a few of my favorite things...

I am not dead. I promise. I have just taken a little unintentional break from blogging. I don't really have an excuse either... but to play catch up a little, here are some things I have been loving lately.

Christmas is officially one week away. I know everyone says "I can't believe it's Christmas already, blah blah blah" but seriously...can you believe it's almost here? I feel like it always takes FOR.EV.ER to get here and then, suddenly, it's here. One of my favorite things about Christmas is giving things to people I love and one of my favorite gifts this year was to my favorite "little" brother.
This is Jack. He's a beagle and he stole everyone's heart in 2.7 seconds. It was VERY hard to give him up.

Of course, any and all Christmas-y drinks at Starbucks:

This Christmas candle from Bath and Body Works:

One non-Christmas related item that I have been in love with for a while is a lipstick from Too Faced. They are called La Creme and they are la mazing...too much? Anyway, check them out. They remind me of the ever popular Revlon Lip Butters, but they are better in my opinion. They are pretty pricy, but you actually get a lot more actual product than the revlon ones. I have six shades..... help. (I have Spice Spice Baby, In the Buff, Honey Bear, Sweet Maple, Naked Dolly, and Cinnamon Kiss.)

Another makeup related item I've been loving all fall and into "winter" (not winter to me unless it stays below 70 degrees) is this blush from MAC. It's called "Plum Foolery" and (from experience) it only takes a little bit.

I was just introduced to this stuff by a friend. It's Caren Original's Hand Treatment. I don't know how easy it is to find this brand, but I've seen it in several boutiques around. I'm not big on lotions and such in general (I just don't think about using them unless they are right in front of my face), but this is the best hand cream. The scents aren't to die for, but they're subtle, so it doesn't bother me.

obsessed

I've been crazy in love with this show for a few months now, but I just bought the first and second seasons on dvd a few weeks ago. The obsession is back. It is a show about an aristocratic, British family (and the servants who work in their home, Downton Abbey) and how their lives are changed after the sinking of the Titanic.

I can't even explain why this show is so good, but it REALLY is. Go get it. The third season aired (in England booooo) last month, and will be in America in January. You can pre-order the 3rd season here on Amazon. Check it out!!

never forget

This is a day that will always make me feel a little hollow. It is so very sad to think that there are people in this world who grow up hating the United States and everything the citizens here stand for. I was in seventh grade on September 11, 2001. Even though I didn't know anyone who passed away in the events, its shock waves reached the entire country. I'll never forget that day, even though I was too young to begin have a clue how important everything was. I watched the 2nd plane hit the 2nd tower live from my classroom at Pike Liberal Arts . It is one of those moments I can still picture in my mind. It's engrained there. But that day is not what I like to think about...it is those days following. Even though I was so young I will never forget the way our mighty country stood up and squared its shoulders to face what was the greatest act of terrorism on our soil. As the towers fell, America stood up. And got mad. There were no Republicans or Democrats...we were just all Americans. It was incredible to see. It breaks my heart to think some have forgotten the helpless feelings of that day and those who fought and still fight to make sure we never feel that way again. I thank God that President Bush made it clear who we needed to turn to as a country...God Himself. I will never forget.

absent

I have just realized that I have not posted in almost two months...oops. I wish I could say I have a good and interesting excuse, but I don't. :) My apology is most sincere. Here is something for YOUUUU

society6.com

ohhhh...hellooooooo

here's to the next 365

Last Wednesday was a special day. It was our anniversary. It always seems strange to me that another year rolls around, because it seems like just yesterday that we became MR and MRS. Then at the same time, it seems like we've always been together.

In honor of our anniversary, I decided to post some things about my sweet husband that make this girl smile.

1. He is a man of God. This is 100% the reason we are together: the Gospel.
2. Justin is the most self-less person I've ever met. He is always thinking of others before himself and it is a quality that I have loved in him from the minute I met him.
3. He balances me out perfectly. If any of you know me, you know I can be a little uptight and that I worry about everything. Justin is so laid-back and (I'll admit) sometimes annoyingly care-free. I am a planner and he is spontaneous. He is so good for my crazy.
4. He is not picky. I mean, this guy will eat anything. He'll admit he doesn't like something and still eat it. I hope our kids are like this! haha
5. He doesn't pop popcorn in the house, because he knows the smell makes me gag.
6. I can watch almost every college football game of the year with him.
7. He has always fit perfectly into my family.
8. He is always making me try new things. He makes something he knows nothing about look so enticing. Did I mention he's in sales?
9. He randomly washes the dishes, cooks supper and cleans the entire house before I get home. It always seems to happen on days I needed it the most.
10. He has the best laugh ever.
11. He always sees the good in people first.
12. He can't watch our 2 cats walk across the room without throwing something at them.
13. He has a good sense of humor.
14. It is near to impossible to make him mad.
15. He loves me. And has never been afraid to tell me.

I love you, Justin.

faceeeee

since I haven't posted in a while, I thought I would post another "favorite products" post. I always love reading these when bloggers do them, I want to do another! (Check out my bff's latest one here.)

So, I'll start with my favorite beauty item EVER.

This is the Clarisonic Mia Original (there is now a Mia 2, with 2 speed settings instead of one) in pink.

These things are a little pricey, but I got mine on sale at a boutique in Troy about a year ago. I absolutely LOVE IT. It does a much better job than just your hands and it lathers cleansers beautifully. I actually bought the deep cleansing brush head to put on mine (it comes with a sensitive one, but I felt I needed a little deeper exfoliation).


My next "must-have" is my Philosophy Purity facial wash.

This stuff is really gentle, but still does a really good job. I've been using it for a few years (after I got a free sample from Sephora, yay) and if I have ever (for some reason) tried anything else, I always go back to it. It's simple. Plus, Philosophy's line is always packaged really cute-ly.


Next is my moisturizer.

This is Bliss' Triple Oxygen+C Energizing Cream. The name is a little ridiculous, I know, but I got this at that same boutique in Troy the day I bought my Mia. I have since been through 2 jars of this stuff and I love it. It smells like oranges and it isn't oily or sticky. Perfect.


This is my Pink Grapefruit Scrub by Neutrogena.

I don't need to exfoliate with scrubs as much (enter clarisonic), but I like using this scrub about twice a week in the shower. It's acne-clearing components are good, and it smells HEAVENLY. And it's cheap.


I'll post my make-up later! Woo, this was fun!