GO CATS!

TIME TO PARTY LIKE IT'S 1998!

The Kentucky Wildcats (my alma mater) are going to the FINAL FOUR!  This is the first time since we won the championship in 1998.  Couldn't be happier!  Well... I guess I could be happier if plane tickets to Houston were less than $1300!  Seriously?!

Who is the idiot wearing red????

What I Love Wednesday

I love my family.

Family picture at my sister, Leann's wedding in December 2010.  The people in the picture include my mom and dad, sisters/brothers and their families. 

God could not have blessed me more!  The loss of my mom was devastating, but knowing that I am not going this alone is a comfort.  I will always have someone to call (day or night), always have someone to cry with and someone to reminisce with.  

We cried a lot the past few weeks, but we also laughed a lot.  Never a dull moment with a family of this size!  My mom did a great job taking care of us all these years and also taught us how to take care of each other.  We just didn't know how much we were capable of until now.  I think my mom would be proud. :)

Heaven has a new angel

Yesterday (3.16.11), God called my mom home.  She fought a battle with cancer for 4.5 years and is now at peace. 

She was such a great mom and was loved my many, many people.  Her favorite hobby was to dance and I know she is dancing away in heaven right now. 

Dog days...

Lucie had a friend over this weekend... an older, male friend.  His name is Willie and he is quite the charmer.

 

He took over Lucie's big bed and Lucie slept on the smaller one... the things a girl does for love.

Beauty Must Haves

My husband is not feeling well tonight, so we are staying in and watching "Unstoppable".  It isn't my kind of movie, so I decided to blog.

Jason: "What are you writing about?"

Me: "My favorite beauty products."

Jason: "That must be a long list because you have a lot of favorites."

Well, yes I do... and here they are.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - say goodbye to creases and color fading and hello to all day, high-impact eye color!

I have been using Latisse for approx 4 months and it works!  My eyelashes are dramatically long!  It's expensive, but worth it!

OPI "Baby It's Coal Outside" - for special occasions/winter.

OPI "Cajun Shrimp" or "OPI On Collins Ave" for Summer

OPI "Privacy Please" for every day wear.

Bath & Body Works Orange Ginger Aromotherapy Shampoo/Conditioner - When we go on vacations, sometimes this is the shampoo available at the hotels, so when I use it at home it reminds me of being on vacation.

This is an absolute must have!  Makes skin smooth and flawless... best at-home skin treatment for minor blemishes and pore cleansing.

No more spider-lashes!

Joico Body Luxe Design Foam - I have fine hair and this helps give it a little umph!

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow In Slate (Grayish Color) - it doesn't crease and is a good neutral everyday color.

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Fragrance

C.O. Bigelow "My Favorite Lip Balm" - you can find this at Bath & Body Works.  My lips are very sensitive to most lip sticks and glosses, but I have had no problem with this one.   It is clear and adds a bit of gloss, but not too goopy.  They also make mint flavored and tinted.

Recently, I learned about BirchBox, a service where you can get deluxe beauty samples sent to you each month for $10 monthly membership.  It is on my birthday wish list this year!  Here is the website if you are interested... 

http://www.birchbox.com/ 

Anyone care to share their beauty must haves????

10 Signs The Economy Is On The Upswing

I found this bit of information in a daily newsletter called Cable Spots.  Pretty interesting!  I hope it's true what everyone says and that the economy is getting back on track!

10 Signs the Economy is on the Upswing

1. The National Restaurant Association says people are splurging on desserts again.
2. Since July 2010, Internet searches for the words "unemployment benefits", "unemployment office" or "social security" has been trending down.
3. Starbucks' net revenue fell 6%  in 2009 and rose 9.5% in 2010.  When times are tight, consumers cut the luxuries, like Starbucks.
4. It's a fact that everything arrives in a box.  More consumption, more boxes.  There's a measure of bulk shipping costs called The Baltic Dry Index and it hit a 22 year low in December 2008.  It's been on the rise for a while.  And orders for durable goods (which arrives in boxes) have climbed in the past few months.
5. When times get tough, men keep their underwear longer.  Sales were off 2.5% in 2009 but have stabilized.
6. In the big cities, the cab is the way to go, but folks have taken to walking or public transportation... until now.  Things are picking up for cabbies, and car sales too.
7. During the recession golfers left the clubs in the garage, but those declining numbers stopped in 2010 and in the Mid-Atlantic and New England, increased.
8. Vanity is back.  The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says 13 million went under the knife last year in search of the perfect look.
9. Casinos took a big hit, dropping nearly 10% from 2007, but "the house" will rise about 3% this year.
10. Divorce lawyers are very busy these days.  The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers says business for its members was off 37% in 2008 and 57% in 2009.  Apparently it's not a good time to buy out your partners' other half during a recession.

The past few years have been pretty tough, especially since I work on commission.  Luckily, in my business, hard work pays off and for all the things I lack (athletic ability, interest in domestic duties, etc.), I make up for in hard-work. 

One sign my financial state is improving...

I PAID OFF MY CAR THIS MONTH!!!

Taken the night I bought it 6/22/10.  2010 Honda Fit