If I were to have my own business....

Here's what I have been thinking lately.

I'm wondering if you have ever heard of a "Professional Organizer?" It's secretly my dream to become one. Someone who helps you clear out the clutter in your life, someone who helps you shop smartly and professionally, and someone to be there for you if you need them. Kind of like a counselor, only not really.

What I'm thinking is.... wouldn't it be neat to help someone organize their garage to be clutter-free and efficient? Or what about helping someone shop for a waredrobe that is functional and affordable? I know a lot of moms in this area that are really busy. Women that are too busy to organize their craft room; too busy to take the time to meal plan; and even too busy to decide what to wear in the morning. I want to help. I am by no means perfect, but I do have a gift for organizing and cleaning.

You know that show, Hoarders??

I love it. It would be my dream to meet someone who has a severe problem with hoarding possessions and show them that there's more to life that hanging onto items with no meaning.

This is a photo from one of the episodes. See how the mess is actually in organized piles? This person probabably knows where everything in their home is, even though it looks like a disaster area to us. Through counseling and help organizing, this family ended up finally getting some relief from the stressful, cluttered world they lived in. Wouldn't it be so satisfying to help someone in that way?

My only concern, is that we live in Southeast Missouri. Sometimes people around here are too proud to admit when they need help. They might know inside that they could benefit from someone helping them get their life organized, but they would never actually take that step to call someone for fear of ridicule. They might have this sort of mentality:

I would hope not, but it's possible.

Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud about my dream business..... I'm sure getting a degree in English Lit won't help me, but I think there are some classes and certifications you can take to actually become a Personal Organizer....or Life Coach as some call it. What do you guys think? Do you think SE Missouri could benefit from this type of service?

How to Dye Leather Boots

It's been awhile since I've done something creative, and it's making me feel too structured.

Remember my post about my lists? I make "Short Term" and "Long Term" lists. When my Short Term List is close to being completed, I usually start working on a couple of my Long Term goals. One item on my Long Term List is to buy a pair of Cognac Riding Boots. I've been searching for the perfect pair since last year.  A pair that's not too expensive, but still made of real leather. I have yet to find boots that meets both these requirements. A couple of months ago I picked up a pair of leather riding boots from Target $29. They fit great, but the color is.....well, kind of blah.

 Another negative is that the first week I had them I got white paint on them that hasn't come off. So now they look really blah and aren't the perfect Cognac color that I want. Just when I was beginning to think I'd be stuck with these blah boots and never find that perfect pair I discovered this:

It's leather dye, in the most perfect Cognac color! I watched a video from Lucky Magazine on how to dye leather shoes, so I thought I would give it a try. I bought this brand from Hobby Lobby for $4.99. Bonus: It's Eco Friendly!

Ok, so here is step by step what I did. I tried to follow the video the best I could.

Step 1. Clean the boots with a leather cleaner.
I bought this brand from Bucheits. It didn't remove any of the paint though! It cost $3.99. I rubbed the leather cleaner onto the boots with a scotch brand sponge, using the "green" rough side. I applied the cleaner directly to the sponge, and rubbed it onto the boots in a circular motion.

I let the cleaner dry for 30 minutes on the boots. The boots didn't look any different than before. Kind of a waste of money if you ask me. I could have just cleaned them with soap and water and probably gotten the same effect.

Step 2. Carefully apply the dye.
I first laid the boots onto an old towel. The leather dye stains so I also wore an old apron. I used a sponge again to apply the dye. I tried to keep the dye just on the leather, but a little got on the sole of the shoe. I used a Q-tip and dipped it into the leather cleaner and rubbed it onto the sole, and the dye came right off. Here's a pic of the first coat of dye after I applied it to the boots.

The dye didn't cover up the white paint sploches though. Kind of a bummer.

I thought the boots might need another coat, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Here they are, in all their Cognac Glory.

Happy Dyeing Friends.

Snow Day.

I went home from work early because of the snow, and here's how JD and I spent our afternoon.

We looked out the back patio door and tried to find Josey.....she was missing for a couple hours! When she finally came home she had ice in her whiskers.

I taught JD how to jump on the bed. He's a natural, of course.

I started cleaning my mess of a closet. Still a long way to go!

Squeezed in a little light reading.

Evaporated about a dozen pot's worth of water into the extremely dry air. JD and I both had nose bleeds last night so I'm hoping to avoid that tonight!

And finally, we tried a new recipe for dinner. Shrimp Quesadillas.

Here's the recipe.

Shrimp Quesadilla's

Ingredients:

4 8-inch tortillas

1/2 a container spicy three-pepper hummus

6 oz peeled, deveined, and cooked medium shrimp

1 jar artichoke hearts chopped

1 pkg feta cheese

Directions:

Coat one side of each tortilla with cooking spray. Place tortillas, sprayed side down, on work surface; spread with hummus. Top half of each tortilla with shrimp, artichokes, and cheese. Fold tortilla's in half, pressing gently.

Heat large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat for 1 minute. Cook quesadillas, tow at a time, for 4-6 minutes or until golden browned and heated through. Serves 4.

Here's a pic of the finished product.

Just looks like a regular old quesadilla. Only it's filled with delicious hummus and shrimp :) Daniel said he liked it, so looks like this meal has made the recipe rotation!

What did you all do today on this snowy Wednesday?

What to buy me for Valentine's Day or My Anniversary....

Like most women, I have a "Want" list.

Do I NEED the things on this list? No.

Will I obtain all of the items on this list? Most likely No.

Do I spend a portion of my day thinking about these items and or looking at them online? Yes. (Ashamedly so.)

Here's my current obsessions list. Feel free to mention one or all of these items to my hubby, because this month is Valentine's Day and our Anniversary (Feb 21st)

1. These Suede Booties

Aren't they adorable? I would wear them now with skinny jeans and sweaters, and in the Spring with skirts or rolled khakis. My favorite part is the rubber sole; so comfy! Tell Daniel I need a 7 1/2 :)

2. This Perfect Spring Top:

Would go with everything in my closet and is such a cute color! :) Size small please and thank you!

3. A Sewing Machine

It's a basic model, just to get me started. I would eventually like to make tote bags, clothes for JD etc. It's pretty reasonably priced for under $70.00....I don't know much about sewing machines but I hear that Brother brand is pretty good.

4. Another Swimsuit

I already have this same adorable swimsuit, but it fits so perfectly I'd like it in another color. If I had it in white I could switch up the top and bottom with the navy suit I already have. I'm a small top and a medium bottom please dear :)

5. A Gift Card to my Favorite Place :)

Annie Laurie's Antiques! I could spend an entire day just daydreaming about shopping here! Lately I've been in a rush every time I'm in, so it would be a great gift for me to have a free afternoon to shop.

Well, that's about all for my "wants" list. (this week anyway! ha!) What's on your current obsessions list? Post the items you're wanting for Valentine's Day and I'll try to nudge your significant other in the right direction for you! :)

Hair and Makeup!

I always find it interesting on fashion blogs when writer's post their makeup routine, and the products they use. I don't have much of a routine, but I can share with you the products I have found to actually work for me. I have been using the same shampoo, face wash, and makeup for about two years; after about five years of testing these and other products. I will indicate my favorite products as the "Product Pick".  Hope this post is helpful and/or interesting to you! Please leave comments if you like or dislike! :)

FACE:
In highschool I had pretty oily skin (like most other teenagers!) I used Proactiv products from about age 12-17. I did not use Proactiv as instructed, just every once in awhile. I had breakouts, like everyone else, but never too severe. I recommend Proactiv to anyone in desperate need of help with acne problems. It works if you use it as instructed (3 simple steps!) Just make sure to educate yourself on the ingredients. Proactiv contains Retinoids and Beta Hydroxy Acid that can be harmful to pregnant women. Remember, anything topical you put on your skin is absorbed!

Since Highschool, I would say that I now have normal skin. I occasionally get a couple blackheads, and I do go through dry spells in winter. Since Proactiv was recommended for severe acne only, I stopped using it. No need to continue putting harsh chemicals onto my face!

Once acne was no longer a real issue for me, I went through a phase where I wanted only "high end" products and began to use Clinique Bar Soap. Love this stuff. It's just a mild, fragrance free, all around good soap for people with normal skin. If your budget allows, I highly recommend trying it out. Around here, you can get it at Macy's for about $14.00.

For me, I would rather spend a little more on my hair products (I'll get to that in a bit) than my face products, so I switched to Neutrogena. You can get it at any drug store, and it works for me just the same as the Clinique. I even like it better because it comes in a pump, rather than as a bar.

The Fresh Foaming Cleanser is mild and fragrance free. It retails for about $4.00. This is my Product Pick out of all other face washes!

Now that I've gotten a little older, I know the importance of protecting my skin from the sun. I use a sunscreen/lotion every morning to keep my skin wrinkle free! (Haha Hopefully!) I got this lotion for Christmas as a gift, so that's really the only reason I'm using it right now. I normally wouldn't spend so much for a lotion:

I think it's around $20.00. It works really well though and I don't feel greasy after using it. Hopefully it will last until my birthday and maybe someone else will get it for me haha!

This is really my Product Pick as far as lotion's go. It's affordable, oil free, and does what it's supposed to; moisturizes.

It's also got SPF 15! This moisturizer usually costs around $10.00 at Wally World, but it lasts me several months because I only use a tiny amount in the morning. $10.00 well spent!




MAKEUP:
If you know me, you know I have never worn much makeup. In fact, it's about 3pm right now and I've been to the grocery store and coffee with a friend and haven't put any makeup on all day. If I do wear makeup, it's these four items: Brown Mascara, Grey Eyeliner, Powder, and Chapstick. I save eye shadow and blush for times when I go out, and more often than not I just use mascara and none of the other three.
Here are my Product Picks:

Mascara:
I have really sensitive eyes. Some mascara that has "lengthening" or "plumping" elements can irritate me. I have found that this mascara perfect for me. It's hypoallergenic, and at the same time makes my lashes look longer and plumper!

It's by Almay, and it retails for about $5.00. I always buy black/brown or brown because I think black can look too harsh with my eye color.

Eyeliner:
I only apply a thin strand of eyeliner to the top lid. I sometimes put it on the bottom, but just in the evening. I uses any kind of eyeliner that has a built in sharpener. I also try to stick to a grey or brown color.

Revlon seems to work pretty good for me. It doesn't irritate my eyes so that's a plus! Since this liner has the built in sharpener I think I paid $6.50 at Wal-Mart.

Powder:
Ok, so I'm about to tell you a little secret that few people know: I have a really hairy face. I'm not a gorilla or anything, but I do get a crop of thick blond hair on my chin and upper lip. Needless to say, tweezers are my best friend. I occasionally go to the salon and get a wax, but it's pretty embarrassing leaving the salon with a bright red upper lip! That in mind, liquid foundation has never worked for me. It gets stuck in the little blond hairs and looks clumpy! I have found that mineral powder makeup is my favorite. It never looks heavy or greasy, and it makes my skin look even and less red. Since I don't use it very often, I go through a small container about every 6-8 months. I do splurge a little for this one, and use Bare Minerals. They have a few different shades, and I keep two colors on hand: The Light and the Medium. I only use the medium if I've been tanning or in the summer. Otherwise my skin is pretty fair.

You can get it for about $20.00 online. I get mine at Elements Salon and Spa right here in Cape. Gotta support the local businesses!

Lips:
I'm a chapstick junkie. I pick one up almost every time I'm at the drugstore. Currently I'm using this:

Its really smooth, and also has a little bit of shine to it. I also cycle through Burt's Bees and Blistex brands. I do have a tube of lipstick in my purse (You're welcome, Mother!) that I use on RARE occasions. It's some that a friend gave me and I've had it so long the label rubbed off. It's just a creamy pink color. I think that lipstick looks really fake on me for some reason. Wish I could pull it off!

HAIR:
I used to be slightly obsessed with my hair. I had to wash it every day, straighten it everyday, and use only salon-bought products. Here's a picture of me from a couple of years ago when I was going through this phase.

Looks like I'm about to play a mean game of Rock Band. It also looks like I'm a crazy person. And I was. Crazy about my hair. I had to have it highlighted every four weeks on the dot, not mention all the money I spent on hair smoothing oils and gels. Yep. I was crazy!
I now have a much more relaxed view of my hair. I still get it highlighted, but only every 6-8 weeks. I also don't highlight my entire head, I just do a "partial" as my stylist calls it. She just highlights the top of my head only and leaves the underneath naural. After about two years of this my hair is back to its natural color "underneath." It's a dirty blonde/light brown color. The top part of my hair (the part that's visible) is highlighted with both blonde and brown high and low lights. The result is a much more natural look! I've also ditched the straightener and on most days go with my natural, wavy hair. Here's a pretty recent picture:

I'm still me, but in much more relaxed, natural way. My hair is naturally wavy, and to keep it from getting too fly-away, I use a scrunching mousse straight out of the shower. No brushing involved.

I found that this mousse is my Product Pick. The reason I like it so much is because it leaves my waves feeling smooth, and not crunchy. Some hair products make my hair really tangly in the shower, but Pantene doesn't. I can also blow dry my hair with this mousse in it and my hair still doesn't get frizzy. How bout them apples?

Shampoo and Conditioners and I have a love/hate relationship. I hate how much salon products are, but I love how healthy they keep my hair. I love how affordable drug-store shampoo's are, but I hate how I can tell a difference in quality. After years of testing every drug store shampoo under the sun, my Product Pick for shampoo and conditioner is this:

Biolage Hydrotherapie Shampoo $19.99

Biolage Hydrotherapie Detangling Solution $25.00

Yes, I know that's a lot of money to spend on shampoo and conditioner. But I am being completely honest when I say I have found no other comparison. The shampoo makes my hair feel thick and healthy and the detangling solution does just that; makes my hair more manageable. It hurts every month when a portion of my spending budget has to go towards these items, but I made a deal with the hubby that if I can't get it at the grocery store, then it has to come from my spending allowance. Sigh.

Now you know what products I love most. Have something you think I should try? Let me know! Have a good weekend friends!

BINKY DOWN FOLKS.....BINKY DOWN!!

JD is two now, and that means it's time to get rid of the binky. We have, for several weeks, been slowly taking it away from him. The week before his birthday, we only let him have it at naps and bedtime. Now that he's officially two, he hasn't had the binky all week. The first night was pretty tough. He kept whimpering and walking over to the "Binky Drawer" in the kitchen and sifting through it, looking for any remains of his lost friend. He's slowly gotten better as the week's progressed, and now he doesn't even look in the drawer anymore. The toughest part for me is during the car ride home after work, when he usually takes a nap. Now he stays awake and sometimes cries because he wants his you-know-what.

This was taken on JD's Birthday, right before bedtime. His last night with Binky. :( Little man's growing up!

It's a little hard to tell in the photo, but this was taken right after Daddy cut up all of JD's binky's in front of him, and then had JD take them all into the kitchen and throw them in the trash. It was like watching Old Yeller get killed all over again, only this time, it was a non-living Binky. Still pretty sad though.

One thing I've noticed since the binky was taken away, is that JD is a little more clingy than usual. He follows me around the house trying to get me to hold him when he's sleepy, when he used to just grab his binky and go lay down by himself. He's following Daniel around more too.

Daniel went outside to work on the back deck, and JD was SCREAMING for him. I opened the glass door and just left the screen closed so he could still watch Daniel and talk to him. Problem solved.

I'm hoping the clingy-ness is just a repercussion from the Binky Withdrawals. Worst case scenario, he's officially entered the terrible twos and will no longer be the same.

Let's just hope for the best, shall we?

Websites I Love!!

Hi Friends. Something I really enjoy is finding a good, informative blog or website. It's sometimes hard to find one on your own, so I've put together a list that I've compiled over the course of a couple of years, and broken them down into cagegories: Faith/Family, Fashion, Food, and Fun. The Five F-Words. :) If you have a website to add, please do! I will try to update this blog entry on a regular basis, so check back often!

FAITH AND FAMILY
1. Proverbs 31 Ministries. This was shared with me by my sweet friend GiGi Meystedt. Every blog entry is written by a woman, and partains to family and relationship issues. If you sign up for the Daily Devotions the ministry will email you daily with the newest blog entry. Great stuff!
2. Bible Gateway. Thinking of a particular verse but just don't remember the reference? On this website you can search by topic, phrase, etc.
3. Focus on the Family. Very popular radio show turned website with thousands of topics and articles to choose from regarding children and family. I have used this resource many times when I'm feeling desperate for Biblical answers.
4. No Greater Joy Ministries. Some people might think that the teachings of Michael and Debi Pearl are a little charismatic and or strict. I personally love them. They tell you how it is, that's for sure. I have read Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl and it taught me tons about how to treat my hubby like the Leader God intends him to be. (If you want to borrow my copy of the book, just ask!)

FASHION.
1. J's Everyday Fashion Blog. This is a blog written by a regular girl, with a regular clothing budget. She's not an actress or model. She doesn't have a professional photographer and she's not getting paid to write her blog. J's Everyday Fashion posts a new outfit everyday, and why the outfit "works." It's fun to check daily and see what outfit she has pulled from her closet. She's also on Facebook! Here's one of her recent posts. I love this outfit! She tells you why the tomato pants "work." And even has an inspiration photo from another website to coordinate with her outfit. So fun!

 Photo from J's Everyday Fashion

2. Coupon Codes and Discounts from Retailmenot. Who doesn't love an online coupon or discount? Before you load up your shopping cart on an online retailer, check this little website! Just search for the store you're buying from, and up pops some discount codes to try when you're checking out. Sometimes the codes are expired or no longer working, so you might have to try a couple codes before you find one that works. I have found a working code EVERY time I have bought online. Even if it's just for free shipping and handling it's still worth it!
3. Glo by MSN. I discovered this website because MSN is my homepage. It's usually got some really cute articles on fashion and lifestyle. I love checking this website for the most recent nail trends. Disclaimer: I have a slight obsession with nail polish. It's almost at an unhealthy level.
4. OPI. Speaking of nails, I go to this website a lot because of their unique "Try On This Color" feature. It allows you to control the length of nails on a digital hand and pick a color from the OPI collection to try on. It even features different skin colors so any woman can test out a new color. Love this!
5. Lucky Magazine. My favorite magazine of course has a website. Tons of different aspects of fashion, including shots of regular girls on the street and their outfit choices. Also check out the How-To Library which has tons of videos on everything from How to Shop an Outlet Store to How to Do a Smokey Eye.

FOOD.
1. Martha Stewart. Enough said.
2. Delish. Love this recipe website because the majority of the recipes are from "real" people. You can sign into your own account and upload your own recipes to share with the internet world. Pretty cool huh?
3. Country Living Magazine. Great tool for decorating advice, antique appraisals, and of course, recipes!

FUN.
1. Facebook. What day would be complete without Facebook? Of course, I'm just as obsessed as everyone else. I did delete a few friends a couple of days ago though. I can now say that I would stop and talk to all 542 of my friends :)
2. People Magazine. Got to get my daily dose of celebrity gossip. In my defense, People Magazine is known for being the "Most Honest" celebrity tabloid magazine. They also feature heartwarming articles on real-life dramatic experiences. But who am I kidding? I read it for the latest celeb dish.


That's about all for now. As I think of more websites I'll update. If you have something to add to the lists, please do!