Pucker Up Ladies!

It should be a sin that I did not report on this awesome gloss when I originally bought it a few months back, but what can I say? I'm a busy girl! lol. Anyways, my major purchase recommendation for this week will be Smashbox's O-Gloss, simply because it is awesome! There have been few and far in between a gloss that promises "shade change" to reflect your completion. Me being me, of course, checked most of those out and was highly disappointed. For some reason, this product came out and I felt the need to try it out. Surprisingly enough, I dared to take the challenge at about $20 a tube. But boy, o boy, can I say, was it worth every penny! Now, it isn't an every day gloss (see Victoria Secret's Very Sexy fruity lip glosses at about $7 a pop and they last what seems like forever). No this is something you would use if you are going to take pictures, or date night to start off the night right, or for if you haven't seen someone in a while and want to look extra great!

You only need to add a small amount to your lips, don't go overboard! Also, give it a couple seconds to take the full shade. You will be surprised at how well it fits your color. Don't believe it changes according to skin type and tone? Grab a couple friends and have everyone put it on, I did, and it was a different shade on each of us! Crazy!

Don't want to splurge that much on one tube? Go to sephora now, they have a great deal going on where you get a bunch of great lip products for like $38!!! I'm still considering making that purchase, it's too much of a steal to pass up!

What would you do?

As most of you know, and for those of you who don't, I like a lot of different things. I like trying new foods, new products, anything really. For a while an old friend, Uyen, got me into Taiwanese dramas. There was one, Lavender, that was particularly addictive. I also moved on to ones like Mars, so on and so forth. Anyways, Robert has always been into some anime. He really liked Gundam Wing (which is funny I brought that up randomly, because I will be doing another post, hopefully soon, regarding a Gundam in Japan)and other things here and there.

Being the one to try new things, I paid attention in the movie theater about a year or so ago when they played trailers for [not so popular] movies that fathom events would put on. They would usually only have one or two nights that played a particular movie and then after that you were screwed until it came out on DVD. Even then it was difficult to track them down. Anyways, I saw a movie called "Death Note." For some reason it looked really good & I thought it would be movie both Robert and I would enjoy, not to mention, a cheap date lol. Anyways, when the time came around, I was doing one of everything and got so busy that I completely forgot about the showing. I didn't remember until a few months later when I saw another commercial for a fathom event production that I was disappointed. I had it set in my mind that I would wait a little while and track the movie down, even if it took me forever.

& I did & boy am I glad I was so persistent. So here is the point of the blog, given the following mis/fortune, what would you do in this situation?!

The main character, Light, finds a Death Note that is "accidentally" dropped by a God of Death. After possessing the notebook he realizes that if he wrote someone's name in it, they would shortly thereafter die. He used this to his advantage and began killing criminals. Some that were already imprisoned, but also those who everyone knew were guilty but were able to escape the legal system because money talks. It did not take long before he abused his power and began killing people who were not exactly criminals, in fact, some of whom were perfectly innocent, hard working citizens.

My question is, what would you do? I would like to say I would do the same as he did in the beginning, kill criminals and criminals alone. But would the power get to my head as well? Not only that, but wouldn't that be like playing God? No matter the wrongdoing, does anyone really have a right to take someone's life?

Just curious, what are your thoughts?

Giving your hair the [silent] treatment

So after my move I wanted to work on a lot of things about myself, inside and out. One thing that was for sure was that I needed a heavy duty hair treatment. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm pretty fortunate with my hair, it's a good length and for the most part healthy most of the time. I think it may have had a little shock to the humidity change and water change when I moved, so I decided to give it a treat.

I went to CVS to grab a couple things and wandered down the hair aisle. I hovered over the V05 section for a minute or two. I contemplated getting the hot oil treatment and call it a day, but I figured, 'hey why not try something new?!' As I made my way down the aisle, I saw an unfamiliar brand. Now, if I would have been my normal self, I probably would not have tried it, but for some reason I was living on the wild side (I know, wild thing me right?! lol)

There it was in its cute packaging. Cristophe (deep thermal reconstructer). After contemplating and going back and forth for about ten minutes, I decided, why the heck not? what's the worst that would happen?

Now is where it got a little scary & I thought I'd be writing a completely different blog at this point and time. I went home, got in the shower and followed the directions to the nine. I put the step 1 on completely, made sure every strand was covered then moved to step 2. Step 2 warned it would be warm, but I did not realize just how warm it would be, even the second it touched my skin. I was a little disturbed & honestly concerned for my hair's sake at that point. I figured there was no turning back at that point though. I finished the process and waited. I noticed my hair was easy to brush out after but that's how it always is with any kind of deep conditioner.

I went to sleep and the next morning got ready for work. I was horrified to run my fingers through my hair (as I normally do every morning to access the damage, braid, bun today?). It felt as though I had someone else's hair on my head & not in a good way. It was extremely dry and felt DISGUSTING! I thought to myself, 'O Mr. Cristophe, you will be getting a nasty blog written about you as to warn all my fellow new product seekers of your horrible, horrible product.'

Now you're probably wondering, 'I thought this was going to be a recommendation?!'. Well you are right. That night I got home, showered and figured I would do damage control that weekend. The next morning I woke up & it was as if my hand was touched by the silky hair God!! It felt and look amazing!! better than I can ever remember it looking or feeling. Anyways, long story short, it has been about two weeks and my hair still looks and feels GREAT!

I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for something new. Has anyone else used any of other products in this line? If so, I'm curious to see if they live up to the same standard.

You can check out the site at www.cristophe.com

Bad, Bad Devin

I admit, I have been a VERY, very bad blogger thus far. I have not written any of my old, typical stuff & that disappoints me. Anyways, I have a lot that I plan on writing about soon enough. Some points including a great body wash I recently discover, a hair care product that I'm still quite confused about, great new shoes, great sex, great teeth and much much more....


:)

Rough patch....

I really don't want to jinx it, but what the hell, I think I've finally gotten through the rough patch that I've been in for quite some time now. In the past year or so I lost one of the most important people in my life (my papa), lost my husband for a while (both by distance and emotionally), lost my mind, lost my faith. I could probably go on all day. The long story short, I was in a very bad place not too long ago.

It was as if over night I decided to change my life. I surprised myself & started pursuing a career in Texas. I knew I wouldn't last much longer if I had to stay where I was. As if they knew what I was going through, I was contacted by my current employer & did a telephone interview. I was able to impress them over the telephone and set up an immediate, in-person interview. Robert and a friend came in for the weekend & I surprised him with a "hey, I'm going to ride back with you guys for my interview." I will never forget the look on his face, it was pure excitement. My mom started talking about packing my stuff up and I tried not to get excited. No more than a year previous to all of this, I had tried to make it work, & to say the least, it all fell to shit. I would not let myself get excited, but I would not let myself be negative either. It was as if my mom KNEW I'd be getting this job. Even after the in-person interview, I still wasn't sure. I was told I'd be asked to come back to meet with the VP of the company. Everyone thought that sounded great, I however put my excitement to the side. I could not take another blow.

It obviously all worked out in the end. I have been here for almost a month now and absolutely love the work and the people. I'm able to take a few minute breaks here and there and still keep on top of all my work and make sure everything runs smoothly. I LOVE it!!!

Anyways, it seems as though Robert and I may be back on the same page again. Only time will tell. One thing that is for sure, I love that man more than life itself.......

Going Green

I've been dabbling here and there in the gardens at the new house, but haven't dedicated too much time as of yet, mainly because I don't have much time to devote after work, school, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.

Anyways, I've done the bare minimum to make my house look like a home. I planted some pink begonia's in the front flower bed close to the street (mainly because they were cheap, easy, but add a little color but not a waste of money to put on the street). I bought a few hanging pots and put about four of them hanging around the front walk filled with petunias. I decided to nurse back the rose bushes that were in almost complete disrepair (they are actually looking wonderful now and I'm hoping for blooms very soon). Then, I went away from my comfort zone and instead of filling the front garden with annuals and petunias galore (looking back on it now, that would have been the best idea ever) I purchased a new flower. Of course, the name now escapes me. But when I went to the garden center it was a flower that looked beautiful. I had never seen it before and figured it for a Texas thriving flower and reasoned that it probably did not grow well in Louisiana and that is why it was foreign to me. Being new to this plant/flower I only bought three. I wasn't sure if they multiplied/spread quickly, so I didn't want to push it. I planted the flowers and crossed my fingers. The next day, my typical luck of course, a huge storm came through. Tornadoes hit nearby, the down pour was tremendous. After giving myself a pep talk, I got up the courage to open the front door to check on my new flowers. I was mortified to realize at that point that this new house does not have gutters or a drainage system, so at the curve in my walkway, and of course the roof, the rain was pouring off of it, Niagara Falls should give you a good visual, straight onto one the plants who was the unlucky victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear. My pride in this new find was short lived. I was only able to manage to keep one alive for less than 24 hours, the other two were surely shaking where they were planted. The next morning I walked out and saw the corpse of what used to be a beautiful plant. Being my mother's child, I took the plant and replanted it in a safer area of the garden, determined it just needed a little TLC and it would be fine. Needless to say, all the love and care in the world cannot bring it back. It is now an upright, brown stick in my garden. I told Robert I was trying to save it, he nodded his head in agreement, though the look on his face said it all "this woman is crazy, this plant is dead."

Today I'm pulling it up and giving up. Moral of the story, it's good to go out of your comfort zone sometimes, but maybe only with certain things and with extreme caution......

dreams....

So for the past few weeks I barely get sleep. When I do get a couple hours here and there, I have the weirdest dreams. I haven't had a nightmare about my papa lately, so I should be grateful. Anyways, I won't even get into the being married to ben affleck one......

Last night I had a dream about the guy who was my first kiss. It's crazy. I haven't talked to him in a long time & I have no idea why he appeared in my dream. Anyways, he's probably off being a rocket scientist millionaire right now, sweetest guy ever too, and it made me happy in a weird way.

Anyways, after that dream I had another one that Robert and I were volunteering at the abortion clinic...I have no clue (maybe because a couple days ago we were passing by an abortion clinic and their were protestors outside with signs?). Anyways, apparently we talked our way into the place so we can talk people OUT of abortions....it was really weird.

There were a few more, but I will stop before everyone thinks I have completely lost my mind......

What I was jamming out to yesterday on the drive home from work, caused me to hurl my cell across the car (sorry about that wjp lol), & which almost caused me to have an unscheduled meeting with the cement barrier on the interstate :) .....enjoy

Because I felt like jamming out this morning....

Currently....

I have been pushing myself past my normal limits. I am managing to get a lot of stuff accomplished though, which is great. I have been going through boxes that have been in the garage and unopened in about a year. What I am doing is basically throwing things away, giving to good will or organizing and labeling boxes. Not the most exciting thing in the world, but I have to get back to myself again and the clutter is number one on that priority list. I used to be the most organized person in the world. I am still, for the most part, a very organized at work and when it comes to other people, but I have let myself fall to shambles. I sent in payment for a ticket on Tuesday, when the hearing was on Wednesday. I probably currently have a warrant out for my arrest. Things like this bother me, as they should. I can manage to take care of everyone else on time, but not myself? what the heck?!

anyways, I went through a few huge plastic containers and managed to downsize about 8 boxes to 2 1/2. I have endless amounts of bags full of stuff to drop off at the good will tonight. who knows how much more. I've decided I don't need to hang on to everything from my past. It makes for a cluttered house (or garage in this case) and a cluttered mind at the end of the day

Okay, now onto more interesting things. I'm still trying to decide what to do this weekend. I contemplated ice skating, but as sore as I have been, I'm not sure if that would be the best idea ever. There are a lot of movies I want to see, but I feel like I waste time just sitting there for a couple hours watching a movie. The Rangers are on the road this weekend, so a ballgame is out of the picture. Not too sure what to do actually.

I thought I had something interesting to write about, but it turns out I don't.

Maybe I'll write a little later about my gardening disaster.....

My Life Without Shoes...

In the quickness of my recent move, I brought only what would fit in my car, allowing enough room for buster to fit in comfortable as well. Only 1/4 of my wardrobe would fit, my necessities and of course, part of my shoe "collection."

I now look back and tell I must have packed my things in a blind panic. The shoes I brought make no sense. As I sit here, as I have been the past couple of weeks, I think of the shoes I left behind. Yes, I will see them again, but right now, they are not a part of me. My Steve Madden's, my xoxo's, my guess, my bebe, my roxy, my kenneth cole....so many I can't even name. I feel as though I have abandoned my shoes, and in turn, have abandoned a part of me. I have been to a few parties since I have been here. They have all been pretty good, but one main part that has left a sour note in my mind, my shoes. Sure, I have a great pair of my black platform pumps that I managed to smuggle into my car, and of course my great brown sexy heels that just so happened to be in my trunk already, but not the "perfect" shoe for the outfit.

I know I probably sound extremely shallow writting this. but I miss my cute shoes damnit. Until they are here with me, I will not be complete.

Hmmmmppphhh

hmmmm

I've been away from my comfort zone for a couple of weeks now. I've had time to take everything in and a chance to analyze everything in my past and present.

I realize now that I wasted entirely too much time in the past. First, I invested more than a reasonable amount on time in people. People I shouldn't have. People who I considered friends, people who told me they were my friend, would be there through everything. I, as my mom says, am a sucker. I believed them & took them at their word. Excuse after excuse was made for them. Maybe they are just busy? Maybe they are in the middle of something? Maybe they will just call me back. Meanwhile, I let some REALLY great friends fall to the waste side, while sitting around waiting for people who fully never had the intention of being there for me to come around.

Second, I wasted too much time being miserable. The job I was at, well we won't get into that...at all...but nonetheless, I was VERY unhappy due to MANY different things. Anyways, I wasted so much time in a place and career that made me miserable, instead of pursuing something more fulfilling. I, unlike many of those that were around me, am young. There is no reason I should be stuck some place like that, in that position, with that pay. No, it was time for me to move on. I was so much better, I expected more of myself, I knew I could do better for myself.

Next, when I first attempted college, my mind was all over the place. I stupidly let my mind follow a boy and worry about him and his future instead of focusing on my own. No pushing the blame here though, the blame is all mine. I should have stayed focused, finished acing my engineering classes and I could have been rolling in money right now. Nevertheless, I obviously did not and am dealing with the consequences from that poor decision.

Anyways, long story short, I'm moving to make big changes in my life. I think jumping into Dallas head first was the right push to give myself. I have no safety net, I'm completely on my own now. I have to survive. In order to survive, I have to push myself, which I have never managed to do successfully before.

It is a scary world out here. More recently "good" friends of mine have completely dropped off the face of the earth. I am sorry for that I guess. Their loss I tell myself. But I cannot chase anyone anymore. For once in my life, I need to look out for myself and what is best for me and my future.

That being said, sorry if I've been a ghost lately, I've just been finding myself for a while. I think I've finally managed to do that though. We will see.

So far....

So far it has been okay....

I try not to stop and think about everything too much though. I literally picked up my entire life, almost as if overnight, and moved a few hundred miles away from my home. My home, my family, my friends, my entire life.

I would be lying if I said I was not still scared to death of what is going to happen with me, my life, my future. I was able to obtain great employment. I have a chance to expand my experience not only on a professional level but in my personal life as well. I am doing things I never thought I was capable of doing or handling on my own. Everyday that goes by at work, I feel as though I am accomplishing something. Something bigger than myself.

I would also be lying if I said I missed home. I do in parts. I mainly miss my friends and family, but other than that, I would never return to that godforsaken city ever again. I had a taste of this place not to long ago. Maybe I knew in the back of my mind I was not here to stay for good then? I'm still not too sure. Either way, I never really got comfortable here when I came, it seems, so long ago. Now, as if effortless, I sank into this city & let it overtake me. I am used to things closing early (bars mostly), I have learned when and where to obtain my hard liquor, what areas to avoid (way easier than remembering the ones back home- considering they outnumber the better areas back home), what areas have the best of the best, food, entertainment, etc. I feel like I have completely submersed myself in this city, never to return home again.

Quite weird.

Anywho, I convinced Robert, & it took quite an effort on my end, to take a ride into Dallas with me on Saturday morning to see the tunnels. I had to prove to him I was not hallucinating. There are tunnels that run beneath the whole city that are lined with endless food courts, shops and boutiques. To me, coming from a place that can't even have basements in the homes, that was amazing. Well, perhaps I should have inquired the days and times the tunnels were opened, because once we arrived, much to my dismay, the tunnels were closed. No proving my point now, I guess.

My trips to The Container Store was less interesting as I thought it would be. I guess I still have too much to tend to at the house before I can take any joy in my selfish pleasure. Although, my enjoyment did last a little throughout the store. A male employee passed me a few times, smiling each time. After the fourth time of passing by he asked "Still having fun?" God, was it that obvious that I was such a dork and was in total ecstasy over the containers surrounding me? Is it normal for anyone to be that obsessed and excited at the same time over containers and other organizational things?

Other than that, my weekend was kind of a bust.

I just finished listening to a bunch of Marines throwing stuff around and undoubtedly breaking stuff in the upstairs of my house. I should have known not much has changed in certain areas of my life. I guess somethings will never change. I have no voice, no say so in most things anymore. I guess I should get used to it.

Anyways, I figured I would update everyone and let you know I am okay. I haven't really been in a writing mood and finally got the internet card up and running again on the laptop so hopefully now my posts won't be so few and far in between.

thinking

I'm sitting here having coffee. I can't help but notice the painting hung on the wall in front of me is slightly crooked. I so badly want to straighten it but I fear it may be frowned upon. This is obviously the most popular place in the city in the morning. There are so many people.

This weekend I have a lot on my agenda. Finish unpacking...tend to the hideous garden and make a game plan for fixing them...the container store... Maybe ikea? We will see. As of right now I do believe the lack of sleep is getting to me.