Finally. Finally it is staying warm outside, instead of Mother Nature teasing me with a couple of warm days, and then it goes back to freezing ass... or about 9 days ago when it started SNOWING huge flakes on the way to Ayanna's gymnastics. And all I had her in was her leotard and leggings. Last Sunday appeared to be the last cold day.. I think it was around 47. For the past week it has been in the upper 60s, and upper 70s... and it looks to stay that way according to AccuWeather. Some might wonder why I care. This is why.. Jaiden's 2nd birthday.
He is my (almost) Cinco de Mayo baby, and so every year, until he is older, he will have to compete (at least that is what I worry about) with people getting drunk and eating yummy food at the Cinco de Mayo festival, or coming to his birthday parties. When he is older he won't have to worry about this. But for now, that is my job. And I am good at it. I worry about EVERYTHING. That if the weather is cloudy, cold, raining, or simply if something else is going on, then people won't come. Stupid things like that. (With Ayanna's birthday I always worry because of football being on.) Every party or shower we've every had has always had a big turn out, and the kids always get tons of loot... but I just feel like we are always competing. With something. Even if it is just the weather. I really don't know why I feel like this.
This year I compromised. I always have to do parties on Sundays, since John works EVERY Saturday. The festival ends around 4pm Sunday, so I am doing his birthday party at 3pm. This way I know that people can still go (get drunk and salsa) have fun at the festival, then come here, eat dinner.. have cake.. and watch Jaiden the Man open his gifts. Yeah, sounds good.
For every birthday, or any party we have, we always make dinner for everyone. (Ok, really my MIL does) and we always do something for the kids. So far we seem to always rent inflatables.. like a moonwalk castle. John said the other day that it would be pretty cool to get someone that does balloon animals for the kids. I thought that was an awesome idea! So online I went.. world of google. It seems like most of the balloon artist in our area are clowns. Now I really really really do NOT like clowns! Clowns give me the creeps! Needless to say, now we are out of ideas.. and his birthday is in 2 weeks. Half the invitations are out. The other half.. well I need to get off here and finish addressing them! Ha ha. Have I mentioned that I am a HUGE procrastinator?
So my list of To Do's today goes something like this:
* Finish addressing the invites
* Go to the post office and drop them in the mail
* Get on Capital One and really pay the car payment, that is due on the 28th, because I told John a fib and said I did it Saturday. (Sorry honey, I really will do it today! Don't be mad!)
* And finally go to Toys R Us and see if I can find "The" gift for Jaiden. I already bought him a four outfits from BabyGap.. (which I will show later cause they are so freggin cute!) Ayanna picked out two books for him, one being Cars, since Jman is really into Cars right now. (Just like every other little boy.) We also got him a Cars rug for his room that has roads and stuff on it. Then Cars for the rug. At the Disney store we got him a shirt, a cars plate setting and a Cars cup with a snow globe at the bottom that has McQueen in it.. so cute. And I think we got him some other toy, I just can't remember what it is.
Once I get all this finished, I might finally take the kids to feed the ducks. Since I have been promising them for a week that if they were good, I would take them.
Yes, I bribe my kids. My favorite, Chuck E Cheese. Those words will make them do what ever I want. ( evil smile and laugh here)
By the way.. Thank God for DVR. I don't think I could have made it through this post had I not been able to rewind Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 1000x's.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
I'm not Debbie Downer
The past couple of days have been pretty crazy. Not to mention the past week, two very close family members having surgery, Grandpa finding out his heart cant take another bi-pass to save his life, and one death. But I wont be a Debbie Downer. When I say it has been crazy, I mean I have been crazy busy around the house. I finally picked out new curtains and pillows for the living room. I have been wanting to do this for a while. But when I put the new curtains up, John pointed out that we need to get a big mirror to put above the fireplace, or a big painting... and you know what.. he's right. Sounds like we will be making another trip to one of my favorite furniture stores.
Go Ahead and excuse the fact that I have laundry on the ottoman to put away, and Ayanna's toys are out... but hey, that's real life.
Here are my new pillows (that are oh so comfy too.)
Now on to bigger and better things. Well, more fun anyway! Ayanna is 3 and a half. So hard to believe. She is a very headstrong, smart, determined, and wise way beyond her years. For awhile now she has been telling me "Mommy, I am ready for a big girl room." Ok, more like "Mom, I NEED a big girl room!" Her crib was one of those that converted into a toddler day bed, then into a full. I really didn't want her to have the same furniture that she has been using, even though it is convertible. So ofcource I picked my little Princess something special. But I cant decide between this something special, or this something special...... ahhhhh decisions. That ahhhhh is more like "AHHHHHHHHHHHH" (Me screaming and pulling my hair out.)
HOWEVER I did finally find a bedding set that I love, and she loves as well. Ofcource she wanted Princess or Little Mermaid, but I want something to last her a long time. Not something that is just a stage that she will grow out of in a few years. Back on Valentines Day, I took her and my niece to the Town Center AMC theatre to see the Hannah Montana 3D movie (and had to pay $15 a person, yes even for just a 3 year old. Ridiculous, but made her day.) and when it was finished we walked over to Pottery Barn Kids. They have some amazing kids decor, and toys too. They are expensive, but the stuff is well made to last. I picked out this beautiful quilt, and was shocked when Ayanna loved it to.... she is very opinionated, and is NOT afraid to let you know if she DOESN'T like something. Hmmmmmm wonder where she got that from...??
On Wednesday, I went to the mattress store, and we picked her out a nice pillow top twin bed, and it was delivered that evening. So I went ahead and ordered her bedding. To my surprise, the quilt and sham, picture and wall flower decor came yesterday! (I am still waiting on the sheets and window valance to match. But UPS says it is in transit, so hopefully tonight it will be here.
Here room is a hot mess right now, since I moved her new "big girl" bed to a different wall, and I need to move her mosquito net canopy thingy, and hang it above where her bed is now, and then move her wall decor around, and take some down that goes with her old nursery set. This is so bittersweet for me, but I am handling it rather well.
I searched and searched for a pic of what her room looked like before, and this was all I could find on my laptop... but there are tons backed up on dvds.
And here is her room now.... the mess is driving me nuts! But I have to wait until John gets home, and convince him to relocate the canopy... hehe. It is a pain. Then I get to take down the old valance, drapes, quilt hanging on the wall, some of the old pics.... and just sit and wait patiently with the old furniture, till I can make up my mind and order a new one. My deadline it May 10th though. I want her room to be done by summer, so then I can just focus on our traveling, and what we'll need to make life easier then.
Go Ahead and excuse the fact that I have laundry on the ottoman to put away, and Ayanna's toys are out... but hey, that's real life.
Here are my new pillows (that are oh so comfy too.)
Now on to bigger and better things. Well, more fun anyway! Ayanna is 3 and a half. So hard to believe. She is a very headstrong, smart, determined, and wise way beyond her years. For awhile now she has been telling me "Mommy, I am ready for a big girl room." Ok, more like "Mom, I NEED a big girl room!" Her crib was one of those that converted into a toddler day bed, then into a full. I really didn't want her to have the same furniture that she has been using, even though it is convertible. So ofcource I picked my little Princess something special. But I cant decide between this something special, or this something special...... ahhhhh decisions. That ahhhhh is more like "AHHHHHHHHHHHH" (Me screaming and pulling my hair out.)
HOWEVER I did finally find a bedding set that I love, and she loves as well. Ofcource she wanted Princess or Little Mermaid, but I want something to last her a long time. Not something that is just a stage that she will grow out of in a few years. Back on Valentines Day, I took her and my niece to the Town Center AMC theatre to see the Hannah Montana 3D movie (and had to pay $15 a person, yes even for just a 3 year old. Ridiculous, but made her day.) and when it was finished we walked over to Pottery Barn Kids. They have some amazing kids decor, and toys too. They are expensive, but the stuff is well made to last. I picked out this beautiful quilt, and was shocked when Ayanna loved it to.... she is very opinionated, and is NOT afraid to let you know if she DOESN'T like something. Hmmmmmm wonder where she got that from...??
On Wednesday, I went to the mattress store, and we picked her out a nice pillow top twin bed, and it was delivered that evening. So I went ahead and ordered her bedding. To my surprise, the quilt and sham, picture and wall flower decor came yesterday! (I am still waiting on the sheets and window valance to match. But UPS says it is in transit, so hopefully tonight it will be here.
Here room is a hot mess right now, since I moved her new "big girl" bed to a different wall, and I need to move her mosquito net canopy thingy, and hang it above where her bed is now, and then move her wall decor around, and take some down that goes with her old nursery set. This is so bittersweet for me, but I am handling it rather well.
I searched and searched for a pic of what her room looked like before, and this was all I could find on my laptop... but there are tons backed up on dvds.
And here is her room now.... the mess is driving me nuts! But I have to wait until John gets home, and convince him to relocate the canopy... hehe. It is a pain. Then I get to take down the old valance, drapes, quilt hanging on the wall, some of the old pics.... and just sit and wait patiently with the old furniture, till I can make up my mind and order a new one. My deadline it May 10th though. I want her room to be done by summer, so then I can just focus on our traveling, and what we'll need to make life easier then.
Monday, April 14, 2008
The sweet Ride..
Five years ago, a few months after John and I first started dating, I made a little ATM run for him.. just to get some cash and go buy him a few pair of dress pants while he was at work. I thought he was serious when he told me " No more than $150, because I am poor!" So there I was, sitting in front of the ATM, money withdrawn, and waiting to grab the receipt as it came out before the wind could blow it away. (I have had that happen so many times, and then I look stupid getting out of the car trying to catch the receipt! LOL) The angel on my right shoulder kept telling me not to look at the balance, because it is so wrong.... but the little devil on my left shoulder got ahold of the curious, ok ok, nosey side of me.. and I looked. Yes I know, very bad. I remember sitting there staring and thinking..... He told me he was broke? He was poor? But he had over $23,000 in his account?! (My how his world was changed!) Ofcource I didn't say anything then. I brought it up after the house was done being built and we moved in though. And right away, I saw where that money was going. Closing cost on the house, check. New furniture, check. My new car (at the time)... check.
He was very good at saving and managing money.... but along came me. I was terrible at managing money... and save.. what was that? It took me almost 3 years to actually get money management down. My big weakness... Shopping. It used to be either for the house, him, me... me... and even more me. I had alot of growing up to do! I know! It is funny to look at the place we were then, and we only made about half of what we make a month now. Then, I though we were rich! I was 21. That was alot of money to me.. now introduce credit cards, with low intrest and high (to high for a 21 year old!) credit limits. Two words: Quick Sand. period. Six months (and after taking a loan to pay everything off) later.. lesson learned!
This year, John and I made a New Years Resolution. One goal. And be serious, because usually we make stupid ones, and let them go. Who doesn't! :) We wrote down all of our debt on a piece of yellow paper from one of them big tablets. At the end, we were in debt, not including the mortgage, about $16,000. February came, we paid off a few credit cards, and made paid off the remaining balance on the loan stated above. March... a few more bills.. Then, a set back, we owed on our taxes for breaking $100K income last year, AND because I decided to get a little grown up time and got a part time job at a jewelry store, whom did NOT take out enough taxes. I never paid attention, I had direct deposit. Ha ha! Sorry, back to subject... This month. This month we reached out goal. In less than 60 days we paid off all our debt! (excluding the mortgage.)
Just to show how spoiled I really am by my wonderful hubby, (and it took someone pointing it out to me) he bought me a new car! Something even funnier.. this is my
5th new car in 5 years.. HAHAHAHA! That's like a new car every year! But really, I had two new cars in one year. Shut up.. I hear you laughing.
Part 2:
Kids are very expensive. We have two. And that fact that they are my kids... (sorry honey, OURS. Love you!) well, they have the best of everything. The best toys, for learning, fun and creativity. The best clothes.. all name brand, and THAT its self is a HUGE expense! Ayanna just turned 3 in October, and since then I have placed her in the best Academic Preschool around here.. costing a whopping $500 a month just for two days a week. She is also in Gymnastics, which I can proudly say this is something she is very good at.. so we might have a gold medalist on our hands. ;) She's also in a Ballet and Tap class. Jaiden is still to young, but soon. He is very into sports for his age.. my little man. Education is really important to me. And for some reason, the way they dress or look, and what they have is important to me to. I am guessing the only reason this is... my childhood. My parents would rather spend money on themselves, and the only nice stuff we had was what my Grandma would buy me. Which when you become a certain age, your taste and grannies taste in clothes, well it just wasn't the same. So I worked to get what I had, and it wasn't much, since what was cool was really expensive! My friends and I would share clothes alot. I dint want my kids to ever feel the way I felt. Back in 5th or 6th grade, on picture day I tried everything to stay home, all because I "didn't have anything to wear!" Classic. Funny huh.. not really.. my Mom hated laundry. So do I by the way, thanks Mom.. but if I put something in the dirty clothes.. it would be there for a month. At 11, started doing my own laundry.
I know we will always be able to provide the best of the best for these two, but one thing that we spoil them with more than anything, is our love. I want them to know that family is important too.
Its funny now to have all this extra money a month.. all debt paid... (and I am laughing as I type this) because this summer we are going to have to plan and watch every dollar! Every dollar left over after we pay the bills and deposit into saving anyways. At the end of the month we have to pay the sales and property tax on my new beauty. This summer we have 3 weeks of vacation, and we are traveling to 3 different places to spend a week.. and with plane tickets, the locations (which I will get into later, because we have some AWESOME trips planned this summer!!!) ect. ect.. it adds up. AND FAST. Not to mention Ayanna is ready for a big girl room. This kid is one wild sleeper. Since she was 2 we converted her crib into the daybed, but she has now outgrown that. Soooooooo... we need to get her a new bedroom set, mattress, and bedding. And because I am so anal about things matching... new decor to. :)
Still, I am proud of how far we've come. Though we are making more now than we ever have, and have accomplished so much financial freedom, we don't take it for granted. Even when times were stressful and rough, our kids still had the best of everything and we were always taken care of. We have a beautiful house, beautiful happy (extremely spoiled) kids, beautiful cars, money in the bank and freedom to do as we please. **Sigh** Thank you God, for always watching over us.
He was very good at saving and managing money.... but along came me. I was terrible at managing money... and save.. what was that? It took me almost 3 years to actually get money management down. My big weakness... Shopping. It used to be either for the house, him, me... me... and even more me. I had alot of growing up to do! I know! It is funny to look at the place we were then, and we only made about half of what we make a month now. Then, I though we were rich! I was 21. That was alot of money to me.. now introduce credit cards, with low intrest and high (to high for a 21 year old!) credit limits. Two words: Quick Sand. period. Six months (and after taking a loan to pay everything off) later.. lesson learned!
This year, John and I made a New Years Resolution. One goal. And be serious, because usually we make stupid ones, and let them go. Who doesn't! :) We wrote down all of our debt on a piece of yellow paper from one of them big tablets. At the end, we were in debt, not including the mortgage, about $16,000. February came, we paid off a few credit cards, and made paid off the remaining balance on the loan stated above. March... a few more bills.. Then, a set back, we owed on our taxes for breaking $100K income last year, AND because I decided to get a little grown up time and got a part time job at a jewelry store, whom did NOT take out enough taxes. I never paid attention, I had direct deposit. Ha ha! Sorry, back to subject... This month. This month we reached out goal. In less than 60 days we paid off all our debt! (excluding the mortgage.)
Just to show how spoiled I really am by my wonderful hubby, (and it took someone pointing it out to me) he bought me a new car! Something even funnier.. this is my
5th new car in 5 years.. HAHAHAHA! That's like a new car every year! But really, I had two new cars in one year. Shut up.. I hear you laughing.
Part 2:
Kids are very expensive. We have two. And that fact that they are my kids... (sorry honey, OURS. Love you!) well, they have the best of everything. The best toys, for learning, fun and creativity. The best clothes.. all name brand, and THAT its self is a HUGE expense! Ayanna just turned 3 in October, and since then I have placed her in the best Academic Preschool around here.. costing a whopping $500 a month just for two days a week. She is also in Gymnastics, which I can proudly say this is something she is very good at.. so we might have a gold medalist on our hands. ;) She's also in a Ballet and Tap class. Jaiden is still to young, but soon. He is very into sports for his age.. my little man. Education is really important to me. And for some reason, the way they dress or look, and what they have is important to me to. I am guessing the only reason this is... my childhood. My parents would rather spend money on themselves, and the only nice stuff we had was what my Grandma would buy me. Which when you become a certain age, your taste and grannies taste in clothes, well it just wasn't the same. So I worked to get what I had, and it wasn't much, since what was cool was really expensive! My friends and I would share clothes alot. I dint want my kids to ever feel the way I felt. Back in 5th or 6th grade, on picture day I tried everything to stay home, all because I "didn't have anything to wear!" Classic. Funny huh.. not really.. my Mom hated laundry. So do I by the way, thanks Mom.. but if I put something in the dirty clothes.. it would be there for a month. At 11, started doing my own laundry.
I know we will always be able to provide the best of the best for these two, but one thing that we spoil them with more than anything, is our love. I want them to know that family is important too.
Its funny now to have all this extra money a month.. all debt paid... (and I am laughing as I type this) because this summer we are going to have to plan and watch every dollar! Every dollar left over after we pay the bills and deposit into saving anyways. At the end of the month we have to pay the sales and property tax on my new beauty. This summer we have 3 weeks of vacation, and we are traveling to 3 different places to spend a week.. and with plane tickets, the locations (which I will get into later, because we have some AWESOME trips planned this summer!!!) ect. ect.. it adds up. AND FAST. Not to mention Ayanna is ready for a big girl room. This kid is one wild sleeper. Since she was 2 we converted her crib into the daybed, but she has now outgrown that. Soooooooo... we need to get her a new bedroom set, mattress, and bedding. And because I am so anal about things matching... new decor to. :)
Still, I am proud of how far we've come. Though we are making more now than we ever have, and have accomplished so much financial freedom, we don't take it for granted. Even when times were stressful and rough, our kids still had the best of everything and we were always taken care of. We have a beautiful house, beautiful happy (extremely spoiled) kids, beautiful cars, money in the bank and freedom to do as we please. **Sigh** Thank you God, for always watching over us.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Just because it is appropriate..
No pressure or anything... but perhaps a little persuasion.. *wink*
(Ayanna 13 hours old)
(Jaiden about a day old)
(Ayanna 13 hours old)
(Jaiden about a day old)
Rock Chalk Champions!
If you haven't read it before, we are huge Kansas Jayhawk fans. And honestly, I am still in a state of shock/high/wow! (I don't mean *high* as some could take that ;) )
Because of being in this state, mixed with a slight hangover.. and not going to bed until... wait a minute, I really can't remember! Ok, back on track... I am just plain to tired make an entire serious post. I will only leave you with my singing..
" WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. NO TIME FOR LOSERS, CAUSE WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.... OF THE WORLD!!!!"
And maybe a little video I found on YouTube. Just in case you missed it.
I was to chicken to take my camera, (once you see the video you'll see why!) so I didn't get any pics or video.. but here is video that someone else posted on YouTube.. this is where we were last night, Lawrence. And it was amazing. That's what it was all about.
Because of being in this state, mixed with a slight hangover.. and not going to bed until... wait a minute, I really can't remember! Ok, back on track... I am just plain to tired make an entire serious post. I will only leave you with my singing..
" WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. NO TIME FOR LOSERS, CAUSE WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.... OF THE WORLD!!!!"
And maybe a little video I found on YouTube. Just in case you missed it.
I was to chicken to take my camera, (once you see the video you'll see why!) so I didn't get any pics or video.. but here is video that someone else posted on YouTube.. this is where we were last night, Lawrence. And it was amazing. That's what it was all about.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Kiss n Make-up (a vain little tale)
Apparently on the west coast there is a make-up "how to" craze going on. Everyone is following one of their fellow bloggers tutorials she posted about how she does her eyes. And she has beautiful eyes no doubt.
I love Make-up. I have since I was a little girl. I have plenty of stories of getting into my mothers make-up but in all reality, what girl didn't. One of my favorite toys when I was younger was was this Rocker Barbie I had.. and I was mad excited when my uncle was over and him and my mom thought it'd be funny to do my makeup just like this barbie doll. Now honestly this was soooooo many years ago, but according to my memory, they did a damn good job! But that also could have just been that I was little, and excited about the fact I had permission to wear makeup that day.
As a teen, I loved reading Seventeen and Cosmo. I would always see what they would say the best products were, get tips, and studied all these gorgeous pictures of beautiful celebrities. I would stare at their makeup, shadows, contours, you know. Then I would run to Kmart (Yeah KMART, hello I was a broke teen! LOL) and buy my cover girl or maybelline. I actually got pretty good at doing my makeup.. so much that I remember my Aunt asking me to do her makeup and give her tips. Back then I really though I was Hot as Poo!
(apparently this is the only photo on my laptop that I have of me as a teen... I don't know what I was thinking with the hair. Go ahead and laugh, I do! Cause it was way cool back then!)
Well, just as wine, I think I have gotten more beautiful with age. Haha Ok ok, just kidding (really.. I'm not.) But seriously I think its because I have taught myself even more about makeup. And really I can say that I have this talent for either one of two reasons... because I took alot of Art classes back in H.S. OR the fact that I am just. that. damn. good. I choose reason number two. It is a talent of mine. Actually I really have frequently been asked to do makeup for numerous friends for two.. err humm.. TWO weddings. (well three counting doing SIL's makeup for a wedding.) And several other friends and a certain SIL on special occasions.
Back in High School, I think my Junior year to be exact, is when my face started breaking out. Nothing ever major, but enough for me to make sure I got up everyday with enough time to put on at least foundation. This never really went away and I still struggled with it in my early twenties. But that really is my fault. I had just turned 21 and was going out all the time, coming home to pass out. Wash my face? Forget it! And sometimes I would get up and just touch up my makeup before I went to work! I know some women would consider that a sin! To be so cruel to your skin.... *sigh* My fault for the acne then, yes.
Right around the time I was 22 I discovered ProActiv. I was up really butt ass early one day, and you know nothing is on but news and infomercials. I chose infomercials. I think its when I saw all the celebs bragging about it I figured what the hell, I'll try it. I did, and have used it ever since. It is great. Now when I was 23 and big fat pregnant with my daughter, I was lazy and didn't ProActiv like I was supposed to. So I got huge zits! Now I have scars from them but they have faded alot. So for those of you with scars, there is hope.. If I would have told my self that 3 years ago I wouldn't have believed it! But now, they are barely there.
Also, while in my infomercial watching mood that morning I saw something for Bare Minerals by Bare Essentuals. This was way new.... and they sucked me in. So a few months after seeing more infomercials I bought it. (Now the kit is totally different than it was 4 years ago!) I used if for a while.
About a year and a half after I became a Bare Minerals whore, I was with a friend at the mall, and somehow I was magnetically pulled into the MAC cosmetics counter. I had a long, humorous conversation about makeup with this tatooed up rocker chic. Then she offered to do my makeup for free, since they usually say you have to spend $50 if you get a makeover. She started explaining the brushes to me. AND THIS IS KEY PEOPLE. BRUSHES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR MAKEUP APPLICATION!!!! Seriously. Not kidding. Go ask any pro. They are real hair, hand made brushed, and each one has its own purpose. Did you know that it's better to put on your liquid foundation with a brush? Putting it on with anything else defeats the purpose and applies it uneven and takes away more than it puts on. There's a little tip for ya. Then we got into the makeup. They have great makeup with great coverage for every different type of skin. I use the Mineralize, and it makes my skin glow all the time, not matte like Bare Minerals. I told her I wanted a sultry smokey eye and I love nude lips. I always have. When she was done, I looked in the mirror and thought I was looking at Jessica Simpson! (Not really) Right then, hook line and sinker. She might as well have stamped "Sucker" on my forehead.
So now I am a complete MAC whore, and because of it, a total picture whore. ;) But I don't care. Because I am confident. Even when I was big fat pregnant.
Now you know I'm going to show off pictures of myself right? *wink*
this is me about a month ago, no makeup. (Notice my little handsome devil, yes, he is the cutest)
Now I'll just post a few pics of different looks I've done. (Ok, and yes for the side of me that's just a little vain. Just a little.) Notice I actually have red lipstick in one of the pictures.. that was a very spontaneous move, since I always have wear nude lipstick and Instant Gold gloss.
Unfortunately, I wasn't paid a dime by MAC, saying all these wonderful things about their products.... Damn. AND most of these pictures are cropped from other pictures that were taken throughout the past year. They weren't taken in the messy state that they are in. But I have kids damn it. I did a rush job, so if anyone has a problem with them, I don't care!
(Plus I'm still getting used to posting pictures, some of these are pixelated, so click on the pic for the right size. So be nice.)
I love Make-up. I have since I was a little girl. I have plenty of stories of getting into my mothers make-up but in all reality, what girl didn't. One of my favorite toys when I was younger was was this Rocker Barbie I had.. and I was mad excited when my uncle was over and him and my mom thought it'd be funny to do my makeup just like this barbie doll. Now honestly this was soooooo many years ago, but according to my memory, they did a damn good job! But that also could have just been that I was little, and excited about the fact I had permission to wear makeup that day.
As a teen, I loved reading Seventeen and Cosmo. I would always see what they would say the best products were, get tips, and studied all these gorgeous pictures of beautiful celebrities. I would stare at their makeup, shadows, contours, you know. Then I would run to Kmart (Yeah KMART, hello I was a broke teen! LOL) and buy my cover girl or maybelline. I actually got pretty good at doing my makeup.. so much that I remember my Aunt asking me to do her makeup and give her tips. Back then I really though I was Hot as Poo!
(apparently this is the only photo on my laptop that I have of me as a teen... I don't know what I was thinking with the hair. Go ahead and laugh, I do! Cause it was way cool back then!)
Well, just as wine, I think I have gotten more beautiful with age. Haha Ok ok, just kidding (really.. I'm not.) But seriously I think its because I have taught myself even more about makeup. And really I can say that I have this talent for either one of two reasons... because I took alot of Art classes back in H.S. OR the fact that I am just. that. damn. good. I choose reason number two. It is a talent of mine. Actually I really have frequently been asked to do makeup for numerous friends for two.. err humm.. TWO weddings. (well three counting doing SIL's makeup for a wedding.) And several other friends and a certain SIL on special occasions.
Back in High School, I think my Junior year to be exact, is when my face started breaking out. Nothing ever major, but enough for me to make sure I got up everyday with enough time to put on at least foundation. This never really went away and I still struggled with it in my early twenties. But that really is my fault. I had just turned 21 and was going out all the time, coming home to pass out. Wash my face? Forget it! And sometimes I would get up and just touch up my makeup before I went to work! I know some women would consider that a sin! To be so cruel to your skin.... *sigh* My fault for the acne then, yes.
Right around the time I was 22 I discovered ProActiv. I was up really butt ass early one day, and you know nothing is on but news and infomercials. I chose infomercials. I think its when I saw all the celebs bragging about it I figured what the hell, I'll try it. I did, and have used it ever since. It is great. Now when I was 23 and big fat pregnant with my daughter, I was lazy and didn't ProActiv like I was supposed to. So I got huge zits! Now I have scars from them but they have faded alot. So for those of you with scars, there is hope.. If I would have told my self that 3 years ago I wouldn't have believed it! But now, they are barely there.
Also, while in my infomercial watching mood that morning I saw something for Bare Minerals by Bare Essentuals. This was way new.... and they sucked me in. So a few months after seeing more infomercials I bought it. (Now the kit is totally different than it was 4 years ago!) I used if for a while.
About a year and a half after I became a Bare Minerals whore, I was with a friend at the mall, and somehow I was magnetically pulled into the MAC cosmetics counter. I had a long, humorous conversation about makeup with this tatooed up rocker chic. Then she offered to do my makeup for free, since they usually say you have to spend $50 if you get a makeover. She started explaining the brushes to me. AND THIS IS KEY PEOPLE. BRUSHES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR MAKEUP APPLICATION!!!! Seriously. Not kidding. Go ask any pro. They are real hair, hand made brushed, and each one has its own purpose. Did you know that it's better to put on your liquid foundation with a brush? Putting it on with anything else defeats the purpose and applies it uneven and takes away more than it puts on. There's a little tip for ya. Then we got into the makeup. They have great makeup with great coverage for every different type of skin. I use the Mineralize, and it makes my skin glow all the time, not matte like Bare Minerals. I told her I wanted a sultry smokey eye and I love nude lips. I always have. When she was done, I looked in the mirror and thought I was looking at Jessica Simpson! (Not really) Right then, hook line and sinker. She might as well have stamped "Sucker" on my forehead.
So now I am a complete MAC whore, and because of it, a total picture whore. ;) But I don't care. Because I am confident. Even when I was big fat pregnant.
Now you know I'm going to show off pictures of myself right? *wink*
this is me about a month ago, no makeup. (Notice my little handsome devil, yes, he is the cutest)
Now I'll just post a few pics of different looks I've done. (Ok, and yes for the side of me that's just a little vain. Just a little.) Notice I actually have red lipstick in one of the pictures.. that was a very spontaneous move, since I always have wear nude lipstick and Instant Gold gloss.
Unfortunately, I wasn't paid a dime by MAC, saying all these wonderful things about their products.... Damn. AND most of these pictures are cropped from other pictures that were taken throughout the past year. They weren't taken in the messy state that they are in. But I have kids damn it. I did a rush job, so if anyone has a problem with them, I don't care!
(Plus I'm still getting used to posting pictures, some of these are pixelated, so click on the pic for the right size. So be nice.)
March Madness
Wow. I honestly thought that I was going to do a better job at keeping up with my blog. At least that is what I kept telling myself. But this month I really do have and excuse. If you can call it that.
College Basketball. This is something that when I met John (and his family for that matter) this is NOT taken lightly. They are all huge Kansas Jayhawk fans. They all have a huge attachment to that school since the majority of his family went to college there. John is Mexican, and his family is large. Think "Fools Rush In."
When John and I were dating, I would sit and watch the KU games with his family, acting like I knew what the heck was going on. But in all reality... I didn't. I didn't watch basketball and had no desire to. After five (almost 6) years of this, I have to admit, they sucked me into this madness. Now I will proudly admit that I actually know a thing or two about it!
March.. which means March Madness.. which starts with the Big 12. (Here anyway) For the past four years Johns sister, her (then) husband and his other sister were faithful at getting tickets and going to these. However for the past four years we weren't able to go because of the following reasons:
a.) Three years ago Ayanna was only 5mo. old and we refused to leave her with anyone. Funny how that has changed!
b.) The next year I was 8mo. preggo with Jaiden, the tournament was held in OK, and I wasn't allowed to fly.
c.) Last year, long story short John and I (mostly I) were having marital issues, but that is a whole other blog!
Which brings me to this year. This year it was back here in Kansas City, at the Sprint Center (which I have been to quite a few times since it just opened in November) and excuses? NONE. We went!
We watched them win the championship at the Big 12.. I have alot of drunken video on my iPhone (which I am selling because I hate) that I have no idea how I did it. Us taking shots with our friends that met us, laughing, sing the jayhawk chant, taking more shots and trying to walk back to our car. We landed a great spot in the Sweet Sixteen, and made it to the Final Four. Last week KU played Davidson. We were the underdog.. and everyone thought that Davidson would win. But winning for us was more important. It would bring us to something bigger than ever. A game that reporters said was the biggest most viewed game in college basketball history. North Carolina.
Roy Williams. Revenge.
Five years ago Roy ended his 15 years of coaching at KU to spend more time with his family, and coach North Carolina. Understandable yes. But it hurt alot of players, students, and fans everywhere. The emotions were high, the stakes were high. This was our chance to show Roy that we were great without him.
We celebrated watching the game at a Jaywalkers with a bunch of friends and ofcource the family. We all watched, and some didn't want to believe, as the we dominated the first half with a 28 point lead. After half time NC came back hitting a bunch of 3's (which they usually do) but it didn't last (which it usually doesn't) and as the clock ran down, the emotions were overwhelming the Tarheels. We pulled away, and as the final seconds ran on the clock, the crowd and EVERY one here doing the Rock Chalk chant, that had to hurt Roy knowing this time, it wasn't for him. We won. We dominated. Roy Williams may have left us five years ago, but it officially ended Saturday night. Divorce final. And we have a shot at the Championship tonight.
And even if we don't win the championship against Memphis, the fact that we beat Roy.. that makes us winners.
Now my sweet angels are begging me for breakfast. Because you know.. doing this post, I just starved them.
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