He Has Risen

Spending the rest of this Easter Sunday with my two loves husband and fur child :)

Have a fantastic Sunday everyone!

Book Review!

I just finished this book



Did you ever read or have you ever read a book where you found yourself blushing and felt like everyone around you could read your mind as to what you were reading? 

That's how I felt reading this book! It had a little bit of Fifty Shades Ana and Christian Gray :) 

Product Review!

I should make that plural! 

Okay first up, I have been on the hunt for a good eye liner. I have used a pencil for YEARS then the last 6 months was using the Stila liquid eye liner pen, and recently just bought the gel liner by Bobbi Brown. 

I know I should be taking a before and after picture, perhaps one of these days I'll get around to it. 

I have to be honest and say I am considering returning the gel liner. I am still having the same problem as I did with the Stila or even eye liner pencil. The problem being it starts off looking like a nice black line, but by the end of the day my eye liner looks silver! like it's lost all it's color. And to answer the first question, yes,  I always wear an eye primer on my eyes first. You'd think that would help!?

My question is what is a GOOD black eye liner that STAYS ON all damn day? Doesn't "fade" Or lose it's black ness? 


Okay next we have the whole "Not your Mothers" line of product that everyone seems to be going bananas over. I was never interested in the sea spray for one simple reason, this girl has stick straight hair and that stuff wouldn't do anything for me! 

I was in the market for a new hair spray so I picked this bad boy up

I have to say I really really like it! it totally gives my hair volume! I read a few reviews where some reviewers didn't think it smelled very good, but I don't have a problem with it! 

Holiday Overload?

I logged onto Facebook this morning, and was really disappointed I saw this on my feed. The person who posted it said can I get an "AMEN" to this!? 

For the sake of you who don't read huffington post, I am going to copy and paste the article below.

"This past Sunday was St. Patrick's Day, a holiday I had completely forgotten about until my oldest stumbled out of bed and into the living room at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday night while we were watching SNL.  "Can I help you guys hide the gold coins?" he asked. The WHAT?  "The gold coins. I know the leprechauns aren't real. I know it's you, like Santa. So I want to help you. I can make the leprechaun trap, too."

We told him to go to bed and then looked at each other with exasperation. Gold coins? A leprechaun trap? Is he serious?  When I was a kid we celebrated St. Patrick's Day by wearing something green. THE END. I had noticed that over the past few years, our kids were getting some grander ideas from school. But I didn't think that we needed to replicate these experiences at home.

Apparently, the children believed that we did.

All four of them woke up and came into our room like it was Christmas morning.

Did a leprechaun visit?

Can we search for him?

Did he leave a pot of gold?

Let's go find the gold coins!

I bet he left chocolate!

So. Many. Expectations.

All of which were dashed.

I had four seriously disappointed and grumpy kids on my hands. At one point my daughter went into full-blown meltdown mode, kicking random items in her room and yelling about what a LAME HOLIDAY this was.

And in my overly-tired impatient state, I might have yelled back, "YOU'RE RIGHT. This IS a lame holiday. It was never my favorite. All we did was wear green. That's all we're doing today. I'm sorry if you do more at school. That's not what we do here. I don't know where you are hearing this stuff but it's not happening here."

Fellow parents: St. Patrick's Day is supposed to be a "phone-it-in" holiday. Yes, I've turned into a bit of a grinch, but SERIOUSLY WITH THE HOLIDAY OVERKILL. It used to be Christmas was the main event, but now it's as if every holiday must be at a Level 10. And if Christmas wasn't already hard enough as a parent, someone also decided that we have to move an Elf around every day, into creative tableaus? And then someone else decided that the Advent Calendar was A Thing beyond a simple religious observation and now involves some kind of gift each day leading up to Christmas?

And about a month after having survived that whole mess, we've got Valentine's Day, which has became The New Halloween, because God forbid you send a simple store-bought card. You'd better include some candy or your child will be shunned. Shunned! One of my kids came home with not just a candy from each class, but a WHOLE FREAKING GOODIE BAG from each student.

And then, I think I've got a break for a month BUT NO. Surprise! We've got 100 Days of School to celebrate. And by "celebrate" I mean the kids sticking 100 things on a hat. And by "the kids" I mean me.

And suddenly Pi Day is a thing? My children expect to be served pie because someone at school told them so?

And Dr. Seuss's birthday? Sure it's a great event for school, but my kids are now asking what we're doing to celebrate that at home, too.

And do not even get me started on what Easter has become. When I was a kid my mom went to the store and bought us a new dress and a pre-made plastic Easter basket for $8.99.  THE END. There was candy and we loved it. Maybe we would die some eggs from a kit sitting in the check-out lane at Target. They would look like crap.

Now we've got to leave footprints from the Easter Bunny and make artful, Pinterest-worthy eggs with stencils and ikat prints and probably some that are ombre. AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

I don't like the feeling of disappointing my kids. But I refuse to give into this holiday overkill. I'm overwhelmed enough as it is. Today I gave all of my kids a bath. We read with each of them for the recommended 20 minutes. We reviewed our math facts. We practiced guitar. We sat together at the table and ate a meal that was NOT procured at a drive-thru.  We played outside. Most days, I'm struggling to achieve all these things. I can't have these haphazard, once-monthly overblown holidays take over my life.  I can go big for Christmas and Easter. That's all I can handle.

But I can't do this alone. Fellow parents... teachers... sunday school workers... I beseech you. BRING IT DOWN A NOTCH.  Ya'll are setting up expectations that I just can't maintain. Wouldn't we all be just a little happier if we returned to the slacker days of store-bought valentines and kit-dyed eggs and JUST WEARING A GREEN SHIRT AND CALLING IT A DAY?

For the sake of overwhelmed parents like me, I beg you. Stop the madness."

The article was taken from here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-howerton/can-we-bring-the-holidays_b_2903040.html



I am disappointed because as a teacher, I felt really let down that a parent would feel that we, the educators make little holidays fun for their kids and she had nothing positive to say about it, other than griping that we created more work for her as a parent in "Celebrating" these holidays!

What is so wrong with having fun at school, making a day feel a little bit special, or celebrating something with a new tradition? Just because you didn't do it when you were a kid means we don't have to or can't celebreate it now?  Kids are only kids for a short time, and then all the magic will be gone. So I say SHAME on parents for thinking its wrong of us educators to make holidays fun for kids! 

It's about setting expectations of your own children, and not competing with all the moms/dads on Pinterest or the teachers or the neighbors. Celebrate in your own way, create your own traditions, and make it fun. It's not a chore. Really?


Thoughts?

Book Review!

I finally finished "Hopeless" by Colleen Hoover. You may remember be blogging about her other two books "Slammed" and "Point of No Return".

What Goodreads says about the synopsis:

"Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever." 

What I say:

This book was great! If you liked Slammed, you'll love this novel by Colleen! 

Lego House

Heard this song on the radio the other night and really took a liking to it. 

 So glad tomorrow is F R I D A Y !

Have a lovely weekend bloggies!

Sunday Social!

1. What is one movie you are terrified to watch?

When I was a little girl, my dad for whatever reason decided to watch a scary movie while I was still awake. The movie was called "The Hand" starring Michael Caine. Of course I happen to walk by the TV when the most scary murderous parts are taking place on the television. 

I had nightmares for WEEKS. I'd wake up screaming and crying afraid to walk on the floor in the dark because "the hand is going to get me mommy!" 

Let's just say every time I woke up my dad had middle of the night duty to try and soothe me. So have I seen the movie as an adult? Heck no! It's the only film that has ever given me nightmares! 

For anyone that wants to know what the movie is about, in a nutshell, Michael Caine plays Jon Lansdale, a comic book artist who loses his hand, which in turn takes on a murderous life of its own.

I'd say Jaws is a close second to being a scary movie that really scared me as a kid, of course as an adult I can watch it with no problem. You can read more about the post I did on Jaws HERE

2. What is one TV show you have always wanted to get into but haven’t yet?

I don't know if there are any I've wanted to get into, but I know we (the husband and I) tried to get into watching Dexter and just could not. After 3 episodes it just didn't take to us so to speak.

3. What is one daring activity on your bucket list? 

I don't know if I'd call it daring, but considering I've never left the country, hubs and I want to go to New Zealand oh so badly!

This photo was taken by Amanda Marshall one of my blog crushes Marshalls Abroad.

4. Would you ever travel alone?

If it's in the USA of course. No big deal, I've done it before. Out of the USA, not a chance! 

5. What activities do you like to do alone?

Read. It's really hard for me to read in public places I get distracted easily!

Movie Review

Saw both these movies over the past 2 weeks. Silver Linings was interesting because it depicted/touched on what it's like to live with someone who has mental illness. 

Snitch reminded me a ton of the movie Traffic starring Julia Stiles, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones. Drugs are scary people. And bad. Nuff said! 

It think the husband and I have pretty much caught up on our Academy Award movie nominees. I told the hubs he was on his own when he wants to watch Life of Pi (since I am a big softy and can't watch anything animal related without bawling) 

Friday Funnies

When I read this online this morning, I knew I had to share. How true it is and the irony of it! I once was a moody teen who hated to wake up early at one point in my life.

Of course I am an early bird for the last 10 years due to teaching.

And for all you cat lovers out there :) I thought this was cute!

Just call me the gloss-aholic

I have been wondering why my damn purse feels so heavy lately. Now I know why.

Why I had all of these in my purse is beyond me. 


I categorized them into three piles.
Throw away, my "Eh" pile and the pile I am loving right now.

First up, the throw away pile.

I bought the Laura Mercier to wear in Hawaii on my wedding. The perk that sold me was that it supposedly has something it it that prevents your hair getting stuck to your lips say on a windy day. The color doesn't show to much either which is fine by me, but it's nothing that stands out to me as special. 

Next up, the Nars. YUCK. This stuff does NOT apply well. I even went the extra mile to buy lip primer to help it out some. Didn't do anything to help it. 

My Meh pile is "Meh" simply because the Chanel is a nice color, but really expensive. The hawaiian tropic i wear bec of the high SPF but I feel like I have to continually apply it for it to feel like its on my lips all that much.

My love pile
Soft lips in tickled pink is my all time fave. I have not seen it in stores lately, so I try not to use it all that much! 

My going out lip fave is definitely Two Faced Pillow Talk. I've owned it for over 2 years now, and it really does the trick.

My new obsession is Maybelline's baby soft lips. The stuff is great and really makes you think and feel like your lips are like a ten year olds again! :) The NYX is a nice nude lip gloss I picked up that goes well with the gloss. Quick shout out to Kristen over at love lipstick and pearls for helping me find the NYX and giving me the 411 on it! :)

And there you have it folks.

Did I miss any must have glosses? 

Blog Crush(es)...I've got a crush on you linkup!

Seriously how fabulous is Erin over at living in Yellow!?

She totally came up with this awesome linkup that I just had to participate in!

but I'd have to say my favorite reads are these ladies:

Several of these ladies don't have blog buttons, so I just "borrowed" their pics from their pages for you to get a glimpse of who they are! 

Brit over at Life Of Charmings

Brit is a new mom, and a POM mom like myself. I was instantly drawn to her gorgeous photos she takes, and the girl has the most gorgeous hair I've ever seen! :)

Julie @ The Girl In The Red Shoes

Julie is so sweet, and a midwest girl now, I think that's why I was drawn to her blog. Love her dog Wrigley and her new baby Hudson!

Ruthie over at The Chronicles of Ruthie Hart

Ruthie is seriously thee nicest girl ever, I am so sad she lives in TX so far from me because I think we'd be real life friends! (Helps that our hubbies are both from Cleveland!)

Ruthie is a mom to be and has the spunkiest dog named Ernie!

Meg over at Style me Swanky

Megan is a fashion blogger, and a southern belle. She's getting ready for her big day! I've been following her for the past 2-3 years now, she has such cute outfits!

Veronica over at Veronica's Blushing

Veronica is a fashion blogger, and soon to be mom. She's so sweet and has made a ton of V logs which I love watching!

Amanda over at Marshall's Abroad

Amanda takes the most GORGEOUS photos in Japan, where her husband is stationed. They have the most original love story I've ever read :) I inspire to take great pics as she does!

Angie over at Heart of Aloha

Angie has amazing photos too! She lives in Hawaii and her posts are always reminding to put things in perspective in my life.

Jackie over at The Roaring Twenties and Thirties 

Jax is seriously the sweetest gal around. She's a weekend blogger (yay someone else who is just cray busy during the week that holds off to post till the weekend!) She recently got engaged and is also a fur momma!

Tracy

What is there to say about Tracy that hasn't been said? Super sweet, loves to wear accessories (esp . statement necklaces!) and an expecting mother as well! She's also a fur momma! 

Natasha over at Hello Happiness!

Natasha has the best dang handwriting I've ever seen. Seriously you should all see the post where she showed her handwriting all her own wedding calligraphy invitations to her wedding! She's a mom and currently expecting baby #2.

Note:
I absolutely love all the blogs that I follow. Yes you all along my side bars, and all of you that aren't listed on the side either but show up in my google reader!

 I wouldn't follow all of you if y'all weren't wonderful! These are in no particular order either :) 

Cuteness.

If you love someone, tell them.

Tell them because you don’t want to miss an opportunity.

Leave them love notes.

Kiss their hands.

Tell them you love them.

today, and everyday.

Seriously. Holy cuteness. I die. 

Happy Monday Friends.

Where are they now? Child Stars

It's been a while since I've done a where are they now post, so for your viewing pleasure, you ask, WHERE are they now?

First up

Tiffany Brissette - The "Small Wonder" actress is now 38 and no longer an actress, but a nurse in Colorado! 

Remember Larisa Oleynik from Ten Things I Hate About You? 

Or if we go way back, recall her from her Nickelodeon days as Alex Mack? I do! I do! 

Larisa is still acting, and has recently been seen on the hit show, Mad Men. 

Not a fan of that chopped hair, but what can you do....

Speaking hair...

Remember Joseph Gordon Levitt from his 3d Rock from the Sun days? I never got into that show, but I do remember him from Ten Things I Hate About You which he starred with Larisa in! :)

I recently saw him in Looper, and he was in the movie Inception starring Leo DiCaprio which was a terrific movie!

Shawna Waldron - Becky 'Icebox' O'Shea from "Little Giants"  You all remember "You walk like a boy you talk like a boy but do you pee standing up?" hahah (famous line from the movie or somewhat along those lines!)

She's continued acting, but in movies like low-budget horror films "Lizzie" and "Cyrus". Gotta be honest and say I haven't heard of either of those movies! Good to know she's still somewhat in the business. 

Jurnee Smollett - If you grew up in the '90s, chances are you remember Smollett as the sassy best friend in, well, just about everything--she was a recurring character on "Full House," "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper," and "Cosby." The more grown up Smollett burst back on to the scene around 2008 with roles on "Grey's Anatomy" and "Friday Night Lights."

It wasn't till I read the credit for Friday Night Lights that I put her face to a main character on that show. Love that show, so sad it's not on anymore. 

And there you have it for my latest addition of "where are they now".

*All stats and info was found via google search!