product recommendation {faux tan}

i don't recommend product very often. but, once in a blue moon i find something that i love so much, i have to share the information...this is one of those times.

i first learned about faux tan by bare essentuals last summer when my (equally pale) sister used it and i was totally impressed by her natural-looking, yet fake, tan. when spring rolled around, i decided i needed to invest. unfortunately, it truly is an investment, as it's pretty pricey. but, i have found it's totally worth it. plus it's way cheaper than a tanning bed if you are considering that route. and the stuff works so much better than any other sunless tanning product i've used (and i have tried several over the years).

i tried to find photographic evidence...this doesn't do it complete justice, but hopefully you get the idea.

this first photo was taken in june of last year...i'd had some sun exposure and developed somewhat of a natural "tan" (no tanning bed...this was 'dark' for me). 

and then this was taken in may of this year...no tanning bed. any natural sun exposure was with 50 or 70 spf sunscreen. this is all faux. 

if you are interested in purchasing the product, i highly recommend qvc. you get more product than elsewhere, making it a better value, PLUS you get a brush for applying it, which is really awesome (and i think it's exclusive to qvc).

the product is far from perfect. i still struggle around the tough areas (ankles, knees, etc)...but it is by far better than any other i've tried!

complete sidenote: if you look closely, these photos also are a pretty good representation of my weight loss. i didn't realize how much thinner my face looks. 


{{cheers}}

{this and that}

i was very sad to hear about patrick swayze's cancer diagnosis. so sad. i had no idea he was 55 either...seems like dirty dancing was just yesterday!










I went yesterday to the local at&t store to play with the iphone. nice, very nice.











i bought these two things from etsy today. that place is so incredibly addictive. the bracelet was purchased from elsie flannigan's sister. i love it! the barrettes aren't exactly like the ones i ordered because i picked out specific fabric. click on the photos below to check out their etsy shops.

{in the news}

some random thoughts on recent "headlines"...


Sports: Favre Announces Retirement






A sad day in our house...we all loved him. Football won't be the same without him. Not to mention, he's quite the cutie!

Politics: McCain Clinches GOP Nomination












He wasn't my favorite candidate. I did my part (voted), but what can you do?? Oh well.

Entertainment: American Idol Guys ...

Some serious "wow" factor going on last night. I think this might be the best year yet! These 5 are my favorites, but top honors from last night goes to David Cook. Who knew Lionel Richie songs could be rock hits???

life list {accomplishments}

i don't remember exactly when i started this, but earlier this year, i created my life list (things to do at some point in my life). i thought the new year would be a good time to see where i am with it. there are currently 117 things on my life list and so far i have fully accomplished these seven:

• find a site online to backup my digital photos (i'm using flickr)
• own a pair of red high heels (got these for christmas)
• light candles more often
• enjoy honey
• post more photos to flickr
• host a christmas party
• re-read some favorite childhood books

the ones below i've done partially or are in progress:

• participate in, and finish, the 365 photo a day challenge...decided to attempt this for 2008
• learn to make a few dishes well (in progress...i have a few, but want a few more mastered)
• make some fun crafts out of felt (i did some christmas ornaments but want to do more)
• buy a laptop and get wireless (i got wireless at home so i can use my work laptop, but still don't have a personal laptop)
• make more handmade decorations (did some for christmas but want to do more year-round)
• know more about politics so that i can be a more educated voter - in progress, but need to hurry with the primaries approaching, plan to work on this all year until november
• support DHF as it grows - ongoing
• send more cards and handwritten letters - i sent some halloween cards. i did christmas cards but there weren't personalized letters or anything...

that's it...not much, but progress. you can see the full list here. I guess the key to having a list like this is to use it as motivation but not stress out over not doing enough!

yeeeeeeehaw!

I am soooooo excited. I won this awesome market bag on becky higgins' blog. I can't believe it! All you had to do was comment and then she chose one winner...there were 451 comments. I love the bag. If you haven't seen this woman's stuff on Becky's blog yet, definitely check it out. She will make custom stuff and her prices are so incredibly reasonable. Here is her website: Karlee's Kreations. According to Becky's blog, she'll have some new stuff posted after Christmas.

I can't wait to get my bag!!!

{these are a few of my favorite things}

inspired by a local morning radio show, Ace and TJ, who was inspired by Oprah, who was inspired by the song (I guess)... here are ten of my favorite things (not people and the normal things we're thankful for...covered those at Thanksgiving).


computers & the internet

ice cold beer at the end of a long day

DVR (or TiVo...whatever)

Books, bookstores and libraries...love going there

cell phones

music

cheese

scrapbooking, of course!!!

accessories (hats, gloves, scarves, headbands, cheap jewelry, pocketbooks, etc)

porches & patio - no better place to hang out!

{little pink tool kit}

for quite some time i have eyeballed a "little pink tool kit" advertised in the airport. i've studied the brochure and couldn't convince myself to waste a hefty amount of money on such a thing... well...then i got lucky.

it might not be nearly as nice, but spencer's school fundraiser book had this little pink tool kit for a mere $15. happiness! it's perfect for my scrap studio and those little projects i may have (saves a trek downstairs to the garage).

{20 things}

20 Things About Me:

2 everyday things I could not live without: computer & family

2 of my favorite songs (at this moment): hey there delilah (plain white t's) & wake up call (maroon 5)

2 things I want to do before I die: live in what I would consider my dream house & take a really awesome vacation with my whole family

2 things I worry about: would I be a good mother if I had a child of my own? what if something happens to matt? (I'm a worrier by nature, so this is just the tip of the iceburg)

2 stores I shop at: Target (LOVE it) and GAP

2 things that scare me: the thought of being raped (I know, morbid), being a bad mom or stepmom

2 snacks I could eat everyday: mexican cheese dip & chocolate (not together)

2 people I'd be lost without: Matt and my sisters (that's three technically since I have 2 sisters)

2 nicknames I've been given: Thumper & Boo

2 places I want to go on vacation: back to Jamaica or somewhere equally tropical and lovely & Italy

{cool list}

love this list...

Creative Ways to Spend an Hour

(from the Simple Scrapbooks blog)

{new coat}

I've been loving red lately. I want some red high heels and have been wanting a red coat for winter. This weekend, while shopping for Spencer's desperately needed clothes, I got this coat in red. Super fun!!!

photo {cute lizard}

My husband found a lizard living in this silly birdhouse that we have. Immediately seeing the irony of it, he was resourceful enough to come inside and grab my camera!

tagged {7 Facts}

I have been tagged by Melissa

7 Facts about me:
1. My entire family is from up north (despite how proud I am of the South)
2. I love chocolate but usually can only eat a tiny bit at a time
3. I can't stand loud, constant noises (vacuums, lawn mowers, etc)
4. I don't like chicken in my mexican food
5. I'm addicted to accessories (more so than actual clothes)
6. I drive an hour to work, each way, daily
7. For some unknown reason, I have not kept in touch with practically anyone from high school or college (despite living in the same town as my college, and only 1.5 hours from my high school town).

{life lists}

i love lists...always have, i'm sure i always will.

so, today when i ran across this post on ali edwards' website, i had to follow it...which lead me to this post on another blog. from there i discover that a woman has set up a wiki for everyone to join in on her fun. what's a wiki???? i had no idea either...apparently it's kind of like a blog, but you can have groups and you can edit it... so this woman has a life list - things to do basically, large and small. This wiki site allows others to join, post their lists and keep it updated...

so, i had to join in... i am only up to 68 but i'm sure my list will grow....check it out here. the point is to work toward crossing things off your list... here's goes nothing!