Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Two on Tuesday - 1 week later

Hope that everything had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  We did loads of traveling that we knew about and didn't feel as terrible as I was anticipating:
Wed - 6 1/2 hour drive up to WNY
Thurs 5 1/2 hour drive to Ann Arbor, MI area
Sat 8:35 a.m. flight out of Detroit airport to make a 2:30 p.m. wedding in Alexandria, VA (this included a cab ride from Baltimore to Silver Spring to change and drive to VA)

Sadly, most of the family picked up a flu bug in Michigan and Jonathan and I were down for the count from around midnight on Saturday when we returned from the wedding until today - both of us went to work today, though Jon is already back home and I'm waiting patiently to be allowed to leave as well

Anyway - my Two on Tuesday is more my "non-favorite things".  I'm sick and cranky so I'm having a hard time seeing the silver lining to much today - sorry for the doom and gloom

Things I dislike today:

1.  Being too sick after Thanksgiving that I can't decorate for Christmas ASAP

2.  Being stuck at work sick for a deadline

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Two on Tuesday

Week 2 and I almost forgot to do this!

This week I thought it was fitting to have 2 things that I'm thankful for:

1.  a wonderfully supportive family
2.  last minute surprises in life that put a smile on your face

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving week?

I WON!

And I never win anything!  Well, definitely not anything quite this exciting!  Debi Y had a 500 Followers Giveaway and the grand prize was all of THESE neat things!  can't wait to see what sort of fun I can create when it arrives!

I also found about earlier today that my office was closing at 2:00 tomorrow - "early dismissal" for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  This is always sort of an assumed thing that we get, but they're really waited until the last minute this time to tell us about it.  Shortly after the announcement came out, I found out that our dept doesn't have to come in at ALL tomorrow!!!!  I'm still waiting to hear if Jonathan can take the morning off from work but fingers crossed we'll get in late afternoon tomorrow and I'll actually get to quickly see my ***parents and Grannie before Jonathan and I head off to Michigan on Thursday! YAHOO!!!!!! Talk about a great surprise and reward for all the hard work I've put in here recently.....today is officially my lucky day!

now, back to all the work I gotta get done before I race home to pack!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I probably won't have time to get on here again until next week, but I'm sure I'll have an update post on the crocheting done while we travel this weekend.

***Any one reading this who may see my parents or Grannie between now and 5:30 when I leave work today, please know that I haven't shared my surprise with them yet so please don't ruin it for me!!!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

My favorite things

The other day, I read a blog post where an old friend was talking about her favorite beauty products, keeping them organized etc. and it got me thinking.  Anyone who knows me, or has spent anytime in my bathroom, knows that I'm a bit (read: BIGTIME!) product junky!  You could call it a bit of an unnecessary addiction but I believe that my skin/hair/body become bored with the same stuff day in and day out so I like to switch it up!  At least that's the excuse I tell myself when I'm feeling stress over money spent on product and what I tell my husband to justify the purchase ;-)

Last night I had a package in the mail from Sephora (just about my all time favorite store since I went to one in Paris a decade ago....) and as I was getting out of my car thinking that the package should have arrived I thought to myself, "new toys!"  Yup, I've thought of make up and product to be toys forever so today I give you a list of my "favorite things":

Moisturizer:  Hope In a Jar by Philosophy is AMAZING.  I only just started using this about a year ago.  I was having a horrible case of winter skin and NOTHING was helping me get rid of nasty flaky skin on my face once my make up was applied.  The company I work for used to own part of Philosophy so we got a discount and many of the women I work with had been swearing by it.  Of course, by the time I jumped on the band wagon we no longer had the discount but I gotta say it's TOTALLY worth the price!!!  I'm on my 2nd jar in a years time (though I did use the tinted version - Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer over the summer so I'd probably be on my 3rd jar by now....)  If you're skin is really dry I say use it twice a day but on normal skin once a day (at night) is enough for preventative maintenance.  I really do love this stuff!  After using for about 2 months last fall it was the first time that I can ever remember feeling comfortable with little to no foundation on my face - it's a miracle cream!

Eye Creme:  All About Eyes.  I just got this in my box from Sephora last night.  I used to use it all the time and for some reason about 4 years ago I stopped buying it.  I don't even remember why anymore but man it was a really stupid move!  As I've mentioned in previous posts, I have been working crazy hours at work this month and I'm exhausted.  Last week was particularly stressful and by Thursday and Friday I would wake up with black circles under my eyes that looked like I'd been sucker punched in both eyes.  Even the best concealer that I own couldn't mask them (and it's the same concealer I've had to use on a black eye Jonathan had years ago).  I knew I wasn't exaggerating in my own mind when I got to work Friday morning and the first thing I co-worker said to me was "oh I think you've got something on your face".  She was pointing to sort of my under-eye by the bridge of my nose.  I get out my mirror just thinking that my eye makeup was smeared but no, it was just my black circles under my eyes not fully concealed.  I wanted.to.die.  I got right on Sephora's website and looked up my newly beloved All About Eyes, saw that it was for dark circles and puffiness and ordered immediately!  After using last night and this morning I look about 60% better than I have for weeks.  Totally worth spending a bit more than drug store brands (which are mostly for lines, not dark circles in my research)

Makeup:  I've been using BareMinerals for 5+ years.  No foundation is better in my mind.  I have different shades for difference times of the year and have tried at least once just about every product they offer.  I'll leave it to you to go into a store and play around with the samples - on a daily basis I still use their concealer (multi-tasking face in bisque), foundation (in matte), hydrating mineral veil (tinted mineral veil in the summer), to eye shadow to brow enhancer to blush.  I've used the eye liners, mascaras, lip liners, lip gloss and probably more from time to time but they're rarely my staples.  If you're looking for a bolder shade of eye shadow I'm a fan of Urban Decay.  I wear Half Baked daily during the summer months.  Their Eyeshadow Primer Potion is the best I've found to keep my eye shadow where I want it and crease free!  I've even fallen asleep without washing my face (many times actually) and the next morning my eyeshadow is still there!

Other randoms that I don't go a day without using -

  • For shower gel, body lotion and body spalshes and hand soap in my bathroom and kitchen - Bath and Body Works is my favorite!  They have a scent for every season both for your body and home.  Their shower gel works the best for me to shave in the shower and their lotions and creams keep things moisturized year round!  They are constantly having sales and sending coupons in the mail to help you save more $.  Twice a year they do a big semi-annual sale and you'd be AMAZED by what you can stock up on.  They next one comes after Christmas and I'd suggest signing up for their emails cause when they have free shipping on a $25 order you can find great things on their website!
  • I use THIS and THIS in my hair daily.  I have naturally straight, thin hair and being blonde means it can look damaged and scraggly very easy.  The CHI line helps keep my hair looking as healthy as it cane for all that I put it through!
There is a lot more than I use, and switch out from day to day but I don't want to bore those of you who are still reading.  Message or email me if you want to know about anymore of my favorites!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year


Feeling a bit homesick today.  I could have had a Three of Tuesday in my earlier post because I love having 4 seasons!

We’re having a bit of an “Indian Summer” down here in DC – it was 73 degrees when I was driving home last night and 65 degrees on my way into work this morning!  I love Summer, but honestly I’m in need of some good crisp/cold weather!  This is why I’ve changed my background and header today.  It’s in honor of the upcoming winter that I know won’t be as cold here as back home and will not likely be as much snow as back home, but I’ll be dreaming of it none the less.  And yes, before everyone starts the outcry in my comments, I know most people hate cold weather and hate the snow and blah blah blah ;-)  It doesn’t even feel like Thanksgiving is next week with weather like this!  Here’s hoping it’s a bit colder up in Michigan!

Please enjoy my new pictures which include everything from our Engagement pictures over Thanksgiving weekend a year ago (in the first freshly fallen snow of the season) to a Christmas Eve fire at Grannie’s to December 2010 snow in Panama, to a tree many winters ago in Busti to my poor Jeep after Blizzard #1 of “Snowmageddon” in Silver Spring.

And, if you’re in a region with cold weather or even some snow, please take a deep breath of that crisp air for me today!

Two on Tuesday

I was just reading Debi's "Two for Tuesday" and thought it would fun to do as well!


Two things that I love:
  1. my husband  (barf, I know - sorry, but I'm a still a newly wed!)
  2. listening to Christmas music


Join in the fun!  What are two things that you love or make you happy on this lovely fall day?!?!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

WHAT?!?


She's knitting?  I know right! LOL  I tried crocheting with it first but didn't love how it looked so I got out a pair of knitting needles and cast on.  We'll see how it goes long term and if it ever gets finished - I'll keep posting pictures as I go!


Lots of other finished bits to show off but never anytime.  One of these days I'll post an update.

For today, I'll be cleaning (though I'd rather spend the day watching Harry Potter weekend!)

Saturday, November 5, 2011

I <3 the weekends

Happy Saturday everyone!  I had a request for spa cloths that I'm working to "fulfill" by Monday.
Enjoy your weekend :o)