Falsies: What Not To Do

Hello Everyone,

Today I decided to do something a little different with my makeup routine.  On a recent trip to target I saw these false lashes by E.L.F for only a dollar, and thought what the hey, I'll give em a go.

I picked up the full lashes and the individuals.  Silly me forgot to take a picture of them before I put them on, but they come in a little white box and look like any other synthetic eyelashes I've seen in the drugstores.

I put on my makeup as usual and for my last step I grabbed the lashes, slathered glue all over them, blew on them a little, and stuck them on my eyes.  Unbeknownst to me I had put way too much glue on the inner part of the lash, closest to my tearduct, and a little bit got on my eye.  It burned like a son of a gun, let me tell you.  I ripped the lashes off, took out my contact, and used makeup remover to get off any traces of the glue and flushed my eye out with solution.  Not to be dettered I waited a few minutes, trimmed off the inner of the lash to a little less than half way, reapplied my makeup, put a lot less glue on the lash, and stuck them back on.

Even after my previous debacle I love them.  They are huge and over the top and lovely.  I feel like these would be good for going out to dinner, or even just having a fun day out of the house. 

My new goal is to master the false lashes and with Halloween coming up there are bound to be some more fun lashes floating around the local drugstores.  Those and the liner tattoo's.  Those would be fun too don't ya think?

-Care

My Skin Care Stash: Face Masks Pt. 1

Hello Everyone,

I am going to try to fit in a segment every week of products you can find in my skin care stash.  One type of product that completely overwhelms my collection is face masks.  Some for hydrating, some that exfoliate, and some that promise to unclog my pores.  This week's edition of my skin care stash is all about face masks that aim to clear the blemishes from my skin.

Now, keep in mind, these are not all of the masks I have in my collection for this purpose, but these are the ones I find myself reaching for more and more as the season changes.  I just finished up my last packet of one of my favorite masks, the Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Anti-Stress Mud Masque, so I won't be showing it here until I can get myself a few more.  I usually use two of these in succession, after exfoliation, and as my skin is very oily in the T zone and dry-ish on my cheeks, I tend to use one all over and the second on my T zone area to clear out the blackheads.  

H2O Sea Mineral Mud Mask, Formula 10.0.6 Deep down Detox. Formula 10.0.6 No Time To Shine, Formula 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure

Swatched

As you can see the H2O mask is really that bright blue color the tube is.  It has a really nice clean smell, with a hint of "mud", which is very earthy and pleasant.  It is not as thick as a clay mask, and you don't need a lot to cover your face.   It doesn't dry out your skin, and leaves it feeling really soft.  At about $7 it is definitely worth the money if you are looking for a non harsh pore clearing wonder.

The Formula 10.0.6 line is one of my absolute favorites for facial masks. The Deep Down Detox smells like oranges, and applies like a clay mask.  I like to use a brush to smooth it on my face as I feel it gives you mor control than your fingers do. This is normally the first mask I put on when I start to feel my skin having an uproar.  It sucks all the bad stuff out of your pores and leaves you looking smooth and soft and noticeably clearer.  This was about $6 from Ulta.com, which I would highly recommend to people who are still unsure of deep cleaning masks, and don't want to invest in high high priced masks.

The Formula 10.0.6 No Time To Shine mask is one that saved me a lot of hassle in the summer months.  It took that greasy oil slick that tends to crop up in the southern heat and calmed it right down for the rest of the day.  It wasn't huge on clearing out my pores, so if you're looking for something to curb the oil and clear out your pores you might want to look into a two step process, or just a whole different product.  It does contain clay, and applies very smoothly when applied with a brush. Overall the smell wasn't great, and smelled a lot like mud, but worked for its purpose. This was about $6 from Ulta.com.

The Formula 10.0.6 is the first mask I tried from the brand.  It smells like strawberries, and helped my blackhead situation immensely.  It applies like a clay mask, which I like to apply with a brush, and you can feel it working immediately.  This mask does get a little warm so beware if you have very sensitive skin, but I'm left, like with all of the 10.0.6 masks, with clearer smoother happier skin. This was about $6 from Ulta.com, as is the whole line of masks, so for beginners who want immediate results and want to love their skin again, this is a definite go.

What masks do you see yourself reaching for more and more to clear troubled skin?

Guest Post: New products for August & September

New products for August & September!

Since school's started, I've been MIA for quite some time. However, I have managed to rangle up some products; some that I will repurchase and only one I will trash!

First off, I have no idea how Carolyn makes her blog entries so fancy. I will have to have a Skype day with her to figure out how she does it.

Secondly, I feel  like it's a purple kind of day/week, possibly even month. Here's why:

Nail polish!

I was in the beauty supply store yesterday near my college and knew I was looking for a color that I don't normally wear. (My normal colors are reds, blues and black). I saw this color (Orly nail polish in Charged Up) and I fell in love with it. It's a nice, rich, fun purple color but the only downside to it is that it's really, really liquidy. I had to put three coats on some of my nails! Overall, I'm happy with this product and will probably be wearing it for about a week once I added Seche Vite Fast Drying Top Coat (my favorite top coat!).

The other stuff!

Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara in Very Black: I LOVE IT! When my lashes are being cooperative, I love this mascara. The brush is a little different than most brushes but it's got great consistency in the mascara formula and the brush doesn't get clumps on it.

L'oreal leMatte & laLaque Lipcolor: The pink one on the left is in the color 408 She's So Matte and when you open the lip tube, the lipcolor is like a Crayola crayon and once you use it a couple times, the pointy end goes away and you have a hard time perfecting the lines on the outer edges of your lips. Jury's still out on 408, I think I need to get an exfoliant for my lips because they're super chapped and are only gonna get worse the colder it gets. The red one is in 413 Laque-onic (I love it when companies get all creatively stupid cute with the names of their colors) and I LOVE it, of course. But this lip color is different than usual lipsticks. The 408 is obviously matte so it looks like a matte lipstick but the 413 isn't shiny, it's like a thick consistency with some shine but it feels really good on the lips. I had it on for about an hour last night and it didn't dry out and thank god it wasn't sticky either! I'll post an update in a few weeks about this one to see if my opinion changes.

Now onto the hair products!

 ...because I am always trying new hair products. A while back I dyed my hair a few different colors over a couple weeks and I think that damaged my curls so I'm constantly trying to find things that help my curls! Recommended by the mother of one of my other best friend's is the Macadamia Natural Oil Reviving Curl Cream: I used it today and it's definitely helping with the waves at the top and the curls are fine at the bottom like always but it's helped. I will keep using it and see if over time, I'll help more.

Moroccan Argan Oil: if you need help softening your hair because you put heat on it all the time or need to revive it from bleach, this is your product! Over the summer, I bleached over my black hair and the next day my hair was like straw! STRAW! So I went out (on Carolyn's recommendation ) and bought it. Best buy for damaged hair I've ever purchased.

amika Bombshell Blowout Spray: I got this either in ipsy or birchbox and it really helps with the texture. I don't ever blow dry my hair because the little wisps at the top make my hair look super damaged but if I spray this in my hair while it's damp and scrunch it a little bit, it ends up looking really good when it's dry. It's got some volume to it, too, so that's a plus.

And finally something I hate...

Before I completely trash this one, I should warn you: I have really crazy dry skin and that reason might be why I hate this so much. Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream: there's WAY too much pigment in it and the pigment is very orange for being fair to light labeled. I don't have orange skin. Second, it's not moisturizing enough so when I use it, the pigment gets caught in my dry skin and patches up and looks horrible. It's also kind of greasy and rubs off on my fingers when I touched my cheek a few minutes after applying it. I've been waiting to try this product for a really long time and although it's a good price and the packaging it good, I will be trashing this and going back to my Covergirl BB Cream until I can find another one. 

Hope this helps with your decisions on purchasing nail polish, mascara, hair stuff or lipsticks!

-Tay

Going Out to Lunch

Hello Everyone,

Today I went out to lunch with my lovely friend Carmen from my old job.  With only about fifteen minutes to pull myself together I sat in front of my makeup and didn't know where to begin.  I knew I wanted simple, yet pretty, and something befitting of fall.

Here is what I came up with:

Don't mind my forehead.  We are in a constant battle for superiority and it always wins.  Even with bangs.

I used the Philip B. Maui Wowie beach spray I recieved in a Blush Mystery Beauty Bag a month or so ago in my hair to muss it up a bit.  Most of those waves are naturally mine though.  I'm so glad the days of stick straight hair are behind us and the "just rolled out of bed" beachy waves look is in.  Truth be told thats actually just rolled out of bed hair.  (I did say I only had about fifteen minutes right?)

I used the Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation from Benefit in "I'm pure 4 sure" on my face, along with concealer from E.L.F. on those pesky hangover dark circles, and the E.L.F. Blush and Bronzer duo in St. Lucia to add back a bit of the color to my cheeks.

On my eyes I used this cute sample I got from Stila in a GWP from Ulta in the shades Kitten and Sunset.  For the liner it's always a winged look for me.  I've been rocking it since high school and don't intend to give it up anytime soon.  I love how it makes my eyes look and even if there is nothing else on my eyes, there will be winged liner.  I use the Kat Von D. tattoo liner in Trooper which I adore.  It's somewhat waterproof and will last through rain, snow, and tears.  It only really gives way when you shower, and of course wash your face.  I didn't do my eyebrows today, unlike usual, because at this point it was time to rush out the door and drive across town to do some catching up.

I'm a huge E.L.F fan, and they were my first real "haul" when I was still in high school (thank you mom!), so I hope to be doing a post of the products I love and don't love as much sometime in the next week or so.

If there's anything else you guys would like to see put up here, or any suggestions on cameras, lighting, angles, and video please let me know!

Lots of Love,
-Care

Things I'm Loving This Week

Hi Everyone,

These past few days have been hectic.  Trying to get on a normal sleep schedule, trying to figure out social media and how to grow my blog in a positive way, and going shopping for food for the first time in months.  

Among the stressful things happening, I have found some shining stars, not beauty related, that have made it into my "Things I'm loving this week" post.  

Lets start with the Pumpkin Delights by Little Debbie.  These are my favorite guilty pleasure in fall.  They are seasonal and come out in the beginning of September and run through Thanksgiving.  They are soft and have a cinnamon and "pumpkin" taaste to them, and truth be told I can and will eat a whole darn box of these by myself.  These to me signal fall and is one of the only pumpkin things I enjoy.

I picked up these Logic Puzzles at Barnes and Noble yesterday and I'm hooked.  I have always loved these puzzles, and could never find them outside of school.  It was always crosswords, sudoku, and search and finds, so when I saw this I grabbed it and another smaller travel book.  These will keep me occupied for hours and I never get bored challenging my mind.

Now we've come to my new obsession, Epic Mickey 2.  I am obsessed.  Absolutely obsessed.   I love this game.  I've never been good at video games but this one I have really gotten the hang of.  I love anything Disney so this was right up my alley to start out with.  If you aren't very good at video games and want something fun and easy to start out with I highly recommend this game.

What are you loving this fall?  Anything seasonal you look forward to every year?

Have a happy Monday everyone!

-Care

Products I Love : Hair Edition

Hello Everyone,

When I started this blog I had vowed to find a way to reduce the stress I had previously put on my hair.  I put down the straightener, curling iron, and hot rollers. Well, unless it was a special occasion.  Otherwise though my hair has been heat free and loving it.  The new growth anyways.  The ends of my hair were still fried and stripped of color so easily I was dying it every few weeks.  Not just my roots mind you, my whole darn head.  Then again a few weeks later I had what I like to call an accidental ombre, which with my red hair is not as cute as you would think.

Out of all the creams and oil sprays I went through I from my first post, nothing tamed the beast living on top of my head.  I still looked like I stuck my finger in a light socket, and those beachy waves everyone adores were the only oomph I had to my hair.  I wanted sleek waves, color that lasted and soft hair.

Que the wonder products:

TRESemme platinum strength deep conditioner, WELLA calm scalp therapy, WEN in Sweet Almond Milk

  Lets first start out in the shower.  First goes on the WEN.  When I say this stuff is absolutely amazing I mean it.  I have it up for review next week (the whole kit from Sephora) and I highly recommend this for people who don't get along with shampoos and conditioners, have sensitive scalps, or have color treated hair.  I just love this stuff.  Next goes on the WELLA calm scalp therapy on my roots.  It takes care of any dryness or flakiness you can get from weather changes, products, or just general dryness.  It's a lifesaver.  I've never had a product work so well the first time.  Less flakes and more comfort are a win!  Then goes on the TRESemme platinum strenght deep conditioner on my ends.  I use this every time I shower.  It leaves my hair silky smooth and easy to manage.  It also has helped with any breakage I have because of the coloring and heat damage, so if you're like me and your hair is hurting, get this, it's wonderful.

WEN replenishing treatment mist, DermOrganic leave in treatment, Marc Anthony Curl Envy perfect curl cream

Next comes the after shower routine.  This used to be full of oils and creams and sprays and leave ins (yes all at the same time), and I realized it was just too much and needed to be slimmed down.  Now I use three to four products on my hair and just let it air dry.  The WEN replenishing spray came in the kit I purchased from Sephora and I absolutely love the smell.  It helps add some shine and makes my hair feel fuller.  The DermOrganic treatment was in a set I purchased from Ulta.  Out of the three products I got in the kit I have only used this one so far in replacement of my Ojon rare blend oil.  This stuff is wonderful.  It makes my split ends unnoticeable and helps tame the frizz that comes with living in Virginia.  You don't need much, and I only apply oils to my tips, so this tiny little bottle should last a few months I think.  The curl cream is one of the best I've ever tried, and trust me I've tried everything in the drugstore, and have started to branch out to Ulta and Sephora to find a cure for my curly wavy mop.  While this doesn't make my hair into cute little ringlets, it does define my waves into more of a curl, and helps them not fall flat and look limp by the end of the day.  One little dollop, scrunch a few times, and out the door I go.

I hope to do a products I love post at least once a week focusing on different areas (hair, nails, foundation, etc.).  My favorites change with my mood and with fall and winter coming it's only going to happen more frequently. 

What are some products you fell in love with for your hair?

Lots of Love

-Care

I Think It's Time For A Haul

Hello everyone,

I'm one of those people who, when they get sad, or upset, or downright miserable, likes to shop.  Retail therapy makes me happy, but it also makes my wallet groan.  

I'm also one of those people who loves to feel pampered and relaxed, and lately I have been far from relaxed.  So while the boy wanted to go to Game Stop (the video game store) I decided that we should make a pit stop at Lush.  I have heard so much about their products from British bloggers and wanted to really give them a shot.  I have only been in their store one other time to scope around and picked up their beach box, and was only impressed with two of the things in the box.  This time I went for bath bombs and a bath melt.

From Left: Dreamtime, Twilight, Butterball

Dreamtime is supposed to relax you before you drift away to sleep, and with lavender, chammomile I hope that's exactly what it does.  It also has cocoa butter in it to smooth your skin and leave you feeling silky and clam before you climb under the covers.  Perfect for fall nights?  I think so.

Twilight is a bath bomb that fizzes when mixed with water and is meant to mimic a lavender sunset (their words not mine).  This is another relaxing treat meant to help you unwind after a long day.  It smells heavenly and looks so pretty with the moon and stars on it.

Butterball is another bath bomb aimed at relaxation.  It has cocoa butter and vanilla in it.  One to help you feel silky smooth and the next to lull you into your happy place. (Apparently vanilla also helps with anxiety).  

All in all the three treats should help relax you (and me), and help you drift of to slumberland.  In this day and age where we stay up all hours of the night on our phones, computers, video game consoles, and televisions, we all need some help at times to fall asleep.

-Care

My Favorite Things About Autumn

 Hello Everyone,

I saw this on a Beauty Bucket List's Blog.

I though this was the cutest thing, and with not being able to find the proper lighting to take pictures in the past few days this was a perfect post to put up.

 1. Favorite thing about autumn? 

My favorite thing about autumn would have to be the weather and the clothes that come along with it.  I love nothing more than snuggling up on the couch under blankets in a warm fuzzy sweater drinking tea or hot cocoa.  Going outside with your makeup and hair looking one way and coming back inside looking the same way also doesn’t help.  No more makeup melting off my face, hallelujah!   

2. Favorite drink? 

 Favorite drink in autumn?  Dunkachino from Dunkin Doughnuts.  It only comes out when it gets colder and it has no caffeine whatsoever but it is absolutely delicious.
 

 3. Favorite scent/candle? 

Anything musky and woodsy.  I like rich deep scents when it starts to get colder.  My favorites would have to be Warm Rustic Woods and Pure White Woods scented wax cubes you use in something like a scentsy melter.  They’re from better Homes and Gardens and I got them for a few dollars at Wal-Mart and they last forever.

4. Best lipstick? 

Honestly I don’t have a favorite autumn lipstick.  I tend to stick more to balms because my lips get so dry during the season change.  My favorite balm is just your plain old ChapStick Moisturizer/Original.  Second to that is Burts Bees, the plain one, in the stick form.  I have the pot but find it too messy to use on the go.
 

 5. Go to moisturizer? 

For my face it’s the Seaweed Mattifying Moisturizer from The Body Shop.  It’s still light enough not to bother my skin through the season changes, which is always a plus for me.  For my body it’s the Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter.  It smells heavenly and keeps my dry itchy skin at bay.

6. Go to colors for the eyes? 

Golds, coppers, browns, purples, and greens.  Any combination of those in a smoky eye makes me one happy person.  Add some winged eyeliner and about six layers of mascara and here comes my happy dance.

7. Favorite music or band/singer to listen to? 

Right now anything by Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban or Michael Buble.  Each of them clams my nerves and sets me in just the right mood to enjoy my favorite season.  Towards the end of the season however you will find me listening to Christmas music 24/7. 

 8. Favorite outfit to wear (i.e. boots & a scarf combo)? 

Boots boots boots and more boots.  Pair them with skinny jeans, a cute sweater/cardigan, a scarf, and slouchy hat.  If I could master the button up with the sweater over the top look that would most definitely be on this list too.

9. Autumn treat? 

Apple and pumpkin picking.   I used to go every year back in NY and it was always fun to see who got the best apples, who got the smallest apple, and who got the roundest best Jack O’ Lantern making pumpkin. 

10. Favorite place to be? 

On my couch, curled up in a few blankets, with the boy, watching a movie.  Although, that’s anytime really. 

Benefit Creaseless Eyeshadow

Hello Everyone,

I have to admit, I have never been a fan of cream eyeshadow.  My lids tend to get oily and the formula always creased and smudged off before I even got to really enjoy it.  So while shopping online at Ulta I saw that they had a sale going on where you could buy $35 worth of products and get a Benefit creaseless eyeshadow for free! (I think it was $35)  Well I had my eye on the new Oxygen Wow Foundation by Benefit and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try something new. 

Pro's:  I love the color.  I have always been a neutral person when it comes to eyeshadow and I recieved the color No Pressure which is a medium copper brown color.  Because it is a cream eyeshadow it was very easy to apply and glided over my eyelids with no weird pull marks.  I have found that a little really does go a long way and when you layer powder shadow over the cream formula you can get really beautiful results.  I used this with a primer and without and much prefer the look and feel of it without a primer.  The container itself is nice and heavy, being as it is made of glass, and I really like the heaviness of it as opposed to a powder shadow container.

Con's:  The container, while I love it, is very small.  I don't always like using brushes, especially with anything of a cream formula, and this pot is just too small to put my fingers into.  Since it wasn't a full size product I'm sure that won't be a problem in the larger size.  It is also very messy as must creams tend to be.  I tend to get it all over my fingers and this gets hard to just wipe off after a few minutes.

All in all my pro's outweigh my cons, as the cons are across the board with cream formulas.  I think it does live up to it's name as being a creaseless eyeshadow, and I can wear it a full eight hour work day and longer in 85+ degrees and still not have a complaint.

What do you think of Benefit products, and which would you recommend to others out there looking to try new things?

Happy Monday Everyone!

Hey There Blogosphere,

It is yet again Monday, and I know most people dread Mondays but I love them.  It's the beginning of a brand new week full of amazing things, and every week is different.  Hopefully this week brings me the courage to pick myself up and get a new job, and commit myself to this blog that I want to see thrive.  

To cheer up all you not Monday people I'm going to share with you one of my favorite Pinterest finds.  I loved it so much I put it up behind the desk at my old job and I'm pretty sure it's still there almost six months later.

 We all get so wrapped up in the lives of everyone around us, and we forget that simple things can really make that gray day turn right around.  I know when I have a bad day I throw on a bright lip and it's like nothing can stop me from smiling that day.  Other days I wear my favorite perfume (Juicy Couture: Viva La Juicy) and it perks me right up. 

-Care

I Think I'm In Love

Hello There Everyone,

I recently received Septembers Birchbox and having seen spoilers online I was really excited to see which shade of Ruffian nail polish I was going to get.  I was honestly torn between all the colors, but upon receiving the shade Hedge Fund I was in love immediately.  

Long story short I love army green.  I had cargo pants in army green for all of my teenage years and if you ever had told me I would one day not have a pair (or three) in my closet I would have laughed in your face.  But alas, I have retired the pants, but the love for the color does not waiver.  It was all I could do not to strip down my just painted nails to put on this beautiful color, but I paitently waited for my other polish to chip away (okay so maybe not all on it's own, but I was just to excited) and with the first coat I knew this was a match made in polish heaven.

The description on the Birchbox website reads "Inspired by those dolla, dolla bills, Hedge Fund is a green foil polish with a strong metallic finish and a hint of gold shimmer that really pops when the light hits it just right. It’s safe to say, this lacquer’s right on the money.", and that can not be more accurate.  At ten dollars it is a pretty steep price, but this polish covers in just one coat and is completely opaque.  I have never been more amazed with a nail polish before and I may just have to find some nail art to add to this polish as it will be staying on my nails for the immediate future.

Love and Laughs

-Care

On Occasion...

Hey There Blogosphere,

On occasion I like to wear lipstick.  Now I know that sounds like a normal part of "putting on your face to face the day", but those days where I need that extra push to feel good about myself I throw on some lipstick and venture outside my apartment.  It also doesn't hurt that every time I do decide to put on lipstick I get the "you look like a pin up model", or my favorite "wow".  Shamelessly looking for attention? Yes, and when I'm feeling down, having strangers say I look pretty really cheers me up.

While I own more than a few different lipsticks, there are three that lately I love looking at and reach for more often than the rest.  

Those three lipsticks are (From Left) Wet N Wild 24 Carrot Gold, Model Co Party Proof Matte Lipstick in Red Velvet, and Mirabella Color Sheer in Pixie.  The only one I actually bought was the 24 Carrot Gold, and the other two were Birchbox and Ipsy Bag goodies.  Here they are below swatched outside in the sun, one swipe a piece.

Pixie, 24 Carrot Gold, Red Velvet

 They are all lovely shades, 24 Carrot Gold and Red Velvet are matte shades while Pixie is a gloss like finish.  The matte shades can be worn with one layer and still come off bold and rich, while the gloss can be built up slightly although its purpose is to remain sheer. 

The only cons I have however are that the matte shades are very drying and I recommend using a lip balm and exfoliating before applying them as you can see every imperfection. The wear time for all of these shades is relatively short, think about four hours without eating and drinking, but since I like newly applied lipstick about every hour it doesn't really bother me. Also, Red Velvet stains like nobody's business and takes a good scrub to get off your lips at the end of the day. 

What are some colors you like to wear when you need a pick me up?

Silver on the Moons

My nails and I have a long history of not getting along.  I'm rough with them, get bored with them, and have always been a huge fan of long long nails which has on occasion called for me to get acrylics.  My nails have not been kind to me either. They're brittle, bend and split and break when they go slightly past my fingertips, and won't hold polish without chipping for more than a day or two (even after they get painted in the salon).

Needless to say I was really excited when nail art came on trend because that my friends is something I, and my nails, can agree upon.  Whether it be glue on nails or painting my natural nails, I can change up my style as often as my nails want to reject the polish and be creative all over again.

Lately I have been wearing a lot of navy and thought, why not put navy on my nails as well?  All ready to grab some accents and polish and get to work I rummaged around my moderately large polish collection to discover there was no navy polish in there.  Target had no navy polish either. I did have a pretty blue polish and some matte top coat and though, eh, close enough.  Add some silver diamond metal studs to the nailbed and voila!  New nails to start off my week.

The Tools

The Accents

The Finished Product

Wedding Bells

Hi Everyone,

So I just got back from my week and a half long "vacation", and I'm ready to start getting down to business.  But first, let me fill you in on the most exciting part of going back home, the wedding!  

My brother married my best friend on the 1st, and it couldn't have been more perfect.  They said their vows in a very short and sweet ceremony, we took pictures, the shoes came off, and it was time to have fun.  We danced, and drank, and laughed, and cried, and it was absolutely amazing.  Then afterwards all of the youngsters and the immediate family (except the bride and groom who stayed in a quiet hotel) went back to her parents and had another party of our own.  Then it was sleep, and time to fly back home to relax in our apartment and start figuring out what was next on our plate.

Now for the down to business part:

I must learn how to get more organized so I can post regularly.  I am terrible at organizing myself, not so bad with organizing others.  If anyone has any ideas on how to help me figure out a smooth flow, and what people would like to hear about I would really appreciate it.  I'm thinking part of the week is lifestyle, part of the week is products and reviews, and miscellaneous good wishes and pick me ups throughout the week.