FAVORITE THINGS...to date

After much trial and error, I have finally discovered some of my favorite things. Things that I cannot live without (and some things that if I never had to try again...it would be too soon!!!). As a busy mom, wife and (never ending) nursing student, I don't have an unlimited amount of time to spend on doing things. So after searching and finding out what works sufficiently, is KEY! I wanted to find products/things that DO what they actually say they will do and not only DO it, but do it efficiently. I am just a mom, wife and student. These are products or things that work for me and my family. I am in no way saying these are things you should run out and buy. I am a pretty critical consumer and an even MORE critical housewife! :) If anything, it could just give you a good idea to add to your unknown. So without further ado...

1.) MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NW20  $27.00 
Fore-mostly I want to say that I have the WORST skin imaginable. Stress, age, oiliness, scarring, acne prone... I have been on the hunt for the PERFECT foundation to suit my every need. I have tried countless foundations and NONE have stepped up to the plate. Foundations from the drug store to name brand.  A connoisseur of makeup, foundation is always at the heart of it. I wanted a product that covered my acne scarring and any to-date blemishes or redness. Not just cover, but cover efficiently and quickly. I, in all honesty, don't have a ton of time to sit there and just apply layer upon layer of foundation to perfect my skin. One, even (light) coat all over and a little additional layer over my cheeks (which is my most problematic area). I want my issues covered, but I also want my skin to shine through. NO cakiness. I can without a doubt say this is MY FAVORITE foundation. It goes on smoothly. Covers what I need it to cover. Flawless. Lasts all day. A match made in heaven for this momma right here! :)

2.) CLINIQUE Acne Solutions  $14.00 - $18.00

My skin isn't the greatest and I have known through time, the harsh environment I encounter (sun, wind, stress....) does a number (on me at least). I have noticed such WONDERFUL things about this product and have been using it for years!!!! Until recently, I ran out of these products and had not had time (imagine that :) no time!) to run to the store and get more. I had a reserve of Neutrogena Toner on hand that I was using that for a few days. BIG MISTAKE! Now don't get me wrong, Neutrogena is a great brand. My husband actually uses this toner on his skin and he really likes it (which is why I had access to it). HOWEVER, his skin is not as oily as mine, nor is it really acne prone. So when I ran out of these products, my skin went into a haywire mode and just "lost it" so to speak haha. I broke out within days of not having my face wash, toner and moisturizer. I am currently doing damage control! I go without it for three days...THREE and I wake up with 6 blemishes...strategically placed in ALL the wrong places of my face. I confidently say these products are AMAZING!!!! Now when I even come close to running out I will head up to Clinique and get more straightaway. The appearance of your skin really does affect your confidence and with me, I feel like that is ALL everyone (and especially me) is starring at!! It dries up all the oil and doesn't strip your skin of the essentials it needs, so it won't dry you out so much that you end up producing more oil. 

3.) HOMEMADE GLASS/MIRROR CLEANER  (under) $6 to make A TON!!

I love the way a clean house smells and quite frankly...who doesn't?! What I don't like on the other hand, is the chemical smell that usually ensues. SO, in our household I love to make our own little concoctions of cleaning supplies as well as special little treats for my little boy. I absolutely HATE the way a leading brand glass/mirror cleaner cleans. I hate all the additional chemicals they put in it as well.

To make it, it is equal parts...

1 cup water

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

I found spray bottles at Wal-Mart for $0.92 each...so I stocked up! 

Use this recipe in conjunction with....COFFEE FILTERS instead of paper towels or newspapers. They go MUCH further than paper towels and completely streak free!! 

4.) AQUAPHOR $6
Ever since I can remember I have been OBSESSED with chapstick. Until recently (maybe 6 months now) I had no idea this product even existed and shortly thereafter wondered where it had been all my life. Aquaphor is used for dried, cracked and irritated skin...and highly recommended to those who just got a new tattoo. My boys and I use this exclusively on our lips. IT IS AMAZING!!!! It goes a long way as well. Just a little dab on your finger for moisture and you will be beside yourself at how well it heals those chapped, raw, dry lips. I usually apply it right before bed, and countless times throughout the day. You will not be disappointed in this miracle worker!!! Instant relief.

A NEW DIRECTION

I think I have this whole thing wrong... I need a new direction for life...and this blog, mostly ;)

So here I am. Mo-zing my way BACK to my blog after much dismissal on my part. Nursing is going good. Husband is doing wonderfully and my 26 month old son....FANTASTICALLY. Have I reached my limit to continue to age him in months yet? I mean I have even heard the "standard" up to 48 months! Not trying to toot my own horn here, but I think once they hit 24 months...its just...2! My husband, as funny as this is, still refers to him in months. I figured being the clingy mom it would have been backwards. SURPRISE!

So Tristan is in this Ice Age stage. First it was beloved CARS, then we moved on OVER THE HEDGE and now we have broken into the ICE AGE...

Thankfully this movie is cute enough to withstand the over play mode we are currently in! I think it has been AGES (literally) since I had seen this movie. So it was fresh.

Anyway, I am making a delicious dessert here in the next few days from a not-so-overrated website...PINTEREST... look for it in the next few days. Ill post pics and my baking journey step by step :) 


HAPPY TUESDAY Y'ALL!!

Where has this year REALLY gone?

I was looking back at my most recent post and come to find out...FEBRUARY! So I started asking myself, what in the world has been going on in our life since February. Sadly, school is all-consuming. I and my husband, have finished spring and summer 1 sessions. We both have summer 2 session off for a little of a breather. If we can even call it that! I've been helping my sister-in-laws with a bridal shower and a soon to be wedding. So that's been taking place during summer. I am about to take a BIG MAOR test friday that is basically life or death lol HESI. I was suppose to take it weeks ago, but due to a lack of urgency in the school system, I waited 4 hours to be told I couldn't take it because it would exceed the time limit for the testing center. ANNOYED MUCH!?

My (nearly) 22 month old is growing by leaps and bounds. Sad to even think he'll be 2 in (nearly) 2 months. In my summer time off, I have completely planned his birthday party. It hit me then that my baby wasn't a baby so much! He's in a toddler bed for goodness sakes :/ Everything these days is "cars cars cars", the movie I mean lol EVERYTHING!

My husband is doing super great and working/school as usual. He's such a hard worker.

In the meantime to all of this chaos that doesn't seem to escape us, we are relying and standing firm on God. Hard to remember to keep Him as our everlonging foundation for EVERYTHING, but letting go, and letting Him has never been so wonderful!!! Truely!!!

I hope to keep the blogging going. I've been such a slacker! I think I always say I'm going to keep up with the blog, then LIFE happens. So until next time!

and so it REALLY begins...

I am currently going through the stages of becoming a nurse (eventually in time, my masters in nursing...notice I used the word EVENTUALLY)...and I pulled my first all nighter the other night to study for ONE test that had me completely terrified. All the reviews on the test had been other classmates making 60's...I was not about to allow myself to fail! It's completely unacceptable in my mind (which can be a good thing, but also VERY bad). The torment that goes on in my mind if I fail. I tend to over-analyze it. If I fail, it's over. It's OVER. Don't scew this up. You can do it. I tend to tell myself this EVERYTIME, right before I take a test. Even though in reality, if I failed one test,  it really isnt over. It just means study harder. Stay focused. I will admit on my failing part, I didn't really start studying until the day before the test. How's that for setting myself up for failuer?? I guess it really came down to be not being as "studeous" as I should of been...that and the fact of not truely knowing exactly how much information there really was. It was mind-blowing. INUNDATING! I have absolutely no idea how I stayed up all night. Coffee! FEAR! I think that was it ultimately. Fear! It's not a course in which you can just "blow" off so to speak...it counts more than ever.
Beofre you have kids, your motivation just isnt there. I am so certain of that. It seems, to me, that once you have a family, your motivation just kicks itself in the butt and you want it more. I think because you discover how much it means and how incredibly important it is, not just for you but mostly for your kids. My husband supports me ten fold on anything I want to do. He is also the type of guy who is satisfied with what we have and doesn't need all the gold in the world. However, and this is a HUGE however, he also doesn't like to settle in life. He is always wanting to make life better. To continue to strive to be better as an employee, a husband and dad. He hates settling. When it's just the 2 of you, as husband and wife, you tend to make things work. You know what I mean? Once you have kids, you want to give them the world and make sure they have a ton of advantages; such as traveling and seeing the world. Good education. Firm faith in the Lord. You never want them to know what it is to not have food, or electricity or the blessings we encounter everyday. You want the absolute best for them. Which is why I am so hard on myself with grades and school. It means more to me now than ever before...sadly. I should of been this motivated from the get go, I was young and didn't see the true outcome. I do now.
All in all, I didn't fail my test and I passed pretty darn well....for not studying until the day before! Which I can confidently say I will NEVER wait until the  last minute to study. I was a mess...stressed. Literally wanting to pull my hair out. I can surely say that I am not the type to stay up all night. I need sleep. Oh do I need sleep.

let's get on the ball with this already!!

The ever-longing hunt for a house still continues. I am growing oh so weary and my optimism is running out. I don't want to say we are picky, bc by no means are we unreasonable. It's just that every property we come across there is some sort of issue with it or the neighborhood or SOMETHING! Foundation issues, new roofing, odd neighbors, no sense of "family" in the neighborhood, updating...always something. I am so eager to find the right one and I continue to pray that God leads us to the perfect one...so as I say, my optimism is running dry but not completely gone all together.

Monday night dread: Anatomy and Physiology Lab tonight. NOW that I can assure you on my optimism completely DRIED OUT!!!

I suppose now that my little guy is down for a nap, I should be showering or studying. So off I go!

yadda yadda

Who am I again? What is this thing I am writing on?! It has been forever and a day. I always seem to keep coming back to this "place" of getting on top of my game. Write and clear my head. It's really clogged right now with so much stuff, I don't even know where to begin.

First off, Christmas was great, shortly after Christmas, all 3 of us came down with some nasty allergies and colds. For 3 weeks, my whole house was in misery. They, and whoever "they" really is, never prepare you on the sleepless nights and continually breaking out the medicines, thermometers, suctioners, 6 boxes of kleenexes (in ONE weekend), vicks rub, humidifiers, doctors visits and the feeling of quite possibly dying (almost...well nearly...it felt like it for a moment). I can gladly say that is past us. I can't even recall how many times I disinfected this house. OH MY GOSH!

I need to go get dinner started! So there is my short (and hopefully) returing blog, oh how I've missed it!

Stay warm!

Weekend

As the weekend comes around on Friday, I feel such glee and contentment. By Sunday, I feel resentment that my weekend is nearly gone. Why do I enjoy the weekend so much? Especially since I'm a stay at home...Well, for ONE, my husband is home and I have both my boys here. Spending time together as a family. During the week its always a very monotonous routine, which I suppose I do like...a set schedule! But at the same time, I love running useless errands with my boys. Nothing but time on our hands, we are at our own leisure. I love it. So as I sit here, watching my 14 month old bring me the Sunday ads that are sitting on my coffee table and he's going to and fro....I think even more how much I love the weekend and how much he loves spending that extra time with his daddy (and I). It's just a moment like this that makes me close my eyes and thank my good Lord above for my family and healthy little boy. I am going to enjoy this beautiful, yet chilly and quite windy day. Savor the very last part of our weekend. I think tonight calls for hot chocolate. a fire. christmas tree lit. a great classic Christmas movie. Great!  Perfect!


:::::ON A SIDENOTE:::::

Today Laurel starts her 2nd round of chemo. This particular chemo will cause her to lose her hair and have horrible ulcers in her mouth that will keep her from eating and drinking. Pray that the Lord will give them strength and confidence to endure through this long journey.