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

my week's favorite things.

thank god it's friday, although i've been off since wednesday and don't have to go back to work until monday so i've had a mini-vacation, but still.  fridays are always a good thing!  here are some of my favorite highlights from this past week. enjoy!

1.  today is the mr.'s birthday.  good ol' ripe age of 42, but sure doesn't look it, does he?  i can't believe this is the seventh birthday i've spent with him.  holy hell, where has time gone?!

2.  so, to celebrate his birthday, we are going to the blues game tonite.  hockey is one of our favorite things and what better what to celebrate his birthday.  can't wait!

3.  i've been sooooo addicted to these arbonne smoothies.  i mix the powder with water and then add a variety of fruit and spinach.  so far my favorite is the mixed berries with a frozen banana.  heaven. plus they keep me full for hours!

4.  making jewelry has been keeping me super busy.  here is one of my latest creations that i made for my grandma's birthday.

5.  we took dutch to a doggy easter egg hunt.  it was so much fun and he was such a hit there.  he collected the most eggs, which were filled with treats and gift certificates.  we won a BOGO day at doggy day care.  it's the cutest place!

HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY WEEKEND!

such a happy time.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT SPRING

1.  sandals
2.  an extra hour of sunlight
3.  the smell of bbq grills
4.  blooms & buds
5.  thunderstorms
6.  open windows
7.  spring cleaning
8.  flower pots
9.  tank tops
10.  chirping birds
11.  sun on the skin
12.  improved moods
13.  sunnies
14.  spring sales
15.  green grass

besides the obvious like warmer weather & getting out of winter - what are some of your favorite things about spring?? i know there are more than what i have listed!

from another point of view.

Life seems easy, if you consider things from another point of view.

So my life really isn't all that bad.  I don't claim it to be, but there are days I just want to throw the towel in. 

I suffer from chronic pain, crippling anxiety, we're drowning in debt, hubs recently lost his job so we're living on one income, however we have our health, we're moving on up in life. Those pesky things are nothing compared to what some people go through.

In the last couple of days I have encountered people who have lost loved ones to horrific, freak accidents, awful diagnoses, and lots of other issues that are worse than mine.

But, sometimes I have to remind myself that others have it far worse than I do I've got it pretty good.  

As I was sitting here, I came up with a small list of things I am grateful for.  Of course there are others, but these popped into my head now. 

• Lots of education.  I have so much debt from student loans that it seriously gives me panic attacks, but no one can ever take my knowledge and education away from me.
• A patient, loyal, and loving husband.  I honestly don't know how he puts up with me, but he is what keeps me going, seriously.  Who knows where I'd be if it weren't for him. 
• Family that loves each other like no other.  We all feel that way about our families, but from the people I know, most aren't as close as I am with mine.  There's a connection that cannot be described.
• A pretty face to put makeup on.  Not to be vain, but I am happy with the face I was given.
• Traveling around.  I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to see lots of great places in my life.  My parents knew it was important and traveling is one thing I live for. 
• Getting to experience all 4 seasons.  May not seem like a big deal to some, but not everyone gets to see the changing of the seasons.  It really is a beautiful thing.
• My personality.  I wouldn't say I have a sound mind, but I'm unique, just as you.  Although I have my issues, overall I mostly like how I am.
• My dogs.  They are my babies and make my life happier and complete. 

 pictures via

my love for tattoos...

I have had my tattoos for about 5 years now.  Both have meaning and are a very important part of me.  I think the right tattoo can represent a person in such a way that defines them and can even tell a story.  I feel that's how mine are.

My first is a star that represents my family - 5 people, 5 points.  It's a pretty simple one.

The other are my angel wings.  I've always had an infatuation with angels, the other world, and part of spirituality that cannot be explained.  I like to feel that there is a greater force watching over me at all times, but on the other hand, wings represent so much more.  Flying, feeling free, peace.

Like they say, tattoos are addicting and I cannot wait for another.  I have the next 2 planned out.

One is a saying that my Grandma used to tell me all the time and the other will be one that Eric and I get when we move on to the next stage of life.

Here are a few that I've run across and loved.

Source: google.ca via Lesley on Pinterest

Source: surifoe.deviantart.com via Lesley on Pinterest

Source: fyeahtattoos.com via Lesley on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Lesley on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Lesley on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Lesley on Pinterest

Source: bbc.com via Lesley on Pinterest

What do you think of these?  What about tattoos in general?

I love them and unfortunately I feel that if someone doesn't like them on me, tough.  It's my body and my free will.  I've had numerous people tell me that tattoos don't look good on beautiful people and then they kind of turn up their nose.  It offends me, but I just kind of shrug and don't say much. 

thankful thursday: him.

I am thankful for him, as in my sexy, cute hubby.

I don't know what I did to deserve him or what I would do without him.  Very cliche I know, but he's my rock.  We definitely each have our faults, but I suffer from horrible anxiety and he's there to balance me out in all ways.

He is there to love me, tell me I'm beautiful, leave me alone when I have a temper tantrum, act goofy with me, love my family as his own, appreciate and respect me, and most of all, he honors and supports me.

We have fun together, have our serious moments, and honestly rarely fight.

I can't say enough positive and wonderful things about him.  He truly is a blessing in my life.

 Go link up with 2 cats & chloe for her thankful link up.  I'm so glad she decided to do this because it makes me put others before me and appreciate the golden things in life.

our anniversary getaway.

Last weekend we headed up to Chicago for the weekend for a much needed escape from reality.  We liked to use the excuse that it was our anniversary, which it was, but we needed to just get away for a couple days.

We had been wanting to do this for a while and I'm glad we finally got to do it. 

Chicago's about a 5 hour drive north of here and although I've lived in Illinois my whole life, I had never really been there.  People from the south really don't like to claim Chicago so it's like being in a whole other state when you're there.

It was a good time. 

We took a bus up there, which I was hoping to have taken the train but waited too long for tickets, so I stumbled across the megabus.  It was less than $80 for both of us round trip, plus it is a double decker bus and it was so neat!

We ate well, walked miles daily looking at all sites and stores, took a boat tour, watched fireworks, and just enjoyed being with each other away from here.

Weekend getaways are so nice, but damn can they be expensive!  Definitely worth it though and I'm already planning my next one (:

 

our happy 4th year!

Sunday is our anniversary.  Four years to be exact.

I can't believe I have been with the man of my dreams for this long already.  It makes me really sad that time goes by so fast.  We have been through a lot and accomplished so much and I cannot wait to see what the rest of life brings.

Today we are off to celebrate the weekend in Chicago!

This was us on our wedding day in Jamaica.   

[Bit of advice to all destination brides, or really any for that matter: don't think just because there are going to be 20 people at your wedding taking pictures that you don't really need to hire a photographer.  biggest.freaking.mistake.  As picky as I am about picture quality, I still kick myself in the ass for skimping on that.  Needless to say, we have only these kind of pics.  They will have to do, I guess!] 

bluegrass + nature.

Saturday was so beautiful out with a temp of around 90, lots of sun, and a gentle breeze.  There was a small bluegrass festival going on out at our park so Eric and I decided to see what it was all about.  Neither one of us like country music, and even though bluegrass is a sub-genre of that, I love it because the sound is different.  Something about the banjos, fiddles, and guitars that makes music to my ears.  These bands were playing a bit of bluegrass and folk and it felt good to be there taking everything in - the food, the hippies, the sounds, and the park.

We left the music to see what else we could find to do in the park between the swings, the pretty lake, and the nature trails sprawled out across hundreds of acres.  It was just so nice out that I honestly didn't care what we did; I just wanted to be outside. I am definitely a salt water girl, but the surrounding of the lake was breathtaking and so peaceful. 

Nature is so amazing to me.  As we were looking in the lake, I couldn't believe all the little life forms right at the surface and swimming in the water.  On the trail I was thinking of all the wildlife and animals that call this home - up in the trees, on the ground, underground, and everywhere. I could spend all day, every day outside, but my life just doesn't allow that with obligations and work. 

It was just such a perfect day to spend together and to take in what nature has to offer.  It really made me appreciate a lot that day.

to mine & all.

Today will be a good day.  The weather couldn't be more perfect as we spend the afternoon at a winery celebrating all the wonderful and beautiful things our Mom has given us.

I hope you all have a great day!

love my love stone!

Eric and I went to the mall a couple weeks ago and as I was browsing for a dress in Dillard's, Eric went his own way.  We met up 30 minutes later and he told me he had something for me.  I figured it was a piece of my favorite chocolate or something like that, but it was this cute little necklace from one of my favorite hippie stores.

It's a Rose Quartz, 'love stone.'  It came with this neat little card describing its meaning and it pretty much fits me to a T.  Actually, I probably couldn't have come up with a more perfect description if I had to make one up to fit the necklace.

Here's what it says.

Equilibrium.

The 'love stone' strokes the heart into forgiveness and compassion by helping you let go of stored anger, resentment, guilt, fear, and jealousy by aiding spleen, kidneys, and circulatory system.  Eases sexual and emotional imbalance, but be careful because it increases fertility.  Learn to love yourself with this lovely stone. 

I am so hard on myself, anxiety rules my life, and I dwell on the past. 

I hope this necklace does just what it says. 
Maybe it would slow my 'lively' mind down just a bit!