Being Thankful.

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekends and that Thanksgiving was a fabulous time of family and friends. I'm sure we all saw those who were on Facebook posting their daily "thankful fors". I chose not to do this, however, I am just as thankful a person as the next. I have perhaps been more reflective than usual the pass several days, as I tend to be from time to time. I just wanted to, on the record, reflect on some of the things and people I am thankful for...

• My family...I think this one is always at the top of most people's lists, and it is no exception for me. I don't know what I would do without my own excitable crew (bonus points if you caught the 311 reference). Whether it be uphill, downhill, or on a steady plateau, within this group are the people that are my support, my rock if you will. Whether they are here in the physical or spiritual, for them I am truly thankful.
• My husband...My life's center lies with this man, he has my heart. He drives me crazy. But he is one man I never want to disappoint, he means so much to me. My built in best friend, my lover, my sparring partner, my legal boyfriend, my partner in crime, my permanent roommate...call him what you will, he wears many hats. I can't wait to experience parenthood with this man!
• My mom... she truly is a one woman show and I'm definitely proud of her for many reasons. I don't think there are the perfect words to say or actions to do to say thank you to her.
• My sister...my best friend and the one who knows every wrong button to push at every worst possible time. My secret keeper, ass kicker, smart mouthed, strong willed sister. I am thankful that she has given me my 4 year old niece, and just as thankful that in a matter of weeks she will be bringing my nephew into this world.
• Friends... I always sort of disliked the saying "you find out who your friends are" but it really couldn't be more true. It's a hard path going down, learning who will be there for you when it counts and who just fits in at leisure and convenience, but for the friends that I have, and my husband has we are thankful. Whether they are here locally or off in other places like NV or CO...these are the people that make you want to be that much better, and that much cooler, of a person.
• Memories...memories are what make us, what shape us. I am especially thankful for the memories I have of my father, may he never be forgotten for he is surely never missed). I know all memories account for the people we are today, but for me, personally, I like to hold on to the good ones just a little bit tighter.
• My Freedom and my Faith...I am thankful that we live in a country (regardless of where your vote lies politically) that we are free and can openly exercise that freedom. Is it perfect? Not typically, but we are a free people. I am thankful for our troops, active and veteran. I am thankful that because of the freedom we posses I can openly express my faith and beliefs. I am thankful for God's love, although mysterious it may be. I am a Christian, and I am unashamed about it.
• Health and Insurance...for the most part my family and I are healthy. Stumbling blocks, yes, but thank God we have health insurance.
• The Little Things...these are different for everyone, but mine include a good book, a trip to Starbucks, new shoes, clean sheets and a good pillow, good music, good art, beach days, a new tattoo, a cupcake to cheat on your diet, forehead kisses, kindness, and so many more.
• Music and Laughter...good music and a good laugh are soul stirring and can definitely change and elevate your mood. I am thankful these things exist in society.

There are so many other things I am beyond thankful for (having a car, a house, an amazing job where I have creative control), so if I gloss over anything it is not for lack of being thankful, it is for lack of typing slower! I do feel like I may have missed something...kind of like giving an Oscars acceptance speech and leaving someone out of your thank yous (not that I'm accepting an Oscar, have accepted one, or any other award...maybe one daaaaay). I hope you all acknowledge what you are thankful for, not just because it is the season to do so, but because it's important to know that there really is always something to be thankful for.
XOXO,
J.





Review: L'Oreal Infallible Stars Collection-Beyonce Red.

     This Halloween my niece was going out as the Queen of Hearts (and sn: she had the most amazing tutu costume, made by yours truly). So, I was putting a little bit of makeup on her and went to grab a red lipstick to complete the look. I had picked up the Beyonce red by the L'Oreal Infallible line. If you haven't seen what the lipstick casing looks like, its pretty cool actually:

Outer case.



tubes pop out of the case and there's a handy little wand!

This particular lipstick is advertised as a 16 hour long-wear color that won't fade or flake. It comes with a conditioning top coat (the white tube), which contains marine collagen and vitamin E to seal in color and prevent moisture loss. Then there's the base coat, the color tube, which has the little wand for precise application. L'Oreal notes something called "Science behind the Beauty" which includes lip gripping polymers with elasticity that form a flexible color network that moves with your lips so that the color doesn't flake, cake or crack.

But does it work?!! My answer...YES. I put it on my niece at 5pm, didn't take it off of her before bedtime, and at 7am it was still on her, flawless. I didn't even use the top coat on her! I think it would have lasted even longer, but we had to scrub it off with makeup remover so she could go to school! Now, the key to long lasting color is also having moisturized lips. So, make sure you aren't applying color to dry, chapped lips, as you might not achieve optimal results. And the Beyonce red is such a pretty color, I swatched it:


a beautiful, intense red!

Isn't that red gorgeous! It is so long wearing that when I went to wipe off the swatch color I had to literally scrub my hand, and as I'm looking, there is still some residue left behind.
The application of this line of infallible, the stars collection, goes on so smooth and the pigment is true to the color as it appears in the tube. There are 5 others in the collection besides Beyonce Red: Diane's Tuberose, Kate's Plum, Andie's Rose, Linda's Beige and Eva's Caramel.
I only wish I would have picked up some of the other shades when I purchased the Beyonce on sale at Walgreens.
I, personally, love the L'Oreal infallible lipsticks, and this particular collection has also proven to be equally rad!

XO,
J.





Birchbox: Transformations

     My October Birchbox came in the mail today!! (also packages from eBay and Urban Decay, so yeah buddy)...I was good about posting my first impressions on the September box last month, so I figured why not post on the same day again! There's lots of exciting stuff coming up, exciting to me anyway, so I want to make sure I start managing the blog more regularly; make sure to subscribe to this blog to be updated! Let's see, I've had Birchbox for about a year, if not already a year now, and there's only been one or two boxes I wasn't amazingly thrilled by. At first I thought this box was going to be less than ideal, but 2 little products salvaged those thoughts so I will label October's box as a winner!

Box contents.


*Lucy B Pink Frangipani & Wild Jasmine Roll-On Perfume Oils ...These perfume oils are made from the essences of Australian flowers, and you can wear them separately or blend them together.  I haven't tried them yet since I'm already scented up for the day, but I used to work in a custom scent shop and I remember liking the way frangipani smelled when blended with other aromatics.

*Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel ...I've heard of this brand but I've never actually tried it. This is actually a frizz fighting gel to keep hair manageable. You put in on your hair while it's damp, and it enhances hair's natural texture. I don't have lots of frizz problems, just the occasional day or two, but this problem made me think of my mom since we try several different products when I do her tri-weekly blowouts and style, so I'm thinking I might try this out and update later.

theBalm cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer ...I had a total MUA OMG (Makeup Artist's Oh-My-Gaw) moment when I saw this. First, I have seen and heard amazing things about this makeup line and have been wanting to get my hands on it for sometime. Now I finally have my chance with this 3-in-1 highlighter, shadow and all-over shimmer. I'm already in love with the champagne shade (I should have swatched this!). Plus, look at the packaging, it's adorable! All of their packaging is amazing and I can't wait to try and write about more from this line!



theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer.

*Vivita Pro: Vitamins A15 and C10 ...These are little capsules you twist open and smooth over your face and neck. The concentrated Vitamin C brightens your skin tone and the Vitamin A refines your pores. I will be trying these because I think my skin needs a little extra dose of something to keep it healthy and radiant during this shift into cooler weather.
*LUNA Protein bar: Chocolate Peanut Butter ...this was actually the other redeeming quality of the box at first glance, before reading into the other products. I love LUNA bars, and I was hungry when I opened this up this morning so it was a good on-the-spot snack fix. The flavor was yummy, I can vouch for that right now, and I recommend LUNA bars 100%. SN: you can usually get a good deal on boxes at Target!

Hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather, aside from sinuses and dry skin/hair. I'm looking forward to getting my new hair extensions this week and Melting Pot on Saturday with my husband to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary. Right now, CSI is on and Nick Stokes (played by George Eades) is calling my name!
XOXO,
J.



It's a love story, baby just say yes.

     7 years ago today my husband proposed to me under a gazebo at one of our favorite little beach spots (which has since been built up for tourism purposes). When I recount the day for others I always talk about how my husband called me an "ass" during our proposal. Yes, an "ass"!! But, it is actually a wonderfully cherished part of the proposal that we laugh at everytime we talk about it. And since not a lot of people know much more than that he called me such, I wanted to make a post about the proposal so everything can be put into context.
     We had been dating for 6 months and decided to get each other a little gift to mark the occasion. It was a little chilly out, I mean it was October, but we went down to the beach to sit and exchange gifts. Now, in my heart of hearts I knew he was going to propose, not necessarily on this day, but I knew it was coming because I knew he had asked my dad for my hand (chivalry is not dead ladies!). So, we spent a little bit hanging out at the gazebo, enjoying the view and what not. He gave me a really beautiful card and I thought that was that. The air was getting cooler so as we got up to leave he just turned to me and said "You didn't read my poem you ass!". I had no clue what he was talking about, I thought he just meant I didn't read the card and what he had wrote in it, so I explained to him that I had read it and proceeded to read it out loud to him. He was still unsatisfied, and said he didn't mean that, he meant his poem. The card was composed of layers of transparent paper, a thicker paper, and a card stock like paper. One of the papers was adhered down to the cardstock base of the card (for decoration), and I noticed it was peeling up on the edges. He said he wrote his poem under that. I was confused as to why he would disassemble a greeting card to write me a poem, but I peeled back the edges and it said "Will you marry me?"...I was floored. So when I looked up at him, I actually had to look down because he was on his knee, hand shaking, holding a ring box. I of course immediately said yes!!
     We left the beach and I called my mom and my best friend and we headed to the hospital (where my dad was since he just had surgery) and I showed off that ring!! So, that's the brief story of how I was called an ass during my marriage proposal...hey, who's to define a fairytale.
XO,
J.

Why We Buy Organic.

     So, apparently the concept of buying organic food has been of some debate, with the main argument being that there really isn't a significant difference in whether you buy USDA certified organic food or not. My husband was even one of these skeptics, that is, until I let him in on some of my personal research. I'm glad to say that he now stands behind our organic purchases, as well as the healthy eating lifestyle we're developing! I don't want to make this post into a big debate, I just want to share why I (we) choose to buy organic versus mass-marketed foods. If you find it insightful, great!

     It might be beneficial to actually talk about what "organic" means in this context...using the label of organic means that the farmer has grown and processed their produce, meat and dairy without the use of chemicals to fertilize, kill weed/insects or prevent disease. Natural approaches are instead used to tackle such tasks. The U.S. department of agriculture has three tiers of organic labeling.

1.    The green "USDA Organic" label (which is what we primarily look for)...this seal is placed on items that are certified 100% organic.
2. Any food labeled "organic" is usually around 95% organic, meaning that for the remaining percent of ingredients the farmer has used approved non-agricultural substances on the USDA approved list.
3. The third level basically consists of processed foods that may contain some organic ingredients, at least 70%. It is also important to note that just because a package says "hormone free", "free-range", or "all natural", this does not mean the item is organic!!

My husband and I do most of our shopping at Trader Joes, but of course there are countless number of options; ie...Whole Foods, for one.
     The main issue my husband bought up was that there was no significant difference in buying organic produce versus whatever else may be on the shelf. Well, conventional farmers who don't adhere to USDA organic standards and practices typically use pesticides. Now, peeling or washing fruits and vegetables may rid the produce of some of those pesticides, but by peeling the produce you are taking away significant nutrients and vitamins that are what's best for you. Take a peach for example: a peach has really soft skin. If a farmer is spraying pesticide or what not on the peach, the skin is soft enough to allow the pesticide to penetrate...so, your body is still taking in that pesticide. Why not save yourself from all that and pay the $1 or 2 more for the basket of organic peaches, that you know you can eat all of, allowing your body to soak in all those important nutrients. Also, if the pesticides and chemicals used by conventional farmers aren't "so bad", then why when we see these farmers spraying are they decked out head to toe in protective coverings, gas mask and all! That image is enough to steer me away from such produce. So, let me now just switch to bullet points to talk about a few other reasons we buy organic.

• Organic farmers are helping the environment by reducing pollution, and even by the conservation of water and soil.
• Although I already touched on pesticides, I want to readdress it again in terms of kids...children come into most of their pesticide exposure through eating fruits and vegetables that are not organic (and this is from a study by the Environmental Working Group). Personally, I don't want my nieces and nephews exposed like that, or my future babies! Further more, a 2005 study showed that sampled umbilical cord blood contained up to 21 different pesticides that crossed the placenta...Pregnant mamas...keep those babies safe as possible!!
• Organic foods contain no hydrogenated fat, which has been linked to heart disease! Organic= heart healthy!
• Not only does organic farming aid the environment but it is more animal friendly as no cages are used and animals are fed an all-natural diet. Now, this could be a whole second article/post for me. I was a vegetarian for a solid 2 years until I began researching organic and paleo diets. Now I don't eat red meat. But I have incorporated some organic chicken back into my diet until I can figure out just what my ultimate healthy eating plan is. I did notice that the occasional meal with organic chicken has given me that protein boost I need, as well as helping in jump starting weight loss, go figure.

     Those are some pretty valid point in my mind. A lot of people also argue that organic foods are more expensive. This is true, but 2 counterpoints come to mind: 1) you get what you pay for and 2) the extra money your spending finds its way back to organic farmers, who actually spend a lot of their own money to adhere to USDA organic standards and submit all the proper paperwork to be considered organic.
     If you live near stores that carry organic products I urge you to look for that little green label and do some research of your own. For us, the next best thing is a farmer's market (which we are lucky to have a few nearby). Buying from a farmer's market is your next best bet because you know the produce is coming from a local source, and sometimes the farmers are on hand so you can ask questions.
     It wasn't a hard switch for us to start buying organic, it just made sense to us. I make smoothies everyday with spinach, apples, coconut milk (all organic), which are great for detox and overall health!! I never thought my husband would drink a green smoothie, but he does!

I am still a novice, I guess you could say, when it comes to organic, so if you have links to any great resources post in the comments below. Or if you know of any great paleo information (that's my next endeavor...gotta eliminate that soy!).
Hope everyone is having a great October (my favorite month!)...My husband and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary at the Melting Pot in 10 days!!! So much to look forward to for us.
XO,
J.

Birchbox: The September Issue. (and thoughts).

     My September Birchbox came in the mail today, AND I'm posting about it today!! Never have I ever been more on time. Or maybe punctuality is just a part of this "new me" people always seem to be rambling about (not rambling about me, just the concept of "new me" in general). But I do believe that I am at the moment where change is seeming inevitable. For instance, I have always lusted after long, beautiful hair; I've worn extensions for years, but what did I do today?? Cut it off...a short, yet amazing bob done by one of my favorite stylists, whom I happen to work with now. People were skeptical as to whether I would do it or not, as I have been talking for months about growing my hair out. I used to cut it whenever my husband and I were fighting, as if to say, haha, I'll show YOU by cutting MY hair. Well, my husband and I were working through a challenge in our lives, but I don't feel that's why I made this decision. A lot of people say "it's only hair", but to me it's always been more. I've always felt like I couldn't be happy unless I had those ideal long locks...it was as if I was seeking perfection and solace in something so material. But, when that thing that once seemed so perfect begins to feel imperfect, it's time for change. So maybe hair length isn't at the top of everyone's list of happy life qualifiers. But in the world of Jersey Shore trending, and the like, it somehow fell into being mine. I am going to embrace this change though, as there are others I am endeavoring to make. The husband has yet to see this haircut, but the guilt of doing it without telling him (not that I need his consent, just the priciple of it all) prompted be to go buy several bottles of new OPI and Essie nail polish and a new Sam Villa round brush...little treasures.
     I have also been slightly obsessed with home modification lately...organizing, painting, remodeling, updating...all that jazz. Oh, there's so much to be said of this and my thought process, I'm a therapist's dream (just ask her, ha). It's been said it could be nesting (no, I am not currently pregnant, but a baby is in the cards I can say), and part could be said that I am finally trying to cleanse in some sort of way in dealing with the passing of my father on January 1, 2011. Cathartic?? Who knows...A fit lifestyle is also happening with me and the husband...calorie counting, smart eating choices, limited sugar intake, fitness regimines, dare I  throw the word(s) crossfit in the mix...It's like I'm 27 and ready, just ready.
   Enough of that, sometimes things just need to be said, regardless of whether another soul reads or not. But about this Birchbox...this oh so punctual Birchbox!! It's titled "The September Issue" and it's basically a kickoff to Fall fashion and such. New season calls for an updated beauty routine, an updated look...changing seasons...change...it all comes full circle, huh? So without further rant and delay, let's discuss:

Contents!



* Benefit Cosmetics foamingly clean facial wash + refined finish facial polish ...I've been looking for some new skin care products, particularly a good wash, so I am really excited to try this one out. (Benefit products are pretty amazing!). This duo is a glycerin-packed cleanser and natural clay exfoliator. The full size version is only $21.22, which isn't too shabby for a good quality cleanser/exfoliator.

* Color Club nail polish ...this is a custom color collaborated on with the Birchbox team, inspired by Fall 2012 collections. The color I received was called "Status Update", but I couldn't help but notice the spelling error on the color name label, "Status Udpate"...ooops!! The color is a warm purple-blue-gray based shade, which I see looking good on a pedicure.

*Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment System ...we've all come across these little shampoo/conditioner/treatment packs...I have a copious amount of them. It's supposed to mend split ends, which professionally speaking, is not really feasible using product alone, so will these samples get used?? Possibly. I always keep them when I get them to give to others or pack for travel.

* twistband Birchbox Custom Lace Hair Tie ...a hair tie, imagine that...the day I cut my hair I get a really cool hair tie! haha. These are actually really hot this season. They are little elastic-y bands (pic above...bottom center...the purple tie), constructed in such a way they don't snag or pull your hair. I believe Jennifer Aniston gave these ties some good press, and we've also started retailing these ties and headbands in the salon where I work.

*Youngblood Mineral Primer ...Youngblood is a brand I came across while I was in cosmetology school, and from a makeup artist's standpoint I regret to say that I was not impressed with the pigmentation of the eyeshadows/blushes, or the coverage of the mineral foundations. Granted, we did not carry the entire brand line, and when looking through the catalog there were some products I saw I wouldn't mind trying if given the opportunity, and this primer falls into that category. It's a clear gel primer containing skin-soothing vitamins and minerals...pretty self-explanatory as far as face primers go, but I will try this one out!

*Mighty Leaf Tea Company tea ...who doesn't love a nice cup of tea, especially in the Fall/Winter season?! I got chamomile citrus and green tea tropical as my samples (love green tea!). This tea line is made from natural, ethically sources ingredients. Visit mightyleaf.com for more details!!!

*Digital Download ...these pop up frequently in the boxes, and this is a download for Tristan Prettyman's newest single.

The September Issue, there you have it!! Make sure to check out Birchbox.com if you haven't already, to get details on all the products and subscription information.

XOXO,

J <3.

Check the Savings.

I thought this might be a fun post to do; something a little different than what I usually put up. Lately my husband and I have tried to be more conservative with our money. Now, I say try because let's face it, there's always a pair of shoes calling to one of us!! We are both equal opportunity shoe lovers, call it an addiction if you will. And with pinterest being as popular as it is, home projects have become more DYI and affordable than ever. He works in auto body, so car issues don't usually set us back, I do hair and makeup, so we're covered there (not the makeup for him, of course, and I do spend a lot on makeup FOR WORK PURPOSES, haha...so, we save in general hair maintenance let's say). So, we asked ourselves, how else could we be saving...ummm, how about coupons?!! We've caught our fair share of Exteme Couponing episodes enough to know that a) some people are straight up crazy and b) saving money at the grocery store is possible. Now, we didn't want to be the people who had the abundant stockpiles of canned soup, toothbrushes and paper towels, to each his own though. We just wanted to be more economical and "thrifty" if you will, about what we do spend.

We prefer to shop at Harris Teeter, I'll go ahead and say. Not that there aren't amazing deals to be found elsewhere, we've just had the most luck at HT. On an everyday basis they will double your coupons up to a 99cent face value, but every month or so they do Super Double coupons, where they double up to a 2.00 face value...that's incredible, if you haven't already guessed. So a couple weeks ago we went up to HT, coupons in hand, and what totaled to about $150, we walked away with for a little under $50!! Here's our haul:

* (1) IHOP at Home stuffed french toast

* (2) Bertoli Microwaveable pasta meals

* (2) Chow Mein noodle meals

*(1) Smart Start canola butter spread

*(1) 1/2 gallon International Delight Iced Mocha Coffee

*(2) boxes True Lemon raspberry lemonade drink mix

*(2) Met-RX protein bars

*(1) Zone Perfect bar

*(1) Colgate Advanced toothpaste

*(1) package Nonni's biscotti bites

*(1) 4-pack V-8 Fusion Sparklers

*(2) 2-liter Dr. Peppers

*(1) 2-liter Sierra Mist

*(1) 2-liter Diet Pepsi

*(1) Ocean Spray Blueberry Cranberry 64oz.

*(1) Woolite + Oxygen Pet Stain/Odor eliminator spray

*(1) 40oz Purex crystals

*(1) Clorox2 Stain Fighter/Color Booster tabs

*(1) box Mott's fruit snacks

*(2) 2-pack Yoplait light yogurt w. granola

*(1) pack Yoplait Greek yogurt w. honey

*(1) Yoplait single--vanilla

*(2) Silk 1qt. Fruit & Protein juices

*(1) bottle tabasco sauce

*(1) Kraft honey bourbon barbecue sauce

*(1) Kraft sweet teryaki marinade

*(1) box Kellogg's Krave

*(2) boxes Eggo waffles

*(1) Smucker's raspberry jam

*(3) cans Dole pineapple (chunks and crushed)

*(1) package Toll House refridgerated cookie dough

*(2) boxes Barilla pasta

*(1) Bisquick Shake n Pour

*(2) packages Friskies cat treats

*(4) Silk Almond Mocha singles

*(1) Almay 25-count makeup remover wipes

*(1) package Poise liners

AND

*(1) box U by Kotex pads

See!! You don't have to end up with a zero balance (although, admittedly, that would be rad to accomplish once or twice) to have great savings. We save every week at HT, whether it's this amazing or not. Like the past 2 weeks they had Buy 2, get 3 free on 12-packs of soda ( Coke one week, Pepsi the next), so we stocked up on that for sure!! I know soda isn't amazing for you, but we get our Dr. Pepper and Cherry Coke cravings...plus, I was able to pass a few things here and there off to my sister. Now if I can just get my desk officially organized and my bill pay system and check, that would be aces!!

Hope everyone is having a good week and loving the fact that it's September and the first official day of Fall is just around the corner!!

XOXO,

J <3.