by Joey | Nov 16, 2012 | beauty, Loves
I’m feeling so much better.
It’s unbelievable that I’m the same person today as I was one week ago.
I’m still recovering, but definitely on the mend.
I mentioned on twitter a couple weeks ago that I was conducting an experiment for
The Nail Files.
And, lucky you, today I’m reporting in with the results!
I’d been hearing through the grape vine that those old fashioned glue on nails were making a comeback.
Say whaaaaa?!
I remember being mortified in middle school (yes, I’ve always been this obsessed with nails, thankyouverymuch)
when one of those suckers would pop off in first period
and I’d either have to frantically search the floor in the middle of class, retrieve my nail and secretly glue it back on or go the whole rest of the day with a nail missing (or two or three…)
Oh, the shame.
So I was a bit skeptical.
I kept hearing about all these people swearing by them.
So I had to give them another shot!
I think these babies cost me about $5?
Sure beats the $30+ for a full set
or the $40 for gel nails.
Especially if you just need them for a special occasion.
I used the Kiss everlasting “real short” version.
I filed them down quite a bit & they were still a little long for my liking.
But I always, always keep my nails stupid short,
so that might be me just being picky.
And because I’m me, and I feel the need to b’dazzle everything
I added a coat of glitter. Meh, I wasn’t crazy about it.
I shoulda left them plain.
But! As for the results:
They lasted an entire week.
I’m a nanny. Read: not gentle on my hands.
I also cleaned my house top to bottom with them on.
Not a single one popped off in the 7 days I had them on.
I used the “soak in acetone” method to remove them.
I will say, they were pretty stuck on there.
And I damaged my natural nails a bit, not a huge fan of that.
But, overall, I’d definitely use them again.
I’ve got several weddings this coming summer that I can assure you I’ll be saving my pennies
and using these babies!
What do you think?
Would you give them a try?
Or do you have a different brand that you love so much?
Let me hear it!
by Joey | Nov 14, 2012 | Throwback
Thanksgiving is next week.
Can someone please explain to me where 2012 went?
An epic year.
A growing year.
Next week, on Thursday to be exact, Mr. Husband and I will be making a stand for ourselves. For our relationship. For our tiny little family that consists of the two of us and two little furkids.
I lie, actually. That stand actually happened back in May. Memorial day weekend, to be exact. If you’ve been a follower for some time, you know our relationship hasn’t exactly been the easiest. We’ve had some very, very low lows due to some outside forces doing everything in their power to be sure we didn’t end up together. That weekend, I spoke up. I defended. I told the truth. We walked away from that life.
If you’re new… click the love story tab to learn more.
When I was seventeen, I had a different kind of dream about all of this. The holidays, I mean. Marriage, even. I had this vision that somehow everything everything would just settle in. I hoped and prayed that by this point in our lives we’d spend the holidays happily split between both families. Or, or. If I’m being totally honest here, I really truly believed that somehow we’d all spend the holidays together. His family and mine. And all the other crazy members that make up my insanely large, overwhelming loud family.
We’re not there.
We will never be there.
A growing year, indeed, my friends.
This year I realized home is here. Wherever my tiny little family is. Where my husband is. We’ve moved every single year we’ve been married. Some years, more than once. I kept grasping–trying to make the place home. I kept wanting to go back home, meaning my parents’ house.
I’ve learned so much about myself this year. About my friendships. About family and about home. I am where I hoped I’d be when I was seventeen–married to this man.
And next Thursday, Mr. Husband and I will sit down at our dining room table for our Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. In years past, we’ve spent them in a rush. Sometimes in tears. Usually in the car, hustle and bustling trying to make sure we make everyone happy. Last Thanksgiving it hit me. We’re trying so hard to make everyone else happy…are we? The last day of our visit started with me standing at the end of a driveway awaiting rescue and ended with Mr. Husband and I hardly speaking the two hour drive home because what was there to say? It is what it is.
Wrong. Growth. Change.
I know when you’re married that it can be extremely tough to navigate both families. Especially if there is any animosity. I also know how horrifyingly hard it can be to speak up and make a change. For years it was just so much easier to appease everyone else and deal with the mess at home.
That is not okay.
On the day we said I do
our priorities changed.
On the day we said I do,
our road merged into one.
A new path.
by Joey | Nov 6, 2012 | Throwback
There are two gifts from my husband that, while might have been a little pricey at the time
have paid for themselves tenfold.
I use these two things every. single. day.
And I won’t be willingly giving them up anytime soon.
So if you’re looking for stuff to add to your Christmas list that you’ll get a lot of use out of,
I recommend the following:
Clarisonic Mia. Preferably in lavender if you’re a purple junky like me.
While the price tag might be a little frightening: $119, It is worth every penny.
I’ve used it every day twice a day since I opened it up on our unChristmas.
That breaks down to about $0.18 a scrub so far.
WORTH IT!
Kindle. I’ve had it for a couple years now, but I still stand by my original wish.
I didn’t want anything fancy schmacy.
I used to carry a book (or two) with me everywhere.
So it made sense to carry one light weight device with all of my books.
Again, the price tag (at the time) was a bit hefty for a gift.
But Mr. Husband has said time and time again that it’s been worth every penny.
Mostly because I’ll read in the car instead of back seat driving.
Now that there are fancier versions out there, the run-of-the-mill kindle isn’t as expensive.
I use it every. single. day.
It’s never given me any trouble, and I LOVE it!
So what about you?
Have you bought anything (or received anything as a gift) that has been worth every penny?
I’d love to know what!
by Joey | Nov 5, 2012 | Throwback
When I would see all these people who are all “Oh yeah, I’m sporting third day hair,” and they look like this
[Yeah, that hot biotch would be
Raven. And she doesn’t wash her hair every day. Whatever.]
I’ was all like…psssh, liars.
Because I used to look a little something like this when I didn’t wash my hair every day:
Don’t lie. You do too.
But I’ve done a
little lot of research. And I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to make us all look a little more like
Raven on day two or even three. I’d post my own picture, but I still think Raven’s a better hair model than I am. While my hair definitely doesn’t look dirty on day two or three, my hair never looks as good as hers. So her picture is what you get. Deal with it.
What you’ll need:
-Dry Shampoo (I love
Batiste Blush It absorbs all the oil, doesn’t leave my roots gray, and freshens my hair with a scent that doesn’t make me want to puke. It also doesn’t stop working 4 hours into the day)
How:
–Once A Week: Use a clarifying shampoo. It will get rid of all that gunk that makes your hair look so greasy. Also pick a deep conditioner and use it on the same day. You want the health of your hair to be number one. In my tiny little opinion, this is the most important step. I could not pleasantly make it into day two or three without this step.
-When I do wash: I shampoo as normal, but I only condition the skirt of my hair [think: only the part that would hang if I put it in a pony tail]. I’m prone to build up and have a very oily scalp–this helps me get into the second/third day.
-When you don’t wash: Here’s when you need to use your dry shampoo. I spray my roots on both sides of my head and at the crown. I flip my head and massage my scalp to work it in. You should also still plan to style your hair. My hair gets very limp, so I find that curling my hair adds interest and volume into my hair. If I’m not up for really styling, I’ll blast my roots with the blow dryer to add life back into it or run the flat iron through it.
Other tips:
-I apparently kill zombies in my sleep so I always have a massive case of bed-head. I’ll either tie my hair back, keeping my part, at the nape of my neck with a scrunchie or loose hair band or I’ll put it into a dangerously high pony tail while I sleep.
-I’ve been told that teasing also helps in the second/third day. I don’t like to tease my hair, but I’ve done it a time or two if I really need to hide a crazy cow-lick.
-When I shower on days I don’t wash, I wrap my head in my towel genie. I really need to grab a shower cap, but if you don’t have one a towel works just fine. Also, plastic bags tied like a turban also work. I can’t promise that your husband won’t tease you, though.
I hope these tips and tricks help. Something you need to keep in mind is the first couple weeks are the hardest. It’s a training process. If your hair is used to being washed every day, it produces a certain amount of oil to “maintain” your mane. The less you wash, the less oil you’ll produce.
by Joey | Nov 2, 2012 | beauty, Loves, Real Life
Me & my kidneys. Basically? To sum it up. They hate me. I don’t know what started it, but the whole saga began back in 2007. And since then I have had too many kidney infections to count. I don’t get the whole bladder infection turn kidney infection thing. It’s “oh, I’m fine. BAM! Kidney infection.”
We’ve done multiple things to try and remedy the situation. All of which are expensive and some are painful. I don’t know why I’m ever surprised when an infection pops up, but it almost always catches me off guard and leaves me in a puddle on the floor from the crippling pain.
I’ve gotten a lot of inquiries about this from some followers on twitter, so I thought I would address it. I luckily have a husband who is always there for me (especially on days like yesterday when I had to be rushed to the urgent care). I also have family and friends who always lend support. I have faith that someday, hopefully soon, I’ll be kidney trouble free. That day, though, isn’t today.
I have to say, though.
In that moment of shear pain an panic.
When you’re crumpled on the floor in the fetal position just hopping the pain will stop.
There may not be much more comforting than hearing your husband,
whom you tried to convince you were fine on your own,
call into work and explain that he wasn’t coming in because he’s going take care of his wife.
Love, guys. That’s love.
You never realize how unimportant all that busy-ness is
until something trumps it.
Oh, and then we’re sitting in the living room after everything.
And out of nowhere our doorbell rings.
And standing on our front stoop is my mom.
She apparently got in the car when I texted to let her know we were going to Urgent Care.
I am well taken care of, that’s for sure.
On to more fun stuff…
OPI: the color to watch
Tips: OPI: teenage dream
