99 Problems and my blog ain't one... Twitter is.

Not really, BUT SERIOUSLY...

Photo credit

This is my 99th blog post, and I am rapidly approaching my 1 year Blogiversary! I am so happy I decided to start my blog. It is such a challenge and I had no idea the amount of dedication it takes, but I am glad I have stuck to it this far and hopefully many more years :)

So, I am just now getting around the twitter-sphere and I am having some time maneuvering through it. I am not a facebook person, only IG and Pinterest, along with Twitter now. My daughter and husband are still giving me a hard time that I have been so electronically inept.I do not even have a tweet up yet, and to be honest might not until I learn the ropes, it seems fun and I will get there I just need some time.

You can find me here, just be patient with this old soul...

I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

Chat Soon!

Good Hair Day.

Good Morning-

I am extremely happy it is Wednesday up in here! Aside from my day already being wonderful because I woke up, have a wonderful family, loving husband, and nothing to complain about...

So I thought today I could talk about my hair... this hair on my head means so much to me. I typically take forever to get my hair colored, highlighted, and cut. I do this, because, I have such a hard time trusting anyone with my hair.I end up cutting it myself and only getting it highlighted once every year or so (natural highlights). My girlfriend and I talk about the window of time (1-2) weeks that you cut your hair, it takes to get used to styling it. My mom and I had made an Ulta run this weekend and I bought a Hot Tools- Gold Curling Iron ,I decided to give my tapered curling wand a break. That is where it has stopped working, until today. 

I decided I was going to try soft curls with 3 inches chopped off my hair and a my new tool. IT WORKED! 

Anyways, this is what happens when you have a good hair day...

You take tons of selfies :) Well, only three made the cut but there were close to 20 shots that I erased.

Just wanted to show off a good hair day :0

Chat Soon

 

Weekend Happenings...

This weekend was spent:

Shopping for beauty supplies, little ones basketball tournament, cooking and eating, watching football, and spending time with my loves...

Ring//Butter-London cuticle oil// Naked2 Palette// L'occitane

Mom and Boyd// Us// Fancy car service//#30 woop woop

breakfast//Homemade whipped cream//homemade strawberry cheesecake// roasted salmon//roasted veggies//quinoa

pears and mandarin's// new skull decor

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend, and a tremendous week!

Chat soon

It's a FAKE...

So, I have been without my wedding set for almost 24 hours now... I am going batty!

 6.00 ring...

It started Sunday, my mom had gone to upgrade her center diamond and called to tell me three of her prongs were missing... she was lucky she had not lost a diamond. That trigger a fear inside to check my own precious ring. So I soaked my ring in baking soda and dawn, gave it a scrub and poked it with a toothpick... SOME DIAMONDS WERE MOVING! 

Now, it has been on my to-do list for 4 years to get my rings together.. so I dropped it off yesterday to be: Re-dipped ,solder my rings together, diamonds tightened.

When I dropped it off she let me know that I was lucky to have brought it in when I did, but she also reminded me that when I pick my ring up that it will be a "brand new ring". I cannot wait! She also offered the knowledge up to me that I could "trade- in" my ring... it seems like a great deal...I would essentially be able to get a ring double the size of mine for the value of my ring subtracted.  I smiled and thought for two seconds, hmm, great deal. Then I looked at her and said, no thank you, I will never, ever trade my ring it. It means too much to me. She looked at my ring and told me she does not see many rings like mine anymore.

And you know what, you don't. I have had more elderly women compliment my ring, than I have ever had a woman my age. It is very classic style and I love it dearly. I had a patient,years ago, in his 80's, tell me if his wife were around she would appreciate my ring, it was her style, but she had passed away. I thought that was incredibly sweet that my ring was able to trigger a sweet memory :)

I typically do not take my ring off for any reason, I feel incomplete and even had to buy a cheap-o ring to keep from panicking when I cannot feel it.I get my ring back in two days, Thursday on lunch I will go to pick it up... I am so excited.

So last night...

I was laying in bed, next to my love, thinking of the pain my arm was in from my flu shot.

I always am one to pray daily, when things get tough, when I am down,up, sideways, anytime. When I pray, this is also my time I talk to my dad too. I like to pretend they are sitting right next to each other, my dad has just finished his day of golf or fishing. As always, I am grateful that I have been blessed with such a full life.

What I prayed for last night, I do not typically pray for... but I needed to.

I asked that I please be directed or have help finding the direction I am destined to take for mine and my families lives. I asked (in a joking manner) if there were any signs I was missing, something I was not quite doing, or if I was blinding myself from things that I need to focus more on. I do not actually anticipate to see any real signs, or hear a voice, nothing to that effect. I know it is my duty to pray, put my faith in the lord, and know that whatever happens, has happened for a reason.

Then this morning, I get into my car, turn on the radio, and the first song playing, is one song that, when I hear it instantly triggers my dads memories. I see his face immediately. I rarely hear this song, and to be honest I can say I have not heard the song in years. As I initially smiled, thinking, Hello Dad. The lyrics seemed to be screaming at me, screaming in the most peaceful way, like I needed to hear them... As I listened, my eyes fogged over... this was a sign. I had jokingly said "If there is a sign", and god wanted me to know he does put signs up for you, you might not be paying attention.

The song is : 

Shine

written by:  Collective Soul

Here are the lyrics:

Give me a word

Give me a sign

Show me where to look

Tell me what will I find

What will I find?

Lay me on the ground

Fly me in the sky

Show me where to look

Tell me what will I find

What will I find?

Yea, yea, yea

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Love is in the water

Love is in the air

Show me where to look

Tell me will love be there

Love be there

Teach me how to speak

Teach me how to share

Teach me where to go

Tell me will love be there

Love be there

Yea, yea, yea

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Give me a word

Give me a sign

Show me where to look

Tell me what will I find

What will I find?

Lay me on the ground

Fly me in the sky

Show me where to look

Tell me what will I find

What will I find?

Yea, yea, yea

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

Oh, Heaven let your light shine down

I'm gonna let it shine

I'm gonna let it shine

Heaven's little light gonna shine on me

Hey, hey, Heaven's little light gonna shine on me

Shine, shine on me

Shine, come on and shine.

Now, I know that you can google the true meaning of that song and it might not relate to what I am talking about. For me though, I know, this was god letting me know that... he and my dad are right there, watching over me.  I am not missing anything.

Chat Soon.

Hard work and the Rewards...

This has been on my mind a lot lately,

I wanted to talk a little about hard work today, Cesar and I have been really determined to make a happy, comfortable life for Alexandria, and the two of us. We do not have tons of fancy things... but we do have we work very hard for. We have love, always- but, I will be honest... we will have those things, all the things we want, because we will work for every bit of it. We have already been able to show Alexandria that it is not LUCK, it is hard work, dedication, and faith in god that will help/allow you to accomplish your dreams. We went from living in a garage room, just us two... to gaining full custody of A, having no where to call our own, all within three months, and no idea what we would do.... but we did it, it is never easy, but we will make sure to count our blessings,thank god, and I can thank my husband for always providing for me.  

Now...

So, my wonderful mother has worked her tail end off my entire life. She is one of the most driven women; and I am incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful mother, best friend, and mentor. Seriously, my mom did the whole single mother thing, sacrificed everything for my little brother and I, done it all. I have always looked up to her and knew that she was working ALL THE TIME to better our lives.Then things changed when she met my step-dad, he is someone else who I know I can look up to in all aspects of life and really value his opinion,too .When my father passed away and prior to that, Boyd has loved me like his own child. 

When they met we obviously integrated well as a family, and I grew up watching how hard they both worked, but also seeing the opportunities they were able to enjoy after all the sacrifices early on. All I can say is THEY DESERVE IT,every bit. I have seen people assume they deserve things from both my mother and step-dad because they have made something of themselves, and marriage. I think that is wrong. period. They are two of the kindest people in the world, and would do anything to help people in need... but, they have done it all on their own. My step father was a single dad raising two children on his own, while working a full time job and going to night school,  he graduated and he has been a success ever since.

I say that, to follow with how humbled they are, they are so humble that I would like to show off two of their new toys for them... I have had hesitation on posting about the cars, I am sure there are people who will find this tacky, but they can kiss it... Mom and Step-dad deserve every bit of this.

I keep joking with my mom when we meet for lunch, I called off the paparazzi before, for her to not worry about them following us...

stylin' momma

Yes, that is a giant Texas flag painted on their garage wall, go big or go home.

Anyways, I am incredibly proud of the two of them and really just wanted to show an example of hard work paying off... 

Do not ever give up!

Chat soon

DIY Acne Face Mask

I do not typically have skin issues like acne, but I do have very oily skin. I have been working to do the DIY's on my Pinterest page and so far, I have loved every DIY  attempted. It helps that I have been working on stocking up the groceries required for Natural beauty remedies, and/or  the essential oils to dabble with hair and skin masks.

I found this recipe to eliminate blackheads and/or minimize pores.

Ingredients: 

Tbsp. honey

Tbsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp. ground nutmeg

Mix well, slather on your face, wait 15 minutes... Wah Lah. Soft and smooth. 

It looks horrible when you rub it on, smells delicious, if you accidentally eat it, you will want to ask your husband to lick your face :) I asked, and he declined.. it was a visual thing ...

I just though I could share this quick mask idea, if you are bored and have these three ingredients handy... try it out. It will make your pretty little face so silky smooth.

I hope you all have been able to enjoy your week so far, it is hump day after all!

Chat soon.

That one time...

You know when something is not quite balanced and you compensate with food, oh you don't? Well I do.

Husband and I got our new Kitchen Aid mixer, and this little lady made her first FROM SCRATCH: cookies and biscuits! I know,I know, I was incredibly proud too. Now, I also realize that the two things I have prepared are simple recipes that I pulled from Pinterest, but the sense of accomplishment was so fun! 

We made two trips to Kroger and Central Market and spent well enough on baking goods to last at least a batches of whatever we choose. Cesar made Chicken Parmesan ., stuffed banana peppers, smothered steaks, and A's favorite: Spaghetti con crema.

There was a lot of food being cooked in our house this weekend, and it was the best.

I have a horrible case of the Monday's today, I hope I can cheer up more! I had lunch with my momma today, that helped... just ready to be with my sweet A and C. Family love always helps.

Chat soon!

Family Pictures

End of November we decided to do our first family shots, in eight years of being a family... (I know, I know)

I am really pleased with how they turned out, I wanted to share a few personal favorites with you.

I am so happy it is Friday, I plan on doing a whole lot of nothing for the remainder of the weekend, with the exception of socialize with my husband, child, and kitties. I feel like we have been going-going-going so much lately we have not had the chance to catch up on some much needed rest and relaxation. Cesar and I will be making home made cookies with our new Kitchen-aid mixer, watch movies, I will be drinking vino and relaxing. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and are able to do something you enjoy.

Chat soon.

A few of my favorite things...

Hello there, Happy New Year! All I can say is, Bring it 14.

 I will not be making any resolutions this year, I typically will not. What I will be doing is, loving myself more, not taking life too seriously (in moderation), grow even more in love with my wonderful husband, and make sure that A knows we are always there for her. There are many other things I could pressure myself into doing, but I feel like we live the lives we want to live already, I love my life and can only think to improve little things :)

Now, three of the four things are items that, I myself, love.

Number four, is a very far wish I found at Nieman's this weekend.. they are calling  my name.

1. Pistachio chocolate truffles- Honestly, these are the best. They are very rich so you can really only eat one and no more. (no link) sorry.

2. Voluspa Japonica mini Anthropologie candle candle- for ten dollars you cannot honestly pass up these heavenly scented candles.

3.L'occitane Almond Shower Oil- Disclaimer: This oil has honestly changed my life. This is the most wonderful shave gel/body wash ever. My girlfriend told me it would change my world, and it literally has.. I shave more than once a week now :)

4. I found these bad boys at Neiman Marcus Last Call, but I cannot locate them online. Seriously, I have never loved a pair of shoes like these....So, if you would like to donate 475.00 to the Beautiful Loafer Cause, I will get them myself. If not, I will make sure and find a great replica :)

I was not sure on what to post today, I did not get many pictures of New Years or do anything spectacular, didn't take any super cute glitter pictures, or wear a frilly skirt, so this will have to do :)

Chat Soon.