Vacation

As most of you might have noticed, we haven’t posted on the blog in two weeks. At first it wasn’t intentional; we just had a scheduling conflict and needed to skip our weekly writing day. And then we decided, because life was happening at full speed, that we would take a two week “vacation” from the blog and focus on other priorities.

In the midst of this break, we noticed that vacations are good. Sometimes people take vacations away from the home, their jobs, school, and other things so that they can relax and enjoy a change in their schedule. Our vacation from the blog was actually quite busy. We’ve had personal changes, homeschool (which is a lot harder and more time consuming because second grade is no joke, LOL), and appointments that required more time than we realized.

And that’s okay. Vacations offer us moments of clarity, opportunities to miss what we’ve temporarily abandoned, and the freedom to recharge our mental and physical batteries. More often than not, we are too scared to take a much needed time-out because we fear disappointing someone or that guilt will set in. This process of thinking is unhealthy and the very reason we are all entirely too busy for our own good.

It is completely okay to stop and assess the situation because we have but one life, one moment, one chance to do what we want or need before it becomes the past. So whether you need a vacation from life, from work, or from the every day routine, consider all of the benefits that will come of taking that much needed break.

 As Ferris Beuller said…..

We'll be back next week!!!

Good afternoon friends and followers! We would like to thank you in advance for the much needed "vacation" from the blog. We can't wait to get back to writing new posts for you and we will do this next Wednesday for our joint post. Your patience and understanding means a lot to us and we hope you check back in next week.

We'd also like to wish you an early HAPPY 1st Day of FALL!!! (tomorrow)


Hugs and Kisses
~Misty and Kendra

Let's Get Real For a Minute

As I scrolled through Twitter a few weeks back, I discovered an apology from a well known actress to a well known football player. She said in an interview that this said football player had ignored her at a function and she blamed it on not looking thin/pretty/etc. Of course she received a huge negative response because this was actually a figment of her imagination and the football player wasn’t ignoring her for any of those reasons- Hence, the public apology.

Skip to even more recent events when a certain author did not make it on a famous person’s “reading list” and threw a fit on her social media accounts that some other woman got it because she was blond and thin. (Something of the sorts) Again, all of this is her opinion and not at all factual.

And here I sit, thinking to myself in a rather loud voice, “This is why we are still stuck in prisons we’ve created ourselves.” Because the lesson I learned from both of these examples are: you can’t undo what’s done so unfortunately two individuals are suffering from these people’s insecurities. And that we are forever passing the blame on others for what we secretly think of ourselves. It’s okay to feel sorry for yourself and maybe a bit let down when things do not go your way, but NOT at the expense of others. There comes a time where we can’t just blame the magazines, the media, or the past for how we treat other human beings.

We have GOT TO STOP placing our value and self worth on what others do, look like, say, etc., because honestly, it’s not about them, it’s about us. I can remember back in my early twenties getting so upset that a certain ex-coworker of mine was in fantastic shape and had so much self control over her body. It got to the point where my mind secretly cut her down for the flaws I could find and I ended up not liking her very much. How pathetic for me to miss out on a terrific REAL friendship because she enjoyed taking care of her body and I was simply too lazy to do the same?

We have to stop the cycle. We have to start practicing what we preach. We can’t be jealous of others and their successes just because we do not have the same. Whether it’s our looks, our careers, our families, etc., we are all just trying to be the best version of ourselves and that’s going to be ruined completely if we keep comparing ourselves to every other person out there.

It’s hard and I know that putting in the work is so much harder than belittling the ones that do, but unless we make the effort, we have zero room to talk. Think about how many women are out there feeling completely worthless and could use a good friend who just “gets it” vs. someone who finds all the excuses not to.

I like to take candid shots of my son, my family, and often silly selfies. But there are days I wonder what my heart would look like if it could take a selfie. Hmm, I think I’ll leave it at that.

~K

Ragged Old Flag

This Sunday is the 15^th anniversary of 9/11.  I came across this poem from Johnny Cash as I was looking up articles about Sept. 11^th.  I had never heard it before but after listening there was nothing for me to write.  This says it all.  I still love my country and the freedoms we have.  Please take a moment to read and listen to the words.  

Ragged Old Flag

Written by Johnny Cash

I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."
I said, "Your flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it.

He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing _Oh Say Can You See_.
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams."

"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag."

"On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam."

"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land she's been abused --
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused."

"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more."

"So we raise her up every morning,
Take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground
And we fold her up right.
On second thought I DO like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

God Bless America! 

It's All About Routine

Happy Wednesday Friends! We thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite health and beauty products and routines with you and see if they are similar to yours. When it comes to health and beauty, let’s face it, these things keep changing with age. Here’s a glimpse at Kendra’s products and Misty’s routine. Share in the comments below what products and routines you can’t live without. 

Since a very young age, my mom has preached to me and my sisters the importance of taking care of your skin.  She has made it a habit for YEARS.  Every morning, she sets up her mirror, wipes down her face, moisturizes and applies her make up.  It doesn’t matter if she’s going out for the day, staying at home, working in the yard, etc. my momma has always got her “face on”.  Every night she removes her makeup, exfoliates, applies her night time moisturizers, eye creams, etc.  My close friends will still ask me to this day if my mom still does her daily and nightly ritual that they remember from staying at my house when we were kids.  Kudos to my mom for this habit though.  At 74 she looks beautiful and fresh. 

I am way more relaxed when it comes to my skin and it shows.  I love the sun and it has loved me back the past couple of summers, enough to leave little brown spots all over my face.  My skin is a bit duller, red in some spots and can’t make up its mind to one day be dry and the next oily.  Fortunately, it has been kind the older I’ve gotten and is free of pimples except for the rare occurrence of one or two. 

Makeup is a chore, but I have recently noticed I can’t quite get away with just a little powder and lip gloss anymore. Below is a list of my daily skin routine and products I use:

Cold weather is around the corner and these are my go to products to help with the dry skin! Love my L'oreal Moisturizer!

My everyday face routine includes Olay brightening face cleanser and moisturizer and spot fading treatment

I use lots of different brands for makeup.  If it works, I stick with it!

My primer to keep my foundation in place!

When it comes to health and beauty products, my must-haves vary with each decade. (Man, I sound old!) In my teens, it was all about appearances. I wasn’t a product snob yet but I definitely bought everything hair and make-up. Once I hit my twenties I sort of knew what was a must verses what was optional. I slowed down a bit on the hair care products and focused more on skin and make-up. But now I’m in my (late) thirties and have changed it up all over again.

My top five products that I cannot live without are surprisingly cheap and several are very health minded.

1. GUM brand dental brushes- I love them and they are gentle on my gums and teeth as I get rid of any junk that gets in my teeth from eating. I use these several times a day and I prefer them over flossing. ($3.99)
2. Sunscreen- I am not a huge sunscreen snob but I prefer to use Aveeno (baby) because it’s gentle on my skin and doesn’t leave a disgusting residue ($8.59)
3. Ulta brand eye concealer- I use this as a primer for the top of my eyelids and as a dark circle concealer under my eyes. I love this stuff and feel like it really helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes ($9.00)
4. Bath and Body Works- ALL of their products are my must-haves but I always have a bottle of body spray and ultra shea body cream at all times. Scents vary. ($14.00 and under)
5. Wet-n-Wild megaslicks Balm Stain- I ONLY buy #126 Rico Mauve and I have been wearing it for years. It’s cheap, it stays on all day, and I LOVE the color. ($3.99) 

To Go Or Not To Go.......To The Movies

I love the movies. My first movie at a theater was E.T. and I was four. I am not sure if it was then that I got bitten by the movie bug, but I cannot remember a time that I didn't enjoy going to the theater. I also like watching movies in the comfort of my own home. There is nothing quite like snacking in bed or all snuggled up on the couch and watching a good flick.

My husband enjoys movies too, but he isn't a big fan of going to see one. He jokes that it's the price of the movie nowadays that forces him to want to just wait until it comes out on DVD. But there are certain movies I just have to experience on the big screen.

Our local theater is running a season of older movies each week and I was surprised when my husband offered to take me to go see The Neverending Story (circa 1984) on the big screen. I was beyond excited. I had planned to take our son to it but he didn't seem all that interested since he had seen the film many times already.

It was all I expected and more. I got to watch one of my top five favorite childhood movies in a theater and I literally felt like a kid again. I was alert and in awe and didn't get up once to use the restroom for fear I'd miss something. (It didn't matter that I have this movie memorized) The coolest part is that I am reading the book right now and was able to compare notes a bit with the film.

But our movie experience didn't end there. My husband ran us over to our favorite grocery store and we stocked up on snacks so that we could watch The Goonies (my #1 favorite kids movie) as soon as we got home. We were able to eat what we wanted and talk throughout the film because we were home. We paused the movie when we needed to and the atmosphere was super relaxed and comfortable.

So which experience was better? I just can't answer that. I loved both experiences equally. Movies are magical to me no matter where I see them. They remind me that life is not just what happens in my own little mind and that imagination is so much bigger than what I experience personally. So what would you choose? Do you love the movies? At the theater, at home, or both?

Happy Monday!
P.S. If you are local, you have a chance to see Willy Wonka, Blazing Saddles, and The Neverending Story this week at Showplace West 12. I also heard a rumor that Labrynth is coming next week. Oh no, this could be an expensive season. LOL.

You were one of the greats, Gene Wilder

My Interest in PINTEREST

I am a bit obsessed with Pinterest.  If you haven’t yet joined the Pinterest world or have no idea what it is, I will share a bit about it with you.  Pinterest is a social network site where a user (you and I) can create several boards and “pin” memes, workouts, recipes, DIY projects, etc. to save for reference or share with other users and people that follow your page.  My mom uses Pinterest to find new skin regimens (skin is a gift) and my sister Bella is crazy about pinning the newest workouts.   My sissy Gina has used the site here and there.  She is Little Miss Crafty Foo Foo.  She makes these beautiful wedding gifts for couples (show off).  She’s made Christmas decor (brag much) and puts together flower arrangements (BLAH BLAH BLAH!) Of course I am teasing her; I am super jealous of her talent!  I have never been artsy or crafty.  About the only thing I can draw is a smiley face, a poor attempt at a prom dress my cousin used to draw and a version of a puppy, that my friend taught me my sophomore year of high school.  

Last fall, I decided I was going to try my hand at making a DIY yarn wreath I saw on Pinterest. I love the giant and elaborate tulle wreaths and the traditional floral wreaths but I knew those were way too advanced for a novice like me. It’s best to start off slow and simple.  Wrapping yarn around a round wooden wreath didn’t seem so difficult. I even made felt flowers for it, although the glue gun is where it got tricky.  That hot glue hurts like a #!*@ when it sticks to your skin! Here is a picture of it….not too shabby for my first attempt of being Pinterest crafty.  

 

At least I tried!

I have tried my hand at some recipes too.  They have mostly been crock-pot recipes.  The before pictures on Pinterest make the assembly look so easy.  All the ingredients are spread in the crock-pot so neat and precise.  Seriously, I just throw everything in there because it’s all going to be one congealed mess when it’s done. The after pictures always look so delectable, enticing, you know…edible. As long as it doesn’t completely adhere to the bottom of the crock-pot in this household, then it gets eaten. :)

Pinterest Ribs

Mine started out as ribs and ended up pulled pork! But still delicious!

 

This brings me to my all-time favorite thing about Pinterest.  The Pinterest FAILS!  Where normal, un-crafty people like me, give a project a try and fail horribly, but share their attempt on social media.  Some of these pics are so funny and kudos to the ones that try, fail but can laugh about it!  

Ok, I like to joke about stuff, but seriously, Pinterest has been a pretty neat tool for coming up with ideas from parties and gifts to color schemes to use in my home.   Men, it’s not just for us ladies, either! There are lots of manly things on Pinterest to check out!  It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you figure out how to use the boards and pins, it can become a great resource!  Just beware…it can become a bit of an addiction, so use it wisely! :)

HAPPY FRIDAY and HAPPY PINNING!!!  -M-