Trey Erwin Day!

Today would have been Trey's 16th birthday. This precious family has been heavy on my heart for months now, since I first learned of Trey's battle with cancer and more importantly, the amazing way God was working through him day in and day out. In honor of the incredible life this amazing young man lead, the city of Collierville, TN has declared his birthday to be "Trey Erwin Day". What an amazing way to commemorate such a precious, precious boy and the legacy he has made! I can't imagine the grief his family is enduring at this time, having to cope with the loss of not physically having their precious boy with them. I do believe strongly however that Trey is with them in spirit and they will be reunited with him someday soon. I think Trey would want us all to celebrate his 16th birthday today! He would want us to celebrate: life, Christ, and our ability to impact those around us for the positive! In honor of his precious life, I wanted to dedicate today's blog post to Trey Erwin and his beautiful family. I pray God continues to work through them, strengthen them, and stirs the souls of countless people who have been impacted by Trey's story and his passion for Christ. For those of you who might not be familiar with Trey's story, here is the link to his CaringBridge.

Happy Trey Erwin Day!

If you feel compelled to do so, there is information on this picture below pertaining to St.Jude donation t-shirts in Trey's honor. 

(Click the picture to enlarge the information).

Get your hair did! (My dogs are obsessed with the blow dryer!)

I thought this post would be appropriate since I'm going to get my hair done later today! The sweet girl I normally go to was booked solid when I called their salon well over a week and a half ago trying to make an appointment. So, I decided to try out another salon my friend recommended, that is actually closer to me! Please say a little prayer that they do a good job! (I just want more highlights and my layers redone...nothing crazy). I'm always a little bit leery about letting new people touch my hair, so I'm hoping this goes well! (My friend's hair always looks amazing, so I trust her recommendation!) 

Why did I want that appointment so badly? Well you see, my birthday is on Sunday. Even if I can't do a darn thing about getting older, I can still make sure I look nice! I refuse...REFUSE to turn 27 (ahh I feel ancient) looking anything less than fabulous! I truly believe that women should be classy and beautiful at all stages of their lives! I don't know about you lovelies, but one thing that always makes me feel beautiful and happy is getting my hair done once in a while! 

There are several other members of my family that also LOVE getting their hair done too: My Australian Shepherds. Yeah, you read that correctly....my dogs are FREAKS lol! They LOVE bath time, they LOVE hair dryers, they LOVE getting their fur brushed....Love it! (Ranger even enjoys having his nails trimmed and dremmeled smooth! (Mykelti has ticklish feet, so that's the only grooming thing she despises...even the new puppy is better about having her nails done!) Ranger and Mykelti always come running up to me anytime they hear me break out the hairdryer to style my hair....they LOVE the hairdryer! Mykelti is especially enamored with the hair dryer and will pester me incessantly until I blow dry her fur too! (She does the same thing with lip gloss, body spray, makeup, and so on. Anything that I, she wants to be right in the middle of the action too! If I put something on, she hounds me until I let her see it or put a pinch on her. She's such a little ham! I know she's a dog, but if it's possible for a dog to be a "girly girl", Mykelti is one!) Even Rosie is now showing interest in the hair dryer since she's seen how into it the Aussies are lol. 

Here are two video clips of my weird dogs and just how enthusiastic they are about hair dryers!

(The song starts off a little loud, but listen closely to the lyrics: Hilarious!)

Ranger equally enjoys the hair dryer! I've linked a video below of him being goofy while I was grooming him before a therapy visit. I'm not sure why my Aussies enjoy the hair dryer so much, but it definitely makes life easier on me when it comes time to groom them for therapy visits and special events! Rosie seems to be following in their footsteps too...hopefully she will be an easy dog to groom as well! :) 

Here's the link to Ranger's video- He's such a goofball!

Early Birthday Present

(In my desperation, I could actually relate to this individual...lol)

Today, I received the best early birthday present a Memphis girl could ever ask for: A working air conditioning unit in my car again! Yay! After months of going without any air in my car (keep in mind that I have a heart condition, and I'm also COMPLETELY heat intolerant about 75 degrees), my sweet dad and his quirky friend fixed my car tonight.

 Yay!!!  YAY!!! YAY!!!

(Love having a retired mechanic in the family!)


I'm not really sure how I've survived this long in the Memphis heat without AC in my car, but it's so nice to have it working again! I know the dogs will appreciate the AC too, since I take them just about every place I go, and they're in the car a good 5-6 days a week with me. I've been coping sans AC by placing lots of ice packs all over me in the car every time I leave the house to try and stay cool. Ice packs, rolling down the windows, and sipping ice water helped- but still didn't save me from turning into a melty mess every time I'd finally reach my destination. It really is the little things in life that you appreciate the most! I am definitely thrilled to have a working air conditioner in my car again....best early birthday present, EVER! 

Text Message Decoder- Oh, Jenna Marbles! Hilarious!!!

Quote of the Day

"Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more." 
                             -Louis L'Amor

Ten Things Tuesday

1. Woke up and got a nice walk in with the dogs today at the park

2. Spent part of the afternoon with my dad
3. Watched Teen Mom tonight (I'm seriously going to have a meltdown with their season ends for good!)

4. Recieved our very first order from "Mr Chewy's" in the mail today- it's SOO much less expensive to order     dog food/treats online through this company than it is to visit my local feed store (video review to follow!)

5. Discovered Starbuck's "Very Berry Hibiscus" drink recently: HOLY AMAZINGNESS!!!!

6. Currently burning Slatkin & Co's "Market Peach" candle....sooooo yummy!

7. My favorite shower gel at the moment is Bath & Body Work's "Pink Chiffon"

8. I'm slightly obsessed with the Revlon Kissable Balm Stains! I should really do a review on them soon!

9. I tried to make an appointment to get my hair done this week (before my birthday on Sunday). Umm yeah, couldn't get anything until next Tuesday (a week out)...sucks! 

10. Tonight I tried to make Quiona....apparently, it jumps when it boils. Nobody explained this to me. (It's ok, I still salvaged it and made it quite delicious! (I'll post a recipe soon).

Announcement!!! The Allure Fall Beauty Box goes on sale tomorrow at 12:00pm (EST)!

A few months ago, I posted a video about the Allure "Summer Beauty Box", and I received lots of questions/comments about the video review I did on it. Because of that, I wanted to post an update about the new Fall box that is going on sale tomorrow. The Allure "Fall Beauty Box" will go on sale tomorrow (July 24, 2012) at 12:00pm (EST). They sell out very quickly, so you have to order fast! The website that you can order from is: http://allureaccess.com/#fall-beauty-box (When the time to order arrives, you'll see an order option on that link)


I've included a link to my video review of the Allure "Summer Beauty Box" below so that you guys can see how much value you get for your money. I'm still using a ton of these products now; they've really lasted me a while! Everything included in the boxes is full size. I paid $39.99 + $10.00 s&h for the Summer box, and received over $300 worth of products that I've gotten a ton of great use out of. AWESOME DEAL!
(The pricing should be the same for the Fall box)

"Love with Food" Review (July 2012)

Check out my recent review on the "Love with Food" monthly subscription service! 

Thankful

What are you thankful for today? 

Today, I'm thankful for my life. 

I am thankful that God gives us strength to survive difficult things, and to make tough choices. I made the most difficult decision of my life several years ago, when I left a violently abusive marriage that would have undoubtedly ended my life. I'm thankful I made that decision, and survived.


I'm thankful for the lesson that the recent events of "The Dark Night Massacre" have taught and reinforced in me: Life Is Precious. It has really put things into perspective for me, and made me so grateful that I've been blessed with yet another day to live and laugh. We just never know when our time is up. Life is meant to be lived and cherished.


I'm thankful for lunch & Target shopping with my best friend today


I'm thankful for dinner & DVD time with my precious family tonight


I'm thankful for the bravery and the courage that the survivors of the Aurora, CO massacre have displayed for all of us to learn from. My heart and prayers are with each and every one of them.


I'm thankful for the legacy and the stories the families and friends have shared with the nation about those precious souls who passed in Aurora. It's such a sad, devastating thing that happened to steal their precious lives so short. I'm thankful that their legacies and stories will live on, and hopefully result making a positive outcome out of so much heartbreak. 


I'm thankful for a President who is not ashamed to quote scripture. I'm also thankful for a President that spoke out to his country tonight to try and offer comfort during a time of such sorrow and grief.


I'm thankful for all of the little things I so often forget to be thankful for in my day to day life. (roof over my head, a bed, ice cold water to drink, kisses from my puppies, hot showers, hugs from loved ones...)


I'm thankful for my Bible, and the education my mom worked hard to ensure I had growing up so that I could not only learn how to read the words in it, but to try and live it as well, to the best of my flawed abilities. 


God has richly blessed me. 


I encourage you all to take a moment today to think about what you're thankful for in your life...

Nail look of the Day & Walgreens Mini Haul

Today while I was out running a few errands, I stopped into Walgreen's to pick up my heart medicine. Since that's clearly no fun on its own accord, I decided to look around while I was there! I wound up picking up a few nail and hair care items, so thought it would be fun to share my little finds with all of you! 

(Video link of today's "mini-haul/nail polish review" at the bottom of the post!)

Products I picked up today!

1.Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care Shampoo (my scalp/hair has been super dry & itchy lately, so I thought I'd give this a shot!)

2. BioInfusion Hydrating Conditioning Balm (paraben & sulfate free)

3. HASK Natural Essentials Complete Conditioning Treatment (for all hair types)

4. Essie's "Pink Diamond" #192

5.The next four polishes were on BOGO from Wet n' Wild's new "Fergie" line! I picked up colors:

-A003 "Grammy Gold"

-A002 "Going Platinum

-A014 "XoXo"

-A005 "Flossy Flossy"

 Another view (sans the shampoo)

 Yay for new nail polishes!!!

NAIL OF THE DAY

-Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover

-C.O. Bigelow Lavender Salve

-Nail File & Buffer

-Cuticle Stick/Pusher thingy

-Toe Separators

-Sephora Nail Polish Corrector pen (Seriously, can't rave about this enough!)

-OPI Base Coat

-Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat

-Essie "Pink Diamond" 

-Wet n' Wild *Fergie line* - Grammy Gold (Accent Nail)

 Polish perfection!

 View of the labels

Several pictures of today's nail look!

(sorry no outdoor lighting photos; it was night when I painted my nails)

Watch the video of today's "mini-haul/nail of the day" in the video below!!!

BarkBox Review!! (July 2012)

It's time for another BarkBox review from Ranger, Mykelti, and Rosie! :)
(Want a BarkBox for your dog(s)? visit www.barkbox.com and use promo code: LYGRE005 to save $5 off of your first order!)





The dogs also did a more in depth review on two of the items in this month's BarkBox: the "IncrediBubbles" and the "YumZies" treats! Watch the video below to see their stealth bubble-popping skills! ;)

Maroon 5 - Won't Go Home Without You (Stripped)

Ten Things Thursday

1. This day started off quite gloriously: I took the dogs out for a walk, and saw my middle-aged neighbor. (This is the guy that I've previously blogged about; he likes to dance around his house in his undies to Prince music, and doesn't believe in curtains...he's hilarious.). I jest not, he was walking back towards his house with a McDonald's bag in one hand and a case of beer in the other. I'm guessing he had a long night? hahaha..that guy sure knows how to have a good time!

2. I've been craving Subway all morning! You guys have no idea how badly I want to go to Subway; they're down the street, they'll be opened by the time I post this blog entry, and I have a coupon! How weird would it be of me to go to Subway at 7am and order a sandwich?Pretty weird, huh! Onions, cucumbers, turkey, spicy mustard....sounds so heavenly though! (I'll try and hold off until lunch time!)

3. I am VERY displeased with the way Yankee Candle's "Kitchen Spice" candle burned. The thing is regularly priced at $27.99...that's nearly $30 bucks for a jar of wax! (Granted I got mine with a 50% off coupon, but still! It's the principal! I will say, I've NEVER had that particular issue with any of the Candles by Victoria, Slatkin & Co, or even Mainstay candles from Wal-Mart.) The Yankee candle pooled horribly, had a terrible scent throw, and it didn't burn evenly. Now, I have a wick that's completely unusable, yet a ton of candle/wax left! (Going to freeze it, cut the remaining wax out, and put it on a warmer. Still though, for that price, the candle should vacuum, do laundry, and fetch me a sandwich...preferably from Subway!). I've never had that happen with any of the other Yankee candles, but I will be leery from now on. -I freeze my candles beforehand, trim wicks on all non-Slatkin & co candles (never trim their 3 wick ones unless you want them to drown in wax!), allow it to burn into an even pool so the candle memory holds....nothing worked on that one!

4. Mykelti and Ranger have Advanced Agility and Ob-Fam tonight. I'm going to crash when I get home after running those two! Rosie had her very first obedience class last night; she did pretty darn good! 

5. I'm really not a fan of clingy/needy adults; it's honestly just a bit unsettling! I'm pretty social/outgoing most of the time, and I get along well with most people. That being said, the overly-clingy types make me want to run for the hills! 

6. Last night I watched "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" for the first time in ages. Ahhh I adore that movie!

7. If' you're a local foodie, try the California pizza from Bosco's Squared in midtown! It's so yummy! It has Chevre cheese, pine nuts, basil, sun dried tomatoes, and an olive oil crust. YUMMY!

8. I finally was able to access my Pinterest account again this morning. Yay!  Here's hoping that they fixed whatever issue was going on so that it doesn't happen again.

9. Mykelti has developed a knack for flipping her toys super high into the air and catching them.It's pretty cute to watch! That is, until she misses catching the toy, and said toy hits you in the face with a force that I would assume is equal to the weight of a baby elephant!

10. I'm obsessed with the "Pink Chiffon" shower gel from Bath & Body Works. (I received for free with a coupon I used during my recent Fall Test Scent order.) It smells amazing!

Regina Spektor - "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" Official Music Video

Regina is such a fun, quirky artist; I love her music! She deserves a mention on my blog today! Go check out her music video. It's such a fun, happy song! :)

Rant!

Do you ever just have days where everything is out of wack and you just want to scream? That was my day today! I need a good vent session, so feel free to skip to the next post, unless of course you'd like to be amused for a few moments with my ranting. I have a lot of things to be happy and thankful for in my life, and I definitely appreciate them all! I'm blessed! That being said, sometimes the little things all compile into one big headache, and it feels so terrific to vent a bit! Here's my vent! :


1. I didn't get any sleep last night (yay insomnia!). So an hour after I FINALLY fell asleep (8am)...the lawn care people come out and started mowing my yard right outside of my window...yeah. awesome!  


2. I finally got the orders from Bath  & Body Works/Slatkin & Co's Fall Test Scents in today. I was very pleased about that! I wasn't however pleased that the Fed Ex delivery guy was too lazy to deliver them under my covered front porch, and instead left them by the side door....to get grass clippings ALL over them from the lawn care people. REALLY? (I even left a note about where to deliver them!)


3. When I went to log into my Pinterest account today, I got a message saying that my account had been locked. (Apparently, some asshole hacked my account and now it will take several day to get my information and everything corrected and restored.) Seriously! Pinterest is one of the few things that I really enjoy when I've had a crummy day...I could have done without that. And who hacks that anyways? Disappointed! I hope Pinterest resolves this soon; I'm irritated about that one.


4. There air went out in my car a few weeks ago, so I've been driving around in the heat with absolutely no air. I'm heat intolerant. Yeah, not cool! (literally). I need to get that fixed soon; I'm praying it won't be a pricey repair!


5. I took Rosie to her very first obedience class tonight. She was great! Perfect loose-leash walking, sits, downs, leave-it's, recall and so on. She made me VERY proud handler! That was, until the last 5 minutes...when she decided to just whine for no reason at all. LOUD TOLLER WHINING! (Even after I had already taken her for a potty break, so that wasn't the issue). She was likely just over-stimulated from all the excitement of being in a new class. Oh well, at least she wasn't as bad as some of the other dogs there, and she corrected easily (can we say "forced downs" are our friend! ;) )


6. After I left class with Rosie, I decided that I would swing by Jerry's Sno Cones to pick up a treat to take over to my mom's house (beside Jerry's) before I went back to my house for the night. Yeah...when I got there, the line was all of the way into the street. Yikes! No parking, scorching heat, insane line...I decided to drive around for a few minutes and come back to see if the line would die down. Came back, and the line was even longer! (This was right before closing too, when the lines are usually not as crazy.) I decided to just forget about it (It was hot enough driving in my car w/o air; I did not feel like making myself or the puppy stand in line in the heat for an hour.) So, we didn't get any Jerry's tonight. Sadness!


7.On the note of Jerry's Sno Cones...let me just say that since I was a tiny child, I grew up not even two streets over from there. I went to Jerry's BEFORE it was ever popular. I knew the older couple who used to own it on a first name basis, and even went to church with them for a while. I went constantly in the summertime with my mom and our dog; it was "our thing", before it ever became popular for everyone else and their grandma to go! I am happy that their business has expanded so much in recent years and that they are drawing in huge crowds. That means they have a successful business in a tough economy, and that they will be sticking around! That being said, I HATE that they will not expand and open a bigger facility to accommodate the parking, the crowds, and the business. It is horrible! I hate that something I love so much has become so "trendy" to the point of turning lifelong customers away because it is so frustrating to visit at times. They really need to expand; it's ridiculous! 


8. Since I couldn't get Jerry's tonight, I decided to settle on a sonic drink on the way home (their new pineapple slush is amazing!). Once I got it in the car however, I clumsily picked it up and spilled a lot of it out. I love drinking it, not wearing it!


9.I have "lost" my phone at least 4 times today. One of those was when I was pulled over to decide if it was worth the wait to get Jerry's or not. I started to look for my phone to call my mom....and couldn't find it! (I frantically looked through my purse for several minutes, and even debated driving over to my mom's house like a weird to borrow her phone to call mine. (Reason being, if I left my phone at the training facility or in the parking lot there, it's not in a great neighborhood, so I'd rather make sure it wasn't just "lost" in my car somewhere first.) Thankfully, I didn't need to...as soon as I moved some more things around, I realized that it was sitting underneath my purse. Crisis averted! (When I got home however, I "lost" it again and had to use the house phone to call it. It was sitting on the guest bathroom counter? (At least that time, it wasn't on silent!)


10. The moron builders who built the home that I live in did not make the garage long enough to house a standard 4-door type car. The ONLY car that would fit in it parked straight ahead and normal would be a VW Bug (I'm not even kidding!) So as a result, the previous owners left dents all over the wall, and in the year that I've lived here, so have I. I always have to park my car at a slant/angle each time I get home. I'm too short to see over the wheel well, so since it's pretty much "blind parking", I always tend to lightly ding the wall in the same spot. Well tonight, I REALLY dinged the heck out of the wall and further expanded the dent quite significantly. Sigh! (On a positive note..I do know how to fix drywall and paint...)

Mykelti

This is the cute little face that I wake up to every morning!

 Mykelti is the most snugly puppy I've ever been around; she's such a little love bug! 

She's such a fun dog to train and be around; I can't wait until I therapy test her and she's ready to go on visits. I know she will bring so many smiles to others! We had a great Advanced Obedience class tonight, and I took her afterwards to visit my mom for a bit. She was so excited to see her "Grandma" and visit. (I have a strong suspicion that my mom sneaks her cookies when I'm not looking lol!)

Such a beautiful reminder!

Nail of the Day!

It's mani/pedi time again! Here are the products I used in today's pictures: 

-Sample of Sally Hansen's Nail and Cuticle Hand Cream -(I got this for free! It was a bonus item attached to a Sally Hanson salon manicure polish a few months back when I was at Walgreens. It works pretty well; I've used the entire tube up!)

-OPI BaseCoat (one coat)

-Essie's "bikini so teeny" (two coats)

-Essie's "pure pearlfection" Luxe Effects topcoat (two coats)

-Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat (one coat)

-Sephora Nail Polish Corrector pen

-Toe separators (I'm can't remember where I got these from; I've had them quite a while! (Maybe Target or Ulta?). I had to be careful with these since my right pinkie toe is broken, but I was still able to work around it). 

Essie's "Pure Pearlfection" luxeffects topcoat (left) and Essie's "bikini so teeny" (right)

Indoor lighting (The color is really a little darker than the picture conveys)

Natural outdoor lighting (The polish is appearing true to color here)

Another view in natural lighting...

I am VERY pleased with these polishes! No streaking, bubbling, chipping, clumping, or any issues like that! Very good quality polishes; this is one of the main reasons I prefer Essie compared to most other polishes. (The "bikini so teeny" polish can be just a tiny pinch runny,not streaky, just a little runny, so apply with a light hand. I would recommend letting it dry a bit between coats!) The "Pure Pearlfection" luxe effects top coat is absolutely gorgeous and gives the perfect amount of flattering shimmer to any polish. I LOVE it! 

Huge Sale Alert: Bath & Body Works/ Slatkin & Co Fall 2012 Test Candle Fragrance Sale!!!!

This juicy detail is just too great not to share with all of you lovelies! Today and Tomorrow, Bath and Body Works/ Slatkin & Co, will have ALL of their Fall Test Scent candles on sale for only $10 (2 for $20) and shipping is a flat-rate of only $6! These are the huge 3 wick candles we're talking about! (The only time you will ever see the Fall scents on sale again will be after Christmas during the Semi-Annual, and most will be picked over if not sold out.) If you want them now while they're on sale, now is the time to order! These make great Christmas/Birthday gifts!


I just found out about this sale today from another Youtuber I follow, and placed my order this morning. (It apparently started on July 9th, and ends tomorrow (Friday). They put out the test scent candles to see how well they sell in select stores/over the phone, before they decide which lines/candles will sell in stores across the country. Many of the fragrances are happy returns from last year with new packaging; many are brand new! I ordered a bit of both, and can't wait to try them! Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year! I can't wait for this hot Summer to end and Autumn to begin! Nothing is more inviting, than an incredible candle making my home smell delicious and warm. (I spend a lot of time at home, so I'm the type to really enjoy and burn candles often) 


Here are the numbers to the three test stores that you can order from.They will take in-store coupons, survey coupons, and such over the phone. Online coupon codes do not apply, so make sure it is something that could be used in stores (four digit number) Ask nicely, and many times they will break up your order into several orders so that you can use multiple coupons! I've listed coupon info below for all of you.


Tennessee: (423) 282-0008 - this is the store I ordered from (Johnson City). The girl was very, very friendly and helpful! 


Missouri: (314) 725-6265- placed an order from here as well; also very nice. ASK nicely for $6 shipping ,otherwise the will try and charge $10. When I mentioned the TN store only charged $6 flat rate shipping for the same amount of candles, they kindly agreed to offer me the $6 price instead of $10. They also let me use multiple coupons.

Ohio: (614) 475-0196


They ship via FedEx ground, and call to give you your tracking number as soon as they ship so you can follow your package. They usually package/ship out the following day and you will have your order ASAP. B&BW has always had incredibly fast shipping when I've ordered in the past. Use code: 3006 for 20% off your order (give the code to them over the phone). With each order, you will also be given a Survey Coupon- it never expires! Complete this and you'll get $10 off any order! (Now, do you see the importance of ordering from different stores and breaking up your orders ;) ) (You can also use the code: 6118 for a free full sized item from their Signature Fragrance Line! - shower gel, fragrance, lotion, bubble bath, etc)


Since this was such an incredible deal, I ordered 20 candles from the sale: Ten from TN and ten from MO. The candles I ordered were: 


Cider Lane (2)
Pumpkin Cupcake (2)
Leaves (2) -You have the option to order the traditional packaging (brownish wax, or the new white wax/gold lid packaging. Both are an identical formula and scent; the company is just trying to see which packaging sells better.)
Pumpkin Caramel Latte (2)
Marshmallow Fireside
Farmstand Apple
Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin
Creamy Pumpkin (2)
Autumn
Salted Caramel
Nutmeg & Spice
Spiced Cider (2)
Plum Wine & Amber
Cranberry Harvest


(Also included were a free full sized: Pink Chiffon Shower Gel and a free Love,Love,Love Body Mist. The code for that is Auth # 6118)


They do have more fragrances than the ones I listed above: 
-Autumn Day (In stock)
-Brandied Pear (In Stock)
-Cinnamon Nut Bread (In Stock; smells like banana nut bread)
-Cinnamon Sugared Donut (In stock)
-Mahogany Teakwood (In stock)
-Apple Crumble (Out of stock at MO & TN stores)
-Black Pepper Bergamont (In stock in MO)
-Fresh Balsam (In stock)
-(There were a few more I can't remember! If you call the stores, they will be able to tell you what they have in stock)


-Fragrances I was interested in, that aren't in stock yet: (Many of these will be available starting September 5th for Test Sale. When I get details, I will post more! I asked about all of these mentioned today, none of them were available in either store.)


-Pumpkin Carvings
-Roasted Pumpkin Butter
-Cafe o'lait
-Cedar Wood Oak
-Bonfire Maplewood
-Sweater Weather
-Blueberry Pumpkin Patch
-Chocolate Bacon Cupcake (MO store said that test fragrance is being cancelled & won't be sold).
-Sweet Macroon
-Farm Apple Cookie
-Caramel Apple
-Cedar Oak Wood
(Forgive me if I forgot any! If you know about any not included on my list, please let me know! :) )

Jenn Bostic - Jealous of the Angels (Spotlight Music Cafe, Fort Collins...

This song  really makes me miss my relatives that have passed on to Heaven. It's such a beautiful, beautiful song! 

10 Things Tuesday

In no particular order:

1. I simultaneously feel like I'm FREEZING, but I'm burning up to the touch. Never a great thing; pretty sure my heart is acting up again. :/

2. I finally got groceries today. Yay!!!

3. On the note of #2, I can spend hours wandering around Target....hours! (Even with a broken toe!)

4. I saw "Ted" recently; it's hilarious!! You should all go see that movie!

5. I am dying to get my hands on Maroon 5's New CD, "Hands All Over".

6. Currently drinking "Simply Lemonade with Raspberry"- all natural  and  SOOO YUMMY!!!

7. I don't care if it's the middle of July, I'm going to take a LUSH bubble bath tonight; I'm freeeeeeezing!

8. Am I the only person who stock-piles toilet paper? I think I have this subconscious fear of running out of toilet paper haha! I keep both bathrooms stocked at all times.

9. I need to do my nails again. I'm thinking of using "Aphrodite's Pink Nightie" by OPI!

10. Emeli Sande- "Next To Me" - song that's currently stuck in my head. 

Pinterest Tested: Sugar Cookie in a Cup!

It's time for a little Pinterest fun! Tonight, I tested out the "Sugar Cookie in a Cup" pin from the "no. 2 pencil" blog recipe I found recently on Pinterest. (Ok, more like I saw the pin and IMMEDIATELY tried it because I wanted to see how this little science experiment would turn out!) Well...it turned out to be quite tasty!!! What a fun way to have a little treat, instead of baking an entire batch! Here is the link to the blog and recipe I'm raving about: Sugar Cookie in a Cup

Go try this recipe! It's super easy and tasty enough to satisfy even the most intense sugar cookie craving! I've included a picture below of how mine turned out (Sorry there's only one, I was hungry lol! I was out of the fun color sprinkles, so I used silver cupcake sprinkles instead!). 

(One side note: I needed to microwave mine for a little longer than the recipe indicated in order for mine to reach the right consistency. I would check this often and put it in for a little longer if you have a lower wattage microwave.)

Breathe - Hands To Heaven

I adore this song.

Please Pray for Trey

Please spend time today sending prayers and thoughts out to the family of Trey Erwin. At only 15 years old, his body has been riddled with a very rare form of Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. My heart absolutely breaks for this precious family! Pray for Trey to find comfort and relief from his pain and suffering.

Here is the link to Trey's CaringBridge page

According to his mother's journal post this morning, Trey's body is shutting down from the cancer that has ravaged him; things are not looking well. Trey's birthday is at the end of the month (and his little brother, Collin's birthday is coming up soon too). Only God knows how much time we have, but Trey's doctors think he may earn his angel wings in the next 24 hours. His precious parents and his little brother covet your prayers and comfort. Pray for them today, and in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. They need  love and support right now. I pray that God holds this precious family in the palm of His hands. Trey's incredible spirit has touched so many lives; it is my hope that his legacy, and the strength and kindness of his family will continue on. Some people live their entire lives and never think about the impact they make, or the example they lead. In Trey's 15 short years, Trey has displayed an admiral faith and an incredible walk with God. He has displayed perseverance and grace towards others; and love and strength despite the difficult affliction he has faced with this cancer diagnosis. What an incredible legacy and impact he has made on those around him! Trey is a true hero, and a beautiful child of God. I truly believe in my heart that God has an incredible plan for Trey, bigger than we can imagine! He has used this precious boy and his wonderful family to impact the live of so many! I pray that Trey and his family find peace and through this heartbreaking time. Please pray for them continuously. 


If you feel lead to send a donation to the family during this time, you can visit any BankTennessee location. (Keep in mind that donating to the actual CaringBridge page will not send any donations to the family, but instead the CaringBridge website. If you want to donate to the family, and send your love and support in that venue, please go through the fund they have set up to help cover all of the expenses from missed work days, medical treatments, and such. You can donate at any location. Below, I've listed the address for the Collierville branch near their home: 


Bank Tennessee
1125 West Poplar Avenue
Collierville, TN 38017
Attn: Friends of Trey Erwin Account

UPDATE

Trey earned his angel wings on Thursday afternoon. Please keep the precious Erwin family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. 

News Story

Travis Tritt - Great Day To Be Alive (live)

I love this song! It's not been the most super week on my end (Yesterday, I spent my fourth holiday in a row, alone. I guess I should be used to it by now, but I'm human and I'm social; sometimes it gets upsetting. Thankfully, my dogs were around to act goofy and make me laugh!) . Sometimes, you just need a good song like this one to put things into perspective and cheer you up! Gotta love Travis Tritt and the positive words to this song! :)

Nail of the Day

(This made me laugh!)

I hope all of you Lovelies are having a wonderful day so far! It's time for another, "Nail of the Day" post! Walgreens recently had BOGO sales on several brands of polishes. They were already dirt cheap, so throw in the BOGO sales on top of that, and I paid next to nothing! That's pretty awesome in my book! I chose two colors from each line to try. (Two Revlon and two Wet n' Wild). I thought it would be fun to try and review some of them today!

Left to Right:

Wet n' Wild Fast Dry -"90210range" -222C

Revlon Colorstay- "Wild Strawberry"  - 070

Revlon- "Quick Dry Top Coat"

OPI's "Base Coat"

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover (This does not hurt at all! It felt like I was applying aloe to my cuticles; no issues at all!), 

C.O. Bigelow Lavender Salve (on cuticles/hands; I LOVE LOVE LOVE this product!),

 Double sided cuticle stick from Walgreens (I use the soft part on my cuticles, and the hard part to gently clean under my nails)

Sephora's Nail Corrector

 In natural sunlight 

(ignore my cuticles; I didn't do the best job)

 Indoor lighting

A view of the color names! 

My Thoughts

I like both nail polishes quite a bit! I personally think the Wet n' Wild Fast Dry color (the orange accent nail) will hold up better than the Revlon ColorStay in this instance (And bonus: it was dirt cheap!). As you can tell from the picture, not even 24hrs in, and I already have some minor chipping on the nails painted in the Revlon polish (the pink nails). The Wet n' Wild polish is perfect and not chipped at all so far. I've never tried the Wet n' Wild Fast Dry polishes before: I will be buying more; they are fantastic! The consistency is terrific, the brush is easy to use, the color applies opaque (that's hard to find in a glitter polish!), no streaking, no bubbles, and so far-no chipping! Great job "Wet n' Wild": A+ polish! 

I love the Revlon polish too. I do find the "ColorStay" name to be a bit misleading, however since I already have a bit of chipping on my nails. Overall though, I like it! The color is beautiful, the brush is a cinch to use, it goes on opaque, no streaking or bubbles: B+ polish! 

Pinterest Tested

I thought it would be fun to start regular blog posts on Pinterest pins that I try and review! Those of you who follow my boards know that I'm addicted! (Ok, if there were an AA type club for Pinterest addictions, I would need that!)  If you're not already following me on Pinterest, feel free to click the button in the top right hand corner! :) 

Today I'm doing the review on the "Tub Cleaner - vinegar and dish soap, no scrubbing!"  pin. 
(Sorry in advance, I forgot to take pictures of the before/afters!)

I was very excited to try this pin! I have a lot of heart/lung issues, so I can not use strong smelling chemicals to clean my home. I prefer more natural alternatives; they are safer for both myself and my pets. I am also VERY picky about the cleanliness of my home. My mom has owned her own cleaning business since I was a small child, so cleanliness is a way of life in my book! (Especially with the number of pets I own; I prefer my home not have "furball tumbleweeds" rolling across the floor when I entertain, so I clean often and never let things pile up).

Keep in mind that when I reviewed this pin (tonight), my showers were already pretty darn clean; I just never let them get too grimy in the first place (gross!). I tried this pin out tonight to see if it would make my bath tubs even more shiny, clean, and polished. 

It did not! This pin was a big fat fail! 

Here's what you're supposed to do:

Mix one part heated white distilled vinegar (90 seconds in the microwave) to One part blue Dawn Dish Soap into a spray bottle. Shake it up and then spray your bathtubs down. Let it sit for 30 minutes, and then wipe down your magically clean bathtub, with NO scrubbing needed. I followed the directions exactly. (For those of you wondering, you're supposed to heat the vinegar so that it will keep the dish soap from clumping and make it spray easier out of the spray bottle). 

I followed the directions and then came back 30 minutes later to my guest bathroom expecting to see a magically shiny, polished surface with a gentle swipe of a cloth. FAIL! Nearly another 30 minutes later, I had finally scrubbed (and cursed) it clean of the horrid soap scum that the Dawn part of the mixture left behind! This pin's recipe did NOT clean my already clean bathtub or make it more polished. What it did do instead, was leave behind soap scum EVERYWHERE. It took me an eternity to clean it all up and polish my tub back to normal again. Once I finished with my guest bathroom, I ran into the same issue in my master bathroom tub that I had sprayed down as well. It took me forever to clean the soap scum off of both. I really wanted to love this pin and wanted it to work, but I have to say that I am very disappointed and can not recommend this one!

In a side note, I'm also wondering just HOW filthy and dirty the other pinners' tubs were that left positive comments on the website? Seriously, did they have a 2in thick layer of soap scum, mildew, and grime in their tubs? Maybe it worked for that. For someone who maintains a clean tub/shower and just wants to keep it polished, clean and nice: all this pin does is leave behind a soap-scummy disaster of a mess behind! (That you WILL spend an eternity scrubbing away!)

(For those of you wondering, you're better off  using a paste of baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar and a scrub brush to get your tub sparkling! (You can also use hydrogen peroxide). Bleach and lemon juice is another combo that works well, but it can be irritating to the lungs/eyes, so I prefer the first combo, or a natural cleaner from the store).

A Public Service Announcement: Watch your bank accounts!

To the thieves in Mumbai, India who stole my debit card information, pin number, and money from my bank account: Kindly Go Fuck Yourselves! Stupid Thieves!!!

(Pardon my language today: I am beyond livid!)

A warning to all of my followers: If you have anything show up on your bank accounts/statements from "Home Goods 18" or "Ebay India, Pennsylvania" -they are thieves from Mumbai, India. They recently stole my debit card information (pin number too), and have stolen quite a bit of money from my account. Straight out of my checking account because the card information they stole was a debit card. That is the ONLY card that I own; I don't even own a credit card. I either use cash or my debit card, so needless to say I've been vandalized, inconviened, and I am I am beyond angry! I hope Karma bites these thieving jerks in the rear! I also hope they get caught and serve a jail sentence for their crimes!


I recieved a phone call last weekend from my bank's 24hr monitoring system (Also coincidentally located in India). They informed me that there was strange activity on my account, and someone in India had tried to use my debit card information several times. They immediately cancelled my card and reported it as stolen. They took about an hour reviewing everything and trying to help me. At the time, they said that two of the attempted charges might go through, and to watch my account. They also said that either way, I would not be held liable and would be reimbursed if anything was stolen. I went to the bank the following day to make sure they knew about what was going on (they did) and to see if any more charges had gone through on my account: at the time, they hadn't. Well, yesterday I discovered that several of the attempted charges went through despite my card being reported stolen. So, I called and notify the monitoring system, and they made a note of it. I have to go to my bank on Monday when they open to file a complaint and try to get a refund. It's been a miserable week trying to deal with all of this. Please say a little prayer that things go smoothly for me on Monday and that I get everything straightened out! This has turned out to be one big headache of a week!


Although I have no way of figuring out where the thieves stole my information from, or making sure they are thrown in jail for their crimes, I can hopefully write this post to maybe prevent it from happening to one of you. My guess is that my information was stolen through a resturant that had their computer system hacked. That is also what my banking establishemnt thinks as well. (I do not think it happened online, because I am VERY particular about where I will shop. I try to make sure the websites are BBB accredited and I typically pay using PayPal. Also, I rarely use ATM's; If I need cash, I go to my bank. So, I don't think this is ATM related.)  I would recommend that if you're going to use a resturant: pay cash! If you have to use your card, process your debit card as a credit so that potential thieves can not steal your pin number too.