Favorite Products

Last night, when I was taking off my makeup and getting ready for bed, I started thinking about all of the products I use on a daily basis and which ones I would not want to live without. 

You see, I have a bit of a problem with beauty products.  I find something I like and use it forever and ever and then add a few more things in along the way.  For example, I currently use 5 different products on my hair per day.  It's quite ridiculous, really and I promise I'm not really that high-maintenance.

Starting off the list of things I don't want to live without...

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap in Mild

 

I've used this product religiously for about three years.  I like it so much that I have a bottle by my sink to use at night and another bottle in the shower for morning use.  I can't go to bed without using this to remove my makeup.

 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

 

I've used both the gel and the lotion.  Right now, my face is extremely dry from some topical medication I'm using, so I'd go with copious amounts of the lotion.  This product doesn't seem to cause breakouts and definitely helps to make my makeup go on smoother.

 

Now, getting into makeup...

Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen

 

I thought this product was a little silly when it was recommended to me at the Laura Mercier counter.  However, I was amazed at how much more resilient my eyeshadow and eyeliner are after using this product.  I've had a problem with my eyeliner appearing at the top of my eyelid in the past and this prevents this from happening.  It's also great to use on days that you don't want full eye makeup.  It almost acts like a very neutral shadow and works perfectly with eyeliner and mascara alone.

 

Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

 

This is a fairly new product for me since I've only been using it for about two weeks, but so far, so good!  I've been using a black liquid liner with a navy pencil on top for about a year.  I like that the black line helps to emphasize my lashes while the navy accentuates the color of my eyes.  This liner is very easy to apply (even for people with somewhat unsteady hands like me!) and lasts all day.  Like I said above, I don't sleep in makeup, but I think this could make it through the night if I tried it.

 

Next up...hair products...

 

Tresseme Tres Two Extra Hold Hairspray



 

This is one product I do not ever leave the house without.  I personally use enough hairspray annually to be responsible for a new hole in the ozone layer directly above Brentwood, Tennessee!  I've used this particular hairspray since college.  It keeps my bangs in place without feeling crunchy or sticky like I remember from the hairspray Grams used.  It's also pretty inexpensive and often on sale at CVS.  I got two cans for $7 this past weekend at CVS and would have bought two more for the extra care bucks (ECBs) had they had more in stock. This is one of the things I stockpile since I cannot go to work without a good spray to my hair.

 

Tressemme 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse

 

This is another must-have any time I blow out my hair and is also something I have used since college.  I have very fine, very straight hair and if I do not use this product, it will lay completely flat against my head.  Again, this mousse is often on sale and I snag it whenever I can since I can't go to work without using it!

 

 

 

Well, those are the most essential products I use every day.  I also use Laura Mercier Luminizing Primer, Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer and foundation in combination with Bare Minerals powder foundation.  The combination of a dab of tinted moisturizer thins the foundation and I've found that I need the lighter moisturizer combined with the slightly darker foundation to mix a better shade for my complexion.  Bare Minerals foundation is a good product to blend out any remaining imperfections and to cover up any shinyness.

 

Now that I've made public how much I like beauty products, let me know what your favorites are.  I'm always up for trying something new!



 





What a week!

It's been a ridiculous week and its only Wednesday night. I'm afraid if the rest of the week continues on this trend. The first part of the week was busy, but fun. The rest of the week has been busy, but not remotely fun. Here's the recap...

I went to Florence for the weekend and stayed through Monday. I took full advantage of my day off and crammed as much as possible in to that day. 

First, I had a dentist appointment. I cannot stand the dentist. I guess it's from all the teeth I had pulled as a child and two oral surgeries. If you know me, you wouldn't believe that I really have a small mouth! 

After the dentist, I visited some friends at my favorite clothing boutique where I might have snagged a few sale items! Then, I took Mom to the eye doctor and then we met Dad for lunch at Sam's Sports Grille (a new restaurant in Florence). 

Afterwards, I spent some time with Grandaddy before going to church. We had a concert that night and I went early to help prepare for it. The concert finally arrived and went well, but then my purse was locked in the choir office. I was having a panic attack until my friend Becky pulled out a spare key from her purse. I don't know what I would have done otherwise! 

Then, I had to start the trek back to Nashville. Needless to say, I was exhausted when I finally got to my house about eleven o'clock!

Tuesday was fun, but only on #OppositeDay. I had a sinus headache when I woke up, so I went in to work late. When I got to work, I quickly became overwhelmed in a huge project that had to be done ASAP. I ended up staying until 10PM, but I didn't finish. I was completely emotionally drained after struggling with that project for 12 hours. 

Then, I hit the ground running today to try to figure out what was wrong with the big return I had been working on. I almost turned around and went back home shortly after getting to work. It took some reassurance from my two work BFFs (one of whom is also the best mentor in the office) before I started to calm down. The three of us also went to lunch which helped me to settle down. 

I left a little after 5 to meet a repairman at my house. Not far away from work, I was stopped in rush hour traffic. While I was sitting stopped in traffic, a woman rear-ended me. I heard a bang and my head went forward. Luckily, I wasn't hurt, but as I tried to figure out what to do, she began to pull away. I took a picture of her license plate and decided to see where she was going. I followed her for a few minutes before she finally pulled over. I was on the phone with 911 all of this time. She was completely non-apologetic about leaving the scene, but stayed when I said the police were coming. While we waited, her son appeared. He had one beer in his hand when he walked up, he left for a while and returned with a new beer. Around this time, he became verbally abusive and I got scared. The doors and windows of my car were up and I called the police again, but still no one showed up. He finally left with some other people. Probably because he knew I called the police back. 

After all of this, it was 2.5 hours and 4 phone calls later before the police arrived. When they did, they were very apologetic and professional. I can get the report in three days. There doesn't appear to be much damage, if any, but I wanted a report in case something goes wrong tomorrow or even next week as a result of this. 

I'm physically and mentally exhausted and I'm going to hold Emma and go to bed. I'm a little afraid of being in a storm since lightning might strike me with the week I'm having. Hopefully, I've experienced all the catastrophes for this week and I can finally take it easy. I'm just grateful that neither one of use were hurt. 

Not So Comcastic

Today, I looked at my most recent Comcast bill. To my amazement, the amount due was approximately $220 instead of the expected (outrageous) $140. To clarify, I do not have movie channels and I do not have special sports packages. I do have 2 TVs with HD and one DVR. The total cost for these two "upgrades" per my most recent bill? $9.95. 

I have the so called "Triple Play" of cable, internet and phone. I don't use the phone, so I only got it since "bundling" makes it a better "deal". I definitely think $180 for this "deal" sounds absolutely reasonable. Or not...

I spoke to a "customer service representative" whom I hope was having a particularly horrible day since he was nothing but hateful to me from "hello". When I compared the cost of a month of service at this new rate to a car payment, I was told that the services I was receiving are worth a car payment. That was the point that I hung up. 

I was not happy with a $140 bill, but I kept paying it. However, somewhere between $140-220 is my breaking point. I have packaged up the cable boxes and other ancillary items to be returned tomorrow morning. 

I work in the customer-service industry. If a client of mine was unhappy with their bill, I know I certainly would not act as I was treated tonight. We are taught to respect our clients and try to keep them happy. After all, they are the reason we have jobs!

Thankfully, I have internet on my phone and don't require television to sleep. I'm definitely going to miss using my iPad, but I'm sure I'll figure out something before long!

Until then, I guess I'll read a book! Any good suggestions?

Let's play catch up!

In the last week, I have:

     done 9 loads of laundry

     worked late at the office

     taken Friday off

     made caramel brownies and didn't eat a bite

     sang at a funeral 

     bought a few "happys" in Florence

     visited with Grandaddy three days in a row

     picked flowers from Grams' garden

     sang at church

     went to lunch with sweet Choir friends

...plus quite a bit more!  It's been a busy week and I'm grateful for only three days of work this week. 

Flowers from a coworker's hydrangea bush. 

Flowers from Grams' garden. 

This week, I want to:

     get to work by 8 o'clock--traffic is not a good excuse 

     go home from work by 6 o'clock

     go to the Y since my workout partner is on vacation

     leave early enough on Wednesday to beat the traffic

     have my old screen from the back deck picked up by garbage collectors

     catch up on my magazines

     spend time with dear friends in Florence

     cook good food for my family

     celebrate Daddy's birthday

It's going to be a good week! I'm ready to get started!

     

Five on Friday

I'm participating in the Five on Friday linkup for the first time.  I can't think of anything fun to write about, so I'll give this prompt a try.

-One-

It's finally the weekend and it couldn't have come soon enough.  I've had a sinus headache for the last few days and that, coupled with puffy, runny eyes has taken it out of me.  I took some allergy medicine last night and was asleep before 9 o'clock!  I think I need a little R&R this weekend before I can gear up for the last full week of work before the Fourth of July!

-Two-

I seriously need to do laundry.  Between traveling and working tons lately, I haven't caught up on my laundry lately.  Somehow, just washing what I need for the next day isn't cutting it.  I imagine I'll have at least four loads (since I'm really OCD and do a white load, a black load, a pink load and sometimes throw a blue one in the mix for good measure!)

-Three-

Emma isn't here and I'm seriously lonely.  She stayed in Florence last weekend to get a haircut (Yes, I take my dog out of town for a haircut.) and she's not coming back until the middle of next week.  Sad face.

-Four-

My good friend, Melissa, and I are going walking around my neighborhood tonight.  It's such a good opportunity to burn a few calories and get some good laughs in.  We critique houses on our walk and talk about everything we can't talk about at work.  It's always a good time and I'm always willing to do another lap if we still have topics to discuss!

-Five-

I'm going to a committee meeting on Monday and it's less than 10 minutes from my house!  I'm super excited about not fighting traffic getting on the interstate and also about being home way before 5 o'clock.  It doesn't take much to excite me! Hehe!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy Birthday, Grandaddy!!

Today is Grandaddy's 94th birthday.  I can't fathom all the changes he has seen in his life and everything that he has experienced from growing up in Haleyville, to going to Africa and Europe in World War II, to going being the first in his family to receive a college education and then to raising a family with my sweet Grams.

I can't adequately say how much I look up to him and how much he has influenced my life.  I can only hope I can find someone who is half as hard-working and patient as him to spend my life with.  There is no other man like my Grandaddy and I am so lucky that he is mine!

I went through all my pictures of him that I have on my computer in Nashville.  I'll caption the pictures to try to explain the story behind each one.

Quite possibly the most handsome man in the entire United States Army.

Early on in their marriage.  So sweet!

Grandaddy graduating from Peabody College in Nashville.

Such a handsome young man.

Typical Grams and Grandaddy.  In the woods near where Grams grew up.

A Grandaddy and his baby.  A love like no other.

Best friends for over 70 years.  Together they spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

A drawing of Grandaddy from the front of his retirement card.  He turned 80 the month after his retirement.  He taught math for 25 years before being the Director of Maintenance for the school system for another 25.

My precious boy.  I think this was around his 90th birthday.

Grandaddy's induction in to the Winston County Sports Hall of Fame

Grandaddy and me at his induction into the Winston County Sports Hall of Fame.  He was the star quarterback at Haleyville High School.

Grandaddy visiting the WWII Memorial in Washington.

Still in love after 64 years together.

Grandaddy and his girls.  We used to fight over who got to sit next to him.  I always won.

At his old shop at Burrell-Slater on his 90th birthday.  His former coworkers had a party for him.

Opening Christmas gifts at the piano.

It's been fun looking through all of these pictures.  I'll have to scan some of my favorites next time I'm home.  I think the picture of me covered in candy cane sticky (thanks to Grandaddy) is sweet and I love a picture of the two of us making a mess of the kitchen eating watermelon together.  I can't look at a watermelon without thinking of Grandaddy.

As bad as things seem at times, his face still lights up when he sees me.  I teasingly ask him who I am and he always says "My baby!"  

I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always.  As long as I'm living your baby I'll be.

Weekend Update

I had a whirlwind weekend in Florence. I had a late start leaving Nashville and didn't get home until 9 o'clock. I spent a little time with Mother and Daddy before bed, but the week caught up with me and I crashed by eleven. 

Saturday, I was up early. I wanted to spend some time with Daddy before he went out of town for the weekend. I was sad to not spend Father's Day with him, but I'm so glad we got to spend a little time together Saturday morning. 

After I said goodbye to Daddy, I rushed to get to my hair appointment on time.  It makes me feel so good to have my hair done!

The majority of the remainder of the day was spent with Grandaddy. It was important to spend as much time as possible with him since Sunday was Father's Day and Monday is his 94th birthday. He doesn't talk much anymore, but we still hold hands as we always have. We made an unexpected trip to the ER Saturday night, but it was a good excuse to hold his hand for most of our time we had to wait. Any chance to hold his hand is one to jump upon. 

Church on Sunday was absolutely wonderful. We were welcoming our new minister today as well as reuniting with friends that have been away for a while. There were lots of hugs and smiles going around!  I almost cried as we practiced the anthem and smiled like an idiot as we sang in the sanctuary.  I couldn't have been any happier to sing with such dear friends. 

Now, I'm back in Nashville only 48 hours after I left. I love any chance I get to go home to see friends and family. All in all, this was a great weekend with the people that I love.