WiggleButt Wednesday : A Breakfast Request

"I'd like my breakfast served in bed today, Human" -Mykelti 

Tea & Tunes Tuesday!

For tea time today, I'm sharing the one that I've been enjoying most recently. This blend is, "Paris" from Harney and Sons. It's a delicious black, loose-leaf tea. I drink this one straight without adding anything to it. It is such a delicious, well-rounded tea. It is a black tea with hints of a slightly fruity note. It contains vanilla, caramel, and bergamot, and tastes a bit like a fruity Earl Grey tea. 

I typically steep this for 5 minutes. As you can see, the bag is empty, and this tea was well loved! This was a $2 loose-leaf sample I purchased from their website during an order several months ago. Let's just say it was excellent, and I have already repurchased it! I do find that their loose-leaf teas taste better to me than their tea sachets, so that is my preference when purchasing them. 

This tea is also available in decaf as well, so you can enjoy either the normal caffeinated tea, or decaf if that is what you prefer. I highly recommend this blend! 

For music today, I'm loving, "Bloom" from The Paper Kites. 

Makeup Monday!

I thought I'd share a few of my current makeup favorites for Makeup Monday with y'all! I've included little mini reviews for each product, so hopefully that will help if you're curious about any of them. (Sorry this is posting on Tuesday; I wrote a draft of it on Sunday, and wasn't feeling well Monday, so just now up to posting. :) Enjoy! )

Back row:

- Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (Absolutely LOVE this palette; each shade casts a very gentle glow on your skin, sans too much shimmer or glitter. This is a gorgeous powder palette and it looks like a natural glow from within. I normally use this towards the end of applying my makeup after most of it is finished. Sometimes I use the colors swirled together, sometimes I use only one shade, and sometimes I use each shade to accentuate the contours of my face in different areas. Not pictured, but I apply it with the Hourglass Ambient Powder Brush.

-NARS Laguna Bronzer: This is my second container of it! This is my favorite bronzer because it's suitable for even very fair skin tones like mine, and it creates a natural glow. Used correctly, this bronzer will not make you like an orange "Oompa Loompa". I typically use this one as an all, over light dusting of bronzer. Today I contoured with it as well, although I prefer a different product for that typically. 

-elf Complexion Perfection: This is also my second one, and as you can see I've already hit pan on this one! Let's just say that I LOVE this powder! At only $3, it is an excellent bargain and really does a good job of neutralizing skin discoloration. I use this right after I've applied primer, and before foundation, as an all-over color correcting powder on my face, to neutralize any discoloration with my skin, and help my foundation apply more evenly.

| Second row: 

-Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Undereye Powder: This is the one product that I use everyday, regardless of the makeup look; it's excellent, and absolutely my most "holy grail" makeup item! It blurs visible fine lines, smooths your undereye area, and brightens it. Most importantly, it completely keeps your eye make, liner, and mascara from venturing south of where you placed it...all day long! Your eye makeup  will stay flawlessly in place if you use this! I even deported a little of this intro a small sample jar that I keep with the makeup bag in my purse, just because it's that terrific! 

-OCC Lip Tar in "yaoi": This shade is a lovely medium hot pink, with a bit of shimmer. I use this after I've lined my lips with "Ozone" from Urban Decay so the shimmer doesn't travel outside of my lip line. After I've finished my lip look, I normally set everything with the clear OCC Lip Tar keep it in place.

- Ulta baked eyeshadow duo in, "Covet". I have two of these and I love them! You can use them dry for a more daytime friendly look, or wet with a brush, for a more defined nighttime look. You can use the lighter side as an all-over lid shade, & the darker color as a wet liner or a more defined crease color. You can swirl them together, etc! I love the flexibility of baked eyeshadows. (Also if you're wondering, the three eyeshadows pictured have all been depotted, and are usually keep inside of a Z-palette.) 

-elf baked eyeshadow in, "Toasted": this eyeshadow is beautiful! I absolutely love the looks I can create with it. It's also very budget friendly!

-MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in, "Cloudy Afternoon". (I believe this one was limited edition a while back, so I'm not sure if it's still available. If you can find it, it is beautiful!) 

-Urban Decay primer potion mini. I've have gone through so many tubes of this over the years! I always seem to wind up with free samples and minis of it from different gift sets and palettes, to the point that I have never actually bought a full sized, and have two more samples ready to be she's once this one is empty. This one I apply after eye cream. It helps to prep your eye area for makeup and eyeliner, and makes the colors pop more, and last longer through the day.   

| Third Row: 

-Loreal Infalliable 24Hr Lacquer Liner: I tried this gel eyeliner after reading good reviews online. I'm still deciding if I like it right now, but I'll eventually do an updated post on it later. So far, the color stays well on the top and lower lash line, but vanishes on the waterline, so I use a pencil there. I also have problems with it taking a while to dry and transferring from my top lash line to my eyelid, *so far* I'm not in love, but also not disliking it enough to quit using it yet. I use a different brush to apply it with than the one it came with; the one it came with was too large for my eyeshape, and the thinner line I prefer.

-Benefit High Beam: this product is so versatile and beautiful! It's a liquid highlighter, but it can also be mixed with foundation for a more dewy, finish to your makeup, or used as a gorgeous highlighter for contouring, which is how I used it today.

-MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in, Natural, "Light".: I love this MSF for setting my makeup after I'm finished with it. I apply a light dusting of this all over my face. I gently apply and roll it with a makeup sponge, to minimize any visibly enlarged pores  or shiny areas. Then, I take a clean fan brush without any product on it, and dust off the excess from my skin to prevent it from looking cakey. 

-Revlon Lip Butter in, "Lollipop": this is just a fun, light pop of color for the lips, that won't leave your lips as dry as the Sahara! I reach for the Revlon Lip Butters in my collection on a daily basis; they are just awesome! My only gripe is that I wish the stating power were better and they were a little less slippery, since some tend to migrate outside of the lipline after a bit of wear. I actually blended it on a PawPalette, and mixed it with the OCC lip tar in "Yaoi" for a more unique, lasting color. 

-Model Co Cheek & Lip Stain  in, "Rosy Tint": this was an item I recived in an old Glossybox, and I love it! I use a Real Techniqes stippling brush to gently put a tiny amount in place on my cheeks, and then a more dense, Sigma angled kabuki brush to blend it in. This shade gives a beautiful rosy flush to the cheeks and looks very natural. You can wear it on its own, or combine it with a powder blush on top for my emphasis. Today, I thought to was beautiful on it's own. A little goes a long way with the product, so apply it sparingly and blend it well. 

Fourth Row (not really a row, but I'll list them all together from here.) 

Urban Decay "Deslick" setting spray (old packaging. I have used this product daily for several years. It is my favorite setting spray to really lock in my makeup, and keep me from getting too oily.  It is so nice and refreshing to use! (This is the older packaging that I am finishing up; I've gone through several bottles of this stuff and can't recommend it enough.)

-Makeup Forever Mat Velvet + Foundation: This is a foundation that I only reach for in the summer, since it can normally be a little drying to some of the small dry patches around my nose. But, during the summer when I'm more oily, I love this because it is waterproof and sweatproof. It stays flawless all day long! I applied it with the Tarte Airbrush, then blended everything in well with a damp beauty blender sponge. 

-Maybelline "The Rocket" mascara: one of my favorite mascara! This one works well on its own, or layered in combination with other mascaras for a more dramatic look. 

-NARS eyeliner in "Via Venito"- this is the best eyeliner I've found for my eye type so far.  It doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes, and stays in place all day long, even on the waterline. My only complaint is that since it is an automatic liner, it can dull more easily, and it doesn't sharpen to a fine point with the automatic liner sharpener on the end of it. Otherwise, this is an excellent liner. I already have a backup of this one for when I run out, because I never want to be without it!

-Urban Decay lip liner in "ozone" . The transparent clear can be paired with any lip color, so it's more versatile than buying a lip pencil to match every lip color you wear. I use it to line outside of my lips to prevent feathering, and also all-over my lips to lock the colors I apply in place. After applying to the lips, I use a small lip brush to blend it all over so that my lip color applies smoothly on top of it.(I love the Real Techniques lip brushes!)

-NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer: this concealer is wonderful! Since it is creamy, it doesn't accentuate my dry patches. It covers blemishes and redness very well.

-Maybelline a Color Tattoo "Bad to the Bronze": This makes such a great bronze eyeshadow base. After applying eyeshadow primer, I apply this, then blend it in well, and place powder shadows on top of it. Sometimes, I wear the Color Tattoos on their own too. I haven't purchased a single MAC Paint Pot since I switched to these because these are much better quality, at a more  affordable price!

-Smashbox "Full Exposure" mascara sample. I honestly hate this mascara sample, and would not recommend it. It doesn't really lengthen, volumize, or define my lashes, and it flakes off entirely too easily. When this mascara flakes, it irritates my eyes. There are far less pricy items available in the drugstore that make my lashes look much better. I was just trying to use this sample up to not be wasteful. I layered it with "The Rocket" from Maybelline.

-Benefit, "Bella Bomba" lipgloss mini. I LOVE the lip glosses from Benefit! When they had a Christmas set of minis a while back, I wasted no time getting it since I already loved the full sized tube I had of, "Dandelion" and knew I liked the other colors as well. These are beautiful. They apply smoothly, and are never sticky or tacky. These look lovely on their own, or topped over another color. Highly recommend them! (They taste great too!)

-Benefit, "The Porefessional" primer. This primer is just "ok" for me. I've gone through several free samples of it that have come in various kits and palettes. It works well and definitely makes my makeup last longer, but I feel there are better primers on the market. So, I wouldn't purchase a full size of this, but I'm thankful for the sample. I prefer the Becca Resurfacing Primer because it does a much better job of camouflaging the larger pores on my nose and chin, and seems to apply more smoothly with my foundation and other makeup.

*I hope this picture inspires those of you who love makeup to create a fun new look today, and to shop the stash of makeup that you maybe already have at home. It's fun to try out those samples and mini products and see which ones you wind up loving! Every week I like to go through and pull any minis and free samples I have and use then up, so that's why you're seeing a few smaller items here.*

Thursday Thoughts: Post 4th Musings

Powerful thought as we pass the 4th of July celebrations. It's important to remember our history as a nation, and what occurred between then and now. It always makes me sad when I reflect on the people who truly founded this beautiful place, and what heartache they endured. | My moms side has a little Cherokee, so I've always had mixed feelings about celebrating certain holidays, without also fully acknowledging what else went on during those times as well. All history has both a good and bad side to it, and we shouldn't pick and chose what we share and teach. The sacrifices of so many shouldn't be forgotten while we selectively celebrate other lives and enjoy our fireworks and flags. 

I'm very thankful for where I live; we are richly blessed by the sacrifice of many, many brave lives that made to make it what it is today: home. Amazing people from all walks of life have had a hand in the freedoms we celebrate now, even when their own freedoms were sacrificed. The best way to honor our ancestors, is to acknowledge their existence and the roles they played in shaping our nation. Part of progressing forward involves also reflecting backwards and learning from history. (This really isn't just a US post; all over the world, civilizations have repeated the same scenarios over and over for thousands of years.) Sacrifices shouldn't be forgotten, and one creed shouldn't be put above another. What some think was a nation founded on religious freedom, was actually one  founded on the bloodshed and slavery of innocent lives. We should acknowledge their sacrifices as well in our celebrations. 

Saturday Musings: Pericles, History, Politics

This was supposed to be posted under, "Thursday Thoughts" but after a look at my recent posts, I realized I had it saved as a draft instead of publishing it. So, here is what I wanted to share with you today. I hope it challenges you to research, from various sources, and learn more about the things going on in our world today. 

So thought provoking, and accurate. Pericles knew well, even in his time how true this statement was. Centuries later, it is still highly applicable. When we stop caring and turn a blind eye to the things happening around us; when we allow people in our government to commit crimes in our name without questioning them...we are just as guilty as they are. Often times the people who become complacent and don't take a a stand against corruption, become the very ones who are affected the most by it. Always question, always research. It is ok to change your mind on topics the more you mature and grow. I certainly have changed my mind on so many things, even over the past few years alone. Your entire life is a learning process. I think the best place to start would be to learn from what's already occurred in our history.

Friday Favorites and Fails!

❤️It's time for Friday Favorites! Below are a few random things that I'm currently enjoying, as well as one fail item to avoid.❤️

                      ~Favorites~

1. Organic Coconut Oil! We use coconut oil for just about everything in our home!  We use it for everything from cooking, sautéing vegetables, and topping air-popped popcorn, to beauty (hair mask, base for homemade deodorants, moisturizer for skin, eye make remover, etc). This product is such a handy item to  to keep in your cabinets. I keep a jar in my kitchen for cooking only, and a separate jar in our bathroom for beauty/everyday use. To keep the shared jar more hygienic, we keep a container of small plastic ice cream scoops near it so that we aren't putting our hands into the jar we both share. (You can find the ice cream scoops at Target near the disposable utensils and plates.) We also really love to use coconut oil to oil pull for our teeth. We just swish it in our mouths for 20 minutes daily as a rinse, then spit it into the waste basket so it doesn't clog the drains. This is easy to do while you're taking a shower or folding laundry, just set a timer! We do this in addition to regular dental visits, as well as brushing and flossing lie teeth; this is just an additional step we take in our dental care to help keep our mouths healthy. My dentist recommended oil pulling a while back as a safe, natural treatment for sensitivity. I was very sceptical about it initially, but after the second day I was hooked, and have been oil pulling for months now. Even Nick does as well since curiosity got the best of him! Since I've been oil pulling, I've noticed a massive improvement in my dental health and overall reduced sensitivity. I will devote a post soon to that topic! :) 

I typically find good organic, cold-pressed coconut oils at shops like Homegoods, for an affordable price. 

2.On the note of Homegoods, I am in love with this tiny little berry strainer! It's difficult to tell from the picture, but the base of it fits in the palm of my hands, has two little handles, and a solid metal build. I found it for under $5 at Homegoods, and I am shocked by how much use I get from it. I use it every single day! It seems to be made very well so far, and is perfect for people who enjoy fresh fruit. Since I use it so often, I hand wash ours. To store, I keep a little Command Hook inside of our cabinet doors, and it fits perfectly on there when not in use. 

3. Clear, over-the-door shoe organizers. We use these throughout our home and they are such a simple, cost-effective way to organize products you use often and want easy access to. Just to give you ideas, I've included a few pictures of how we use ours. The left side contains household items that we keep in our hallway closet. The middle organizer goes on the back of our master bathroom door and has things like: floss, sunscreen, air freshner, moisturizers, soaps, etc. The organizer on the right goes inside of our spare  bedroom closet, and we use it for things like: stationary, envelopes, and other office supplies. You can use these organizers for just about anything from shoes, scarves, and undergarments, to home and health items. We have some in our crate room that I use to store pet products and grooming tools in. These also fit well inside of a pantry for small packets of food items and sauces. If you get one with four hooks, you can carefully cut it down the center and use it on smaller doors. Amazon always organizers like these for reasonable prices on their website. These make excellent, budget-friendly storage solutions! (If you have little ones, they are also good for storing bottles and nipples, bibs, wipes, and things of that nature. I have a girlfriend who uses one like that for her little one.)

4. Brookstone's Genuine Fom Fun Pillows. As you can tell, these are a hit at our home! Even Ranger loves them, and steals mine every opportunity he gets. In high school, my friend gave me my very first Fom pillow from Brookstone. It was a cute pink one, and I've been hooked ever since! Seriously, I have used it daily! Out of curiosity a few weeks ago, I looked online, and low and behold Brookstone was offering them again, so I wasted no time ordering two new ones. I still have my original pink Fom too, but after well over a decade of use, it's seen better days, so I was pleased to have two new ones. These are small, squishy pillows that are perfect for traveling, or home use. These are especially wonderful if you like a small pillow for neck support like I do.  They are also great for stress-relief as they have tiny microbeads that are fun to mindlessly squish around, like a stress ball. (On that note though, I wouldn't recommend giving one of these pillows to a small child or young animals because if the pillow tears and the small beads get loose, that could pose a choking hazard.)

5. African Violets and Ivy. I'm loving having these fun pops of color thoughout our home! If you're wondering, I fill the sink with water and place them in the standing water for a bit to water them that way. They will stay healthier and live longer if you water them from the roots, vs pouring water on top of them. 

That wraps up my Friday Favorites this week! I do have one Friday Fail that I wanted to include. This is the Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer. I received this a while back in a free Target beauty bag give-away. This is a sizable sample and a solid container. My compliments really end there though. It has a bit of an odd chemical scent to it, that made it unpleasant to use. After using this several times, I noticed my skin looking a bit dull from it, and that I also had a few blemishes coming up in areas where I had applied it. It was also not moisturizing enough for dry patches on my face to really feel hydrated and smooth. So, taking that all into account, I can't recommend this moisturizer. 

WiggleButt Wednesday

For WiggleButt Wednesday, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pictures from this past year. 

This was taken from this past Easter. Since we were on a blogging hiatus at the time, I thought I'd share the cuteness now! :)

Ranger & Mykelti

All three senior kitties are doing well too.

The Aussies share the same birthday, exactly one year apart, January 27th. This was taken on Ranger's 4th & Mykelti's 3rd birthdays. 

Best buddies! 

Skillet Sunday: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Homemade spaghetti sauce. 🍝 |

What you'll need:

~ 8 vine ripened tomatoes

-3/4 carton of cherry tomatoes

-fresh basil, cilantro, parsley, & thyme (about 1-2 TBSP each)

-chili powder

-Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

-Louisiana hot sauce,

-4-5 cloves of garlic

-1 small white onion

-2 TBSP brown sugar (cuts acidity)

-sea salt, oregano, and black peppercorn. 

Directions:

Sauté onions and garlic in EVOO, then add meat. Brown 1lb ground sirloin (or turkey) in EVOO. Blend/pulse the sauce ingredients together in a processor, then pour over the browned meat. Cover and let simmer for at least 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. (40 minutes+ will give it more flavor, so I recommend simmering longer.). Prepare whatever pasta you prefer while your sauce simmers, then serve and enjoy! You can top with fresh grated parmesean, basil, & peppercorn if you like!

This sauce pairs well with Zoodles too! I typically use a spiralizer to make zucchini noodles with our sauce since it's a good, tasty way to sneak in extra vegetables into your meal. If you want to serve with Zoodles, spiralizer a zucchini (one small zucchini per person), the sautee in large pan with a small amount of EVOO, fresh herbs, and seasonings of your choosing, until al dente. 🍝🍝🍝 

Option 1: with pasta

This is also an incredible sauce to pair with Zoodles! (Spiralized zucchini noodles.) 

Option 2: with Zoodles

New Posting Schedule

New Posting Schedule

• Monday: Makeup Mondays. I'll be devoting Mondays to one of my favorite topics: Makeup! Brace yourself for some colorful, fun swatches and pictures! This will be an opportunity to provide you with honest, endorsement-free reviews that will be straight-froward and tell you if I think a product is worth the hype, or a complete flop! I will also include topics like choosing value products vs poor quantity, drugstore dupes for high-end products, organizing your collection, low-buys, decluttering your old makeup, etc.

• Tuesday: Tea & Tunes Tuesday. This will be the day devoted to my tea obsession...err addiciton! I will take you through reviews of my favorite tea varieties, share steeping information, reviews on various brands, and flavor notes. While you're learning about these wonderful drinks, I will also share with you the music I'm currently enjoying!

• Wednesday: WiggleButt Wednesday: This is the day I will devote to all things fluffy! A fun time for sharing all of the cute pictures of our furbabies. I will also use this as a day to cover topics such as: training, safety, handling, grooming, diet, and Therapy work topics as well.

• Thursday: Thursday Thoughts: This will be a day for sharing whatever is on my mind. It will cover a range of topics from politics, and ethics, to poetry, health, humor, and religion. In the past year alone, I have awakened a bit and drastically changed my view on many things both politically, and personally. I've also gone though a lot of recent medical struggles, so I may share some of that in my posts. I find it a gift to provoke others positively to think and inspire creative ideas and resolutions in our homes, communities, and around the globe. I feel this is a good format to have positive, honest thought-provoking discussions. Understanding everyone may have different opinions, feel free to weigh in on discussions, but do please keep the comments tasteful and kind. Nobody likes a bully. 

• Friday: Friday Favorites & Fails! This will be an opportunity to share with my readers the things that I'm enjoying! Anything from household items, hair care, and bodycare, to books, kitchen gadgets, candles, restaurants, or movies! This is a day to rave about what I'm loving, or rant about a disappointing product.

•  Saturday: This will be the day that I do not blog on, so I can enjoy a little down time. If the mood strikes however, I may use it as an alternate day for random posts that I want to share! This includes things like like Home Decor, DIY's, Pinterest items I've made, comics, or other crafts.

• Sunday: Skillet Sundays: Brace yourselves for some delicious recipes! Sundays will be devoted to some of my favorite recipes and kitchen tips! 

*I may change the names of the topics for each day to something more catchy, but hopefully you get the general idea of what to expect with this new posting schedule! Tomorrow I will be posting a quick "year in review" to catch everyone up to speed about my life lately!* 

Since life can be busy at times, I may skip a few posts here and there, but for the most part, this is the schedule I will try to stick with for posting. :) 

Back to Blogging!

"Where have you been?"

This is a question I keep seeing pop up in blog messages, as well as on my YouTube channel. For my faithful subscribers that have stuck with me: Thank you for your patience. I greatly appreciate your kindness. Just to clarify:

I am ok! 

Since my last post, life has been a bit of a whirlwind! There have been many wonderful positives, and also, few negatives as well. Due to health concerns, my home being broken into (and a subsequent move), surgeries, as well as the desire for a bit more privacy, I felt it best to simplify things for a period of time and take a break from select social media. This break included both my blog and YouTube channel. This was a difficult decision as I genuinely enjoy blogging and filming. Both are fun outlets that allows me a chance to positively channel my creativity and interact with others that share similar interests. 

Sometimes, life can become hectic and overwhelming though. I've found it so important to listen to my body and know when it's best to take a step back and slow down for a while. Life is just too short to feel burnt out, and to watch your passions turning into mundane chores, instead of something you look forward to. For me, avoiding the latter from happening meant that I needed to take a bit of a break so I could come back refreshed, and excited to post again, when I was ready. I'm so happy to be back and to start creating fun new content!

So much has happened since my last post, so I will dedicate a post soon to recap a bit of what's been going on in the past year. For now, the plan is to delve into a regular posting schedule that is more predictable! Even though I took a break from blogging, I continued taking pictures..lots of them! So, I have quite a few pictures saved up for some great future blog posts, including recipes, reviews, and DIY's! I plan to revamp this blog and make it more interactive and fun, with weekly features! (More on that later.) I'm also planning to make the page itself more easy to navigate by categorizing my posts so you can quickly search for topics that hold your interest. Since this is a lifestyle blog that I cover various topics in, I've decided on a posting schedule to keep the blog posts interesting, and also give readers something to look forward to! My next post will be a blog schedule, so you lovely readers can know when to expect content during the week.

So let's pick up where we last left off, shall we?!

-My last blog post was in April of 2013, before my home was broken into.  It was a post dedicated to my beautiful late grandmother, Nannie (Mary Dell). As I am writing my current post, I am saddened update that my other lovely grandmother, Granny (Ruth) passed away recently, on Mother's Day. It has been a heartbreaking time for our family. It has also become a time for reflection and personal growth. These beautiful women played such wonderful roles in my life, and impacted me in ways that I will always cherish. I feel that I can pay their life-lessons and kindness forward by sharing my passions with others, and allowing their legacies to live on. So, what better time than now to revamp my passion a bit and restart this blog! I hope you'll join me again on my blogging journey and let me know what sort of posts you would enjoy seeing. 

As always, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to read my blog. I hope it will inspire you to create and thrive in your own life! 

Just a side note I felt I should address: Eventually, I hope to revamp my YouTube channel as well. For the time being however, I will be blogging exclusively as I am too ill to film right now.

If Heaven wasn't so far away...

Nannie and I in 2008. 

Not a day passes that I don't wish I could pick up the phone and talk to her or give her a huge hug. 

This morning my heart is really aching for my precious grandparents that are now in Heaven. I'm miss them so much it hurts! I have so many incredible memories with them, yet it's just never enough; I'd give anything to see them again and hold them in my arms one last time. My life is blessed for having had them in it. They taught me so much in the short time that I had with them. I will forever cherish their memories. 

Hug your loved ones just a little tighter the next time you see them. Life is just too short and fleeting.

This song from Justin Moore really sums up my feelings early this morning. 

"Losing them wouldn't be so hard to take if Heaven wasn't so far away."...

She's Gonna Make It - Garth Brooks Cover

Those of you who follow my blog may have seen me post other videos from James David Carter. He is an talented musician, and I really adore his original music as well as his covers. I especially love his take on one of my favorite Garth Brooks songs, "She's Gonna Make It". Hope you enjoy!

BirchBox Review! (March 2013)

This month's review for the March BirchBox is up now! Go check it out!

(I haven't filmed a review in a while because I've had tonsillitis. It's nice to be back to filming!)

For those of you interested in a BirchBox of your own, you can visit www.birchbox.com. Boxes are $10 a month and each box includes around five deluxe beauty samples. I think it's a great way to try out more expensive beauty items before committing to a larger purchase, so that you can be sure you really love a product! 

The items included in this month's BirchBox: 

-Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don't Stray (FS $26)

-Caldrea Body Lotion (Tea Olive Lime, Aloe Water Apricot, Coconut Fig) (FS: $22)

-Evologie Intensive Blemish Serum (FS: $35)

-Wish Shave Crave Shaving Cream in Blueberry (FS : $20)

-Madewell for Birchbox Emery Board ($5)

Life

Hair-larity!

This video never fails to crack me up! Her reaction to her hair snafu is just hilarious!

 Poor girl...poor hair! I have a feeling that the hair fiasco was the result of combining a product with a high alcohol content (Tresemme "Split Remedy") and the highest heat setting on her curling wand.