Wishing & Hoping...

Do you ever have one of those days when you wish it was New Years and you could just start all over by setting new goals to reach for? That's pretty much the kind of month/week/day I'm having. Being an adult is SO confusing and hard sometimes. However, instead of dwelling on everything that is going astray in my life I will make a resolution list as I would in December or January....sure I know it's blazing hot July...but hey...Everyday is the opportunity to make a new ending...so here goes..

Resolutions for now:

1. Plant an herb garden and maintain it. No matter what the cost or stress.
2. Find a church and go to it. Join a small group of people that I can count on to pray for me daily.
3. Lose 10 pounds...(and no, I'm not overweight, but I am not happy with my body right now)
4. Excel at my career. I love my job, now I just need to do everything I can to be the absolute best I can be.
5. Tell my family how much I love them. Everyday.
6. TRY and have more patience. It is SO hard for me.

New Discoveries

May 1st. I have to admit April flew by and is still sort of a blur. Hopefully I'll find some time to post some pictures from Texas, Jimmy Buffett and our first weekend on Topsail Island. But for now I wanted to share some of my newest discoveries!

Most people know me as "the pale girl". I have learned to embrace my "fairness" and be thankful that my hair is red and I don't look like every other girl on the block. However, when the warm air arrives, it sucks to be so pale, so I always try and find new products to allow me a smidge of color. (I do NOT like tanning beds and secretly look down on people who go in them). I've mentioned before that I had a chunk cut out of my abdomen for precancerous cells and am pretty passionate about sunscreen & getting NATURAL color from moderate amounts of sun. Anyway...enough of my rambling, so my good friend Jordan introduced me to an AWESOME product for those of us who don't have time to lay out, or don't tan, or just don't feel like spending $20 on a spray tan. The TAN TOWEL! (http://www.tantowel.com/) I am obsessed!!!!! You can buy them at Ulta or Beauty Brands and they are a miracle product. It's just a presoaked towel that you rub all over (even your face!) and in 2 hours you have a natural, stench free tan! Don't believe me?! I used a towel and the next day at work people actually mentioned how "tan" I looked!! My favorite thing about these towels is that they don't stink nearly as bad as the Jergen's Daily Glow lotion I use or a mystic tan....AND they aren't sticky or gross feeling after you put them on. I've told everyone I know about them...and am even working on convincing my hubby to try one :-)

I know most people already know about my next discovery but I don't watch Bethenny Frankel? Is that her name? My friend Calli brought two bottles of the Skinnygirl Margarita to our Jimmy Buffett tailgate. After one taste...I was hooked!!! I love a good margarita but hate the enormous amount of calories they entail. Not to mention what a pain they are to make at home with all the ingredients...but with Skinnygirl you get all the taste and ingredients in the same bottle...and the whole bottle is less calories than most restaurant margaritas! This stuff has become a staple in my house!

Anyway, just wanted to share my new April discoveries! Hopefully I will be better about blogging in May, but with the nice weather its hard to spend time on the computer :-)

Hey There April!

March was brutal. Cold, rainy with teases of warm sunny weather. I've never been a fan of March and I am SOOO glad it's over. April 2011 has the potential to be one of the best months this year. Here's a sneak peak of all the things I may or may not blog about this month...

1. Weddings!
2. First ever trip to Texas (I've been waiting 27 years for this.)
3. Jimmy Buffett comes to Charlotte
4. Parents house up for sale
5. March of Dimes

I am so excited for this month and look forward to sharing it all on my blog :-)

The Grass Is Always Greener...

This weekend the hubs and I wanted to "get away" from Huntersville. We both have been working a lot (him with 3 jobs and me with 2) and it was starting to make me a little crazy. My only criteria for our weekend getaway was to not go anywhere where there was any relatives or ANY obligations (such as cleaning, checking on the house, etc..etc.) We originally planned on going to Charleston but the weekend Spring rates there are pretty much an arm and a leg so somehow we ended up in Myrtle Beach. Now, I know what you're thinking...Myrtle Beach vs. Charleston? Seems like a no brainer, but the weather was forecast-ed to be beautiful and with a waterfront room for $90 a night we didn't think we could go wrong. I hadn't been to Myrtle since I was 14 years old....and once we got there I remembered why :-) Endless rednecks, bikers, drunk/high dirt bags strolling and stumbling around Ocean Blvd. But, I refused to let all of the above get us down. We shopped at the outlets, hung out at Barefoot Landing/Broadway at the Beach and enjoyed a late night out listening to a great band. We also discovered a gem of a restaurant that if we ever returned to Myrtle (don't hold your breath) we'd definitely go to again. The Flying Fish Market & Grill served up some of the freshest and best seafood I've ever experienced. B and I both got the "Low Country Boil" which is a favorite of mine. I was sort of nervous about that choice, because so many places ruin their "boils" by dousing everything in heavy amounts of Old Bay. But, to my surprise the shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes were absolutely perfect. We sat right at a huge window with great views of the Inter coastal Waterway (and watched the sunset at that :-) It made the trip worth it I have to say.

Ok, so the trip really WASN'T that bad. But it REALLY made me miss my "beach home" on Topsail Island. I've spent every vacation there since before I was born and I can remember times when I would whine about not being able to go to Disney, the "Outer Banks" or even dirty Myrtle Beach. It seemed like Topsail was getting old...too quaint and quiet, too many kids, or not enough places to shop. I'll be honest and say that's one of the reasons I wanted to go to Myrtle this weekend, because I knew exactly what to expect from Topsail and I wanted something different. However, I can now embrace Topsail with open arms and look forward to my small town summer escape. So to wrap things up I guess I got a good ole helpin of "The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side" this weekend :-)

The view from our balcony.

CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMERRR!!

Thoughts for the Day

So today..Tuesday. Shouldn't have been soo bad. But it turned out to be. Just a small list of phrases to describe my day:

$1,000 spent

cat puking all day (not my cats)

cold clouds & rain

horrible reception

heartburn

nanny induced bloody finger

oven burned hand

And that's all I have to say about that. COME ON WEDNESDAY!!

Thoughts for the Day

Sometimes there are bad days. And that is ok. Today didn't start off that rough, but it certainly ended that way. I am not one of those people that can take criticism well, never have been, probably never will be....especially when it comes from someone I love. Today was just that. I was "put in my place" by someone I dearly love. You know how sometimes you just roll through life "kicking asses and taking names" and you think all is well...and then suddenly, you realize you've been running someone over or doing something you were against, without even realizing it? Well...that happened to me today. And all I can really say is that I am SO sorry to this person for hurting her, but I am SO grateful that she was honest enough to tell me how she felt. We all need to be held accountable by our loved ones, and even when it sucks and you end up crying in your sushi (yes really, I was one of THOSE girls today) it is worth it...because it helps me to be a better person. I believe that with every day we are alive, every day we grow and learn and today was no exception.

Reading IS cool!

I have to admit that I was not a huge reader growing up. As the child of an elementary school teacher, you would think my mom would have instilled in me a great love of learning through reading....however, I avoided reading at all costs. I can't remember reading anything more than "Cliff's Notes" in high school and can probably count on two hands the titles of books I have actually read cover to cover. Here goes....Ethan Frome, Sarah Plain & Tall, Cold Sassy Tree, Reba: The Autobiography, The Catcher in the Rye, He's Just Not That Into You, Be Honest: You're Not That Into Him Either, Burnt Toast, Something Borrowed,...ok...so now that I actually have thought about it maybe I have read more books than I thought :-) (In case you were wondering the above list is not a completed one) But, my eyes were not open to good reading until a friend recommended the author, Elin Hildebrand. So, because I got a Kindle late last year I decided I might as well try it out. And so I was hooked. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single book I have read so far that Hildebrand has written. Based in Nantucket, all of the books are written so well that even me, the "non reader" has learned to love reading. My favorite so far is what I have learned to be one of her newest novels, The Island, a story of a mother and her two daughters who spend a summer month together learning to love each others quirks. These books have held my attention more than ANY other books I have read and I can't wait to read all her books. So all you ladies planning to lay at the pool all summer, put down your Glamour magazines and dive into a descriptive, captivating Hildebrand novel. I love these books so much I have future plans to start a book club...and for me that is a HUGE step. HAPPY READING!!!

And as a final note, I saw the picture of Jennifer Aniston's new haircut today...and am now inspired to get rid of my long locks and sport her newest hairstyle. Sure, I'm a total follower of her but who else has more beautiful hair?

Gorgeous Days Ahead

The past week has been a whirlwind of happy moments. A surprise homecooked Valentine's Day dinner cooked yes, by MY husband...an enormous & delicious edible arrangement delivery for my birthday...a birthday "happy hour" with my bff, a 76 degrees & sunny day of shopping with my aunt...mimosas with my favorite ladies followed by a reunion with our good friend (who moved to Maryland last September) for her bridal shower...and not to mention the absolutely incredible early Spring weather we've had. I have "powerwalked" almost every day for a week! Walking has always been my favorite form of exercise...since I am not a runner, and have no aspirations to be, walking is perfect and not to mention a "lifelong" way to exercise. (Minus the joint problems chronic runners are sure to face later in life!) My sweet Grandma has always walked every day, and I am positive that is part of the reason she is still alive and well at almost 88 years of age. I learned how to use a big fancy stroller this week also, which I hate to admit, but gave me HUGE baby fever! I took the little girl I nanny out for walks and she loved it! And I must admit it really was a great workout...my butt/legs were SO sore the next couple days! It's a good thing, because I need to get to working on my bathing suit body :-)  So, I am looking forward to more and more days outside as the weather gets even better. And better weather means the beacccchhhhh!!!! I CANT WAIT!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of Valentine's day tomorrow I thought I would post some of the pictures of the people I love. I had a great weekend...including my first birthday party in 4 years, gorgeous Carolina blue skies and mild temperatures, and quality time with my husband. I am looking forward to this week (my birthday is Thursday!, my aunt and uncle are coming to visit (Homegoods shopping spree!!) and a good friend's bridal shower on Saturday.  Because I am working tomorrow I decided I'd blog today for the holiday. After all, I had a Valentine's lunch with my hubby and MIL after church...so today might as well be the day :-)

 First and foremost-

This is one of my favorite pictures from my wedding. Brandon and I have been together almost 4 years, and every year we have grown into a better couple. I love him more than anything in the world and look forward to all the years ahead of us. 

My sister is one of the most important people in my life. She has been a mother, teacher, mentor and much much more to me. She is truly an inspiration to me in everything she does. We have grown so close these last couple of years and I am so thankful to have her in my life. 

My precious parents! I know I sometimes take them granted...but I am one of the few people in the world blessed with amazing, loving parents. They were high school sweethearts and have been married like 100 years. They taught me about unconditional love and the importance of family love. I have them to thank for guiding me in a Christian life and instilling the values I needed to find my own true love. 

Like Brandon and I, Lindsay and I were "set up" to be friends. We've been best friends pretty much since the moment we met in the NICU. She is always there to listen, laugh, play and be serious when I need her to. We think so much a like that I really can't imagine my life without her. She might as well be classified as my long lost sister AND best friend. I love you Linny!

Note: of course I have other friends that I love too, but for the sake of time & space I only put one of Lindsay and I from this weekend :-)

I never knew how much love I had in my heart for animals. Above is a picture of my sweet Bella. Since adopting my two kitties I have really learned what it means to have unconditional love for an animal. I used to think those people who took they're animals everywhere and spoiled them, etc. were crazy. And now I am one of them. Below is my big guy, Vino...both cats were adopted from the Cabarrus County Humane Society. I HIGHLY recommend this place if you are considering adopting a cat. And PLEASE do...kitties are such wonderful, loving pets and you don't have to take them outside in the cold & rain!

OK, so Vin isn't a classy poser like Bella...but he's a big loving Teddy Bear and such a fun kitty!

Alright, so that about wraps it up. I hope you all have a fabulous Valentine's day and are able to express to those you love that even in the midst of the chocolate, champagne, hearts and roses, that you love them unconditionally, everyday...not just Valentine's day!

All Things Pink

Well friends, Valentine's Day is ONE WEEK from today. Are you ready? NOTE: If you are one of those Valentine naysayers you might as well skip reading this blog entry. I am one of those people that likes Valentine's day. Not only now that I am happily married to my forever lovie, but because it's a special day to show all of the people you love, that you love them. I have fond memories of elementary school Valentine's parties, grocery store rose bouquets from middle/high school boyfriends and of course the smell of the huge red roses my dad has gotten my mom every year. Now that I am married Brandon and I have our own little traditions. Every year he makes me my favorite...chocolate covered strawberries, I coax him to sip sparkling wine with me and we go out to eat somewhere. That may not sound romantic, but we don't need an elaborate show of diamonds, red candles and cherry cough syrup smelling edible body oils to celebrate. One of my favorite things about my husband is that he shows me he loves me every day, not with flowers, candy, gifts, etc...but when he makes me laugh and forget about the bad mood I'm in, or "slaves" over a hot supper for us (even if it is fish sticks and french fries). Anyway, I haven't really been in the Valentine mood yet until today. Look at these finds I discovered to add a little cupid to our house...

 This new fragranced candle from Yankee Candle Co. smells light and slightly rosey, not too strong, but like there's a flower bouquet hidden somewhere in the house.

Kind of a bad pic, but this Valentine tea towel is presh. I got it of course at Homegoods. I like subtle holiday decorations (with the exception of Christmas). AND MY FAVORITE......

So you can barely tell in this picture but these are PINK champagne flutes that I bought at Crate and Barrel today. They are absolutely diva/fabulous/festive. I can't wait to pop the cork on my favorite sparkling wine, Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante next week :-)

And to complete my pink pre-Valentine's day blog entry..

 

Annnnd it's my Friday!

Just a quick little blurb to sum up this weekend/today....

1. I am SO glad tonight is the Superbowl (GOOO STEELERS!!) because football clogging up the good TV channels is a huge annoyance to me. So long meat heads...see you in the Fall!!

2. I had a wonderful weekend at work. I am SO thankful for my job, for the advances in medicine that make it possible for us to save kids that never would have made it even 5 years ago, and for the coworkers I have that make me laugh and try my best in many uncomfortable situations. I NEVER once thought I'd be a "baby nurse" while I was in nursing school, but now I am not sure I ever want to do anything else :-)

3. I miss my family. It's been almost 2 months since Christmas and I REALLY miss them. I think it's time for a weekend trip to Annapolis/Richmond/New Bern. When it's all said and done, family is what's left. 

That's all for tonight, I'm tired...and now that halftime is over I think I'm heading to the bed. Nighty night!

Thoughts for the Day

A few random things I need to get off my mind today while I take an intermission from cleaning my house. 

1. Is anyone else totally grossed out by the "serve yourself" yogurt places that seem to be a growing trend? We have a new favorite yogurt place in Huntersville, Red Mango http://www.redmangousa.com/default.html. The yogurt is all natural, nonfat and its pleasantly a little different than the typical dairy based frozen yogurt. My favorite flavor is Vanilla but Coconut is a close second. My husband loves the Pomegranate flavor. Anyway, I can't stand going there and watching all the snotty little kids handle every single yogurt dispensing lever, and then every single topping spoon. Sure, there is hand sanitizer on the wall but I have NEVER seen anyone use it when I have been in there. Gross. Just gross. I like being able to get how much or how little I want, but I think I'd rather have the teenager behind the counter wear plastic gloves and serve me instead of catch a cold, the flu or worse from one of the hundreds of dirty hands handling the yogurt machines. 

2. Can they PLEASE hurry up on the Earthfare in Huntersville? I am tired of waiting. I need a bright, organized, clean, new inspiration for buying fruits and veggies....which I desperately need to eat more of. I am exhausted of the same old Harris Teeter routine which includes a very small organic fruit and veggie section. Ugh!

3. Puppy vs. Older Dog... so the disagreement continues. B and I have been throwing around the idea of getting a dog for a couple months now. I have never had a dog of my own and really want to add one to our family. We finally agreed on probably a large breed family dog... preferably a golden retriever. I would really like to find a good breeder, pay the money and pick out a precious pup to bring to our home. Brandon however, has had many dogs in his lifetime and has no desire to deal with the "puppy days". He thinks we should get a dog that is already trained and "established". That's all well and good, but I want those special bonding moments of a momma with her puppy...you know what I mean, the snuggling, the careful training, the learning to walk around the neighborhood and the peeing and pooping accidents are just going to have to be a part of that. I don't see what the big deal is, B has never once had to clean out the litter box or cleaned up cat puke. And I am happy to add that to my repertoire. Am I just completely naive? I want to be able to "raise" a puppy to do what I want her too, name her what I want to, and teach her things older dogs may not know or like? Somebody help me plead my case!

Nobody likes a tease

Right?! Today the temperature reached 72 degrees in Charlotte. I cruised in the Honda with my windows down, sunroof open and breathed in the fresh January air. And it was SOOO good. It's so nice to be able to breathe fresh air through my nose without a Breathe Right strip (which will pretty much be part of my routine come Springtime). However, all good things must come to an end ...and its looking like the rest of the week is going to be 40s/50s and wet. Blech. It was a gorgeous weekend, but really Mother Nature, NOBODY likes a tease. 

In honor of the short lived burst of warm air I went ahead and purchased my first Spring accessory... 

 I'm pretty sure this is the best seller of all gradual self tanning lotions. It is certainly my favorite. I have yet to find a gradual self tanner that doesn't stink, but this one isn't THAT bad. It moisturizes well, is not greasy and really does give you a believable color. Unfortunately I have yet to see any part of my body that it has successfully "firmed". Oh well- maybe the magic is in this bottle :-)

I encourage everybody to use more of this lotion and less "fake n bakes" this year. I had a pre-cancerous area removed last year from my abdomen...which has probably had way less sun exposure than my arms/face/legs. It sucked and was actually the very first time I'd ever had stitches. In light of that situation though I found a fabulous new dermatology office (University Dermatology in North Charlotte). 

Final thoughts: Wear sunscreen. And don't be a tease :-P
 

The Weather is Here...

....I wish you were beautiful...

Sorry, I couldn't resist but to post some good old Jimmy Buffet lyrics. I pulled out my cd box set Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads today in honor of the gorgeous weather (65 degrees in January!!!) and also to start preparing for his concert in April. Soooo excited to see one of my favorites with 4 of my favorite ladies!

Speaking of concerts, I am also going to see New Kids on the Block in July. My sister and I are going to make it a "girls getaway" to Greensboro. NKOTB were definitely a favorite of hers, and I loved them because she did. (Little sisters always copy what cool big sister does). Looking forward to the summer!!!

I'm in a fabulous mood today, mostly thanks to my massage therapist, Deana at Modern Salon & Spa. She is AMAZING. I feel like a new woman after seeing her today :-) 

Continuing on with my favorites, I'll go ahead and get on my soap box about Modern Salon & Spa. I LOVE this place. I have had skin treatments, massages, facials, haircuts and styling done at the Phillips Place and Birkdale locations since I have been back in NC. They use Aveda products which are all plant based and leave your sinuses open and your hair/skin smelling soo good. Amy cuts/styles my hair at the Birkdale location and she is awesome. She always listens to me and is almost always available when I need her. I'll list some of my favorite services at Modern as well as some of my favorite Aveda products below. 

http://www.modernsalonandspa.com/ExploreOurServices/Spa/BodyTreatments.aspx 

The Rosemary Mint Body Awakening Wrap us pure bliss. Partly because they rub you down in the Rosemary Mint Lotion which is one of my absolutely faves. I LOVE rosemary (for cooking, planting, fragrance) and the mint in this lotion awakens every sense you have. 

I have also tried the Salt Glow which is perfect for "Summer Prep". Because I have ridiculously dry skin I always have to mega-exfoliate prior to any real or fake tanning. This treatment does JUST that. I like to follow the Salt Glow with a trip to the Mystic Tan Booth...don't just me because I don't want skin cancer!

I've also done the Elemental Nature Facial. I'm not a huge fan of facials, because I hate the way my skin looks gross afterwards (yes, I know its because the impurities are removed but I still think its nasty). However, if I had to do it again I would get this facial because they cater to whatever you want. 

I always encourage people to go to Modern for any beauty service they need because they have given me 110% every time. Yes its a smidge pricey, but worth every penny. I can't wait to go back to try the Coffee Scrub...after the holidays my dimply thighs REALLY need it..haha!

Well, I gotta go start fixing supper for my hubby who has been "in the woods" all day. I never thought I'd marry a hunter...but hey, at least I had a whole Saturday to myself!

Tomorrow I promise I won't be so wordy and post a couple pics!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I am woman that is all about "word of mouth". If I want to know about a restaurant, hotel or product I almost always ask around at work or friends/family about it first. Sure, the internet is full of reviews and opinions, but I don't really care about the opinions and reviews of people I don't know. I mean, they might be a royally bitter person that can never see the good things about anything. So call me exclusive, but I am not an internet reviewer. With that said, I decided I wanted to blog a little about the things I have found out to be fabulous, can't-live-without, and things that I could've done without. Today's reviews...Beauty Products. Here goes...

Beauty Products, The Good and The Bad

Maybelline  Volum Express "The Falsies" Mascara

http://www.maybelline.com/Product/Eye/Mascara/falsies-volume-express.htm

I am by no means a "make up" pro. In fact, I will go days only wearing facial moisturizer, pressed powder and chapstick. However, recently I discovered this mascara and it has transformed my outlook on make up. This stuff makes my eyes really pop, and I've been asked TWICE if my lashes are real while wearing it. It doesn't clump or smudge, even after 15 hours running around at work. I love it so much that I wear it EVERY day now, even on my days off :-) Way to go Maybelline for making such a awesome product!!

Garnier Anti-Dark-Circle Roller

http://www.garnierusa.com/_en/_us/our_products/product.aspx?tpcode=OUR_PRODUCTS^PRD_SKINCARE^SKIN_RENEW^SKIN_RENEW_DISCOVER^SKIN_RENEW_RTN3&prdcode=P19021 

One word. Horrible. I am a chronic sufferer of dark circles and "allergy eyes" so I'm always looking for a good product to reduce the darkness and perk things up. Before a holiday party this past December I ran to CVS and picked one of these up. It was not only expensive (maybe like $9 if I remember correctly) but it totally didn't work. The concealer in it is the oddest color ever. I don't think it would cover dark circles on any skin tone. AND- it didn't "tingle" or make my eyes look fresh or awakened. Then, to top things off, the top cover of it is so freakin' cheap it leaked all over my other make up when I put it away. Gross. Boo Garnier, for your horrible product. 

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Hair Serum

http://www.paulmitchell.com/Products/PaulMitchell/Smoothing/Pages/SuperSkinnySerum.aspx

My favorite hair product! I am generally pretty weary of "serums" because I don't want my hair to look greased up right after I wash it. However, this serum is so light and smells soo good, I can slather my hair up right before I blow dry and it looks perfect. My hair comes out resembling a close cousin of Jennifer Aniston. I love her, and her hair and any product that can make my long scraggly mane look anything close to her lovely locks. Smooth, shiny and wonderfully healthy looking!

Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

http://www.tresemme.com/Products/Fresh-Start/Fresh-Start-Dry-Shampoo/

Another huge screw up when I bought this stuff. For anyone who doesn't understand "dry shampoo" it is a must have product. You basically spray it on your hair, fluff your hair up with your fingers, brush it out and your hair looks fresh, like you just washed it. I started using dry shampoo when I discovered that I was ruining my hair by washing and blow drying every single day. It's perfect for new moms, or people who are in a hurry in the morning and don't have time to wash and dry. I use it a lot before work when I am exhausted. Anyway, I am a fan of Tresemme products and have always had good luck with their shampoos and conditioners. So naturally when they came out with a dry shampoo I wanted to try it. Absolutely NOT good. It had a gross strong smell, was ridiculously sticky and did NOTHING but make my hair feel stiff, sticky and thick after I used it. Do not buy this product. It is not worth the trouble of using, then actually having to wash and blow dry to get it out. Yuck. 

 But, since I think everyone should use dry shampoo here is my favorite....

 Psssssst Dry Shampoo

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp308567/psssssst/instant_spray_shampoo.htm?brand=8364 

I mean, how fun is it to giggle and say that you "Pssssst-ed" this morning? The girls at work and I ALWAYS joke about this, and it's thanks to my bff Linny that I discovered this product and live by it now. Like I explained above, it is a dry shampoo that freshens your hair, gets rid of the grease and gives your head a nice clean fresh smell. Some of you may think it's totally gross to not wash your hair and spray something on it to freshen it up, but TRY IT...I promise you will be amazed. Psssst is featured as an "Allure" Magazine favorite and if you try it you'll see why. It can be hard to find, but I've found it at Walgreen's and Walmart only. It is in the shampoo section near the lice products....don't be alarmed its not used to treat lice :-) 

I love this stuff so much I gave a lot of my female relatives a can of it for Christmas. Trust me...you want to try it! 

I am getting a little fatigued so I will wrap up my beauty product reviews for today. Stay tuned for new reviews coming right up!

Thoughts for the Day

So I'm tired from a long day of answering a million questions shot at me from a parent who has just had her 5th baby. Not just normal, "my baby is early and in the scary intensive care unit" questions, but ridiculous, quirky questions like "Is my baby's wiener really this (as she's holding her pointer finger and thumb about a centimeter apart) small?"...I mean REALLY lady, your baby's genitals should be the least of your worries, oh wait...my bad, you have lost custody of all your other kids...so why are you even bothering to ask me about this baby? UGH...i love my job, but sometimes it can be really frustrating. Especially when parents pick up on your frustrations and either get really angry at you and demand a new nurse, or...maybe worse, continue with their antics.  Anyway, since I'm a little "on edge" tonight here are my thoughts for the day...

1. I may have misjudged myself when I decided to take a second job and work 5 days a week. I REALLY want to lay on the sofa all day tomorrow.

2. American Idol is starting its 10th season tonight and although I promised myself I wouldn't watch, I can't bare to change the channel. I STILL love JLo and Steven Tyler, even though they've stooped to the level of being judges on American Idol.

3. I got my new Spring Boden catalog today :-) :-) :-)

4. I found out today 2 more people at work are pregnant. I am definitely bringing my own water from now on.

Nighty night!!

Banana Legs

When I was little I would go through summer after summer being called "Banana Legs" by my older sis. "Banana Legs" did not describe the shape or color, but the scattered brownish "banana like" bruising resulting from me running into things, picking at bug bite scabs, etc, etc. So, today when I fell face first on our back patio (Damn ice!) which resulted in a scraped up hand and huge purple goose egg on my right knee...I was reminiscent of my banana leg days and thought I would share :-)

Haley Takes Oath As SC's 1st Woman Governor - News Story - WSOC Charlotte

 So proud to be a woman today! YOU GO GIRL!!!

Haley Takes Oath As SC's 1st Woman Governor - News Story - WSOC Charlotte

Sbanksjohnson, The Nanny.

I'm taking on another persona, starting tomorrow morning. I am now the "nanny" of a precious baby girl two days a week. Why you ask? Yes, in my previous post I clearly stated I am not ready for a child of my own. But I do love kids, especially small ones. This is something I discovered when I changed jobs almost 3 years ago. Adults are so bitter, jaded, opinionated sometimes, but children are purely innocent. I love taking care of them at the hospital in their most vulnerable moments, and I am positive I will love spending two afternoons a week caring for a sweet 3 month old. Look forward to the trials and tribulations I am sure to have in learning the art of cloth diapering, as well as developmental milestones going way past what I see in the teeny tiny's at the hospital. Don't worry, I've come a long way since that discharge car seat episode I mentioned yesterday :-)

Speaking of carseats, I browsed through the latest patterns of baby gear today...since babies are obviously on my mind. Isn't this car seat soo presh? http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4421270

I can assure you if I had a little girl (Mollie, Ainsley, Emma Claire?) today, she would be a little diva and this would definitely be her pattern.

Am I the Only One?!

  I never thought this day would come. Chatting with my mother on the phone this morning and we sailed into uncharted waters. My mom said that lately she'd been wondering if she'd ever be a grandmother.....SAY WHAT?! I guess she had seen some precious little one at the grocery store or something and wondered when it would be her turn to play "Grandma". Well Mom, thanks for making me question myself. I have never been the girl who wanted to hurry up and get married just so I could have a baby. I definitely want kids someday, but I guess I just haven't had that "urge?" to procreate yet. I'm not sure if part of this stems from the fact that I am still friends with lots of people that haven't even gotten married, or if it's because I work in pediatrics where I see healthy parents have unhealthy babies all the time. When you work in that kind of environment (granted the babies in my workplace only represent about 1% of all the babies born in the state) you start to wonder...is it even possible to have a wonderful, healthy, beautiful baby? And then if that's possible...what the heck do I do when I get it home? I'll never forget the day I was preparing a family for the discharge of their baby and I had no idea how to #1 set up the car seat and #2 get the baby in it and strapped in correctly. I am a pediatric nurse....if I don't know how to do this, how do regular people know how to do this?! I will never forget that day, and how I said to myself...will I ever be ready to be a mom?

I secretly admire the women I know who just go straight into parenthood without questioning anything. Aren't they scared that their baby will come out with 3 eyeballs? Or will the baby tolerate milk protein? Or will it be 3 years old before it sprouts one hair? Maybe I'm just a worrywart, but I think about these things and it scares me out of wanting to have a baby right now.

Before my mom rocked my boat, my husband and I had talked about babies maybe around my 30th birthday. Whew...3 more years of selfishness. In the meantime, I'll continue to browse the gorgeous baby bedding in the Pottery Barn Baby/Kids magazine, and brainstorm baby names. And of course, be thrilled for those around me with new little ones...after all, if THEY can do it, so can I :-)

Baby it's cold outside

Here's a look at what Charlotte/Huntersville has endured over the past 24 hours. 

Just a few pictures I took from my front and back doors, without having to go outside and freeze. I am NOT a fan of ANY sort of winter weather and am so looking forward to the bright colors, milder temps and warm sunshine of Spring.

I am not a skiier, or "sledder" and have used my ice/snow day today to clean the bathrooms and vacuum the house. I have to admit it's fun to be at home with my husband, who doesn't have to be at his office today. One of the best things about being married I think is always having someone to hang out with...even if for us it means being couch potatoes, drinking full calorie Coke and eating Cool Ranch Doritos all day :-)

There's always tomorrow to burn the calories! (Which I think is also the motto of my sweet kitty, Bella..who has nested herself in my bed all day)

Happy Weekend!

There's something about a Saturday morning that I have ALWAYS loved. Thinking about the prospective activities for the weekend, knowing that if I didn't sleep in today I still have one more day to sleep in and just being able to catch my breath from a busy week. I also love when my schedule works out that I work Friday and Monday and I can pretend I have a "normal" weekday job like everybody else. My plans for the weekend? Probably some retail therapy, a banquet for my husband's work tonight, church and relaxing tomorrow :-)

Enough about the weekend...

My husband and I have been talking about where to travel this year. We went to Hawaii in 2009, Vegas last year, and this year I want to go to a romantic, "Caribbean feel" kind of place. I have never been to the Caribbean, but there's one place I would like to visit first. KEY WEST! I have heard SO many good things about Key West and the different islands, that I've developed a slight obsession with going there. I found an amazing resort this week (pretty pricey but I like to set big goals)...

Little Palm Island, Key West! The resort is Little Palm Island Resort & Spa. Here's the link..http://www.littlepalmisland.com/LittlePalmIsland_home.aspx

We'll see if I make it there this year. Other possibilities we are throwing around...Alaska (a big thanks to Sarah Palin's show for making my husband feel like he MUST go there), Hawaii again or Aruba. We've also talked about going on a Caribbean cruise for his 30th birthday in November. I never have been or ever will be a cruise person. It just doesn't appeal to me to be on a boat with thousands of people, eating from buffets and being on someone else's time table. Anyway, I'll keep you posted! Happy Weekend!!

One step forward, two steps back...

After an afternoon lunch date with my bestie turned into a night of "bar hopping" and drinking WAY too much (on a Monday? really Sarah?!), I am slowly recovering on the couch. I have been so sick today that I honestly almost went to the ER for an IV and some fluids. I know I know, the nurses would totally laugh and point if I really did that, but I'm not sure I have ever been this sick after a night of drinking. So, in the famous words of a hungover person, I am pledging to myself to cut this crap out. I am almost 27 years old, and its pretty much time to stop treating my body like dirt. Sure, I'm not opposed to a glass of wine with dinner or a Christmas morning mimosa..but I REALLY want to try and cut out the drinking for 2011. I'm not sharing this info so people will know how irresponsible I can be, but so I can be held accountable not only by myself, but by others. I personally don't think anyone can TRULY make a change without a little support from the people around them.

2010 was a year full of "reasons" to drink. (Depression, death, divorce, among other things that stirred up my world last year.)

However, it is a new year and I am convinced that 2011 will hold wonderful things for myself and my loved ones. Just like I told my mom on the phone yesterday, odd years have generally been the best years (at least for me). I met my amazing husband in 2007, got married in 2009, so 2011 is destined to go well :-) (And if you're thinking it, no baby...we'll save that for 2013!)


So with that said, here's a look into what I will try to accomplish in 2011... in no particular order...


1. cut the drinking down & out.
2. eating more organic, healthy food (YAY for an Earthfare being built in Hville!)
3. cook at home more often
4. continue to build my relationship with my mother in law
5. be more active in church, and possibly look into finding a new church family
6. adopt a puppy!
7. be nicer and more appreciative of my husband...he is a tremendous blessing in my life and he needs to know it, every single day.
8. go to the beach at least once a month from May to October


That's pretty much it for now..15 minutes til GH! :-)