Friday, March 7, 2014

Beauty and The Books

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Strangely I have had a few questions about why have I never blogged before well I have in a way but that's for another post. In reality of things, I have been reading. When I say I love to read I mean it. I will find books that I cannot get enough of in my life.

My reading obsession is completely thanks to my mom. She was reading to me when she was three months pregnant. It was her way of calming herself and my older sister Elle Lena is barely a year and half older than me. When I was born mom swears that she said that music did nothing for me but she could put a audio book on and I would stop screaming. 

One of the first things I can remember was when no one would read to me and I got mad and stomp off. I remember sitting in the stairwell of our apartment and making up stories based on the pictures. I made my on little world built inside those pages. I was much like Matilda I finally managed to talk to my older brother into taking me to library and I would give him three dollars of my allowance to take me to the library. He only agreed because there was an arcade across from the library. 

I was four years old when I learned to read because I was sitting on a cushioned bench in the library when a lady approached me and asked was I really reading. I told her yes because in my little mind I was reading. She sat me down later (I would later find out in my life that she was the children's librarian) and started teaching me to really read and I was excited that many of my stories matched what I said. 

Now let's take a minute to appreciate the movie where I decided I was going to become a princess like most all other little girls. It was a movie that is still the love of my life today. This movie is one I can say all of it word for word...




Seriously I was obsessed with this scene. I was also obsessed when she went to the book store and swung around on the ladder. Books, seriously, are my life. Belle instantly became my favorite because she would read and read. 

I did start living a little more as I got older. I was a cheerleader except as soon as practice was over I would sit bundled up on the bleachers reading until someone came to pick me up. I was the girl that dumped her boyfriend when he didn't want to go to the release of another Harry Potter book. My parents got tired of books being everywhere. When I say everywhere I mean everywhere. My shelves were packed and I had started stacking them up in piles along my walls. 

Then came the rough part of my life and I started falling into depression. I lost a lot of my friends and I started drinking and smoking. I would read and for the first time in my life I would cry because of the happy ending. I should have realized it wasn't the books. Books had been my lifeline for so long. 



When I moved away from my parents and went to college things started getting better and I fell back in love with books. I felt comfort in the Seattle Public Library, which is pictured above (and that's my mom's picture of it.) and is pictured below with my pictures. I felt like I was on top of the world and didn't mind spending senseless hours curled up in a chair reading. 






Of course, when Kindle came out and I had a bookstore in my hands that became very dangerous for me. I went crazy. I was still depressed with things within in my family. I realized after hitting a rock bottom for me that I had to get away. My life was excellent minus my family situation, I had even graduated with my Masters early, so I decided to move to mom's home state, Alabama. 

Arriving in Huntsville, was culture shock for me. The library is big come one it's not 11 stories like I was used to back home in Huntsville. I was alone and I threw myself into drinking and reading. Not to mention I was smoking and was rarely leaving home. I was living off the money that my parents sent me. I finally got a job in my dream career as a teacher. My boss was the first one to reach out to me. She got me to quit drinking so much. She showed me that I could rent books from the Huntsville library.

Things have changed around here since I first settled down here. I have a house. I am not depressed at all. I still have the same job. I have excellent friends and my family has forgive and forgotten. Best of all, I have my own beast. He doesn't mind that I spend countless hours reading. The wonderful man even lets me read to him. I had to grow up some to realize my true potential in this world. But one fact remains, books have been by my side the entire taking me out of the reality of the depressing world into ones filled with magic and happy endings.


What's Up with Me 3/6/14

These will be the things that I'm currently using, enjoying, and loving! I'm going to use my cousin's as a guide.



What I'm reading:


Devotion: The Confident Woman Devotional

Book: River Oaks Plantation by B. J. Robinson

What Clothes I Wore and Wearing:





What Jewelry I Wore Today:




What Make-Up I Wore Today:


Highlighter: Cindy-Lou Manizer

How my Hair Looked Today:


French braid with a Pink Bling Strand tucked in along with some of this Glop & Glam to stop flyaways. 

What Polish was on My Fingers Today:



What Perfume I Wore:



What I Used in My Shower and/or My Bath:


The Shower Part:

The Bath Part:


How I Pampered Myself Tonight:




How I Exercised Today:


I stretched including weighted splits and then ran 4 miles today!

What I Taught My Class Today:


We are exploring Ireland this month! This teacher loves having gold and rainbows everywhere!


What My Meals Were Today:


Breakfast: Oatmeal with dried fruit and almonds and cinnamon brown sugar and chia seeds with a glass of water and a glass of special blend of juices (Recipe to come soon.)
Lunch: Turkey Wrap with Apples and Brie and carrot stick and I had apple cinnamon water (recipe for that too coming soon) with it.
Dinner: Pizza pockets, cookies, and Dr. Pepper

What I Snacked On Today:


What I am Watching:


Orange Is The New Black - I just love Netflix TV Shows.... No worrying about missing it!

What Music is Pumping in my Ears:


Thanks to Hunter I have become obsessed with The 1975


What have I Bought Today:


Ummmm nothing.


What Am I Lusting After:


Glitter running shoes....


What Smells Are in the Air:


Wallflower: Sicilian Orange


What I am Thanking God for Today:


I'm healthy, my fiance is doing well, my friends, my family, and Painsley's healing!

What I am Excited About:


Going out of the country!!!

What I am Worried About:


Leaving Frankie for almost two weeks.


What Games am I Playing:


Frozen Free Fall


What Apps I Have Used the Most:


iPhone: Packing Pro
iPad: Pocket


Thursday, March 6, 2014

Life Size






There are many reasons why I love being a teacher. One of the many reasons I love the most is at times I get to go back and be a kid with them. I'm the teacher that plays dress up with them. Most of the time in my room we will wear costumes and act out the book. 

Tonight was a night that I was able to back to my childhood. My mom gave me all of my Barbies when I moved out over 5 years ago. I had put them away. However, tonight when Rain, my stepsister's daughter, was playing with her own Barbies and Hunter's Barbies I couldn't resist playing along with her. I put batteries in everything that needed batteries. My other cousin, Carolina, joined us with her Barbies. 

I was able to show Rain my Barbie magazines. She was fascinated. She was also intrigued at the clothes of some of my Barbies. Some of mine had been handed down from cousins like Hunter's had been as well. So there was some 80's styling going on with the Barbies. Rain loved it. She thought it was so cool at the big chested Barbies and how all of my Ken Barbies looked the same. 

We spent more than hour playing with Rain. She loved that we playing with her. Playing with little ones remind how innocent I once was in my life. I let her keep two outfits because she loved them so much. She was content with playing on her own but loved it when we played with her. I believe I may have to over there play with her more often. I believe it did me and her both some good. 

I know Barbie has been ridiculed in the past. However, in a child's mind there is a good Barbie and bad Barbie regardless. Barbie helps imagination and that is more important. So instead of trying of trying to normalize Barbie. Remember it's okay to dream because you once stop dreaming life doesn't have a lot of meaning.


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Make-Up Scenario Tag


1. You have to get rid of all your foundations and you can only keep one high end and one drugstore, which do you keep?

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1

Estée Lauder 'Double Wear' Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup

2. You go for an interview and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth. Do you approach the subject or ignore it completely?

I wouldn't say anything but I'm definitely licking my teeth and sending telepathic messages....


3. You're not feeling yourself and need a pick me up. Which lipstick do you put on to make yourself feel beautiful?

Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Jewel Lipstick Compact in classic red with YSL Lipgloss


4. You go back in time for a day to your teenage years, how would you do your hair and makeup differently?

Omg what wouldn't I change? Definitely tell myself to get out of bed so I have more time to get ready! More curls less ponytails.


5. You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott hair cut, but they hear wrong and give you a pixi cut. Do you a) Smile, say thank you, leave and call your mum hysterical b) Cry in the chair and things get awkward or c) Complain to the manager and demand a refund.

C. Because I'm a bitch like that.

6. Your friend surprises you with a 4 day city break and you have 1 hour to pack. Which 'do it all' palette do you pack in your makeup bag?

Too Faced Candy Bar Palette - This has got it all!


7. Your house has been robbed, don't worry everyone is safe, but your beauty stash has been raided. What's the product you really hope is safe?

MY GLITTER SHADOW!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a huge collection of glitter from MAC and other places.


8. Your friend borrows your makeup and returns it in awful condition. Do you a) Just pretend you haven't noticed b) Ask them to repurchase it or c) Secretly do the same to something of theirs.


B and C again because I am a bitch.