Tuesday, October 2, 2012

31 Days Challenge - Day 2 - e.l.f. Studio Lip Balm

Working with kids, I wore jeans and tee shirts everyday and never worried about wearing makeup. Now that I dress up everyday, I feel like I should wear makeup too.

I've never been good with makeup, and have never been interested in lipstick at all. When I tried it, I hated how heavy and thick it is. I also tried lip gloss, but I really don't like how shiny and sticky it is. Most lip balms are too sheer for what I'm looking for. I think I have finally found the perfect lip product for me!


This is e.l.f. (which stands for eyes, lips, face) Lip Balm with SPF 15. I bought the color nude at Target for $3...seriously...$3! The color and coverage is like lipstick, but it isn't heavy, thick, or sticky. It has a nice tingly, minty flavor, and leaves my lips feeling moisturized and soft. I'm planning to go back to buy more colors!

Now I'm on the lookout for the perfect eyeliner. I have never been able to get that perfect smooth, thin line. I've been told to try liquid eyeliner...it was a  total mess! If you have any other recommendations, feel free to share!

Monday, October 1, 2012

31 Days Challenge - Day 1 - New Job

So, as I said, the past month has been very busy...and a big part of that is my new job! I have been working as a teller at a local bank for about a month now. I absolutely LOVE it! Seriously! I look forward to going to work everyday.

I have to admit that being a teller is not really like I thought it would be. I expected that I would help customers with deposits and withdrawals, and then a lot of waiting until the next customers came in. Haha...it is so NOT like that! There is so much more that I didn't even know about. We also process loan payments, do all mailed in transactions, phoned in transactions, look up account information for customers, sell cashiers checks and travel cards, do start up transactions for the loan officers and personal bankers, and check other employees' work. And I didn't even consider the large deposits and change orders that are dropped off by the restaurants, doctors, and casinos in town. In the very little down time, I try to work on the online courses the company requires employees to take to learn banking regulations. It's definitely busy and fast paced...but I love it!

I learn something new everyday, and am starting to feel confident in doing transactions correctly. I'm very excited to see where this new adventure leads me.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

31 Days Challenge

I know...I know...I haven't blogged in over a month. It's been a very busy month, but it's been a GREAT month. Looking back just makes me smile. To get out of my non-blogging habit, I'm going to do the 31 day challenge. I've noticed a few bloggers are challenging themselves to blog about the same subject for each of the 31 days of October. I'm just going to challenge myself to blog about SOMETHING each of the 31 days of October. I know it's going to be very tough, but I think I can do it. I'm not writing anything else now, I have to save all my words for October!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Burlap Flower Embellished Wreath


I saw this photo on Pinterest, and started making my own at the Pinterest party. I finally finished it this morning. Here is my verstion...





Friday, August 10, 2012

Kindle Clutch

Last week I went to a Pinterest Party. The idea was for everyone to bring a food item from a Pinterest recipe and supplies to make a craft from Pinterest.

I had to work late and didn't have time to buy the supplies for what I wanted to make, but I had a yard of beautiful velveteen fabric in my stash that I've been wanting to use.

Since I didn't have a project in mind, I searched "sewing velveteen" I found this photo on Pinterest and headed for the party.


This is what I ended up with.



I think it turned out pretty nice!

When I got home, I checked out the link for that pinterest photo, and it turns out that I followed the tutorial pretty closely for just looking at the photo once. Here it is for anyone that wants to see how she did it.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Tagalong Cookie Substitute

I love the Tagalong Girl Scout cookies...I mean I could eat a whole box in one sitting! Girl Scout cookies only come once a year and just don't last long. But I have found a fantastic substitute that is available year round!


These are available at Walmart for $1.34 per package. Seriously...$1.34! I think they taste just like Tagalongs.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Bathroom Reno

I realized that I have never blogged about the bathroom renovation. It was the first big project that we completed after we bought the house and it was done over 2 years ago! The good thing is...I still love it! I tend to decorate a room and then a few months later find a different style that I like...but the bathroom is still exactly the same and I don't feel the urge to change it.

Here are some "before" photos:
There was plenty of wood trim...but not the nice "original to the house" wood trim that you typically find in older homes, no it was cheap junk from a big box store.

Some of the walls were covered in what we assumed was wallpaper. I thought it would be no problem to strip the wallpaper off. I quickly found out that what was attached to the walls was actually plywood with wallpaper wrapped around it, then glued to the wall. Seriously? Who does that?

And here is a shot of the grimy laminate floor.

A few "during" shots:
This is what the wall looked like under the wallpaper covered plywood. The glue really tore up the walls.

Here is already looks so much better, and it's only primed!

And finally after lots of work, the beautiful upstairs bathroom:
We kept the toilet, just got a new seat and brushed nickel handle. The cabinet above the toilet is the same, I just painted it and put on new brushed nickel handles.

We got a new vanity and medicine cabinet. We went with granite countertop because it really isn't very expensive for one that small. I absolutly love this vanity! Drawers are so much more practical than doors. 

It was a couple of years ago that I picked out the wall paint, but I think it was called Bleached Wheat. The towels, rugs, and shower curtain are all from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's and the color I think was called Sea Spray.

You can only barely see the ceramic tile in this picture, but I am proud to say that we did it ourselves! Jake cut the tiles and I prepped the floor and laid them. Two years later, it still looks great, so I guess we did alright :)