get some rest. You can finish this tomorrow.”
“I can’t stop now,” said the Lord. “I am so close
to creating something unique. Already this model heals herself when she is
sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave goodbye to her
husband and understand why it’s important he leave.”
The angel circled the model of the football wife,
looked at it closely and sighed, “it looks fine, but it’s too soft.”
“She might look soft,” replied the Lord, “but she
has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure.”
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her fingers
across the cheek of the Lord’s creation. “There’s a leak,” she announced.
“Something is wrong with the construction. I am not surprised that it has
cracked. You are trying to put too much into this model.”
The Lord appeared offended at the angel’s lack of
confidence. “What you see is not a leak,” he said. “It’s a tear.”
“A tear? What is it there for?” asked the angel.
The Lord replied, “it’s for joy, sadness, pain,
disappointment, loneliness, pride, and dedication to all the values that she
and her husband hold dear.”
“You are a genius!” exclaimed the angel.
The Lord looked puzzled, and
replied, “I didn’t put it there.”

Hi5 & Nails!

Hi5 & Nails!

by | Jun 14, 2013 | beauty, Loves, Real Life

1. I got bangs this week.  I was crazy hesitant because a) it’s hot as hell outside and b) I have two weddings in the very near future and if they looked jacked up I’d totally regret it.  I might have to tell you all the ways bangs have solved my problems in the near future.  Pardon the no makeup and wet hair.  I try to keep things real around here.

2.  The hub’s truck was making some weird noises one day, so I drove him to and from work.  Don’t get all excited, he probably could have walked.  I felt like it was stupid to crate the dog for less than 5 minutes, so I thought she’d like to come along.  She didn’t agree.  Stubborn brat. And because I know my parents and family read this blog–we got the truck fixed.  All is well.
3. My new favorite snack thanks to Myra’s inspiration.  Ooooooh sweet yumminess!  Eating it outside in the sunshine while reading a book?  Extra bonus!
4. The hubs is on a very low carb very boring and bland diet.  Chicken chicken and more freaking chicken is all we’ve been eating for weeks.  It’s good for the diet and cheap.  I’m already not a huge fan of chicken but holy freaking mother of all that’s holy, if I had to eat another bite of chicken I was going to go crazy.  So thank you, pinterest.  The husband got to eat his chicken, and I made these delicious taco crescents with ground turkey and cheese and they were all I’d hope they’d be.  not. chicken.


5. Finally.  I’m back in The Nail Files game.  I paint my nails weekly, if not more than that.  Why haven’t I been sharing.  Someone beat me with an orange stick.  This week: OPI: La paz itively hot


Adios, friends!

  photo H54Fbutton-1_zpsa7aaa665.png

Ugliness.

Ugliness.

by | Jun 13, 2013 | Throwback

First of all, this has nothing to do with me.  I have been lucky enough to avoid the nastiness on the internet.  I think a lot of that is due in part to the fact that those of you who take the time to read this blog, read my tweets or watch my videos know me on some level.  Even if it’s just a little communication back an forth–I’m still a person to you guys.  And for that, I am forever grateful.  I’ll keep my blog small and my videos unseen forever if I can just stay in this little bubble.  

But I am pretty active in the youtube community despite my lack of videos right now.  I am so interested in that craft, and I completely respect any person who can sit in front of a camera and put themselves out there.  That’s half the reason I started doing it was because it’s something that scared me so much, and well, if you’ve hung around here enough lately, you know this year is basically about facing fears for me.

I have my favorites; the youtubers I love to watch.  There are some that aren’t my cup of tea.  I’ll watch a video or two, realize I’m not into it, and move along.  I only watch what I like.  I don’t have time to waste watching a video (or reading a blog, no less) that I’m not interested in.  I have even less time to drag those people down just because I’m not the right audience for them.

I see so much hate and ugliness on the internet.  It makes my stomach turn.  Like I said, I’ve been lucky enough to avoid that.  Mr. Anonymous doesn’t hang out here, thank God.  But some of the comments I read, both on blog posts and videos make me so sad.  I think two things.  1) Someone out there has an ugly enough heart to think those things and write those things.  2) The person who created the video or wrote the blog post is a real person who will read that comment.  You can’t tell me that if someone wrote this to you, you wouldn’t be hurt:

I’d block out the name of the commenter, but I feel like when you have the ugliness in your heart to write stuff like this, I don’t have to be considerate.

Basically, the point of this is just to think.  I know writing this post is essentially useless because those of you who follow my blog are some of the most amazing, kind hearted and supportive people alive so this is preaching to the wrong audience.  But it was on my heart.  And it makes me sad.