a summer beauty look. what summer means to me.

happy friday, loves!

this week i participated in a blog series, what summer means to me, with a group of pretty cool girls.  of course when i think of summer, i think of all the usual things that it brings like vacations, sunblock, sand, watermelon, and sunshine, but the first thing that pops into my head is beauty!

i wanted to feature a pretty, summer look that's easy to pull off and looks good on just about any skin color.  during the summer, i like to keep my face pretty free of foundation because it can be heavy so all i typically use is tinted moisturizer with some bronzer. 

a glowy look is something i like to go for, so matte is a look i don't try to achieve in the summertime.  luckily i have pretty normal to dry skin, so i can pull this off without having to use a powder. as for the eyes, any color will do, but for this look here i did a brown/bronze look.  i used brown satin shadow topped with a champagne color, brown pot liner, white in the waterline, and black mascara.  lips are a medium pink color, which is not something i normally wear.  i would have typically worn a nude color with this, but i felt it needed a bit of added color and i liked this color pretty well.

all in all, this look can be worn in a ton of different ways by changing just a few things: a nude lip instead of pink, less eyeshadow and more of a naked eye with bold lips, or even a natural look with only mascara and gloss.

what did you think of this look? 

 

 

Products you would need to complete this look:
- first and foremost, always start out with spf - mine is in my serum and moisturizer
- tinted moisturizer
- light colored bronzer (for the whole face)
- regular bronzer (for contour or apples)
- shimmer powder for highlight
- bronze shadow
- champagne shadow
- espresso gel liner
- black mascara
- white liner (for waterline)
- pink lipstick
- pink lipliner
- gloss if you want

sorry to my readers.

i do apologize for my lack of posts lately. 

Instagram has been taking over my social media life lately.  i seem to go there when i want to post something, anything.  this isn't a 'come follow me' post or anything like at all, i am just saying that i haven't forgotten about my old blog and i really, really want to be back here soon.

i have found that with my absence, i have almost forgotten how to write.  when i was thinking of something to post, i could hardly come up with a beginning sentence.  i still don't even know what to say.

it also doesn't help that my hard drive still isn't fixed, therefore i have no motivation to take pictures, it won't quit snowing, and i long for days like the one below where the weather is warm and we can be carefree.  i am just a happier person when the weather is nice, as are most people.

so basically, sorry that i haven't been around.  don't go away or forget about the dream tree, ok?  there will be good things again.  life, food, makeup, and whatever else there used to be, i promise (:

diy like a fool.

for the last year i have been making jewelry, but over the last month or so i have really kicked it up a notch and made a lot more.  i also have started to get into watercolor painting.  i have no idea what i'm doing really, but it is so much fun. here are a few pics of some of the things i have been doing.

the jewelry is fun to make.  the hardest part is trying to come up with designs and patterns to create, but sh helps a lot and he is actually very good at making pieces.  he has made several and honestly, i think they are probably better than any i have done.  some of these are his and some are mine. 

i have to say that i do like the painting more though. i set up a little spot on the counter, turn on my edm, and go to town. i tune out everything else in the world and just paint away.  it really is good for my mind and it is therapy for me.  i just wish i had more time to do it instead of like once a week. there are a couple other pieces i have done that i really love.  i think i may frame them and find a spot on the wall.

i bought myself a watercolor book and know i'm getting a beginner thing for christmas, so i hope to actually learn how to do things instead of just trial and error, but regardless, it's fun and i love it (:

one love. jamaica.

jamaica.

that's the little island of warmth, sunshine, rasta, and love that i visited a couple of weeks ago and why i've been so absent from the blog world.  i just did not have time to schedule posts before i left and was too busy when i got home.  here is a little snippet of the trip along with some pics.  i know i'll be looking back at these throughout the next several months when we're all stoved up inside this winter. 

at the beginning of september SH, myself, my two sisters, and the boyfriend took a getaway to mobay.  we have been a few times before and since we're all in love with the island, we decided it was a perfect end of summer destination. originally it was for our 5th anniversary, but then it turned into a trip for the sisters and men.

it was simply fabulous.  our resort was excellent.  liquor dispenser in the room along with a fridge that's restocked every other day, all the food one can scarf down, and all the drinks a person can consume make for a pretty sweet getaway, not to mention it was very budget friendly.

the cuture is fascinating, reggae is addicting, and the blue waters are inviting.

each day we basically got up, ate breakfast at the buffet, while drinking delicious blue mountain coffee, and spent the day at the beach soaking up the sun with drinks in our hands.  honestly most of the time it was water because it was so hot, but we had an occasional ocean dream or daquiri (or five) each beach day.

when it rained most afternoons, we headed to our rooms to nap, hang out together, or head to lobby to people watch.  each nite was pretty relaxed and revolved around more food and nitely entertainment.

seven nites just isn't long enough for me.  the resort has lots and lots of europeans and did you know they get at least, at least, 8 weeks of vacation a year.  most of them are at resorts for two to three weeks.  there was definitely a bit of envy and jealousy coming from our group.

it was definitely a much needed vacation that was a trip one has to take to understand.  jamaica is like no other place i have been and i have been ready to head back as soon as i shut the door to our room for the last time.

until next time, ja. . . 

 

 

 

 

'just a dog'

i had seen this poem floating around on facebook for a while and loved what it stood for.  dogs are one of my biggest passions in life - they have been around me my whole life, i can't imagine life without one, and i think they are one of life's greatest blessings.  if you are a dog lover like me, then you know what i'm talking about.  it's ok if you don't, but i have to say you are missing out!

                      ____________________________________________________________________

from time to time people tell me, 'it's just a dog,' or 'that's a lot of money for just a dog.'  they don't understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for 'just a dog.' some of my proudest moments have come about from 'just a dog.'  many hours have passed with my only company being 'just a dog' and not once have i felt slighted.  some of my saddest moments have been brought about by 'just a dog.'  in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of 'just a dog' provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.

if you too think it's 'just a dog,' you will probably understand phrases like 'just a friend,' 'just a sunrise,' or 'just a promise.'  'just a dog' brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy, the compassion, and patience that makes me a better person.  because of 'just a dog,' i will rise early, take long walks, and look longingly into the future.

for me and folks like me, it's not 'just a dog.'  it's an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.  'just a dog' brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.  

i hope that someday people can understand that it's not 'just a dog.'  it's the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being 'just a man or a woman.'  

so the next time you hear, 'just a dog,' smile, because they 'just don't understand.'

peace • patience

yesterday was a pretty good day.  really all weekend was, even if i did have to work 13 hours on saturday.

i was able to spend a couple hours laying by the pool, my skin tingling from the sun's heat, new music flowing into my ears, and lots of time to think.  what's new though, my mind is a constant obsessing/worrying machine, but i was surprisingly at ease in these moments.

peace and patience are two things i really thought about, for a long time.  lots of you know that my body has been having ridiculous issues {mentally & physically} for the last few months and it's really, really getting to me.  i don't have a lot of patience to begin with, so when something like this lingers on, surgery did not solve any issues, and things continues to be a burden, well, i am losing patience with my body.  frustrations and anger grow each day.

on the other hand, i feel like maybe all of this is a test.  a test to see how patient i can be and to help me grow better as a person.  sometimes i feel my lack of patience makes me impulsive, bitter, immature, and hateful, and i need to stop this.

i am the kind that knows everything happens for a reason.  i don't believe in luck, i believe in signs, there are no coincidences, and things are already planned for me.  i will find peace with myself and other things through these struggles i am facing.  i hope to see the world and my life in a softer, clearer, and happier way soon, or when i do find peace with everything.  when this will be, i'm not sure, but i know it will happen.  it has to.

happy and at peace is where i really want to be.  in fact, besides my health, those are the things i want most in life.  

divas don't do nose jobs, but . . .

they get their nose pierced, perhaps.

anyone that knows me is aware that i have a very strong love/hate relationship with my nose.  for as long as i can remember my nose has been the least favorite feature of my face, however i have been convinced that it's what makes my beauty. i know that if i got it changed i definitely would not look the same, in fact, i may look less pretty.  you know how that works. like jennifer gray.  i don't think she is pretty at all before her nose job, but i think she's even less pretty afterwards because her nose is what gave her her look.  same with me. 

anyhow, i am happy with my decision to get this piercing.  i love tattoos & piercings, have already had negative comments, but it's my body and i have the right.  as long as it doesn't get infected, i'll be golden (:

disclaimer: i really don't consider myself a diva although my family calls me one and i even have a shot named diva after me. vodka, sprite, and cranberry juice - delish. oh, and i saw this title somewhere once and it has always stuck with me since i have always dreamed of a nose job.

my age has gone up by one.

whew!  i didn't realize that the last couple of weeks had been so busy and that i have hardly posted.  makes me sad because i hate not having time for my sweet blog.  anyhow, since i posted last, i celebrated a birthday on friday.  i can't believe how old i am.  i seriously feel like i'm about 26 or so.

it was a fun birthday.  the nite before i had gone to my cousin's for a wine nite, where i was presented with the most amazing chocolate cupcake.  i slept over at my sister's with my younger cousin.  is it weird that my sis and i sleep in the same bed?  i think not.  it's just such a comforting feeling since we grew up doing it.  anyway, the next morning i got up and had birthday pancakes at my grandma & grandpa's, visited with my parents, and brought my cousin home with me.  she and i shopped and made jewelry until SH got home so we could go eat.

my favorite restaurant in the world {ok, maybe not in the world} is cracker barrel, so that's where i wanted to go.  i could eat there many times a week and live off their blueberry pancakes, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken breast, and chocolate cake.  oh, and the biscuits.  it really was a super fun day.  since i had to work the next morning, it was early to bed for me.  additional celebrating may take place in a few weeks, or so i hope (:

i know it's so cliche to say how life goes so fast, but it really does.  i am two years past thirty, i have been married for five years, out of high school for almost fifteen, and my next big bday is going to be forty.  holy hell!  another birthday celebrated and another age past. although i am a negative worrier, i am also all about living life to the fullest and more so the older i get.  you only have one life to live; might as well enjoy it!

no worries on this saturday.

too much good & fun happening today to have my usual worries.

wore // bright yellow to match the sun.

if you read about our anniversary outing  then you probably saw me wearing this outfit.  i knew it was going to be a hot one that day so i decided to wear this bright yellow tank to coincide with the summer heat, plus i love the way yellow looks with a tan. 

it was a comfy, light outfit so it worked well for the day.  racerbacks are my favorite kind of tank, however they are hard to find sometimes.  i got these for about eight bucks so next time i go out, i may pick up a few more.

also i'm pretty new to shorts.  well, not new per se, but since i was young i have always worn jeans throughout the summer, except for on certain occasions.  i'm trying to be better about wearing shorts while my legs are still thin and look somewhat young before i'm seventy and regret it.  these are about as short as i go, too.

anyway, this is my look.  my clothes are pretty simple, as you'll see in most outfit posts, but i think they still look cute.  this was at the end of our day so my hair is basically plastered to my head, dripping sweat, and sticky clothes, but i couldn't pass up the bright flowers.  enjoy.

tank: macy's

shorts: tj maxx

sandals: newport news {old}

necklace: world market

bracelets: made by me

paddleboats & the boathouse.

st. louis has a lot of great things to do, so on our anniversary we decided to eat lunch and hang out at the boathouse in forest park.  it's a beautiful place because it's located right on a lake, has amazing outdoor seating with a nice breeze off the water, gorgeous views, and it's super relaxing.  i also love the fact that it's pet friendly so i love to see the different breeds of dogs and cute water bowls all over the place.

the temperature that day was around 95, but we were able to sit on the patio with an umbrella and luckily the breeze from the water kept us somewhat cool.  we ate well and shared one of my fav desserts - bread pudding.  this one was banana + pecan and was just ok, so i was somewhat disappointed.  the waitress offered us a free sundae but since i'm lactose intolerant and wanted bread pudding i asked if she would switch.  did she?  hell no.  thanks. . . 

although the temps were blazing, i still had my heart set on paddleboats so we did just that after our meal.  it was so relaxing and the trees, wildlife, and scenery were so pretty and neat.  fall would most definitely be the best time for this because it sounds fantastic to be out on the lake seeing the changing of the leaves wearing jeans, boots, and a sweater, with the smell of bonfire in the distance.  i'm not wishing summer away however.

it was a really nice day to enjoy our 5th year as a married couple, do something we haven't done before, and have a fun, relaxing, hot summer day.

if you ever visit st. louis or live here and have never been, it's definitely a must-do thing.  i love it.