2011 in Review

As 2011 creeps out the back door while 2012 is knocking on the front door, I thought I'd review the year that was. There won't be any pictures, as I really don't know what pictures to post. I'm sure there will be some tomorrow. 2011 wasn't terrible, it wasn't great, it just was. It had some highs and lows and a lot of in-betweens. Here are some of those highs and lows:

Highs

New job!

New car!!!!!!!!!!!!

First family stay in a hotel

Joy's lovely wedding we were able to be in

Lots of great times at Disney, at home, all over

Finding a healthcare situation that will work for me for 2012!!!

Lows

Living situation hasn't changed

Ok, so looking at it that way, I'd say 2011 was pretty good! I can look back and see the times spent with my wonderful family and great friends and feel beyond blessed. Things may not be exactly how I want them to be, but there not as bad as they could be either.

To those who had a crappy 2011, I hope that the new year brings you joy and peace beyond your wildest dreams. To those who had a great 2011, I hope the blessings keep coming. And to those who had an okay 2011, like me, well, I hope you can see that it was probably better than you thought and that 2012 is more of the same! Happy New Year!

Christmas Wrap Up

Christmas is over, but I'm going to do a quick wrap up of our Christmas this year, mostly through pictures...enjoy!

Quinn hanging his new Crush and Squirt ornament on the tree.

Posing with the toys he picked out to donate to a "little boy".

In the sleigh at Christmas Lane.

I take this picture every year.

Our family picture by the tree didn't go so well this year. Here's to next year!

Helping Papa make his legendary hot chocolate on Christmas Eve.

Yay for presents!!

We visited Ruby Falls, which was super cool.

Opening presents again when we got home.

We had a great Christmas this year. It was nice to spend it with family and friends and we can only hope that all our future Christmases are this nice or better. We are truly blessed.

Wonderful Christmas Eve

This will be brief, but I wanted to write about how great Christmas Eve is, at least for me. There is so much anticipation and eagerness, but at the same time, things are calm and peaceful. Somewhat. I guess because Quinn doesn't seem to quite get opening presents at the crack of dawn yet, for which I am very grateful. My dad always makes the best hot chocolate and we watch Its a Wonderful Life and just spend time together. Can't ask for much better than that I say. So Merry Christmas Eve everyone, I hope you find peace and joy on this wonderful night.

Wonderful Pinterest

Ok, so this while blogging every day thing has gone off the rails a bit, but hey, I've blogged a lot more than I usually do. Now maybe I can stick with it and blog more than 1-2 times a month. Keep your fingers crossed.

(I have to say I'm writing this while sitting at my parents house watching Muppet Christmas Carol. It is seriously one of the best movies. Light the lamp not the rat!)

The subject of today's post is Pinterest, which many people have heard of and are using, but if you haven't/aren't, you should. It is basically a website where you can "pin" interesting things you find online. Say you see a recipe on a blog that you want to make one day, but don't want to bookmark or write down the site. You just go to Pinterest, choose a board, and pin the website (via a picture) to that board. Its kind of like a big storage facility for website stuff. And you can find anything, litereally, on Pinterest. Recipes, crafts, quotes, funny pictures, kid stuff, photo inspiration, just about anything. You can have board for things you want to do, things you love, or just things that inspire you. I love it, it is so useful and I've found some great things on it, just through the people I "follow". My friend Joy's wedding was mostly DIY and a whole lot of those ideas were from Pinterest. I'm telling you, I don't know how we survived without it. Ok, that might be a bit dramatic, but it is so versatile, I say pretty much anyone can use it. And yes, it is mostly a female clientele, but don't be afraid guys. Jump on the Pinterest bandwagon!

Wonderful Makeup

Today is another bit of an "indulge me" post. As stated yesterday, I do love the makeup. Its fun to play with and its a nice part of being a girl. This is just a glossy overview. I have a lot more than this, but these are some highlights.



I probably love eyeshadow more than anything else. I have lots and I love seeing the pretty colors and experimenting with textures, looks, the whole lot. The picture above is the original Urban Decay Naked Palette, which is amazing for everything from neutral to smoky looks. It can be used pretty much daily. They just came out with Naked 2, which I'm hoping to get soon. As far as eyeshadow goes, I've found Urban Decay and MAC to be the best. There are still some brands I do want to try, but these are the 2 favorites right now. Oh, and make sure to get a good primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion is my go to). It makes all the difference.

As far as blush goes, I usually use MAC, but I do love my NARS Orgasm. It is a bit pricey, but it lasts and is just gorgeous. I've had my current pan for probably 3 years or more. Its fab.

This is my current mascara, along with Maybelline Full N Soft. It does just as good a job, if not better, than the expensive brands I have used. I would like to try some other fancier mascaras, but for something you are supposed to throw away every 3 months, I like paying $5 or less (and there are always coupons).

For a great neutral pinky color, I reach for BE Buxom in Dolly. Its so shiny and fun and it pays a bit of homage to someone I adore, Dolly Parton! Between this and MAC Viva Glam V lipglass, my neutral lipgloss bases are covered.

I'm not very good with eyeliner, but this kind by MAC is awesome and so easy. It helps that the brush is a foam tip, as opposed to a real brush. Sadly, MAC doesn't make this anymore, but Sephora makes one with a similar tip in their own line. I like it just as well as the MAC.

So that's that. As with nail polish, there is so much out there to experiment and play with. Have fun and don't think that just because you've used X, Y, or Z for years means you can't try something new!

Wonderful Nail Polish

I have better computer access today, so I'm back! At least today. I thought I'd write something that didn't need personal pictures, so indulge me a little on this one.

Most of you know I have a general makeup obsession, but lately, my nail polish obsession has grown a bit out of control. Seriously. I currently have 3 smallish Sterilite boxes full of nail polish and other nail accessories. I have been trying to change my finger nail polish at least twice a week. Its easy and fun and I'm getting much better at it. I bought a cheapo ELF concealer brush and that has really helped with removing smears and polish around the cuticles. As far as toes, I don't do my own. They never look right. I get a pedicure about 1x a month or so, sometimes more. Since I have so much polish, I have been taking my own to use. Plus its a nice way to relax and read or whatever for 45 minutes or so.

As far as nail shape and length, I'm a shorter is better person. I just like the way nail polish looks on short, usually squoval nails. Its funny, because growing up I played the piano and couldn't have long nails and always wanted them. Now I can have them and I don't want them. Such is life. I've never had acrylics and probably never will. Its just not my bag.

Here are some of my current favorite polishes. Hope you find something you like!

Wocka Wocka! by OPI (Muppet Collection) - Absolutely beautiful red/pink, just gorgeous

Warm and Fozzie by OPI (Muppet Collection) - an awesome blackened bronze

Rainbow Connection by OPI (Muppet Collection) - can't wait to use this on an accent nail for NYE!
New Years Red-solution - Sephora by OPI - just had this on my toes, very nice


Lincoln Park after Dark by OPI- great blackened purple, one of their best-sellers, just perfect
I'm Not Really a Waitress by OPI - fabulous shiny red, on my toes currently

Wicked by Essie - superb blackened red, got a lot of compliments on this one

Mink Muffs by Essie - such a pretty light brownish taupe, fun

Designer de Better by OPI (Muppet Collection) - pretty pale silver glitter, currently on my fingers

Whew, that's a lot, and there's a lot I left out. I love lots of colors by OPI, Sephora by OPI, Essie, and Butter London.
Take a look for yourself and find something fun, there is so much out there, go crazy!

Bloggus Interuptus

I was doing so well too. I got home Wednesday night and was told that the computer had fallen off the couch (a distance of about 2 feet, if that) and the screen was cracked. I didn't work yesterday and even though we have a desktop, its not the best and I just didn't feel like working on it. Ross got a quote on a new screen, so we'll see what happens. Until then, I won't be doing much blogging, especially since I don't have any pictures. Well...I might be able to whip something up, we shall see.