I don't know what makes people think that being a stay at home mom is leisurely. Even with 2 adult children and a 15 year old, my days are busy. Of course, homeschooling makes a difference, but still...
Since I didn't have to work this week (thank you Spring Break!) we were able to keep up with all the school work E had. It was a good thing too; E had his unit test for algebra, and we needed to do a lot of reviewing. E does great when he does his lesson quizzes, typically getting 90% and above. But when it comes time for his unit test, he gets everything jumbled up in his head and he forgets how to do the problems, getting formulas all mixed up. This time, we reviewed everything from the unit step by step, then he did part 2 of the test first, which is the part that his teacher emails to him and he emails back. That took longer; there were five questions, but each question had three parts to it, and he had to show all his work. It was time consuming, but he got a 98%. Then it came time to do part one which was multiple choice. He wasn't looking forward to it, but once he sat down he found it only took him 20 minutes and he got 100%. It made him feel a whole lot better once that was over.
The rest of the week went pretty smoothly. Yesterday, however, was a stressful and distressing day.
Our dog Molly has been with us for almost four years now. When we found her in our front yard, she was just over a year old, skinny, filthy, and scared. We took her in, and she has been the most loving dog we've ever seen. She is gentle, well behaved, and a great watch dog - she makes plenty of noise whenever someone comes to the door, enough to scare them away! It's been a joy adding her to our family.
A couple of years ago we noticed a growth on her belly. It was almost time to get her tags, so we waited to see the vet at the humane society. She looked at it, and told us it shouldn't be a problem unless it started growing, in which case we should see a vet about it. After a year we did notice it was getting bigger, so we took her to a local vet (the vet who had seen her before had moved out of the area). This vet didn't even examine her; he glanced at her belly, said it was probably blood cancer, then proceeded to give us an estimate of $500 - $700 just to remove it, then it would have to be sent to a lab to find out if it really was cancer. I was shocked and upset at this vet who didn't even take a good look at her or even touch her, so we left. A short time later the growth popped, sort of like a pimple, and it shrunk. We figured it was going away, and left it alone. Over the past year it would grow and pop, grow and pop, and while we kept an eye on it, we didn't think too much of it.
The last few months, though, it has grown very large. It's now bigger than a golf ball, and it bleeds occasionally. Molly has been acting perfectly normal as far as her mood and appetite, but we did notice she's also limping from her right hind leg. The growth and her limp were becoming more and more concerning, so Saturday my daughter and I took her to another vet, one who has been clipping her nails for the last year. This vet asked lots of questions; she did a better job of examining her, though the growth is large enough that you don't have to get too close to see it. Her diagnosis was disheartening: the growth doesn't look good. Yes, it could be benign, but from the description she feels it most likely is cancer. We have scheduled her surgery for a week from tomorrow, and once the growth is removed it will be biopsied. She also told us that, while there is a chance Molly is limping simply because she's overweight (a whopping 82 lbs.), there is the possibility that the cancer has spread into her bones. If that's the case, there is very little that can be done other than chemotherapy, and I've already made it clear to my kids (and they agree with me) that I would never put a dog through chemo. This kind of treatment is painful, weakening, and dogs don't understand why it's happening. I wouldn't want my sweet Molly to think she's being punished, which is what chemo must seem like to a dog. Our prayer is that the tumor is benign, but if it isn't, we will do everything possible to keep Molly comfortable until she can no longer live, or until her time comes on its own. It's not a pleasant thought at all, and I remember how much we suffered when our dog Tobey became ill and had to be put down, but the thought of treating her for cancer is, in my opinion, inhumane. Those that wish to do it to their pets have the right to do so, but I just can't. And it hurts my heart to know that either way she might suffer. It has brought the mood in our home down low, but we trust that God will do what is right. He brought her to us, and He will decide when she needs to leave us.
That's pretty much it. I go back to work tomorrow, and school continues, as does life. There are always stumbling blocks in the road; hiccups in life that we would prefer to avoid but can't. The trials of life help make us stronger and remind us Who we need to depend on. If you think of it, please pray for our Molly to not have cancer. That would be the best news our vet could give us. God bless, and good night.
Showing posts with label weekend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weekend. Show all posts
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Where Have I Been?
I just realized I haven't blogged in over a week. What the heck?! I was supposed to be blogging more often, not less! I've got some catching up to do.
The reason I didn't blog last weekend was because I was barely home. Saturday was grocery shopping day. It was also fair/concert day. One of the local county fairs in South Florida had Danny Gokey and Brandon Heath in concert, and my best friend IV was dying to go. She's a concert junkie more so than I am - I usually tag along with her, though I have to admit I love the Christian concert scene myself. She'd gotten some really cheap tickets too: $5 per person, when the regular price is $18. That's to get into the fair, but both concerts are free once you're inside, so we got to enjoy a really great evening. The weather was perfect too, neither too hot nor cold. There was a nice breeze, and a chill was in the air but nothing uncomfortable. That's a big change from the fair concert last year. We went to see Matthew West and SonicFlood. We got a sonic flood all right: it poured like crazy! We were thankful that didn't repeat itself this year! Our kids went on a gazillion rides while we sang and worshiped with these two incredible artists and lovers of God. We got home at midnight but we had a blast.
Then Sunday I got up early for church - barely got any sleep - and my friend DS asked me if I had any plans for the afternoon. "Yeah," I said, "sleep." She quickly protested and explained why: she managed to get tickets to see Third Day that evening, and the tickets were $15! We hadn't planned on going because ticket prices were $45 and up, and the $45 tickets were not very good seats. I was sure we were getting lousy seats at such a low price, but DS insisted we should go and make a girl's night out of it, her, IV and myself. We agreed. I went home, took a 15 minute power nap, then got ready. When we got there we were all shocked: third row seats! I couldn't believe it! None of us could, really. And who opened for Third Day? Brandon Heath! We got to see him two nights in a row! We were so tired, but so incredibly blessed by the worship, that it didn't matter if I didn't sleep for another two nights!
Monday started our school week again, along with preparations for spring break for work. There was plenty to do and finish up, so it was a crazy hectic week. I'm glad to have this week off, so E and I can get caught up on some of his school assignments - not that he's far behind, but especially his PE class has been put on the back burner in an effort to get all his other assignments in on time. We'll be focusing on that.
Wednesday our Awana group was blessed with a visit from a missionary! This young lady is 20 years old and attended the school that is affiliated with our church. She is now a missionary in Argentina, and she talked to the kids about her experience. They were really interested and asked lots of questions, though the boys were mostly concerned with what kind of food is served in Argentina, LOL!
We had our Good Friday service at 2:00 in the afternoon. I don't know why we continue to have Good Friday services so early. Unfortunately, gone are the days when folks had Good Friday off from work. We had a good amount of people show up, though, and I was thankful. We had communion, then Pastor gave a lovely sermon based on Isaiah 53:1-6 and how Jesus was misidentified and misunderstood. He did an awesome job; we left feeling grateful for the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made for us.
Friday morning I got an email from New York and Company, my favorite clothing store. They were having a huge sale, but we had school to do, and Good Friday service to attend in the afternoon. I went ahead and took a look online, and found some cardigans on sale for $15. I have one of their cardigans, and the quality is outstanding, so I ordered 3 more, along with a couple of tank tops ($7 each) and a pretty top ($15). I don't mind buying from New York and Company because everything I buy from them lasts me a good long time, but I especially like getting stuff cheap!
Today was designated Floor Cleaning Day. I love our dog Molly, but she is a slobberer and a shedder. I cleaned the floors recently, and they looked like I hadn't touched them in months. I got to work mopping the hallway and living room, then looked at the red wall in my living room.
Don't get me wrong, I love the red wall. It's a great accent wall. Except for one thing. My living room faces west. I get no morning sunlight in this room, and in the afternoon I only get sunlight for a short amount of time while the sun is going down. With dark brown floors and dark green furniture, the room looked dark. And I don't like dark.
I'd been thinking about changing the wall for some time, painting it the same color as the rest of the walls to brighten up the room. There's a red wall in the dining room and another in the family room, but those aren't anywhere near as dark looking because the back of the house faces east, and these rooms get lots of sunlight. I decided to check and see if I had any paint left; after all, I'd painted the house back in 2010. Lo and behold, there was a little less than half a can of paint left. I made up my mind and got to work. Here is the end result:
That is one bright room! It's much more cheerful, and that's what I wanted. Now I'll have to schedule a trip to Kirkland's to get some artwork for that wall. It'll have to wait, though. I have to take my car to the dealership on Monday to have it checked out. The steering wheel is making a rattling sound, and it kind of sticks. I hate car problems.
That's it for now. I pray everyone has a blessed Resurrection Day. He is Risen! Glory To God!
The reason I didn't blog last weekend was because I was barely home. Saturday was grocery shopping day. It was also fair/concert day. One of the local county fairs in South Florida had Danny Gokey and Brandon Heath in concert, and my best friend IV was dying to go. She's a concert junkie more so than I am - I usually tag along with her, though I have to admit I love the Christian concert scene myself. She'd gotten some really cheap tickets too: $5 per person, when the regular price is $18. That's to get into the fair, but both concerts are free once you're inside, so we got to enjoy a really great evening. The weather was perfect too, neither too hot nor cold. There was a nice breeze, and a chill was in the air but nothing uncomfortable. That's a big change from the fair concert last year. We went to see Matthew West and SonicFlood. We got a sonic flood all right: it poured like crazy! We were thankful that didn't repeat itself this year! Our kids went on a gazillion rides while we sang and worshiped with these two incredible artists and lovers of God. We got home at midnight but we had a blast.
Then Sunday I got up early for church - barely got any sleep - and my friend DS asked me if I had any plans for the afternoon. "Yeah," I said, "sleep." She quickly protested and explained why: she managed to get tickets to see Third Day that evening, and the tickets were $15! We hadn't planned on going because ticket prices were $45 and up, and the $45 tickets were not very good seats. I was sure we were getting lousy seats at such a low price, but DS insisted we should go and make a girl's night out of it, her, IV and myself. We agreed. I went home, took a 15 minute power nap, then got ready. When we got there we were all shocked: third row seats! I couldn't believe it! None of us could, really. And who opened for Third Day? Brandon Heath! We got to see him two nights in a row! We were so tired, but so incredibly blessed by the worship, that it didn't matter if I didn't sleep for another two nights!
Monday started our school week again, along with preparations for spring break for work. There was plenty to do and finish up, so it was a crazy hectic week. I'm glad to have this week off, so E and I can get caught up on some of his school assignments - not that he's far behind, but especially his PE class has been put on the back burner in an effort to get all his other assignments in on time. We'll be focusing on that.
Wednesday our Awana group was blessed with a visit from a missionary! This young lady is 20 years old and attended the school that is affiliated with our church. She is now a missionary in Argentina, and she talked to the kids about her experience. They were really interested and asked lots of questions, though the boys were mostly concerned with what kind of food is served in Argentina, LOL!
We had our Good Friday service at 2:00 in the afternoon. I don't know why we continue to have Good Friday services so early. Unfortunately, gone are the days when folks had Good Friday off from work. We had a good amount of people show up, though, and I was thankful. We had communion, then Pastor gave a lovely sermon based on Isaiah 53:1-6 and how Jesus was misidentified and misunderstood. He did an awesome job; we left feeling grateful for the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made for us.
Friday morning I got an email from New York and Company, my favorite clothing store. They were having a huge sale, but we had school to do, and Good Friday service to attend in the afternoon. I went ahead and took a look online, and found some cardigans on sale for $15. I have one of their cardigans, and the quality is outstanding, so I ordered 3 more, along with a couple of tank tops ($7 each) and a pretty top ($15). I don't mind buying from New York and Company because everything I buy from them lasts me a good long time, but I especially like getting stuff cheap!
Today was designated Floor Cleaning Day. I love our dog Molly, but she is a slobberer and a shedder. I cleaned the floors recently, and they looked like I hadn't touched them in months. I got to work mopping the hallway and living room, then looked at the red wall in my living room.
Don't get me wrong, I love the red wall. It's a great accent wall. Except for one thing. My living room faces west. I get no morning sunlight in this room, and in the afternoon I only get sunlight for a short amount of time while the sun is going down. With dark brown floors and dark green furniture, the room looked dark. And I don't like dark.
I'd been thinking about changing the wall for some time, painting it the same color as the rest of the walls to brighten up the room. There's a red wall in the dining room and another in the family room, but those aren't anywhere near as dark looking because the back of the house faces east, and these rooms get lots of sunlight. I decided to check and see if I had any paint left; after all, I'd painted the house back in 2010. Lo and behold, there was a little less than half a can of paint left. I made up my mind and got to work. Here is the end result:
That is one bright room! It's much more cheerful, and that's what I wanted. Now I'll have to schedule a trip to Kirkland's to get some artwork for that wall. It'll have to wait, though. I have to take my car to the dealership on Monday to have it checked out. The steering wheel is making a rattling sound, and it kind of sticks. I hate car problems.
That's it for now. I pray everyone has a blessed Resurrection Day. He is Risen! Glory To God!
Monday, March 23, 2015
Monday, Monday
How quickly our time off ends, how slowly our work week progresses...
It's back to school today, and no, my son isn't looking forward to it. While he much prefers homeschooling, he hates the fact that his friends are off from school this week for spring break. I'm sure it won't be as bad as he thinks; thanks to technology, he's able to play games and chat with his buddies without having to leave the house. Boy, it sure was different when I was growing up! The most I could do was talk on the phone, and since there was only one line (no call waiting back then) my dad would get mad if we were on the phone more than 10 minutes. His logic was, phones should only be used in emergencies. If you want to talk to people, go see them in person. I don't think my dad would approve of the texting generation.
My face was still broken out on Saturday despite taking Benadryl the night before, which was weird, but it wasn't spreading or getting worse, so I did my normal morning routine. The only thing I left out was the Mineralixer oil from Bare Minerals I've been trying out; I figured it was the newest thing I'd added to my skincare regimen so I should leave it out.
I woke up with a ton of energy. I started cleaning the hallway bathroom and looked at the walls. When we remodeled the bathrooms back in 2009, I'd painted the hall bathroom in an olive-y kind of green. I love color, and I'm not afraid to use darker tones on the walls. It looked pretty when I first did it, but after 6 years the paint was looking dull and dirty. Add to that the fact that this is the room where my daughter does her makeup, and she complains that there isn't enough light in the bathroom. I tried doing my makeup in there, and I had to agree. So I looked through the paints I had in the garage, and found some leftover tan color paint from my bedroom. It's a color I like to call "cafe con leche" (coffee with milk). While it isn't necessarily a light color, it is lighter than the green, and any amount of lightness would help. It's a tiny bathroom, so it neither needed much paint nor time, but it's hard to paint because it is so small a space. Getting the ladder around was tricky, and the paint tray had to stay in the hallway because it wouldn't fit in the bathroom. Still, it got done in about an hour, and it looks nice and clean. The color isn't bold like the green was, but I think my daughter will appreciate the brightness a lighter color brings.
I got both bathrooms cleaned, then went back to Pep Boys to get my tires balanced. I'd gotten new tires last Sunday, and when I got on the expressway Thursday for my hair appointment, the car was shaking like there was an earthquake. Scared me a bit, I've got to say. So I had that taken care of, then headed over to Payless Shoe Source. I had a 15% off coupon so I figured it wouldn't hurt to see what they had. Lately I'd been disappointed with the selection at Payless; the shoes were overpriced knock-offs that weren't comfortable or even pretty. This time I had a much better experience. They've got their summer sandals and shoes, and I found two pairs of wedges that are not only cute but very comfy to walk around in! The selection at this particular Payless was slim - I don't know if they haven't received the newer stock or if they sold out - but I got a pair in black with brown straps and a pair in a nice cream color with espadrille heels.
I especially love the black ones! I wore them to church yesterday and they are super comfortable to walk in!
Sunday morning, very first thing in the morning, I got a visit from my monthly friend. There went my energy level, down the drain. I was dragging my feet all day yesterday. My stomach felt like it had rocks in it, my back was achy and I sat around doing nothing - well no, not exactly nothing; I did a bunch of laundry. I still have to fold it, though. But at least the day wasn't a total waste.
One thing I did notice this morning - the breakout on my face has almost completely disappeared, which means it wasn't an allergy like I'd thought. It was purely hormonal. It's rough being a girl, let me tell you.
It's just about time to start school, so I say farewell for now, and to all, have a blessed week.
It's back to school today, and no, my son isn't looking forward to it. While he much prefers homeschooling, he hates the fact that his friends are off from school this week for spring break. I'm sure it won't be as bad as he thinks; thanks to technology, he's able to play games and chat with his buddies without having to leave the house. Boy, it sure was different when I was growing up! The most I could do was talk on the phone, and since there was only one line (no call waiting back then) my dad would get mad if we were on the phone more than 10 minutes. His logic was, phones should only be used in emergencies. If you want to talk to people, go see them in person. I don't think my dad would approve of the texting generation.
My face was still broken out on Saturday despite taking Benadryl the night before, which was weird, but it wasn't spreading or getting worse, so I did my normal morning routine. The only thing I left out was the Mineralixer oil from Bare Minerals I've been trying out; I figured it was the newest thing I'd added to my skincare regimen so I should leave it out.
I woke up with a ton of energy. I started cleaning the hallway bathroom and looked at the walls. When we remodeled the bathrooms back in 2009, I'd painted the hall bathroom in an olive-y kind of green. I love color, and I'm not afraid to use darker tones on the walls. It looked pretty when I first did it, but after 6 years the paint was looking dull and dirty. Add to that the fact that this is the room where my daughter does her makeup, and she complains that there isn't enough light in the bathroom. I tried doing my makeup in there, and I had to agree. So I looked through the paints I had in the garage, and found some leftover tan color paint from my bedroom. It's a color I like to call "cafe con leche" (coffee with milk). While it isn't necessarily a light color, it is lighter than the green, and any amount of lightness would help. It's a tiny bathroom, so it neither needed much paint nor time, but it's hard to paint because it is so small a space. Getting the ladder around was tricky, and the paint tray had to stay in the hallway because it wouldn't fit in the bathroom. Still, it got done in about an hour, and it looks nice and clean. The color isn't bold like the green was, but I think my daughter will appreciate the brightness a lighter color brings.
I got both bathrooms cleaned, then went back to Pep Boys to get my tires balanced. I'd gotten new tires last Sunday, and when I got on the expressway Thursday for my hair appointment, the car was shaking like there was an earthquake. Scared me a bit, I've got to say. So I had that taken care of, then headed over to Payless Shoe Source. I had a 15% off coupon so I figured it wouldn't hurt to see what they had. Lately I'd been disappointed with the selection at Payless; the shoes were overpriced knock-offs that weren't comfortable or even pretty. This time I had a much better experience. They've got their summer sandals and shoes, and I found two pairs of wedges that are not only cute but very comfy to walk around in! The selection at this particular Payless was slim - I don't know if they haven't received the newer stock or if they sold out - but I got a pair in black with brown straps and a pair in a nice cream color with espadrille heels.
I especially love the black ones! I wore them to church yesterday and they are super comfortable to walk in!
Sunday morning, very first thing in the morning, I got a visit from my monthly friend. There went my energy level, down the drain. I was dragging my feet all day yesterday. My stomach felt like it had rocks in it, my back was achy and I sat around doing nothing - well no, not exactly nothing; I did a bunch of laundry. I still have to fold it, though. But at least the day wasn't a total waste.
One thing I did notice this morning - the breakout on my face has almost completely disappeared, which means it wasn't an allergy like I'd thought. It was purely hormonal. It's rough being a girl, let me tell you.
It's just about time to start school, so I say farewell for now, and to all, have a blessed week.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
What's Been Going On
I really did want to post about my wildly wonderful weekend, but it was nonstop every minute of every day, and I just wasn't able to sit down long enough to post. Even yesterday and today have been busy, but I figured if I didn't post now I might forget everything I want to include.
Thursday night our church started its yearly carnival, but none of us went. It was in the 30's - yes, here in South Florida! - with winds making it even colder. Floridians don't do well in 35 degree weather. We weren't even going to take a chance.
Friday morning I went to the women's bible study group at church. I'd been attending on Thursday nights, but with my new job there's no way I can make it there on time. Thankfully there's a group that meets Friday mornings, but they're a week ahead of the Thursday group, which means I missed chapter 6! I'm hoping there will be a makeup class like they've done before, so I can watch the classes I missed. My youngest son went to the carnival that night while my daughter, best friend and I headed to the Chris Tomlin concert. It was the first stop on the Love Ran Red tour, and we were excited to be there! Unfortunately we missed the first act, Rend Collective, thanks to the insane traffic (which is why I make it a point to never go into Miami). When we finally made it to the venue, Tenth Avenue North was on. They're a local band, from West Palm Beach, so they're always enthusiastically welcomed back home to South Florida! We had floor seats so we were able to watch up close and personal. It was totally amazing! I love the idea of spending eternity in heaven worshiping God with Chris Tomlin leading worship!
My son went back to the carnival on Saturday, but I took that time to get some housework caught up and run some errands. I went to Target to find myself a belt for my jeans, and some ballet flats like a pair I'd gotten a couple weeks ago that were really comfortable. I got 3 belts, 2 pairs of shoes, 4 tops that were on sale, a wallet, and a nail polish. That's the problem with Target. It's like Lay's Potato Chips: you can't get just one (item).
Then Sunday, after church, we ran home and got ready to see Tim Hawkins. He is my all-time favorite comedian, the funniest man on earth in my opinion. I would highly recommend anyone who hasn't heard Tim Hawkins to check him out on YouTube. I love the fact that he's a Christian so none of his comedy is raunchy or inappropriate. My son was happy to miss the last day of the carnival for Tim Hawkins! I'm thankful that I can cross that off my bucket list - though I wouldn't hesitate to see him live again!
Work is going really well. I'm slowly getting the hang of how everything works, though I still get some of the teacher's names confused and I don't know most of the students. Everyone is being patient and helpful, which helps me feel more relaxed. Today I was brought in to see a couple of students being tested. The school director/owner wants me to become familiarized with the testing procedure so that I can administer tests in the future. Tests are given to new students to determine their grade levels and choose the appropriate curriculum to work with. There's reading and math tests; the reading test shows whether the child can read and what their level of comprehension is, while the math test is very detailed and intricate. Most kids who come into the center are having trouble with math, so that is a big focus. There are students as young as kindergarteners, all the way up to college and everything in between. I'm enjoying the kids as well as the environment.
My dress arrived today! I ordered a gorgeous little black velvet dress from New York and Company last week for a wedding my daughter and I are attending on Saturday. I wasn't sure how it would fit, even though all the dresses I've bought from NY&Co. lately have been size 10. I don't like ordering clothes online because I hate the hassle of having to ship it back if it doesn't fit, especially after waiting a week for it to arrive, but this dress was only available online. It was on clearance too - originally $79.99, I paid $23.98 for it, a deal I wasn't going to find at the actual store. I nervously tried it on, and I'm thrilled to say it fits perfectly! It's the right length, right on the knee. It's also my favorite style, fit and flare. I'm so relieved it fits, because I couldn't find anything at the stores, and there's no time to go out looking for another dress. This one worked out splendidly!
Homeschooling is also going well. My son is working on polynomials, ocean currents, and learning all about classical music. It's diverse and interesting. He's also working on his community project hours by preparing plastic eggs for the church's Easter Egg Hunt. They put out thousands of eggs, some with prizes inside, and they also give out candy to all the children. We're probably going to help with the candy bags as well, when Easter gets a bit closer.
That's my recap for the weekend. Tomorrow I'm teaching at Awana. I'm kind of nervous, because I don't feel like I've prepared enough, but Lord willing everything will go smoothly. I've been keeping to my schedule and managing my time wisely, so that, even though I'm busy, I'm able to get everything done. Until next time, good night and God bless.
Thursday night our church started its yearly carnival, but none of us went. It was in the 30's - yes, here in South Florida! - with winds making it even colder. Floridians don't do well in 35 degree weather. We weren't even going to take a chance.
Friday morning I went to the women's bible study group at church. I'd been attending on Thursday nights, but with my new job there's no way I can make it there on time. Thankfully there's a group that meets Friday mornings, but they're a week ahead of the Thursday group, which means I missed chapter 6! I'm hoping there will be a makeup class like they've done before, so I can watch the classes I missed. My youngest son went to the carnival that night while my daughter, best friend and I headed to the Chris Tomlin concert. It was the first stop on the Love Ran Red tour, and we were excited to be there! Unfortunately we missed the first act, Rend Collective, thanks to the insane traffic (which is why I make it a point to never go into Miami). When we finally made it to the venue, Tenth Avenue North was on. They're a local band, from West Palm Beach, so they're always enthusiastically welcomed back home to South Florida! We had floor seats so we were able to watch up close and personal. It was totally amazing! I love the idea of spending eternity in heaven worshiping God with Chris Tomlin leading worship!
My son went back to the carnival on Saturday, but I took that time to get some housework caught up and run some errands. I went to Target to find myself a belt for my jeans, and some ballet flats like a pair I'd gotten a couple weeks ago that were really comfortable. I got 3 belts, 2 pairs of shoes, 4 tops that were on sale, a wallet, and a nail polish. That's the problem with Target. It's like Lay's Potato Chips: you can't get just one (item).
Then Sunday, after church, we ran home and got ready to see Tim Hawkins. He is my all-time favorite comedian, the funniest man on earth in my opinion. I would highly recommend anyone who hasn't heard Tim Hawkins to check him out on YouTube. I love the fact that he's a Christian so none of his comedy is raunchy or inappropriate. My son was happy to miss the last day of the carnival for Tim Hawkins! I'm thankful that I can cross that off my bucket list - though I wouldn't hesitate to see him live again!
Work is going really well. I'm slowly getting the hang of how everything works, though I still get some of the teacher's names confused and I don't know most of the students. Everyone is being patient and helpful, which helps me feel more relaxed. Today I was brought in to see a couple of students being tested. The school director/owner wants me to become familiarized with the testing procedure so that I can administer tests in the future. Tests are given to new students to determine their grade levels and choose the appropriate curriculum to work with. There's reading and math tests; the reading test shows whether the child can read and what their level of comprehension is, while the math test is very detailed and intricate. Most kids who come into the center are having trouble with math, so that is a big focus. There are students as young as kindergarteners, all the way up to college and everything in between. I'm enjoying the kids as well as the environment.
My dress arrived today! I ordered a gorgeous little black velvet dress from New York and Company last week for a wedding my daughter and I are attending on Saturday. I wasn't sure how it would fit, even though all the dresses I've bought from NY&Co. lately have been size 10. I don't like ordering clothes online because I hate the hassle of having to ship it back if it doesn't fit, especially after waiting a week for it to arrive, but this dress was only available online. It was on clearance too - originally $79.99, I paid $23.98 for it, a deal I wasn't going to find at the actual store. I nervously tried it on, and I'm thrilled to say it fits perfectly! It's the right length, right on the knee. It's also my favorite style, fit and flare. I'm so relieved it fits, because I couldn't find anything at the stores, and there's no time to go out looking for another dress. This one worked out splendidly!
Homeschooling is also going well. My son is working on polynomials, ocean currents, and learning all about classical music. It's diverse and interesting. He's also working on his community project hours by preparing plastic eggs for the church's Easter Egg Hunt. They put out thousands of eggs, some with prizes inside, and they also give out candy to all the children. We're probably going to help with the candy bags as well, when Easter gets a bit closer.
That's my recap for the weekend. Tomorrow I'm teaching at Awana. I'm kind of nervous, because I don't feel like I've prepared enough, but Lord willing everything will go smoothly. I've been keeping to my schedule and managing my time wisely, so that, even though I'm busy, I'm able to get everything done. Until next time, good night and God bless.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Weekend Recap
Since I spent the weekend running around like a madwoman with a mission, I decided one post to recap everything would be enough. It's easier for me, I think. As long as I remember where I've been and what I've done ;-).
Saturday started off early. We were attending a baby shower for a sweet friend who is visiting from Sweden. She's almost 5 months pregnant with her first child, a little boy, and my daughter and I were excited to share in this special time with her. The baby shower was a brunch, which started at 11:00. That meant I had to have breakfast, get ready, and leave something for my son to eat so he wouldn't burn down the house while we were gone. I wore an outfit that I consider to be casual and trendy: a white sweater with a light grey hot air balloon motif all over, a burgundy tank top underneath, a pair of "boyfriend" jeans (skinny jeans slightly rolled up at the hem) and tan high heeled sandals. I'm the type that likes to get dressed up, but my daughter said everyone would be wearing jeans because it was a very casual get together, so I dressed accordingly. My daughter and I both got the baby a couple of outfits, but when we went to pack the gifts we found only Christmas themed boxes and gift bags. So we stopped off at CVS and bought one bag for everything, then headed over to the shower, which wasn't far from our house. We were among the first to get there; the pregnant girl's mom and grandma were there, along with a cousin and a friend from church. Everyone was dressed up. I felt like an oddball. Yes, the hostess was wearing jeans, but she's a mom of a toddler and was cooking up a storm, so she doesn't count. As more people started coming in, I noticed more ladies in dresses or dress pants. I mentioned it to my daughter, but she insisted it was still "casual". I'm not buying it.
We did have a really good time, playing the standard baby shower games and eating delicious food. The menu was chicken and waffles. The waffles were made fresh right there, and there were all kinds of toppings: whipped cream, blueberries, strawberries, chocolate chips, and of course syrup. I didn't have any of it. Instead, I went directly to the shrimp and pasta salad. Oh.my.word. It was out of this world! I had me two servings, along with chicken and pastries. I didn't want to overdo it with the carbs, and having pasta as well as waffles would have meant rolling me out the door. I'm glad I stuck with just one.
While we were gone E got picked up by his dad, so when A and I got home we decided to go to Target. I needed a belt for my jeans; even though I'd bought a size 6 they were still big at the waist. I also needed to buy towels. Ours are old and worn, and they get stinky really fast which is annoying. I found some nice towels, some on sale and some not, then we passed by the shoe section. My daughter saw that they had boots for 70% off so of course she had to stop and check them out, because we all know how vital it is to have boots in South Florida :P. I looked around and found a cute pair of ballet flats in a beige and black stripe design for $16.99. They are so comfy! I also went to the makeup section and got a few nail polishes that were on sale, and a brow pencil/gel. I've been wanting a brow pencil because lately I've noticed that some of my eyebrows are turning bright white, and against my black brows it isn't attractive. I got brunette, since my hair is dyed auburn, to help the brows match my hair. My daughter didn't find any boots she liked, but she did find a comforter set in white that she fell in love with. Her bedroom is pretty dark; dark wood floors, deep purple and grey walls, dark wood furniture. The white bedding brightens up the room and makes it look luxurious, like she's in a 5 star hotel. While we were at the store E texted me that he was back home, so we quickly paid for our goods and left. As soon as we were on the expressway, I realized I'd forgotten to buy the belt, which was the primary reason for going to Target in the first place. Don't you just love it when that happens?
Today also started early, with Sunday school at 9:30 (except I got there at 10:00. Running late this morning again). After service - which was awesome - we had a meet and greet with our new youth pastor. He's been the youth pastor at our sister church for the past 9 years, and now he's taking over the youth ministry at our location as well. I was so impressed by his philosophy and his goals, and very encouraged by the lessons he's teaching the next few weeks. He's doing a series called King, in which the youth group is studying several of Jesus's attributes: His sovereignty, His holiness, His goodness, His justice and His love. This pastor is all about bible teaching, which is what I wanted to hear. I'm looking forward to helping out in the youth ministry once Awana is done and summer rolls around.
There was a pizza lunch served, but my son E, who was hanging around with his friends and got there late, didn't get to eat anything, so we left after the meeting and ran home. I made him a quick lunch, then we headed to the bowling alley for his best friend's birthday celebration. I had to change out of my church clothes; there was no way I was going bowling in a dress and high heels. I wore the skinny jeans I got on Friday along with a hunter green tank top, a long black sweater and my new ballet flats. Casual and comfy! My daughter also went, and so did my Tuesday night running buddy. The three of us played a couple of games; it was clear that I hadn't played in a while. I was pretty rusty, though I didn't do quite so bad on my first game as on the second. I scored a 70 for the first game; the second game I got a 14. We only got to play 6 frames before we ran out of time, but still, a 14?! I had 3 gutter balls in a row! My running buddy did terrible for the first game, then did much better for the second game. I guess that evened things out ;-). Another lady that I've met previously at IV's house (it was IV's son's birthday) was also there. She's a real spit-fire, and I love talking to her! We all had a really nice time bowling, eating, talking, laughing, and just plain fellowshipping. It's the perfect way to end a weekend.
And so, that's pretty much it. I'm gonna wash my face (my makeup was on point, by the way), change out of these clothes, and relax before studying for my Thursday night bible study. I'm studying chapter 4 of Daniel, when King Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind. So much to learn! Tomorrow starts the new school week. Back to the old grind! But I'm thankful for my life and all the blessings God bestows upon me each day. God bless ya'll, and good night.
Saturday started off early. We were attending a baby shower for a sweet friend who is visiting from Sweden. She's almost 5 months pregnant with her first child, a little boy, and my daughter and I were excited to share in this special time with her. The baby shower was a brunch, which started at 11:00. That meant I had to have breakfast, get ready, and leave something for my son to eat so he wouldn't burn down the house while we were gone. I wore an outfit that I consider to be casual and trendy: a white sweater with a light grey hot air balloon motif all over, a burgundy tank top underneath, a pair of "boyfriend" jeans (skinny jeans slightly rolled up at the hem) and tan high heeled sandals. I'm the type that likes to get dressed up, but my daughter said everyone would be wearing jeans because it was a very casual get together, so I dressed accordingly. My daughter and I both got the baby a couple of outfits, but when we went to pack the gifts we found only Christmas themed boxes and gift bags. So we stopped off at CVS and bought one bag for everything, then headed over to the shower, which wasn't far from our house. We were among the first to get there; the pregnant girl's mom and grandma were there, along with a cousin and a friend from church. Everyone was dressed up. I felt like an oddball. Yes, the hostess was wearing jeans, but she's a mom of a toddler and was cooking up a storm, so she doesn't count. As more people started coming in, I noticed more ladies in dresses or dress pants. I mentioned it to my daughter, but she insisted it was still "casual". I'm not buying it.
We did have a really good time, playing the standard baby shower games and eating delicious food. The menu was chicken and waffles. The waffles were made fresh right there, and there were all kinds of toppings: whipped cream, blueberries, strawberries, chocolate chips, and of course syrup. I didn't have any of it. Instead, I went directly to the shrimp and pasta salad. Oh.my.word. It was out of this world! I had me two servings, along with chicken and pastries. I didn't want to overdo it with the carbs, and having pasta as well as waffles would have meant rolling me out the door. I'm glad I stuck with just one.
While we were gone E got picked up by his dad, so when A and I got home we decided to go to Target. I needed a belt for my jeans; even though I'd bought a size 6 they were still big at the waist. I also needed to buy towels. Ours are old and worn, and they get stinky really fast which is annoying. I found some nice towels, some on sale and some not, then we passed by the shoe section. My daughter saw that they had boots for 70% off so of course she had to stop and check them out, because we all know how vital it is to have boots in South Florida :P. I looked around and found a cute pair of ballet flats in a beige and black stripe design for $16.99. They are so comfy! I also went to the makeup section and got a few nail polishes that were on sale, and a brow pencil/gel. I've been wanting a brow pencil because lately I've noticed that some of my eyebrows are turning bright white, and against my black brows it isn't attractive. I got brunette, since my hair is dyed auburn, to help the brows match my hair. My daughter didn't find any boots she liked, but she did find a comforter set in white that she fell in love with. Her bedroom is pretty dark; dark wood floors, deep purple and grey walls, dark wood furniture. The white bedding brightens up the room and makes it look luxurious, like she's in a 5 star hotel. While we were at the store E texted me that he was back home, so we quickly paid for our goods and left. As soon as we were on the expressway, I realized I'd forgotten to buy the belt, which was the primary reason for going to Target in the first place. Don't you just love it when that happens?
Today also started early, with Sunday school at 9:30 (except I got there at 10:00. Running late this morning again). After service - which was awesome - we had a meet and greet with our new youth pastor. He's been the youth pastor at our sister church for the past 9 years, and now he's taking over the youth ministry at our location as well. I was so impressed by his philosophy and his goals, and very encouraged by the lessons he's teaching the next few weeks. He's doing a series called King, in which the youth group is studying several of Jesus's attributes: His sovereignty, His holiness, His goodness, His justice and His love. This pastor is all about bible teaching, which is what I wanted to hear. I'm looking forward to helping out in the youth ministry once Awana is done and summer rolls around.
There was a pizza lunch served, but my son E, who was hanging around with his friends and got there late, didn't get to eat anything, so we left after the meeting and ran home. I made him a quick lunch, then we headed to the bowling alley for his best friend's birthday celebration. I had to change out of my church clothes; there was no way I was going bowling in a dress and high heels. I wore the skinny jeans I got on Friday along with a hunter green tank top, a long black sweater and my new ballet flats. Casual and comfy! My daughter also went, and so did my Tuesday night running buddy. The three of us played a couple of games; it was clear that I hadn't played in a while. I was pretty rusty, though I didn't do quite so bad on my first game as on the second. I scored a 70 for the first game; the second game I got a 14. We only got to play 6 frames before we ran out of time, but still, a 14?! I had 3 gutter balls in a row! My running buddy did terrible for the first game, then did much better for the second game. I guess that evened things out ;-). Another lady that I've met previously at IV's house (it was IV's son's birthday) was also there. She's a real spit-fire, and I love talking to her! We all had a really nice time bowling, eating, talking, laughing, and just plain fellowshipping. It's the perfect way to end a weekend.
And so, that's pretty much it. I'm gonna wash my face (my makeup was on point, by the way), change out of these clothes, and relax before studying for my Thursday night bible study. I'm studying chapter 4 of Daniel, when King Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind. So much to learn! Tomorrow starts the new school week. Back to the old grind! But I'm thankful for my life and all the blessings God bestows upon me each day. God bless ya'll, and good night.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
First Weekend of December
"It's the weekend. Finally." I wonder why people say that. It gives the impression that weekends are relaxing. That may be true for some people, but not for moms. Moms are busy 24/7/365.
Today was grocery shopping day. I'm starting a new system of grocery shopping every 2 weeks instead of weekly. It involves plenty of planning so I don't have to run to the store every couple of days because Oops! I forgot something. It means menus for two weeks, careful examination of what's already in our pantry, and a precise list. I did it two weeks ago, and not only did I save money, I didn't make any trips to the grocery store; the one time I realized I'd run out of green peppers, I improvised and used half of a red pepper I had in the fridge. It worked. I avoided the stores all Thanksgiving week and especially on the dreaded Black Friday.
I'd been to Winn-Dixie on Thursday to find specials, and left disappointed. I managed to get a few things, $20 worth. My goal is to spend no more than $300 for the two weeks; a hefty goal for a family of four, but I've found it's attainable. Since I'd already spent $20, I wanted to stay under $270. That way there would be $10 left in the budget for emergencies. I hit Walmart first - I not only needed food, there were a few cleaning items like floor cleaner and furniture polish I had to pick up, toothpaste, hair dye, that sort of stuff. I spent a total of $125, but since my cousin had paid me $20 for taking her kids to karate last month (she didn't need to; I love taking the kids for her. She insisted. I relented) I spent $105 from my food budget money.
Then I went to Costco. I needed to return a meat thermometer - oh, I have to tell this story! About a month before Thanksgiving, I found a meat thermometer with a small timer at Costco for $20. I'd seen Alton Brown use a similar one in one of his Thanksgiving Good Eats episodes, and I thought the price was great. Those things go for $50 and up at other stores. So I picked one up and looked forward to roasting my turkey with the meat thermometer telling me the internal temperature every moment. I brined my turkey the night before (again, thanks to Alton Brown), and started the turkey, with the thermometer in place, at 450 degrees for the first 30 minutes. That seals the juices in the meat and gets that beautiful color we all want on the skin. At the end of the 30 minutes I lowered the temperature to 350 degrees and went to check on my turkey. The meat thermometer had melted! I was shocked and appalled! How could this happen?! My daughter asked me, "Are you sure it was oven safe?" to which I answered, "It was supposed to be! What kind of meat thermometer isn't oven safe?!" Well, apparently this one wasn't. Upon reading the instructions, it stated that the thermometer was to be used to test the meat by poking it to see what the temperature was. Except that's ridiculous. Anyone who cooks knows you don't poke meat while it's in the oven or when it's just been taken out; the juices will flow right out and the meat will be dry. The turkey turned out fine, but as far as I was concerned, the thermometer was useless. I returned it to Costco and they quickly gave me my money back. I then did my shopping there (meats, toilet paper, coffee, etc) and spent $154. I used the $20 to pay part of it so I only used $134 from this month's food budget. All in all I spent $259, leaving me $41 for any extras I might need for the next two weeks. Not bad, huh? I must admit I was very pleased.
Yesterday my son got home from work and immediately went out with his friends, so he didn't eat at home. My daughter had her church office Christmas party so she didn't eat anything either. That means we are having leftovers today. Which is fine with me: less cooking on a Saturday, yes!
My oldest worked all day today, and the two younger ones went Christmas shopping together. Mom was told to stay home; wonder why? ;-) That's cool, because Mama had the house all to herself. And what does Mama do when she has the house all to herself? Pamper herself, of course!
It was time to color my hair again anyway. My natural hair color has become black with white highlights. Not to my taste :P. For the past year or so I'd been coloring my hair light auburn, or as my hairdresser calls it, 6R. I do my own hair coloring; I'm sure my hairdresser would do a fabulous job, but not for under $10 which is what a box of hair color costs. I told her what I wanted and she made her recommendation. I've been sticking with it and it's a nice color. Today while I was at Walmart I went to pick up my usual box of L'Oreal Excellence Creme when I spotted a Clairol product from their Expert Collection called Age Defy. When this girl saw those words...let's just say it caught my attention. The product promises hair that looks 10 years younger. I was prepared to color my entire body if that worked ;-). I decided it was worth trying, and I looked for my color, 6R. There wasn't any, just one box of 5R left. 5R is medium auburn. I figured the stuff had to be pretty good if this was the last box left. I also figured, "How different can light to medium auburn be?" I'd done both medium and dark auburn years ago. It would be fine. I bought the box, the house was empty, the timing was perfect. I got to work.
The first step with this hair color is a pre-treatment, to get the hair ready for the hair color. I went ahead and put that on, then started mixing up the color. If you've ever colored your own hair, you know the drill: tear the tab off the plastic bottle, open it up, open the tube of colorant and pour it into the plastic bottle. Then shake and apply. So that's what I did. I did a double take when I opened up the colorant, though. Y'all, it was orange. Like jack-o-lantern orange. Now, I've been coloring my hair for 20 years, and I'm fully aware that the color that comes out of that tube is not the color my hair will be. But I had never seen this bright orange color coming out of a tube of colorant before. My colorants had always been on the purple side for auburn, and trust me, this was not purple. I checked the box again, just to make sure I had the right color. Yep, medium auburn. I was already prepped and ready to go, and I wasn't going to stop. I began applying the color.
It was much more runny than I was used to. I'd been using a creme hair color; this one was liquid-y and messy. I worked a little more slowly pouring the orange fluid on my head, till my roots were covered. Then I set my timer for 40 minutes. My hairdresser told me I need to keep the color on my hair for about an hour, otherwise the auburn looks more like pink on my grays, uh, I mean, white highlights. I figured I'd leave it on my roots for 40 minutes, then on the rest of my hair for 15. In the meantime I watched videos of other girls styling their hair, waiting to see what mine would turn out like. If the color was good, I'd be thrilled. If it wasn't, I'd be watching TV preachers till I could get it fixed.
By the time the first 40 minutes were up I could see the color had mellowed into a reddish brown, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I finished coloring the rest of my hair, washed it, and when I looked at it I thought, "Wow. That is way darker than I expected." It's not what I would call medium auburn. The color reminds me of cherry wood, or maybe mahogany. Can I just say, I LOVE IT!!! Oh my gosh, it is the perfect color for fall! I'm so glad I got the wrong color, and didn't doubt the orange!!
My beauty regimen continued with exfoliating. A few weeks ago Target had a sale on Neutrogena products, and I was able to get their Microdermabrasion System for $14.99. Best investment I've made. As I've mentioned before, my skin has been changing, and I've had to change along with it. I'm dealing with redness for the first time in my life, and my pores had become enlarged which is not attractive. The system promises younger looking skin from the first use, and like I said, that gets my attention. Besides, the price was better than even Walmart, so I jumped on it. From the very first time I used it I noticed how different my skin looked. I've used it for a month now and I'm not joking, my pores have gotten smaller, my skin feels smoother, it looks healthier, and I only use it once a week. It's like I spoil myself for a few minutes, and get phenomenal results. What woman doesn't like that?
I finished up by giving myself a manicure and pedicure. Since it's the Christmas season I thought something sparkly was in order. I painted by toe nails and most of my fingernails with a glittery gold tone nail polish, then did my ring fingers on both hands a deep dark burgundy. I love how festive it looks!
It is just so cool to look in the mirror and like the way I look. I think this hair color is a keeper. Now it's time to get back to my regular routine: wash the dishes, then pop in a Christmas movie before bed. Feel beautiful!
Today was grocery shopping day. I'm starting a new system of grocery shopping every 2 weeks instead of weekly. It involves plenty of planning so I don't have to run to the store every couple of days because Oops! I forgot something. It means menus for two weeks, careful examination of what's already in our pantry, and a precise list. I did it two weeks ago, and not only did I save money, I didn't make any trips to the grocery store; the one time I realized I'd run out of green peppers, I improvised and used half of a red pepper I had in the fridge. It worked. I avoided the stores all Thanksgiving week and especially on the dreaded Black Friday.
I'd been to Winn-Dixie on Thursday to find specials, and left disappointed. I managed to get a few things, $20 worth. My goal is to spend no more than $300 for the two weeks; a hefty goal for a family of four, but I've found it's attainable. Since I'd already spent $20, I wanted to stay under $270. That way there would be $10 left in the budget for emergencies. I hit Walmart first - I not only needed food, there were a few cleaning items like floor cleaner and furniture polish I had to pick up, toothpaste, hair dye, that sort of stuff. I spent a total of $125, but since my cousin had paid me $20 for taking her kids to karate last month (she didn't need to; I love taking the kids for her. She insisted. I relented) I spent $105 from my food budget money.
Then I went to Costco. I needed to return a meat thermometer - oh, I have to tell this story! About a month before Thanksgiving, I found a meat thermometer with a small timer at Costco for $20. I'd seen Alton Brown use a similar one in one of his Thanksgiving Good Eats episodes, and I thought the price was great. Those things go for $50 and up at other stores. So I picked one up and looked forward to roasting my turkey with the meat thermometer telling me the internal temperature every moment. I brined my turkey the night before (again, thanks to Alton Brown), and started the turkey, with the thermometer in place, at 450 degrees for the first 30 minutes. That seals the juices in the meat and gets that beautiful color we all want on the skin. At the end of the 30 minutes I lowered the temperature to 350 degrees and went to check on my turkey. The meat thermometer had melted! I was shocked and appalled! How could this happen?! My daughter asked me, "Are you sure it was oven safe?" to which I answered, "It was supposed to be! What kind of meat thermometer isn't oven safe?!" Well, apparently this one wasn't. Upon reading the instructions, it stated that the thermometer was to be used to test the meat by poking it to see what the temperature was. Except that's ridiculous. Anyone who cooks knows you don't poke meat while it's in the oven or when it's just been taken out; the juices will flow right out and the meat will be dry. The turkey turned out fine, but as far as I was concerned, the thermometer was useless. I returned it to Costco and they quickly gave me my money back. I then did my shopping there (meats, toilet paper, coffee, etc) and spent $154. I used the $20 to pay part of it so I only used $134 from this month's food budget. All in all I spent $259, leaving me $41 for any extras I might need for the next two weeks. Not bad, huh? I must admit I was very pleased.
Yesterday my son got home from work and immediately went out with his friends, so he didn't eat at home. My daughter had her church office Christmas party so she didn't eat anything either. That means we are having leftovers today. Which is fine with me: less cooking on a Saturday, yes!
My oldest worked all day today, and the two younger ones went Christmas shopping together. Mom was told to stay home; wonder why? ;-) That's cool, because Mama had the house all to herself. And what does Mama do when she has the house all to herself? Pamper herself, of course!
It was time to color my hair again anyway. My natural hair color has become black with white highlights. Not to my taste :P. For the past year or so I'd been coloring my hair light auburn, or as my hairdresser calls it, 6R. I do my own hair coloring; I'm sure my hairdresser would do a fabulous job, but not for under $10 which is what a box of hair color costs. I told her what I wanted and she made her recommendation. I've been sticking with it and it's a nice color. Today while I was at Walmart I went to pick up my usual box of L'Oreal Excellence Creme when I spotted a Clairol product from their Expert Collection called Age Defy. When this girl saw those words...let's just say it caught my attention. The product promises hair that looks 10 years younger. I was prepared to color my entire body if that worked ;-). I decided it was worth trying, and I looked for my color, 6R. There wasn't any, just one box of 5R left. 5R is medium auburn. I figured the stuff had to be pretty good if this was the last box left. I also figured, "How different can light to medium auburn be?" I'd done both medium and dark auburn years ago. It would be fine. I bought the box, the house was empty, the timing was perfect. I got to work.
The first step with this hair color is a pre-treatment, to get the hair ready for the hair color. I went ahead and put that on, then started mixing up the color. If you've ever colored your own hair, you know the drill: tear the tab off the plastic bottle, open it up, open the tube of colorant and pour it into the plastic bottle. Then shake and apply. So that's what I did. I did a double take when I opened up the colorant, though. Y'all, it was orange. Like jack-o-lantern orange. Now, I've been coloring my hair for 20 years, and I'm fully aware that the color that comes out of that tube is not the color my hair will be. But I had never seen this bright orange color coming out of a tube of colorant before. My colorants had always been on the purple side for auburn, and trust me, this was not purple. I checked the box again, just to make sure I had the right color. Yep, medium auburn. I was already prepped and ready to go, and I wasn't going to stop. I began applying the color.
It was much more runny than I was used to. I'd been using a creme hair color; this one was liquid-y and messy. I worked a little more slowly pouring the orange fluid on my head, till my roots were covered. Then I set my timer for 40 minutes. My hairdresser told me I need to keep the color on my hair for about an hour, otherwise the auburn looks more like pink on my grays, uh, I mean, white highlights. I figured I'd leave it on my roots for 40 minutes, then on the rest of my hair for 15. In the meantime I watched videos of other girls styling their hair, waiting to see what mine would turn out like. If the color was good, I'd be thrilled. If it wasn't, I'd be watching TV preachers till I could get it fixed.
By the time the first 40 minutes were up I could see the color had mellowed into a reddish brown, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I finished coloring the rest of my hair, washed it, and when I looked at it I thought, "Wow. That is way darker than I expected." It's not what I would call medium auburn. The color reminds me of cherry wood, or maybe mahogany. Can I just say, I LOVE IT!!! Oh my gosh, it is the perfect color for fall! I'm so glad I got the wrong color, and didn't doubt the orange!!
My beauty regimen continued with exfoliating. A few weeks ago Target had a sale on Neutrogena products, and I was able to get their Microdermabrasion System for $14.99. Best investment I've made. As I've mentioned before, my skin has been changing, and I've had to change along with it. I'm dealing with redness for the first time in my life, and my pores had become enlarged which is not attractive. The system promises younger looking skin from the first use, and like I said, that gets my attention. Besides, the price was better than even Walmart, so I jumped on it. From the very first time I used it I noticed how different my skin looked. I've used it for a month now and I'm not joking, my pores have gotten smaller, my skin feels smoother, it looks healthier, and I only use it once a week. It's like I spoil myself for a few minutes, and get phenomenal results. What woman doesn't like that?
I finished up by giving myself a manicure and pedicure. Since it's the Christmas season I thought something sparkly was in order. I painted by toe nails and most of my fingernails with a glittery gold tone nail polish, then did my ring fingers on both hands a deep dark burgundy. I love how festive it looks!
It is just so cool to look in the mirror and like the way I look. I think this hair color is a keeper. Now it's time to get back to my regular routine: wash the dishes, then pop in a Christmas movie before bed. Feel beautiful!
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