Exhausted

     I am exhausted. Mostly emotionally. A friend of mine posted a memory of my dad singing in church. Incidentally, that was the last time he sang in church.  It was very sweet of her, and it certainly conjured up some emotion.
    The first person to comment on her post was an uncle in law who was looking to pick an intellectual fight about the validity of her faith. In the process, he deeply hurt me and insulted my dad's memory and me as a person.  He flung rudeness at me. I engaged. I stooped. I did, but I just couldn't let someone do that to my dad.  He is precious to me.  It was so, so hurtful and literally had me in tears.  It took some time too, so there went my morning.
     I posted a status relating the abridged version of the morning's events with a request for people to share a memory of my dad.......more emotional-ness.
     Then I came home to hook the modem up. The last time I did this was 6 years ago.  It is, in fact, pretty straightforward, but there was a glitch for a minute.....more time.
      It is now 3:19 in the afternoon. Natalie gets out of cheer practice in 41 minutes. Noah has refused to take a nap today. That is going to make for an awesome evening. It's the playoff game tonight, so Tony wants "good food". The house is a wreck since I have invested 0 time in it today. There is no fun food a-brewin. He's going to be disappointed, and I feel bad about that. 
      AGGGHHHHHH!!!
      I want time to install shelves in the front closet so I can start crafting with the crafting supplies that I can't efficiently in their current arrangement of a heap....because there are no shelves.
      I want to make a make-up video or at least post some pictures. I go to bed at 8:00. There may not be time for that.
      Today feels like a wash, and I feel sad about my dad to boot. PTTTHHHHTT!!!

Allergic

So it's a brand new week, and I'm not pregnant. I get to go through that whole roller coaster again in three weeks! Hahaha! This week I'm already battling allergies. This spring they have hit me hard, but now that I have realized what the cause is, I can deal with it more effectively.
I am excited that we are just one month away from Salon Fair, which is my school's hair show. I actually one first place in the fantasy category last year, and this year I am collaborating with my friend, Jade, who won first in the traditional category. We took on the huge task of outfitting 6 models!!!! It is going to be so much fun. The fair theme is Disney fairy tales. We will be doing a fish theme as a nod to Finding Nemo for the fantasy category, and I get to be a model for our Sheer Makeover category! Jade will be handling all the hair, and I'm going to be doing all the makeup. My creative juices have already been flowing about how to make a fish face look hot! Hahaha!

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Can't fight this feeling...

I feel.....frustrated, hormonal, spent.....pms-ey or pregnant. We have been waiting to see if God would choose to give us a third baby, so I get nervous/excited every few weeks.
My body has started behaving slightly differently since being off bc, so I never know if it's just an adjustment or a pregnancy symptom. The last couple days I have been horribly unpleasant. I feel bad for those around me, and I feel bad for myself. I can't seem to get anything done......I am out of dishes....all of them. I have laundry to do. I have scrapbooking stuff covering my living room floor, and the kids' rooms look like a bomb went off.
School is still going well. I took 5 midterm practical exams and got perfect scores on 3 of them....or took six and aced 4. I'm starting to get makeup clients, so that's encouraging.
Anyway, so that's it for now.

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Another day another.....eight hours to my 1500!

First of all, I want to apologize for the weird photobucket box. I don't know why it's there, and I write my posts from my phone, so I'll have to wait to fix it.
So I spent a good hour on my monday off brainstorming about my makeup classes, and I have spent a week now picking other peoples' brains about starting in this industry and how to start my way specifically.
My heart is to be an entrepreneur. I caught that bug from my dad. He had business ventures of varying kinds and at various points in his life from Baker Automotive in the early 80's to Chattanooga Websites - his last brainchild to provide his family with the realization of our dreams.
"Friends are kind to each others' hopes. They cherish each others' dreams" - Thoreou.
Both my parents were true friends to me. "Mom! I'm gonna make friendship bracelets for all the girls going to camp so we can look down at ' em and not feel homesick!" "Oh. Ok. That sounds really nice, Sarah." Or coming to watch me perform in the school choir.....4 bazillion times. Those dumb bracelets were not the source of comfort I intended, and I know my parents got sick of choir performances at which they probably couldnt even hear me.....but they knew it was shaping me
.....they knew I was dreaming....and they were so kind to it. We use the word support nowadays, but it's really just kindness, isn't it?
So I'm dreaming again. I'm planning now in what I hope is a complete way which separates this from my childhood shenanigans, but I am awfully nervous. I know what true criticism and cruel judgement feel like now. But I'll continue, because I have a dream, and I have just a few friends. We travel some of this journey together and some of it apart, but we know each others' kindness, and it propels us on to the wonderment of dreams that come true.
Question of the day: Are you kind enough to others' dreams to truly call yourself their friend?

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Here it is!!!

So my dream is this: I want to teach people how to be beautiful - what to do with the menagerie of products on the market, product reviews and lessons on how to do things like the smokey eye, the "bump" and how to make beautimous curls with a flat iron. These are questions that I am asked several times a week, and I cannot address them individually. I don't have time, and most inquirers won't set aside the time unless they're "forced" to. So I want to invite up to 10 people at a time to watch some demos and ask some questions and go home feeling like they know how to get pretty with mostly the tools they already have.
I will continue to cut, color and style hair and makeup application too.
I'm writing things out right now to have a good plan, so we'll see!!!!
Do you have some friends you want to invite to read my blog? If you read it, give me a comment and tell me what you think!

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Dream a dream

I'm dreaming a dream right now. It's in the works in my head. I can't tell you about it yet. I want to see if I can actually accomplish it. I'll update later.

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Burned out and keeping the fires burning...

I stayed home from school today. I was up late with a crying 2 year old, and I was responsible for driving him to the babysitter. That would mean waking up an hour early. I just didn't have it in me. I ignored my alarms and kept my munchkins home today in hopes that I'd get to rest and get a handle on the laundry and dishes and the kids rooms and groceries and........it's official.......I am overwhelmed. I am paralyzed by it. I don't know what to do because I've got five months left of school. I'm tired.
My mom used to joke with me that I'm just not a 40 hour a week girl.
I'm just hoping I have enough inner resolve to get through the end of beauty school.

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Back to the grind

Tomorrow I go back to school after having to miss because of all the snow we just had. Uck. It was a bear to deal with because everything.shuts down here. I was in these four walls with my two munchkins alllll week.
I played in makeup a couple times and had my super helpful little brother over. I got really crummy sleep and did very little cleaning....oh well. I had some fun moments with the kiddos and made some good memories.
I also gained a few new clients. I'm excited about that! Hopefully I'll get to see them and work some magic!!!!

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Here we go again

Ok. So I've abandoned this blog for two years. Time to write again.

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A few of my favorite things.....right now

I like shortcuts. I "collect" ideas of things that make my life easier, quicker, cuter, etc. Here are a few things that have gotten my attention lately or things to which I've been loyal for quite a while.....

1. Barnes & Noble Booksellers - I can go to this store, plop down with a cup of coffee (regular coffee from Starbucks is less than $2.00, and they always have shakers of flavor at the stirring stations!) and read to my heart's content, and then ask someone else to clean up after me....and they're ok with that!!! I can take my kids at naptime and let them snooze in the stroller, bring something for them to do, or offer my older child a book to look at and teach her how to be careful with something that belongs to someone else.
2. Magazines - a natural succession from number one. I also have a weird method of devouring them, I do it back to front. All the secrets are in the back. The beginning is all full page ads for things, so I skip them. I find recipes, funny stories and advice on how to look and feel like I live in 2009.
3. Free Department Store Samples - a couple years ago, I saw something really bad....my face in the mirror. I was tired and dehydrated and Olay wasn't cutting it. The skin on my face was getting wrinkly so I ran to one of the "good makeup" counters....just to see. I was sent home with several packets of product to try from the "Kiels guy". One packet held within in a magic serum, or cream, should I say. The packet itself lasted surprisingly long - a couple of weeks I think. Thick, though it was, it spread nice and evenly and my face felt like the butt of the baby who'd ruined my sleep schedule! I didn't know how economical this all would be, though, because I had only so far tried the sample packet. The jar ended up costing twice as much as my ever "faithful" squeezy jar of Oil of Olay from Walmart, but I soon discovered that it lasted twice as long, and it worked twice as well.....you do the math. Along with the samples for myself, I was also sent home with samples for my kids, and my "Kiels guy" restocks my supply every time I go for a new jar. Do you need a bit of a pick me up or just some refreshing makeup tips? Go to those same counters and start asking questions. Before long you'll be in the chair getting transformed into a new person, and you may end up going home with something that actually saves you money, like I did. These people do NOT mind giving you the hook-up. Treating you well means you will be a repeat customer or that you will at least spread the word and bring them additional customers.
4. Ballet slippers as a stand in for scuffs - I am a long time slipper wearer, but recently I have had the hardest time finding anything that didn't look really ratty after about a month. Then I saw this tip in one of my beloved mags. I can't wait to implement this tip especially now that my dogs got ahold of my scuffs.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide - I have "rescued" so many of my belongings with this stuff. My findings - if it's a natural substance that you're trying to rid yourself of, peroxide will work quite often. It is a main ingredient in many cleaners and even some beauty products that are more expensive.
6. This bag - first of all, the idea of it is hilarious, tongue in cheek to me!
This particular bag is designer, but I don't think the idea would be difficult to do under a budget. It's a white canvas/linen tote bag with purse handles instead of the nylon ones and the print of a very chic back covering each side! I say, go to the thrift store and buy a worn out bag with good handles that needs your rescue, grab a fabric pen (paint might look a little dated) and get to work! I would probably not include writing on it unless you wanted to make a really close "knockoff" to this bag. We have to carry everything bags these days - who said a tote has to look like it was a freebie from a health fair?! If it already has a print on it, cut out an equal size piece of material, sketch your desired design. You can leave the rough edge and stitch your new image to the front of your bag.


7. Nasal Irrigators - I know, I know, gross! Hey, don't knock it till you try it. Seriously, my experience with this has been so positive. My colds are much shorter and sinus headaches are less severe because I put less pressure on my sinuses my gently rinsing them. It's sort of common sense. If you're nervous, spend time reading the instruction paper included. It offers tips, clinical information and a lot of reassurance. There is even a pediatric kit on the market as well!

8. Facebook - I have rekindled relationships even with family members through this wonderful website! It has been a great way to photoshare with my inlaws and my grandmother. There are lots of good safeguards (you can set anything you want to "private" including your photo albums) and I'm actually a huge fan of the new version. As long as it is used as a social network and not a way to vent or gossip, this can be a fantastic networking, social tool!



So that's it for right now. What are yours? Share with me, share with me!

Just a little nap - that's all I need

Today....what on earth? After another night of crummy and insufficient sleep, I woke up, ironed Tony's clothes and got him off to work, and laid back down hoping to help fight the slumber deficit. That was at 7:30....my kids woke up at 8:00. Half an hour was not what I had in mind for finishing my night of sleep.
Noah drank a bottle of milk and Natalie and I ate our microwaved corndogs (yes, for breakfast - Noah's bottle held the last of the milk so - no cereal for me and Natty-boo). Soon after finishing our 'dogs, I heard Noah gagging and coughing. He had gagged on the snot trickling down the back of his throat and had begun to throw up spitty cheese. So great that I have 3 crip mattress sheets, Natalie got poop on hers, Noah got vomit on his and I already had a mound of laundry to do today. Tony has pleaded with me to please wash his dark socks, and when I neglect to do it, he starts on a very quiet yet intense tirade on how "one day, I'm just gonna go buy 9 pairs of socks so I actually have socks!". Who can blame him. Last week I was so proud to have gotten those socks washed that every day I could proudly tell him just to "look on the red recliner - you might have to look down in the cracks but they're there." I said that for as many days as I could before the lying became unbearable for me.
.....so, I have one crib mattress sheet clean but two mattress to cover. Was the mound of existing dirty laundry enough? No - Noah had to gag and vomit two more times....on me....as I lay on the couch which means stripping off two more outfits and the couch cusion covers. Into the tub they went.
The upchucking stopped, I successfully laid both kiddos down for their naps and began to feel my lids getting heavy and the slight dizziness I've felt starting this time of day for the last week and a half - since I stopped taking my antidepressant because I can't afford to go to the doctor so they will reauthorize my prescription until we get our taxes done bUt WE HAVE ALL THE W2'S WE NEED SO WE JUST HAVE TO DO THEM AND NOW TONY IS CALLING ME TO ASK IF I KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE PAPER HE LOST BUT NEEDS SUPER BAD!!!!!!!! huff, huff, puff, puff.....
Ok - if that weren't enough, not having that lovely chemical from the pharmacy sloshing through my brain also seems to unleash a strange version of creativity.....I cut my own hair with the aid of cuticle scissors and my compact mirror (which Natalie calls a "minnier"). Let me just say, I have a hair appointment at 3:00.
............I'm hungry....I think I still have a few corndogs.

2009 Household Hints

To detangle doll hair, spray "no more tears" or another detangler. Doing this semi regularly will prevent tangles in the first place and keep those dolls that you spent money on looking fantastic. My daughter is a nut for wigs so I have tried EVERYTHING to keep my house from looking like we have a large, blonde or Ariel red rat living with us.

I hate cleaning the shower (ok - cleaning period) because I feel the need to use bleach cleaners but I ruin my clothes with bleach spots. So this time I used dish soap - disinfecting (made my shower clean enough to eat off of), inexpensive, took care of all the soap scum and any mold, and then it rinsed completely away without any bleach stains or horrid fumes.

Can't live without Downy wrinkle releaser spray! They sell large bottles in the laundry detergent aisle and small bottles in the travel section at Walmart.

Oh my goodness! I keep finding uses for the hair detangler! Well, first of all, the air is so dry right now that my limp hair is suffering past the point of doing well with some good, thick conditioner. . .so my hand went straight to the detangler. Why not try it, right? Voila!
Also, a few years ago Nivea had this great, great spray lotion. My mom and I LOVED it - and then it went off the market. I found a replacement!!! Seriously - ungreasy, smells nice and nicely moisturizing.
By the way, I discovered when I was nursing that lanolin makes the shiniest, long lasting lip gloss plus you get the advantages of the mulititude of healing properties in it - great for this dry weather!

Got any to add?

A night at my house

. . .flipping through a magazine while Natalie and Noah splashed in the tub. . .
Natalie "Hey, lemme see dat lay-ee"
Me "That's Catherine Zeta Jones. She has lots of money and a personal trainer" choosing to give such an explanation because I didn't think she was really listening.
Natalie "Mommy, yerr beeoofuh dest like Ariel"
MOVE OVER CATHERINE ZETA!!!!

. . .praying before bed. . .
Me "Dear Jesus, thank you for today. . .and thank you for Christma-"
Natalie interrupts "AND sank you fer gitting arr Chrihmas tree! and sank you fer me and Zach and Jisiah fer seeing da fiss at da store. . .and we go to da store. . ." We got our Christmas tree tonight at Home Depot tonight with Josiah and Zach Rowe in tow. They had displayed a gold fish pond that fascinated all of us, but the praying continued. . .
Natalie ". . . and" with hands clasped right under her chin and eyes closed tight "sweet jreems". My daughter told God to have sweet dreams!!!!

Salt Scrub

Ingredients:
Sea Salt
Baby Oil - unscented
Fragrance (body splash works)

Directions:
Mix together
Luxuriate!
SAVE MONEY!