Today's Nail Polish Look!

I thought it would be fun to post my latest nail look today for a bit of a change! Hope you guys enjoy!

Indoor Lighting

Natural outdoor lighting (Please excuse my cuticles!)

Products I used!

Products I used on my nails:

OPI's Natural Nail Base Coat (all nails; one coat)

Revlon's "Charismatic" 610 (on four of the five nails depicted; two coats)

Accent nail: Zoya's "Belle" by Capital Hill Style (three coats) 

Accent nail: Essie's "As Gold As It Gets" 950 (on top of  Zoya's "Belle"; one coat) 

Revlon's Quick Dry Top Coat 960 (on top of all nails; one coat)

Sephora's Nail Polish Corrector (used around the edges of all nails)

Where to purchase: 

~OPI Natural Nail Base Coat: Target, Ulta, or online at www.opi.com 

$5-8 depending on where you purchase (If you purchase from Ulta, use your 20% off coupon they mail out!)

~Revlon "Charismatic 610 & Revlon Quick Dry Top Coat 960: I bought mine at Target, but I know Walgreens, Walmart, Ulta, CVS, and other places carry it. 

$3.79 (I had a manufacturer's coupon, so I used that with this shade and the Revlon top coat and pretty much got them for free!) 

~Zoya "Belle" by Capital Hill Style: This is a limited edition nail polish; if you want it, order now!!! It comes in a set of three polishes from Zoya's Blogger Collection by Birchbox.: Order it here. (I love all of the polishes in that collection, and use them often! They are jelly based and really hold up longer/chip less than most polishes!) 

$22.00 for set of three polishes

~ Essie's "As Gold As It Gets" 950 luxeffects multi dimensional top coat: I purchased mine from Target. You can also find it at Walgreens, Ulta, CVS, and www.essie.com

$5-8 depending on where you purchase

~Sephora Nail Polish Corrector: Purchase in stores at Sephora, or online at www.sephora.com. I can not speak highly enough of this little gem! I've gone through three of them; it is by far the best thing I've ever purchased to do nails with! It's a flat tipped nail polish remover pen. It's amazing! 

$8.00 

The Band Perry - All Your Life (acoustic) Music Video.

This is my life...

Wasps...

(Sorry for the language, but I still think it's quite hilarious and accurate!)

I spent more time than I care to admit yesterday spraying the daylights out of a wasp nest that popped up near my garage. Essentially, I would spray the can and then run like hell....watch until the wasps died, and then repeat about 20 times! I plan to repeat this process again one more day this week before I try to knock down the little nest the punks built.

Want to know why I have these stupid bugs?

Oh lets see, because my "neighbors from hell" refuse to have pest control come out and exterminate their house/porch area! IDIOTS! Their front porch is literally covered in wasps nests...huge nests! (No joke! The first week I moved into my house, I went to go ring their doorbell to ask them to move their car that was blocking my driveway (oh yeah, something they do constantly!) and ran like crazy when I realized their front porch was a scene out of a wasp-themed horror movie! Not only do they not care to call an exterminator, they are so pathetic that they don't use the front door at all! Instead, they walk around MY side of the yard in between our homes to go check their mail. Ummm hello, wouldn't it just be easier and safer to call an exterminator? Last summer, one of my lawn care people got stung, my dad got stung, and I got stung more times than I care to count! (I'm slightly allergic too so needless to say I keep a stockpile of Benadryl!) I will never understand stupid people like that: why on earth wouldn't you have the wasp nests sprayed so you can use your front porch? Seriously! Oh, and they have kids too...real safe to let them frolic in their yard around a swarm of wasps. Really safe....parent of the year safe.... 


Anyways, enough of my ranting tonight! On a bright note, I think the "neighbors from hell" shall be moving soon....YAY! (I saw a "for sale by owner" sign. Let's hope they get out and someone awesome (preferably a pest control person) moves in!  

Wal-Mart is the anti-Christ of retailers!

Once again, I'm reminded of why I ALWAYS shop at Target! I truly believe that Walmart is the scourge of the earth sometimes! If it were plausible for a store to be the anti-Christ of retailers, it would be Wal-Mart! Fourteen phone transfers....fourteen...to fourteen different people today: none of which were any help! ARE YOU KIDDING ME WAL-MART???? For a store that is dependent upon their customers to make a profit, you would think at least one of the fourteen people I spoke with would have been helpful. (It's not like I tried to order anything complicated: just a simple little vanity shelf that I've previously purchased from the store near me). Off my soap box now: time to head over to Target and support their business and helpful staff!


For the record, all I wanted was a little Wal-Mart brand (Mainstays) 3-tired glass vanity shelf that sits on a bathroom counter top! (I bought one last year from the store near me and loved it so much that I wanted another one to organize more with!) I typically don't care for Wal-Mart items because so many are sourced in from China and cheaply made, but this shelf held up so well and looks amazing in my bathroom; I really wanted another one! It's not like I wanted anything crazy; I just wanted one more shelf to organize the other side of my bathroom with. So much for that idea! I'm going to go to Target instead and just see if they have any sort of vanity shelving that I like instead. If I find something I like and get it, I'll just re-purpose the glass one somewhere else. It really just irritates me that neither the website, the stores in my area, or the 1-800 Wal-Mart idiots were helpful! You would think that at least one of those places, or at least one of the fourteen morons I talked to would have helped! Nope!  

So in closing, I would just like to say:

F. YOU WALMART!!!

(You're losing my business to Target! ;)

Exciting Announcement!

Rosie the Puppy!!!

(pause the music in the right side bar before playing the video)

Rosie is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy (We think! She was an owner surrender and supposedly from a N.S. breeder, so that's what we're going off of. I do think she looks like an N.S., but she could also be just a cute mix; she's darling either way! In my opinion, if she was from a responsible breeder, there would be proper paperwork and she should have wound up back with the breeder if the owner couldn't keep her. (So, she might be the result of an irresponsible Back Yard Breeder that breeds for money, rather than quality and health...but that's a rant for another day! I'm a huge fan of responsible, ethical breeders and reputable shelters/rescues when it comes to finding a wonderful companion or working dog!) . 

We aren't certain of Rosie's age, but we think she's around 5 months . We are so excited to welcome her into our home as a foster puppy! If all goes well and she acclimates to our home, pets, and shows potential for therapy work, we will adopt her! Please wish us luck as we begin training her! She is a little lovebug! :)

Eli Young Band - "Crazy Girl"

(Pause the music in the right side bar before you press "play"!) 

Dolls Creep Me Out!

I thought I would share a random tidbit with you all today, and hopefully give you guys a good laugh. Who knows, you might be able to relate to this as well! Some of you might find this a bit hilarious; some of you might not. I however, find the topic quite TERRIFYING! What am I talking about?

DOLLS!

Creepy, terrifying, nausea- inducing Dolls! They scare the living daylights out of me! I mean come on people, they're just not normal! Dolls: with their creepy eyes just blankly staring at you like they want to consume your soul! Ahhh freaks me out every time! There is just something so creepy and shudder-inducing about them...


This morning, I thought I was going to have a small heart attack thanks to the creepy little things! While leisurely browsing Pinterest, I choked on my coffee when I saw that one of the ladies I follow had pinned about a half a million creepy doll pictures! No joke, there were pictures of dolls everywhere. It was awful! I literally choked on my coffee as I immediately scrambled to "x" out of that page and compose myself. I just don't understand how people derive enjoyment from dolls? (Even as a little child, I hated them!) Needless to say, I kept my friend on Pinterest, but I definitely  had to "unfollow"  her doll-themed board. Ahhhh so creepy!


I'm not sure exactly how old I was when my terror of dolls, ventriloquist dummies, clowns, and things of that nature began, but I know it was during early childhood! I'm pretty sure it started when my step-sister made me watch creepy movies like "Chuckie", "Leprechaun", "It", and "Tales from the Crypt". (That certainly explains why I am absolutely terrified of dolls, dummies, leprechauns, and clowns!). To make matters worse, every time I visited my Granny's house as a child, I would be royally freaked out because she had porcelain dolls everywhere! Everywhere! Bless her heart, she even showcased them in a glass case (which is still at her house to this day, and still freaks me out every time I visit). She also had clown paintings all over her living room walls, and insisted on giving me little stuffed clowns for every birthday and Chaunakkah! (A little background on that: my Aunt Joanne adored clowns. She very sadly passed of Leukemia from a young age, so since I look like my aunt, my Granny just assumed I would love clowns too. I don't think poor Granny ever saw the movie, "IT"!) 


I remember one sleep over as a little girl: one of my friends had porcelain dolls, rag dolls, and things like that all over her room. I was "ok" with it for a few hours while we hung out and played, but when bedtime came and the lights went out, it was a different story! When the lights went out at bedtime and the Dolls' shiny, creepy eyes glared at me from the glow of the nightlight, I freaked out so badly that they called my mom to pick me up. We're talking an absolute terrifying "panic because the dolls are going to hurt me" meltdown! (Quite hilarious in hindsight! Although, I'm sure my mom didn't appreciate the late night road trip to retrieve her terrified child!). 


Today, I have a few adult friends that collect dolls much in the same way that I enjoy collecting vases for my home. Every time they want to show me a new doll or item they've added to their collection, I can't lie: I cringe a bit on the inside. Although dolls creep me out, I just try to smile and nod to show my support because I know how much they love their collection (just like I love the items I collect!). It still creeps me out though; I just do my best not to let it show...and to avoid locking creepy glances with those doll-eyes! :/

Here's hoping that my future children will be content with Teddy Bears and animal-themed stuffed animals to snuggle, instead of dolls! 

Puppy Play Date!

Over the weekend, the Aussies enjoyed a fun trip to our friend Margee's farm for a playdate with her German Shepherd and their horses. They had so much fun! I thought I'd share a few pictures of their "Play Date" with all of you: 

Sweet Mykelti

 This was Mykelti's first time ever seeing a horse. She was so fascinated! 

 Blaze and Cheyenne wanted to visit with the Aussies

 Waiting politely for a cookie 

 This is Blaze, the Quarter Horse. I really love him! (Every time I visit, he gives me kisses!)

 Blaze wanted in the picture too!

 Liebchen and Cheyenne the the Quarter Horse

 I have to say that I am shocked the Pause Box didn't break when all three of them decided to hop up there together lol! 

 Mykelti posing by the hydrangeas 

 Brake's Lone Ranger :)

 Ranger Smiling!

Sweet, happy Aussies! 

 Ranger loves Blaze! I have a similar picture to this one from a few months back when he visited then. Australian Shepherds really love horses!

 Ranger and Mykelti with their sweet friend, Liebchen!

My friend's dog, Liebchen. Isn't she a pretty girl! 

Herding Dogs and Horses

Liebchen teaching Mykelti about horses... (Look at that herding stance!)

Saturday's Quote of the Day

Today's quote is a powerful reminder. I think we're all guilty at some point in our lives of speaking freely on something, yet maybe being hesitant to act and follow through on our words. This quote below is a wonderful reminder that our actions really do speak louder than our words!

"It is easier to fight for one's principals, than to live up to them"

                               - Alfred Adler 

How To Open a Wine Bottle Without a Corkscrew. Use your Shoe!

Yet another grand find thanks to Pinterest! I do own a wine corkscrew, but sometimes certain corks can be difficult to remove, even with that little gem. Enter, this video! (It is in French, but it is very easy to understand because he does such a great, quick demo!) Watch and learn! 


(I have to be honest, I was just waiting for that bottle of red wine to burst all over his shoe and his crisp white sweater,because that seemed plausible when he was smacking the bottle against the wall! Thankfully, that didn't happen though and he got to enjoy his wine!) 

10 Things Thursday

In no particular order: 

1. Finally finished reviews on BeautyFix and Lush Haul. Video's coming soon!

2. The Memphis area Lush inside of Macy's at Oak Court is closing on 5-28-12. I'm SOOO upset!!!

3. As a result of number two, I stocked up on what items weren't already sold out when I visited today.

4. I had a really fun day with my sister! Love girl's days! This one was long overdue.

5. Ranger and Mykelti started Rally last night. It's so much fun! I can't wait to compete them at Rally trials!

6. On the note of my dogs: Tuesday- Advanced Obedience, Wednesdays- Rally, Thursdays- Advanced Agility, and don't forget the Therapy training and work they do on a regular basis. They keep me on my toes!

7. Butter London's Lippy in the shade "Trout Pout" - AMAZING! Go check it out at Ulta!

8. I had Logan's for dinner tonight. It was quite yummy! (Definitely try their sweet potatoes!)

9. I need to get my highlights redone...big time! They're growing out and it's obvious. :/ 

10. My house is all decorated for Memorial Day/4th of July. (I may have already done this in April...lol! I like to decorate for every single holiday!)

My mission in life...

Maya Angelou has been one of the biggest inspirations in my life. She is an incredible, strong woman. The wealth of knowledge that she possesses, and her uncanny ability to speak directly to your heart is absolutely astounding. She may be small, but Maya's words are definitely a force to be reckoned with in their own right! Not only does Maya know how to teach us about eloquence and grace, she also teaches us how to survive things with our dignity still intact as well. My life has really had some ups and downs over the past few years to say the least. (I'm sure you all have gone through your own personal struggles and joys as well.) Through everything that I've gone through, I've really found some of Maya's works to be the most helpful and inspiring. The words she speaks instill motivation and strength. I thought it would be nice to share one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes with all of you today:

Short People Problems...

I recently decided that I needed some new pants. Well to be honest, I need new clothes in general; I don't really buy clothing all that often. Most of mine are now getting to the point of being worn out. Thus, begins my ever frustrating quest to find some pants that actually fit me well and don't look like a hand-me-down from the "Jolly Green Giant". 

A little background: I'm short. I'm really short...under 5' short. (I'm 4'11.5" to be exact. Yeah...I never quite made that last .5" leap to 5'!) I'm accustom to always being "the short one", and even dealing with the occasional dumbass person who attempts to make my head an "armrest" (Side note: NEVER DO THAT, PEOPLE! I may be short, but I have a mean right hook!). Needless to say, finding properly fitting clothing items in the right length can be a frustrating task! Most Capri's fit me like pants, and I've had Mini dresses look like Maxi dresses on me lol!

In my experience, it's a rarity to find a great pair of pants in stores with the right length. (On the exceedingly rare occasion that it happens, I feel like someone who's just hit the lottery!) It's almost impossible to find pants in stores that come in petite/"short" lengths; most places just don't carry them or keep them stocked. On the rare occasion I find a pair marked as "petite/short", it's often not in the size, color, or cut that I want. So it goes without saying that shopping can be frustrating. To add insult to injury, more often than not, even the pants marked as "short/petite" are still too long on me! At some point, you just have to laugh at yourself and find a good seamstress! ;)

(One of these days, I'll learn how to use a sewing machine!)

To remedy the frustrating issues that go along with pants shopping in stores, I often look online instead. This usually results at my animals staring at me in confusion while I make an awkward, almost comedic attempt at measuring myself. After all of the clumsy measuring, I then hop online to scour reviews and sales, for the perfect pair of pants at a good price. Oh the things we ladies go through to look presentable! So yeah, if you see a short person out in public with a perfect hem/fit to their pants, know that person went through a lot of trouble to make sure those suckers fit well! (I'm sure my taller friends can relate to my shopping frustrations in the opposite way! ) 

So, now you all know why I prefer dresses and leggings: they make life much more simple! 

~Wish me luck this week folks, I may actually make an attempt at pants shopping!~

2 Bain Girls found alive; great news!!! (Update on the Adam Mayes kidnapping/murder case)

For those of you who have been following the case about Adam Mayes and the Bain girls, there is an update tonight: The girls were found safe and sound! Thank goodness!! I first heard about the case when I received an Amber Alert on my phone early in the morning the day the case first was announced. (I have a weather app on my phone that sends out alerts for severe weather, amber alerts,etc). I vividly remember waking up to see that alert on my phone and then hearing more about it on the news at the story progressed. (They went missing on 4-27-12). The reports are saying that Adam Mayes allegedly took his life tonight when he was confronted by some wildlife officers in the woods. (He was pronounced dead a while ago in New Albany, Mississippi) The remaining two young girls were found safe and sound. Thank goodness they're physically ok! The girls (8yrs and 12yrs) have were transported from MS to a fantastic children's hospital near me in Memphis to be checked out. I'm so happy to hear that the girls were found safely! Everyone I know has been praying for good news; there have been prayer vigils all over my city. I'm so happy those girls are ok! I also hope that they will eventually be ok mentally as well (I can't even begin fathom what those little ones have been put through with this case and the murder of their mom and sister). My prayers will definitely be with them as they try to put their lives back together and heal. News of this case has been plastered all over Memphis and the surrounding areas since it started. I've also seen it the story on the national news quite a bit, so I thought I would share the update I heard with all of you tonight. (From what I understand, Mayes' wife Teresa and Adam Mayes' mother, Mary have been charged in the case too, and have been in jail since Sunday.)


Here are a few links to the story for those of you who are curious:
http://www.wmctv.com/story/18291547/adam-mayes-captured-2-missing-bain-girls-are-safe]
http://www.wmctv.com/story/18242709/fbi-will-hold-news-conference-regarding-missing-bain-girls-at-2-pm]
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/05/10/adam-mayes-dead-kidnapped-girls-found-alive]
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/10/justice/tennessee-missing-children/index.html?hpt=hp_t1]
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten] (FBI 10 Most Wanted List posting an update and listing Mayes as deceased)