The Pink Owl...gets pretty!

Bullies...

2011-12-20T02:56:00.001-05:00

Hi.

I haven't written a blog post in quite some time!

I'm doing well, and hope you all are too.

Today, though, I am sad.

Sad that Internet bullying has literally caused some dear internet friends (whom I've never met, but love just the same) to delete their YouTube accounts, blog, etc.

Sam and Jay Schuerman posted a daily vlog chronicling their life, their sweet son growing up, and Samantha also had a beauty channel. If you've never watched it, you missed out! It was fabulous and something I looked forward to every day.

Yesterday, they made the decision to shut down all of their channels due to receiving threats against their family.

I completely understand why they did what they did, and I would've done the same!

But...I miss them. And it pisses me off that some assholes HIDE behind a computer screen and harass people.

You know that none of these asshats would ever have the balls to actually SAY the words they so brazenly TYPE to someone's face (and, I sure as hell hope their spoken language is better than their shitty grammar. I doubt it).

I apologize for my use of bad words (but, dammit, sometimes it makes me feel better to curse. So there).

I am so sad for Sam and Jay, as they worked so hard at making their channels a success and they had so many "fans", myself included.

They don't know I wrote this and they didn't ask me too. I just had to vent.

So, my point? Don't type rude shit while hiding behind a computer screen that you wouldn't have the courage to SAY to someone's face.

Oh, and PS, threatening someone's family over the Internet is ILLEGAL.

xoxo,
K

What I did on a Friday night.....

2011-08-26T20:44:00.013-04:00

Preface: please pardon my tiny pictures. Blogger was giving me photo issues....

Tonight, I was feeling a little bored.

So, I took my bored self to Target.

Boredom + Target = recipe for disaster (of the non Hurricane Irene variety).

Oh, I did a little damage.

See:

Yeah. Damn Target.

But....since I did a little damage to my own wallet,

I thought I'd help enable to you to join me!

Because, honestly, isn't that what part of blogging is about?

Enabling?

No? Oops.

Sorry in advance.

First of all, it's no secret that I love Hello Kitty.

Yes, I realize I am too old for Hello Kitty.

Ask me if I care.

In the Spirit of Hello Kitty Love, just look at these:

Aren't they so cute??

I have needed some new slippers for while now, so I got Hello Kitty ones.

And, ohhhhh, they are comfy!

And, I got a Hello Kitty shirt.

And, yes, I fully plan to wear it in public, thankyouverymuch.

I got it to wear with black leggings. I think it's pretty cute!

FYI, the Mossimo for Target leggings are on sale for $5!

These are some of my favorite leggings!

They are SUPER tight (in a comfortable way).

I got the capri length and the ankle length.

They really do a good job of sucking in the cellulite and not getting saggy knees.

Few things I hate more that saggy knees in leggings. Gross!

I love wearing leggings.

In fact, I have worn leggings every day (that I'm off work) for the past 2 months.

Not kidding.

A little TMI, but these.....

are quite possibly the most comfortable underwear In. The. World.

Yes, even better than Hanky Pankys (which I also own).

P.S. these undies leave NO VPL when worn with leggings.

Also...on sale for 4 pairs for $20.

A little tidbit about me: I NEVER, ever, ever wear thongs.

I hate them. With every fiber of my being.

Oh, and I hate the word "panties".

Gag.

I got a long sleeve henley shirt, also.

To wear with leggings. Duh.

Also in my little Boredom Haul I got:

Roc Retinol Night Cream (aka...a miracle worker).

Some disgustingly bad for me noodles, mac n cheese and Sprite.

Oh, and some hair color for my janky roots (they are baaaaadddd) and some clarifying shampoo (which I like for brightening up my blonde when it starts to fade).

After my shopping trip, I took my un-bored self to Panera and had an amazing Thai Chopped Chicken Salad. Delicious!!

Then I came home and glued myself back to the news for Hurricane Irene coverage.

If you are in the path of the storm, please stay safe!

Soooo.....what did you do on your Friday night? I hope it was cheaper than mine was!

Have a wonderful weekend, Loves!!

My Life is So Exciting....

2011-08-09T16:21:00.004-04:00

....that I haven't been blogging!

Do you believe that? No?

Well, you shouldn't.

Because it's not true.

Actually, I have not had anything interesting to talk about.

Currently, I'm sitting inside of Starbucks, blogging and drinking a venti Passion Tea Lemonade

and being annoyed that they ran out of flat lids for my cup.

I have an irrational hatred for the rounded lids.

Also, the girl sitting next to me...smells like mothballs.

I wish I were kidding.

So, what have I been up to?

Just going to work,

going to sleep,

going to Starbucks (since I discovered that I can pay for Starbucks with my iPhone, I'm even more obsessed. Not that that makes any sense, but whatever).

repeat.

Exciting, right?

There has been a lot of life thrown in the mix as well.

All good, though!

Except for the heat.

Oh my word. I can't take it anymore.

I hope it snows neck deep to a giraffe this winter.

If for nothing else, but to piss off all of my Facebook friends

who constantly post about how much they "love summer".

Really? You love sweating profusely in humidity so thick it feels like you're eating air
when you go outside?

Oh well, to each their own.

Me?

I hate summer.

And I complain about it.

A lot.

Sorry.

I haven't bought any makeup since June!

Can you believe it?

That is about to change.

You know I'm always obsessed with something, so you wanna hear my latest iPhone app obsessions?

They are: Instagram (duh), Frametastic (you can make photo collages and send them to Instagram, aNote (a to-do list, shopping list and more--this keeps me SO organized), Gossip Junkie (all the celeb gossip in one app, you can choose which site you want to read from), WhatsApp Messenger (like BBM).

You're welcome :)

All in all, my life is good.

Just been feeling kind of lazy in these dog days of summer.

But....last night HPB and I took his Psycho Pup on a walk,

and I felt a tiny tinge of coolness in the air!

Change is on the horizon!

And so is Clemson football season!

Hope you all are doing amazing,

I'll be back soon!

xoxo

Happy Wednesday!

2011-07-26T22:06:00.002-04:00

Today, I'm hosting {semi} Wordless Wednesday over on Daphne's blog, Flip Flops and Pearls! I'd love for you to check it out. I'm talking all about Comfort TV!

Hope you have an amazing Wednesday!

Friday Friday Friday....

2011-07-22T02:09:00.002-04:00

Every Friday, I sing that stupid Rebecca Black song in my head all day. It annoys the heck out of me, yet I can't get it out of my head. Also, I don't really know why I'm singing it, because I have to work all weekend. Boo.

But, I'm excited it's Friday for those of you who don't have to work!

So, I haven't been so great about blogging lately. It's because I've been busy and before I know it, time has slipped away from me and I didn't blog. But, life has been good.

Just the other night, I was sitting in my apartment and I just looked around me and it hit me: I am content. Content with where my life is, who my friends are, my relationships with my boyfriend and my family. Content with my job (even though it makes me crazy sometimes).

I just feel incredibly blessed and realize that I'm very fortunate to live the life I do!

So today, I don't have much to say other than I'm feeling very thankful. And I hope you have lots to be thankful for, as well!

Have a wonderful weekend friends!!

New Toy...

2011-07-18T01:24:00.003-04:00

Welllll....if you remember this post, then you know that this post will be me eating my words.

Because I got this:

Yeah, I know.

I have been going back and forth on what phone to get for quite some time, and finally, this weekend, I decided to try the iPhone. One more time.

I'm SO glad I did!

Clearly, based off the performance of this one, the one I had originally was malfunctioning. I have had no connectivity issues with the one I got this time, and I've received all of my notifications instantly.

I am OBSESSED. I may never get anything done again. I am definitely an iPhone convert!

The apps, the look, the stability and the covers! Omg, the covers (or is it cases? Whatever)! There are so many beautiful ones to choose from! Oh, and the camera is pretty amazing as well.

Several people have asked me about the Droid, and I have NOTHING negative to say about my Droid experience! I loved the Android OS and it is a very fun phone. I do, however, find the iPhone to be more user friendly, just less customizable. They are both great phones, but I am excited to own an iPhone now!

So....if you have an iPhone, what are your favorite apps? I need more!

p.s. if you play Hanging With Friends (which is my new favorite time waster) and would like to add me, my user name is kriss76

Sad

2011-07-15T04:09:00.005-04:00

My heart is sad over the loss of a young Deputy a few counties over from the one I work in.

I believe hell will have extra hot spots for cop killers.

At least, I hope so.

I realize (as this young cop did) that we sign up to put our lives on the line.

Every day.

It still doesn't make it OK when one is murdered.

Or justifiable.

I cried over this young cop.

And for his wife,

and two small children.

The day I stop crying over things like this,

is the day I leave this career.

It's comforting to know that I have still have a heart,

after all I've seen.

Please don't be sad for me.

This is not my story.

I am not trying to take away from his honor.

He is the hero.

He paid the ultimate price

and died doing what he loved.

If you pray, I'm sure his family would appreciate it.

Rest in Peace, Officer Rice.

We'll take your watch from here.

When I start my tour of duty God,
Wherever crime may be,
as I walk the darkened streets alone,
Let me be close to thee.

Please give me understanding with both the young and old.
Let me listen with attention until their story's told.
Let me never make a judgment in a rash or callous way,
but let me hold my patience let each man have his say.

Lord if some dark and dreary night,
I must give my life,
Lord, with your everlasting love
protect my children and my wife.

(Author Unknown)

My June Favorites....

2011-07-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Sorry that this is not a video. I had planned to sit down and do one several times, and the Internet at my apartment has been going through upgrades from the company and it is slow as molasses right now.

**also, sorry for the google photos. I didn't get around to photographing my products for this post.

So, before July disappears right before my eyes, I wanted to share with you what I have loved for the month of June.

Here we go:

1. TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer. This highlighter is the bee's knees. I am obsessed with it. It will suit any skin tone from light to dark, and it gives the most amazing glow to your face! I have been wearing it everyday, and it definitely a new favorite. It is $25 dollars at Sephora, which I think is a little $$ for a highlighter (or maybe, I'm just a cheap ass) but it has definitely been well worth the price for me.

2. Maybelline The Falsies Flare Waterproof Mascara. I know, we've talked about how much we don't really like Falsies on Twitter lots of times. But...this formula seems different than the original. I don't get flakies with this one, like I did with the original formula. Surprisingly, I do get a good flare to my lashes with this mascara, making that winged out look achievable! Granted, it's still not as good as my Holy Grail mascara, but....it's close.

3. Pantene Great Lengths Replenishing Mask Conditioner. Oh, how I love this stuff! I had been using the L'Oreal Pure line that is sulphate and silicone free, but it has been making my hair a tangled mess lately. Since I've grown my hair out, it tangles so badly in the shower, that I've had to resort to using a kid's hair detangler. Well, not anymore! This stuff give great slip to my hair and makes it silky and manageable! It also smells amazing!!

4. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub. This is my saving grace when it comes to getting a smooth application of fake tanner! It smells soooooooo good and rinses off very cleanly. Since I came back from vacation, I had some dry patches due to being in the sun, and this has taken care of that. It also works great as a foot scrub. I find this at Wal-Mart for around $5

5. Carmex lip balm. This stuff has been around forever and a day, but I love it! I haven't deserted my beloved EOS lip balm, but I have fallen back in love with Carmex. I use it at night before I go to bed and it makes my lips so soft in the morning.

6. Birchbox. Just Birchbox in general. I feel like each month it is getting better and better and I am so happy that I joined! This month's box was amazing and I have received so many awesome products from them. If you don't know what Birchbox is, it is a monthly subscription ($10) that comes to your home, a box filled with high end beauty products ranging from sample size to full size. You can pay for a year up front or you can purchase month to month. You can also gift a month or more to family or friends. I plan to get my sister in law a year's subscription for Christmas this year (she doesn't know about my blog so she won't see this). If you want to sign up, I can send you a referral (I do get points for referring you, just to put that out there) or you can go directly to Birchbox.com and sign up! (If you would like for me to refer you just email me at thepinkowlblog at gmail dot com and leave me your email address).

That's my stand out products of the month (aside from Origin's Vitazing, which I have talked to death).

What are you loving for this month? I'd love to hear about it, so that I can try it too! Also, if you have something specific you'd like me to review, just let me know in the comments!

Monday Tidbits...

2011-07-11T06:02:00.000-04:00

*First of all, I'm sorry I've been slacking on reading and commenting on your blogs. Work has been ridiculous this weekend and my reader is a bit out of control. I'm working on it. Pinky promise!

*Speaking of work....it was insane this weekend. I just want to forget this weekend ever happened. It was that crazy.

*I am obsessed with Big Brother 13. OBSESSED! It is the highlight of my Summer. Well, it and SHARK WEEK (which begins on July 31st, just in case you are a nerd like me).

*I've been on a self-imposed "no-buy" when it comes to makeup. Meaning: I'm not allowing myself to purchase any makeup (except essential items) until July 31st. This has been surprisingly easy and I've found some new favorites in my already too big stash. I may extend my no buy until the end of August! *gasp*

*I got my hair highlighted and low-lighted last week and I am loving it! My hairstylist put a lot of medium brown in it, and it seems like it will be so much easier to maintain. She also told me that we barely needed to trim it, because it was very healthy! I have about 3-4 more inches to go and I'll be at my goal length. So excited!

*I'm really loving my blog community lately. I feel like I've made some new friend and reconnected with some who've been here from the beginning.

*Welcome and thank you to all my new readers! It means a lot that you take time to read my little 'ol blog, and I appreciate it so much!

*Hope you all have an amazing Monday!!

{Semi} Wordless Wednesday: Loving the Hippie Life!

2011-07-05T23:48:00.005-04:00

I'm linking up with Daphne (and her guest blogger, Laura) for this weeks {semi} Wordless Wednesday!

I have always considered myself to have an inner hippie (albeit a self-proclaimed "high maintenance hippie") and I have a lot of fascination with the hippie lifestyle. The 60's and 70's fascinate me! I love the hair, clothes, daisy flowers, platforms, communes, festivals, Volkswagen buses (my dream car. Not kidding) etc. I have often said that I'd love to live in a commune (but I promise I would wash my hair (sometimes) and shave (always). Oh, and....I would've totally rocked some dreads. For real.

Here are some of my favorite images from an era I would've totally loved to live in. Right on!

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via The on Pinterest

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via The on Pinterest

Peace and Love!

Overpacker? Yep...that's me.

2011-07-04T05:57:00.000-04:00

Hi Loves! I'm back from vacation. We had a great time! It was a very relaxing trip, with few plans other than lounging on the beach and hanging out by the pool. It was just what I needed to recharge for the rest of this ridiculously HOT summer.

I severely over packed when it came to my makeup. This was ridiculous. My theory was to pack enough so that I had "choices", but in actuality I hardly touched any of it!

It was boiling hot. Seriously. The last thing I wanted to deal with each day was makeup (even though it's my true love). It was just too hot for a full face of makeup. I went with a natural, glowy face each day and it was nice not to have to worry about my makeup melting off in the heat and humidity.

Sooo....here is a picture of what I packed:

And here is what I actually used every day:

Pretty significant difference, huh?

Two makeup products really stood out for me this week, and I fell in love with them all over again. My winners for the week:

Origins Vitazing. It was invaluable this week. I LOVE THIS STUFF (as I've said many, many times before)! It gives the perfect amount of coverage, and has SPF 15. It feels like moisturizer (that's what it is) and not at all like makeup. THE perfect summer "no makeup makeup".

ELF Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder. Once again, if you don't own this, you need it. It's $3 dollars, an excellent dupe for NARS Laguna/Org*sm duo, and it was all I wore during vacation. The bronzer gives a great, natural tan and the blush gives the perfect flush for your cheeks.

I learned a lesson in cosmetic packing this past week. The next time I visit the beach (or any super hot climate) I will be packing very light. I could've fit all of what I wore into a pretty small cosmetic bag. Oh well, there's always next time.

We won't even talk about how much I over packed when it came to clothing.....sheesh.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

Postcard...

2011-06-28T22:07:00.001-04:00

Just checking in from my vacation! We are having a great time and I'll be back to blogging on Monday (the internet in our condo is a little sketch, hence the lack of blogging). Hope you all are doing great!

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more..."

2011-06-23T07:31:00.003-04:00

Last night was terrifying.

Seriously.

So, one of my besties, G, and I had dinner in downtown Greenville at Mellow Mushroom (this is second time I've eaten there this week, but we won't discuss that right now). We had a great time catching up with each other over pizza and greek salad. We were seated by the window and we started noticing that is was looking really dark and getting very windy outside. Our waiter, God bless him, was slow as molasses. We were starting to panic a little, as we waited for our check, because parking is at a premium downtown and we both had a pretty good walk to our cars. Also, we were parked on complete opposite ends of the street, and neither of us had an umbrella (well, I did, but it was in the floorboard of my car. Great).

Finally, after waiting forever to get our checks, we paid, hugged and booked it!

Que the terror. When I walked outside, I was in full on panic mode. It was not raining, but the wind was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Full size tree branches, trash cans and signs were being blown all over the place! Also, it was like a sand storm. Dry dirt was swirling everywhere. It was in my eyes, my mouth and stuck to my face. I honestly thought I was about to be swept away in a tornado. People were running everywhere to find shelter and I was on the verge of tears.

I finally made it to my car and tried to catch my breath (running to your car with a stomach full of pepperoni pizza and salad is not a good idea). I thought about driving home, but the sky was unreal. So, I did what any normal, sane girl would do. I drove my ass to the MALL.

The reason I chose the mall (aside from the obvious. Shopping, duh) was because the sky appeared to be clear(er) over that way. As I was driving, things went from bad to worse. A freaking full size tree blew across the road right in front of my car! I screamed, swerved and thankfully it missed me altogether. However, I did see a menu sign from one of the restaurants on Main Street blow across the road and land/crash on a Mercedes. Oopsy!

At every stop light, I was begging it to turn green. I needed shelter. And fast! As I was stopped at the red lights, I looked around and everyone beside me had looks of fear and nervousness on their face. I was shaking like a leaf and saying unlady-like words under my breath.

As I was stopped (I don't text and drive) I took a couple of pictures.

The sky was swirling! And the cloud cover was unbelievable!

I finally made it to the mall, parked my little Ruby cube in the garage and high-tailed it inside! I fully envisioned myself hiding under stack of Ralph Lauren bedding in the Home Section of Macy's.

Once I calmed down, I realized I was pretty safe in the mall and I let my common sense take over. I said "Self, when in Rome (or the mall)..." You know the rest.

I bought myself a new blinged out phone cover (because you know I wanna be like the OC Housewives with their rhinestone encrusted phone covers) and 2 new pairs of cheap sunglasses for vacation.

Soooo.....I finally decided, after a chocolate from Godiva and large sweet tea from Chick-fil-A (what? I was stressed the heck out. I needed comforting) that it was time to go home.

Or not.

I got to the door, which had a lot of store associates standing in front of it, and I was told: "Ma'am, I can't force you stay here, but we have kind of put the mall on lockdown due to a report of a tornado. It would be best if you stayed here for now".

Well, you don't have to ask me twice, honey. My happy little tail will stay all night if I have to (pretty sure I could've slept in one of those Ralph Lauren beds in Macy's). I do not wanna meet my maker because of a tornado. So, it was back to shopping for me (and shopping=a hot pretzel from Auntie Ann's or whatever it's called. Again...stressed out. Stay with me, people).

Finally, finally I was able to leave and I drove through pouring rain to my apartment, where it was still raining.

It was a crazy experience and I am so happy that I was safe.

I don't know who pissed off Mother Nature, but when I find the person who did....I'm gonna punch them in the junk. Trust.

P.S. Here is my OOTN: Lace top from Kohl's, jorts from Charlotte Russe, hat from Claire's (I think), I had on leather gladiator sandals from Macy's. Seriously, I was so happy I had a hat on in last night's weather (and b/c my hair was hot mess)!

My Strange Addiction...

2011-06-22T06:30:00.000-04:00

I have a strange obsession.

With cell phones.

I carry two lines on my plan just so that I can upgrade more frequently. I don't even know the number to the second line. Is this crazy? Probably so.

I like to have the latest, greatest phone available, if possible. My obsession started with my pink Blackberry Curve. Man I loved that thing! I actually miss the keyboard and the little clicking noise it made. I could text so fast with that phone!
After I got tired of watching that little clock spin round and round whilst waiting on something to load on my Curve, I upgraded to the Blackberry Tour. While it was a tad faster, it's novelty wore off quickly when it kept rebooting itself for no reason. Next!
Then I moved on to the original Motorola Droid. Once again, it was love! The internet connection on that phone was like lightning (especially compared to the slow crawl that became my Blackberry Tour). I was so in love with this phone! The cute little car dock, the wonderful GPS, all the cute wallpapers. I didn't think I could love another phone more.....

Along came the Samsung Fascinate. This phone was so cool! Except that it got NO service in the area where my apartment complex is located. Oops.

Had to trade that one in for my current phone: The Droid X. Now, I *love* this phone. No, really. I love it! It has a large screen, the internet connection speed is amazing and it has never caused me a minute's trouble.
But, I became intrigued by the iPhone when it came to Verizon. So, I used an upgrade and got it. BIG mistake. I wanted to love the iPhone, like everyone seemingly did. I wanted to use Instagram like all the cool kids. But it was not meant to be. The iPhone wouldn't stay connected to WiFi for more than 1o minutes, the internet connection made me feel like I had a Blackberry again and it got so hot, it was hard to hold! And, it would not give me Twitter notifications no matter what app I used. It was a big, fat iPhone Fail.

So, I sent the iPhone back and went back to my Droid X, and have been very happy!
(I'm not hating on the iPhone. I wanted to love it. If it had worked out, I'd be using it today).

Now, I'm getting restless, again, with my phone. I want to upgrade (and I do have an upgrade waiting since the iPhone didn't work out). I'm thinking of getting the HTC Thunderbolt. My cousin has it and I kind of love it! We recently got 4G in my area and it is SO fast.
Looks I may be making a trip to the Big Red today. We'll see.

What phone do you have? Are you obsessed with cell phones?

No, Just me?

I thought so.

I'm weird like that.

p.s. I'm fully aware that this may be the most trivial blog post of my life. Whatever.

Weekend Wrap-Up....

2011-06-20T06:01:00.000-04:00

Once again, I had a great weekend off! This weekend, I had absolutely no plans, but ended up having a lot of fun anyway.

On Friday night, HPB (Hot Police Boy aka The Boyfriend for my new readers) and I went to play with my nephews for a while and then decided to go to downtown Greenville for dinner. We were both dressed like bums, so we just got Jimmy John's subs (omg, the Beach Club! I'm addicted) and walked down to Falls Park for an impromptu picnic. Greenville has so many little nooks that you can sit down, eat and always have an amazing view!

After dinner, we walked around downtown. Of course, I had to stop at Blueberry Frog for froyo. And, of course, I had to get Fruity Pebbles on mine (along with coconut and fresh strawberries). It was delicious. We also stopped to listen to the Reggae band that is always out in Greenville on the weekends. They are really good!

Then we stopped at a new gem store that has opened up on Main Street. I can't remember the name of it, but I found some cute, cheap bracelets to add to my "stack". I got the leather band along with the "peace" and "love" bracelets. I had quite a random stack going on, but I love it!

On Saturday, I did absolutely nothing. I had planned to go to the pool for a while, but every time I went to step outside, it got cloudy and stormy. I think we had at least 4 storms on Saturday. I had also planned to cook pasta for dinner, but with my power flickering on and off, I ended up at Wendy's getting a baked potato and chili. I did enjoy a Cosby Show marathon, though. If you know me, you know that the Cosby Show is my absolute favorite show. Ever!

Then on Sunday, HPB and I met my parents, brother, sister in law and nephews at Cracker Barrel for breakfast (to celebrate Father's Day). We had a great time (and clearly, I was too busy stuffing my face to take any pictures). After breakfast we went back to my brother's house to have coffee and dessert and watch my nephew's swim in their little pool.

We took a pretty long nap after that and headed out to Mellow Mushroom in downtown Clemson. It was SO good, as always. I'm meeting a friend at Mellow this week for dinner. Pretty sure eating there twice in one week, is going to do nothing to help my "muffin top issue". Oh well.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

A little bit of...nothing.

2011-06-17T06:30:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited that it's Friday (Friday, Friday, Friday! Gotta get down on Friday)! You're welcome for that. I know you wanted that Rebecca Black song stuck in your head didn't you?

I'm off this weekend and it's so nice to have a weekend off with NO plans. My "no plans" include laying by the pool, reading magazines that have been stacking up and planning what I'm going to pack for vacation (only 7 days to go!).

On Thursday, I got super brave and touched up my janky roots right before I left for work. I only get my hair professionally colored 2-3 times a year, so I do the maintenance in between with this little gem:

I've been using Clairol Root Touch up for about 4 years now, and it has never failed me. BUT....I did get really nervous this time, because while the color was sitting on my hair, it started looking orange-ish, brown (btw, the color I use is light ash blonde). Ummm....NOT the look I was going for. The box says to leave it on for 1o minutes, but I always leave it on for 15. I was getting scared. So, I left it on for an additional 5 minutes, but it still looked wonky and I gave up and washed it out.

But, it didn't' fail me! It turned out great (at least, I think so). I don't know why the color looked so weird while it sat on my hair, but it turned out like it always does! My hairstylist knows that I touch up in between, and she always remains on "stand-by" in case of a disaster. So far, so good. I also cut my bangs, too (with garden scissors, but whatever. She does fuss at me for that, haha). Here's what it looked like after I got done with all of my handiwork:

(I had myself a little bathroom mirror photo session...)

So, if you're looking for me this weekend, I'll be by the pool (with massive amounts of sunscreen on) reading People's Style Watch and doing......NOTHING!

Have fun this weekend, kids!

{Semi} Wordless Wednesday...

2011-06-15T03:04:00.004-04:00

Today, I'm linking up with the wonderful Daphne, from Flip Flops & Pearls, for Wordless Wednesday! I'm going on vacation in 10 days and I'm so excited! I'm going with my boyfriend, brother, sister in law and my two precious nephews (and anytime I get to spend a whole week with my little nuggets, I'm there)!

Take a peek at where I'm going and what I plan to do. Enjoy!

I'm headed here:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

I plan to be laying in one of these:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

Beside one of these:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

Carrying this:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

And ordering plenty of these:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

While I read this:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

And, at night....I plan to make this my view:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

Are you going on vacation this summer? If so, where?

Blah, blah, blah...

2011-06-14T06:37:00.001-04:00

This post is just a bunch of random thoughts.

*I have not had a Dr. Pepper in 2 weeks!!!!!!!! I even had one offered to me yesterday and I turned it down. I really didn't even want it. Very proud of myself.

*I'm obsessed with Basketball Wives!

*I am so ready for vacation! Only 11 more days!

*I'm wearing last year's bathing suit again this year. It's a one-piece, but super cute. I didn't get rid of my muffin top, so no bikini. No way.

*I got a new apartment neighbor. I was really nervous about who was going to move in, but she's a nurse, single and really nice. Such a relief.

*Lately, I've been addicted to eating deli turkey, muenster cheese, tomato, avocado and red onion on whole wheat bagel thins. So delicious! I have one every day for lunch.

*We have been having some pretty crazy storms every night lately. While I love a good thunderstorm, I'm kind of over it.

*I recently purchased a face highlighter at Sephora. It's from The Balm and it's called Mary Lou-Manizer. Holy crap, it's AMAZING! I love love love it!

That's it. That's all I've got for now.

Diagnosis: Chronic Hypochondria....

2011-06-11T21:04:00.002-04:00

Hello.

My name is Kristy and I am a hypochondriac.

I have been a hypochondriac since I was about 5 years old.

When I was in the first grade, I ended up in a Cardiologist's office because of chest pains. I thought I was having a heart attack. I was six years old.

I am deathly afraid of doctors.

Oh, and needles.

Once, when I was 8 years old, I had to get a shot of Penicillin for strep throat. But....my mom had her car keys hanging out of her lab coat (she's a nurse) so I grabbed the keys, ran out the door and locked myself in the car.

I still got that shot.

And a spanking.

I kicked a nurse across a room, and turned over a lab cart, when I was around 10, because they were trying to swab my throat.

I still got my throat swabbed.

And I got grounded.

And I had to write an apology letter to the nurse.

I admit it: I have issues.

I'm no better today.

I spend several hours a week on WebMD. And Google.

They are not a hypochondriac's friend.

In fact, they are wicked, evil enablers.

Last year, I had a twitch in my pinky finger. It lasted about a week.

I was convinced I had Parkinson's disease.

Why? Because Google said that a sudden, unexplained twitch in an appendage could be a symptom of Parkinson's Disease.

Guess what? I didn't have Parkinson's.

I've self diagnosed myself with so many ailments that it's not funny. No, seriously, it's not funny.

Just ask my mom. She's a nurse.

She gets very frustrated with me.

Like this morning.

My left leg went numb.

I went to WebMD (on my Droid phone. Because did you know that WebMD has a mobile APP?!? Well, they do. And, I have it on my phone. Enabling at it's finest).

I started up the symptom checker.

And then....that little orange button at the bottom of the screen? The one that says "View Possible Conditions"?

I pushed it.

And, I got a plethora of things that could be causing my numbness.

Some of them I couldn't pronounce, but I was CONVINCED I was having a mini-stroke.

I called my mom.

She sighed.

You know why my leg was numb?

My work boot was on too tight.

See?

I told you I have issues.

(Late) Friday Favorites!

2011-06-10T19:52:00.003-04:00

Just some beautiful things that I'm currently crushing on:

CORALS:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

PINKS:

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

WHERE I WANT TO BE:

Source: modecodesign.com via The on Pinterest

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

If you can't tell, I love Pinterest! I hope you all have an amazing weekend!

Thursday Thoughts....

2011-06-09T08:01:00.000-04:00

*I had a wonderful dinner with my best friend last night! She has been my bestie since the day we met in kindergarten thirty years ago! We could hardly eat from all the talking we did. Those are the best dinners, when you have so much to talk about that you can't remember everything you wanted to talk about! H currently lives in Montana, but.....she's moving back to SC next year! I'm so excited!!

*I made a quick trip to Belk last night to look for a beach cover-up (which I didn't find) but I did score these super cute tops for a mere $3.70 each! Belk was having a major sale and I thought these would be perfect for vacation with denim shorts.

*I also went to Wal-Mart last night and the people/things/outfits I see in there never ceases to amaze me. I always wonder what the heck people were thinking with some of the outfits, errr pajamas (complete with fuzzy slippers), they were wearing. Some things are best worn in the privacy of your home.

*So, it's been over a week and I have not had even ONE Dr. Pepper! This is huge for me, as I was majorly addicted. Sadly, I haven't lost once ounce of the 5 pounds I was hoping to lose before vacation. It will be a one-piece at the beach for sure.

*Speaking of vacation, I'm SO ready to go! I can't wait for a week of doing nothing but lounging by the pool and walking the beach. Plus, it's a whole week with my nephews!

*My sweet neighbor moved out of his apartment. He is a doctor and he recently bought a house. He was the best neighbor! I'm nervous about getting a new neighbor.

*I'm currently obsessed with America's Got Talent! There are some of the weirdest acts that I've ever seen, but I can't stop watching it.

*Oh, and guess what other show I'm obsessed with? Finding Bigfoot. No, I'm not kidding. He's out there. Somewhere.... (do you think I'm crazy now?)

*We had some crazy storms last evening and we have more on the way tonight. I love a good thunderstorm!

*I'm babysitting my precious nephews today, so I'm sure I'll be ordering lots of food at the "coffee shop" and being a patient for "Dr. J" and "Dr. B". Seriously, they love to take my blood pressure and give me scribbled prescription on a notepad. I love those kids!

New Summer Bag!

2011-06-07T22:27:00.013-04:00

I've been searching for a new summer purse for quite some time now. I have a bit of a handbag obsession, and I really didn't need a new one, but we all know how that goes. I love me a big purse (just ask HPB. He gets suckered into holding it for me, when it gets too heavy), and I just can't deal with anything less than gigantic.

I've pretty much scoured every store from Target to Banana Republic (and every store in between) looking for a summer bag that would carry me into fall. If I find a purse that I really like, I tend to carry it to death. I wanted to keep the price under $125-$150.

I finally found it! And came in under what I'd planned to pay. So...GO ME!

I got the Big Buddha Chloe bag (I chose the color, grey). I love it! It's sparkly, matches both silver and gold and...it's HUGE! I think the best part is that it's light. I hate heavy shoulder bags. Even when full of all my junk, it's not heavy. At all.

Here's a stock photo:

And here's a photo of me holding it.

I love it!! Underneath all of the chevron pattern it has tons of sequins sewn onto the bag, hence the sparkle. I'm pretty excited about my new summer bag!

What bags are you loving for summer?

Scenes from my weekend (and my new blog design)!

2011-06-06T22:47:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my NEW BLOG!!! I am so excited to show you the new design! I can't thank Jen, at Munchkinland Designs, enough! She went above and beyond what I had envisioned in my head. I can't stop staring at it. I hope you like it as much as i do. And, if you need *your* blog fancied up, go visit Jen here!

This weekend was so much fun! Busy...but lots of fun!

Friday:
We had my nephew's 3rd birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. He was so cute and sweet during the party. I've said it before and I'll say it again: my nephew's have excellent manners. It is so nice to see small children say "please" and "thank you" without being prompted. Guess my little brother turned out to be a be a pretty fine daddy after all. ;)

Saturday:
On Saturday, HPB, his partner at work, his partner's wife and I all went to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. We had dinner reservations at the Blue Ridge Dining Room for the Prime Rib Buffet. I've eaten at GPI before, but never had their buffet. People, you MUST try this buffet. Holy Food Coma! It was a party in my mouth! The food was absolute perfection and, even though it was a buffet, each thing was delicious! Sometimes, a buffet can be so so, but this one gets high marks from me. Plus, they had all you can eat crab legs. And, as un-ladylike as I looked eating them....I was in heaven. Oh, and did I mention SEVEN dessert tables? Bread pudding, raspberry tortes, cheesecakes of all kinds, petit fours, carrot cake, ice cream and toppings, eclairs, danishes, cream puffs (OMG) and all kinds of other deliciousness. I would've taken more photos of the food, but I was too busy EATING IT ALL.

Blogger is being a biatch about uploading pictures, so I had to make a photobucket collage. Here are several shots from the day:

Sunday:
I had a very lazy Sunday, which are my favorite kind! I slept in. Like until 2pm. Ridiculous, I know, but it was glorious! Then, HPB and I took our computers (well, iPad for him) and went to Starbucks for a while. I got the new Mocha Coconut frappaccino and it's my new favorite summer drink! If you like coconut M&Ms you will LOVE this! I'm not a huge fan of frozen coffee drinks, so next time I'm going to get it iced instead of frozen.

However, Sunday evening got a little Crazy Sauce. HPB and I left Starbucks to go to the grocery to get a few ingredients for dinner. As we were driving, it got very dark and the wind was like nothing I've ever experienced! We hurried in and out of the grocery and as SOON as we got in my car, the sky opened up. It was so scary! It started hailing golf ball size hail as soon as I pulled my Ruby Cube into a car wash bay! (If you don't know, I drive a Nissan Cube and I am more than a little obsessed with my car. I have been know to park in a car wash bay if I think it's going to hail. Yes, I'm crazy).

Tree limbs were blowing across the highway, trees were down everywhere and it was a MESS! But, we did see a rainbow and, of course, I had to take a picture!

When I got to my apartment, the power was out. I live on a very weak power grid, with an even weaker power provider. It takes the forever to get power restored, and it can go out if you blink wrong. Finally, right before Real Housewives of Orange County, it came back on (priorities, people).

**the delicious Mocha Coconut, the rainbow (squint, you'll see it), and all the candles I had to use for light**

It was a great weekend! Tonight, it's back to work. But, the silver lining is that I only have 8 more days to work until vacation! I can't wait to spend a week at the beach with my family. For as much as I dislike summer, I can be forced to lounge at the pool all day, if I have to. :)

Friday Favorites!

2011-06-03T06:36:00.001-04:00

Ya'll, this heat is killing me! It is so unbearably hot already this year, that I'm actually afraid of how hot it's going to be when it actually gets....SUMMER?!? I mean, we're not even out of Spring yet and it's already been almost 100 degrees here. I love Fall and Winter and can't wait for all the fun that comes with it: fairs, festivals, pumpkins, pumpkin festivals, turkeys, Pilgrims, Ugg boots, fleece jackets, warm scarves, hot apple cider! I love it all!

Here is what I'm dreaming of:

My fall starts off with the Pumpkin Festival in Pickens, SC! I haven't missed one in almost 25 years! It is so much fun and an event I look forward to attending with my mom and nephews every year. I can almost taste the funnel cakes now...

Source: panoramio.com via The on Pinterest

My mom and I also went to the Country Living Fair last year at Stone Mountain, Georgia and it was fabulous!! We loved it so much that we are going for 2 days this fall. We're going to spend the night in Atlanta and spend some time shopping, as well. I can't wait!

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

I absolutely love decorating with pumpkins! As soon as they are at my local farmer's market, I stock up!

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

Ugg Boots. I live in mine! I don't ever want to wear anything else. I don't care if they are ugly, they feel like clouds. I almost cried when I had to put mine away for the Summer...

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

And just because, NOTHING makes me happier than a SNOW DAY....THIS is what I can't wait for and hope we have LOTS of, this Winter:

Source: hd-wallpapers-widescreen.thundafunda.com via The on Pinterest

Friday Tidbits:

*My new blog design will be up soon and I can't wait to show it to you!! It's seriously amazing!

*Tonight is my nephew's 3 year old birthday party. He is so excited and I can't wait to see his little face!

*Heading to Asheville, NC to the Grove Park Inn on Saturday for dinner (the Prime Rib Buffet, OMG! I need to stop eating. Like yesterday)!

Hope you all have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo

May Favorites (Summer Favorites) Vlog...

2011-06-01T00:19:00.002-04:00

I haven't gotten any better at using a webcam. Enjoy and have a laugh!

Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

Cook-Out Chic....

2011-05-30T06:30:00.001-04:00

I love Memorial Day! It feels like the start of Summer, and I love spending the day with my family. Also, if you know me, and how much I, ummm, dislike Summer this means the sooner it starts, the sooner it's over. I much prefer Fall and Winter.

But....since there's nothing I can do about this thick, stifling heat that has descended upon South Carolina, I just have to roll with it. Today, I will be spending the day with my family, having a cook-out. Do you call it a bar-b-Q? I don't know? We call it "cook-outs" where I'm from!

Since I wear uniforms for my job, I get pretty excited about planning my outfits for events. Below is what I'm wearing to my parent's house. The actual bracelets that I'm wearing are a little different from the ones in the picture below.

Cook-Out Chic by thepinkowl featuring distressed shorts

After the cook-out, I have a going away party to attend. One of my best friends is moving to Charleston and I'm so sad. But, it's only for school, so it's temporary. And, I can go visit him often! Here's an outfit similar to the one I'll be wearing to his party. I absolutely love wearing maxi dresses with a light denim jacket. Plus, it hides my uber-pail skin. I really need to up my game in the self tanner department, but it's such a hassle (just another reason that I prefer fall and winter. No one cares if you're pale)!

Party Outfit by thepinkowl featuring faux gemstone jewelry

Most importantly, I am so thankful for the men and women protecting and serving our country, and today I remember those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Have a beautiful Memorial Day!!
xoxo

Blessed...

2011-05-29T06:14:00.000-04:00

Ever have a day when you look around and realize just how fortunate you really are? This weekend has felt like that for me. I know that I am extremely blessed to live the life that I do. I am so thankful for all the opportunities that I have been afforded in my life.

Is my life perfect? Absolutely not.

But....things could always, always be worse.

Things that I'm thankful for:

*This year, I have been cancer free for SIXTEEN years! If you don't know, I had ovarian cancer when I was 19.

*My amazing parents! I love my mom and dad so much, and even though I'm 30something I will always be their little girl.

*My boyfriend. He is my very best friend and we have so much fun together! We've been together for 5 and 1/2 years now (and no, we have no interest in being married. We know that we want to spend our lives together and that's all the "marriage" we need) and it just keeps getting better!

*A great job. I know I complain about my job sometimes, but all in all, it's a good one. I have job security and enjoy the supervisory position that I have. The pay isn't bad either ;)

*My sweet, precious nephews. They have my heart and I love them as if they were my own children!

*A wonderful apartment! I absolutely love my cozy, little apartment. I smile every time I walk in and it feels like....home. And that's exactly how it's supposed to feel.

*My faith. I will forever be grateful for the day I decided to become Catholic. It has been a very enlightening experience.

*My friends. I have a wonderful group of friends! A lot of them I've made through Twitter and this little blog and I cherish those girls so much!

*This blog. I feel like I've gotten my blog mojo back. I stopped blogging for a while, but it's been nice to be back. For me, it's not about how many comments I get or how many readers I have (and I appreciate each reader that has hung with me for the past 3 years on here and welcome my new readers!!). But it's nice to have a place to document my life, events and feelings.

I'll leave you with my favorite quote about blessings:

Better to lose count while naming your blessings, than to lose your blessings by counting your troubles.
~Maltbie D. Babcock

Ok. Now that I've gotten all that mush out. I shall return to regularly scheduled posting about superficial things. Like makeup. :)

Have a beautiful Sunday!
xoxo

Friday Favorites!

2011-05-27T06:30:00.001-04:00

I'd be shouting TGIF from the rooftops.....except, it's my weekend to work. Boo. But, in honor of Friday, here are some things that make me positively giddy to look at. I am obsessed with vanities! I could look at other girl's dressing tables all day long. So here are a few of my favorites. You can see my vanity here Enjoy!

p.s. Scroll all the way down for some Friday Tidbits.

Source: google.com via The on Pinterest

Friday Tidbits:

*Bank of America and I are not friends right now. They had to cancel my debit card and order me a new due to some fraudulent charges. The card was supposed to be here two days ago. No card. I go to the bank, and they didn't even order me one. Luckily, they gave me a temporary card until my new one gets here in.....7 to 10 days. Ugh.

* My blog is getting a makeover and I can't WAIT to see what it looks like!

* I'm on day 5 of no Dr. Pepper, tea or caffeine. I'm still feeling great and, so far, I'm not even craving DP.

* I'm also planning a Summer Favorites giveaway! More details on that soon, as well.

Hope you all have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo

Oprah....

2011-05-25T06:30:00.000-04:00

I have gone through so many phases with good 'ol Oprah. I loved her, I liked her, I couldn't stand her, I loved her again. I've questioned her judgement, searched for her book recommendations and have always wanted to go to one of her "Favorite Things" episode!

Honestly, this season has been fantastic! This season made me love her show again. She's had some riveting, exciting and fun shows. I'm going to miss her. Not necessarily because of her, but because of the "comfort factor".

For me, if the Today Show and Oprah are on, then all is semi-okay with the world. Silly, I know, but I find it calming. Now, what am I going to watch while I get ready for work everyday?

Best wishes to Oprah and whatever she decides to take ~~over~~ on in the future!

What are your thoughts on Oprah? Are you sad she's leaving or happy to see her go?

Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

Tidbits....

2011-05-24T01:06:00.004-04:00

* My weekends off go by so quickly. I only have every other weekend off and I try to make the most out of the ones that I'm off. This past weekend, my 2 year old nephew and I had a slumber party at my house! He was such a sweet, sweet boy. He says please and thank you for everything!

* He will be 3 in early June and that makes me incredibly sad. I wish he and my 5 year old nephew could stay frozen in time at the ages they are now.

* I went shopping at Sephora, again (are you surprised?) and got the Urban Decay Roller Girl palette. OMG, it is amazing! It has a really garish looking red color in it, but don't be afraid! It blends out to an amazing, wearable pink color. I am loving this palette so much. Urban Decay eyeshadows are awesome!

* I am trying to decided if I *need* the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Do you have it? If so, do I need it?

* I am on a diet. My goal is to lose between 5-8 pounds. Not because I think I'm overweight, but because I just want to be healthier and feel better. I have some serious love handles that the world is not ready to see this summer.

* So, the first thing to go was my beloved Dr. Pepper (which I fully blame for said love handles. Dr. Pepper is like crack and should come with a warning label). I haven't had a soda, tea or caffeine in over 24 hours.

* I've been drinking water only.

* I hate water.

* But....it is amazing how much better I feel now that I've cut out the caffeine and soda. I don't feel sluggish, tired or foggy! Maybe soft drinks really are poison.

* We have reservations to eat at the Grove Park Inn in 2 weeks and I'm so excited! If you've never eaten (or stayed) there, you should! It's so beautiful and the food is DELICIOUS!

* HPB's mom sent him two Cooking Light cookbooks, which I hijacked from him (because, Lord knows that boy can't boil water) and I'm excited to try out some of the recipes.

* I'm also going to test out almond milk. Cow's milk sometimes makes me feel icky, so.... Anyone drink almond milk? Do you like it?

* I really hope my new debit card comes in today. I can't function without it! I never, ever carry cash and have had to resort to a credit card (which I never use)!

* That's about it for now!

Have a beautiful week!
xoxo

Eyebrow Obsession...

2011-05-18T23:21:00.003-04:00

Lately, I've become obsessed with eyebrows. My eyebrows, your eyebrows, YouTube guru eyebrows, celebrity eyebrows, news anchor eyebrows....you get the point.

I have one good eyebrow and one janky eyebrow. I've also never really done much with either of them. Until recently.

I started out using the ELF brow kit, then Maybelline Define-A-Brow, Cover Girl brow pencils, but now, NOW, I have found my Holy Grail eyebrow product! The Milani Brow Fix Brow Kit in Light.

Hope you enjoy my little review/rave about this amazingly awesome product below:

Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

May Flowers and Tidbits.....

2011-05-16T05:50:00.003-04:00

1. Thank you for all the nice comments on my vlog! I had fun making it and plan to do more later this week!

2. My uncle is doing so great! If you don't know, he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. He had surgery and has amazed his doctors! He is already home and recovering, so that he can start Chemo and radiation in 3 weeks. He has a long road ahead, but his attitude is inspiring!

3. I am obsessed with Mob Wives. Seriously, the Housewives have nothing on these ladies. They don't play.

4. Just when I get excited about blogging again, Blogger decides to have the Epic Crash of 2011 and delete all of my scheduled posts. Contrary to what they said....mine did not return. Sad panda.

5. I am off on Monday and have NO plans. I am so excited to just "chill in my Snuggie" (my new favorite thing to say) and watch trash TV all day.

6. My next vlog will be a collective haul video. I could watch haul videos all day on YouTube! I love seeing what makeup and skincare products buy.

7. I really need to wash my car. Ruby Cube is filthy and needs a spa treatment ASAP.

8. Who's excited for the Real Housewives of New Jersey tonight?!?!?!? I AM!!

8 1/2. Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes may be my new favorite mascara!

9. I love my boyfriend.

10. Life is good and I'm happy to be living it!

Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

April Favorites.....

2011-05-14T19:42:00.002-04:00

This will be my first vlog! A few disclaimers first:

1. Yes, I know I sound like a hick.
2. I filmed this after working all night.
3. I'm wearing my PJs.
4. I talk about getting my hands botoxed. I was kidding. Sort of.
5. I filmed it in my bathroom.
6. I'm a tad scattered.
7. The first one I made disappeared into the Ether.

Now, if you can deal with all that mess.....ENJOY! :)

Have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo

Friday Lust List.....

2011-05-11T02:45:00.013-04:00

Most of the time, there is a list in my wallet with things that I "want". It gets (ok, stays) a little (a lot) out of control. I was looking over it yesterday and decided to share with you what is on my "Lust List".

1. Nars Laguna Bronzer-the last thing I need is another bronzer, but it seems like this is the bronzer to have. I wonder if it can beat out my NYC Sunny?

The Original Beauty Blender- I have the one from Ulta, but all the reviews I've read say, if you love the one from Ulta or Target, you will be over the moon for the original BB. You will also be out 20 bucks, but whatever.

3. Tom Ford lipstick-Not just because I am obsessed with the man himself, but his lipsticks look divine! The packaging alone makes me want it! Oh, if only Tom Ford and his BFF Julianne Moore came with the lipstick.

4. Erno Laszlo TranspHuse Night Serum-Birchbox sent a sample of this out this month, and OMG I wish they hadn't. I have used (sparingly) this serum at night and I wake up with firm, glowing skin. I could tell a difference the very first time I used it. LOVE! BUT...this mess is $190!?! for 1 ounce. Seriously. Mustnotbuymustnotbuymustnotbuy.......

5. Mac Surf Baby Collection-All of it! I am obsessed with this collection and can't wait for it to come out. I will be online at midnight to make sure I get what I want before it sells out.

6. Katy Perry Purr Perfume-this stuff smells amazing! I typically do not go for a celebrity perfume, but this stuff is calling my name. I tried it on at Ulta and I couldn't stop sniffing my wrists.

So, what are YOU lusting after these days?

Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

Summer Fashion....from a girl who loves Winter.

2011-05-10T20:34:00.003-04:00

dIt's not a secret that I hate Summer. Like, seriously hate it. I do not like heat, humidity, bathing suits etc. I truly think I was supposed to have been born in Alaska. I love cold weather! Nothing makes me happier than a day of wind and cold rain. I love snow and temperatures in the low thirties. I prefer Ugg boots, skinny jeans, warm sweaters, scarves and puffy coats.

No...I'm really not kidding.

But, for about 2.5 seconds, I like summer clothes. Maxi dresses with big bold necklaces, jean shorts with peasant tops and turquoise bead bracelets. Prarie skirts and gladiator sandals with hot pink painted toes. Oh yeah! I like it. For a hot (no pun intended) minute.

I recently cleaned out my closet and realized that I did quite a bit of Summer Wardrobe Enhancing last year and I have some super cute clothes that I'm pretty excited to wear this summer!

Hippie Casual by thepinkowl featuring metal bangles

If I had to describe my style, it would be: Hippie Casual. I love long flowy skirts with a basic tee, flowery dresses with chunky wedges and lots of bracelets. I also will forever love my skinny jeans (ripped of course) with a drapey, lace peasant top! (Seriously, it it weird that I obsess over skinny jeans and ballet flats going out of style again? I do NOT want this to happen. Ever).

Untitled by thepinkowl featuring vintage scarves

So....while I would rather be rocking my Ugg boots and a heavy coat, I guess I can deal with summer fashion. For a second.

Have a beatiful day!
xoxo

p.s. Thank you so much for all the sweet comments and well wishes, for my uncle, both on here and on Twitter. You guys rock! I will keep you updated, as I know more.

p.s.s. the clothes in my Polyvore boards are *not* the clothes that I purchased during my Summer Wardrobe Enhancing. They are just ideas and similar to styles that I own and wear. :)

Why?

2011-05-09T20:54:00.004-04:00

This post is not about makeup. This post is about something far more important: family.

One of my uncles has been diagnosed with Glioblastoma. A very, very aggressive form of brain cancer. He is a very successful business man, a husband and father to 4 beautiful children.

It's not fair.

He is a hard worker, devoted father, law abiding citizen. He loves his kids. He loves his wife.

Two days ago he was playing 18 holes of golf. Today, he's lying in a hospital bed. Fighting for his life.

His prognosis is not good. He will have an 8 hour surgery on Wednesday. The doctor say IF he makes it through that surgery, he will have 24-36 months to live.

Why?

His oldest daughter (my cousin) is 18. She graduates high school in a few weeks and her only wish is for her dad to be there.

Please, if you are of the praying kind, would you say a prayer that he CAN be there? It's times like this that I question my faith, my God and all that I believe in. I know that God does not get angry with me for questioning. It's a natural course of the human life to be skeptical.

I guess I will never understand why wicked, evil people get to live into their 90's and honest, caring, hardworking people face something as daunting and horrible as Glioblastoma.

My heart is breaking for his 2 sons, 2 daughters and wife (my aunt and my mom's sister).

I will be back to regular posting tomorrow, but I need a minute to process this.

xoxo

MIA....

2011-05-08T17:44:00.003-04:00

Sorry that I've been gone. My laptop has decided to be super slow and I have been unable to blog. I'm pretty sure it has a virus (awesome job, crappy virus protection).

Anyway, I purchased a new netbook (it's pink plaid!!! zomg.) and can get back to blogging! Also, my new netbook has a webcam, so I may venture into the world of vlogging or making some Youtube videos of product reviews, soon. I guess the only thing that holds me back, is putting myself "out there". I'm not a very insecure person, but I know people can be really vicious when they hide behind the name of "anonymous" and a computer screen. I'm from the great state of South Carolina and I have a very....southern twang. I can, however, use adverbs and conjunctions correctly, so that's a plus.

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I'm currently obsessed with Origin's Vitazing! It is my new go to tinted moisturizer for weekends and days that I don't feel like applying a full face of foundation. I think it's going to be perfect for summer!

Hope you all are having an amazing weekend, and to all you mother's: Happy Mother's Day!!

Have a beautiful Sunday!

What's In My Bag?

2011-04-20T00:07:00.007-04:00

I am a nosey person, by nature. I love seeing what other girls carry in their purse. When I was a little girl, I always wanted to go through my mom's purse and organize it. So...today, I'll show you what's in my bag!

First, this is my bag. I recently got it at Dillard's and I love it! It's by Kate Landry. I normally carry HUGE bags, and while this one is still big it's on the smaller side for me. However, I am loving how organized it stays on the inside. So much better than carrying one of my ginormous bags where everything just falls to the bottom.

Now, for what's inside. I didn't add to or take anything out. This was what was in it when I cleaned it out.

From left to right, top to bottom:

*My makeup bag from Gap (if you want to see what's inside of it, go here)
*pack of tissues. Yes, they are Charlie Brown tissues.
*a movie that I need to return to Redbox (it was the movie Tangled, if you're curious)
*retractable brush. I only use it for the mirror
*car, apartment, mailbox keys
*Nivea lip balm
*My beloved Kate Spade wallet
*Vera Bradley checkbook cover and checkbook. (I write 12 checks a year, for rent. That's it)
*My beautiful Rosary
*hand sanitizer
*My phone (a Droid X. Tried the iPhone for a day and sent it back. I am a loyal Droid girl)
*Ibuprofen from Walgreens
*sunglasses (generics from the mall kiosk. After I broke 2, yes 2, pair of Chanels I swore off expensive sunnies. Never, ever again. I still get teary when I think about it).
*A Z-pak for this stupid sinus infection that refuses to go away
*Trident gum
*my police badge (yes, it's real)

And that's it!
Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

March Favorites!

2011-04-12T20:58:00.012-04:00

Sorry for the lag in posts, I was out of town and have been a bit busy (and, Blogger has been a little biatch about photo uploads lately, and I've been trying for 3 days to upload these pictures Ugh!). I'm back with my March favorites.

First up, Embryolisse 24 Hour Miracle Cream. This is a great moisturizer! I first heard about it from my Youtube obsession, Pixiwoo. Sam uses it, and applies it with her foundation brush. Then, she applies her foundation with the same brush. It gives a very dewy finish and I am really, really enjoying it. I've already ordered another tube, so I don't run out. This Studio Tools foundation brush from Target is next. I am loving it!! It has a large brush head on it, so it covers a lot of area at once. It is super soft and gives a beautiful non-streaky finish. It was $6. Maybelline Fit Me foundation (color 120). This is a medium coverage concealer that is very dewy. I hate matte foundations and this is definitely not matte. I would say this is better for dry/combo skin. It is not very long lasting, maybe 6 hours? So, I add a few drops of my Rimmel Lasting Finish to it and it stays on until I take it off. E.L.F. Shimmering Facial Whip in Spotlight. People, you NEED this! It is $1, you can get it at Target or at eyeslipsface.com and it is seriously my new secret weapon (not so secret anymore, though). I was at a wedding last weekend and I was complimented on my "glowing skin" no less than 10 times. I owe it all to this little tube of Awesome Sauce! I apply it to the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose, over my cupid's bow.

E.L.F. 100 Color Eyeshadow Palette. Creamy, pigmented, brights, shimmers, mattes, glitters. This palette has it all! Not sure if it's available online any longer, as it was limited edition, but if you can find it, it's worth the $10. MAC Luxure Lipgelee. As the wonderful Sam Schuerman (if you don't watch her channel, you are missing out! She is FABULOUS!!) says "it's like Diamonds for your lips". It totally is! One of my favorite lipglosses ever. It is from the Cham-Pale Collection and may still be available online. Bonus: Look at this little beauty that I found at Rite-Aid today! I was skeptical, because it was $4. It is beautiful on, gives such a pretty flush! They have them in bronzers as well, but since I have more bronzers than my friend George Hamilton, I went for the blush. Love! What have you been using and loving lately? Have a beautiful day! xoxo

I mean who doesn't love a good bronzer??

2011-03-25T22:38:00.015-04:00

Clearly, George does!
And so do I! I have an obsession (like you didn't know that already, right?) with yet another makeup item. Bronzers. Like, I love them, I obsess over them. And, occasionally, I dream about them (I wish I were kidding).

Here is my collective stash of bronzers. Again, I'm more of a drugstore girl, so not many high ends names in the bunch. But, I've found some pretty good bronzers at the drugstore. So there.
I'll give you a quick review of each, and I'll start with my absolute, most favorite of the bunch:
NYC Sunny Bronzer . Oh, it may not look like much but it is the most fabulous matte bronzer I've ever used! Umm...it only costs like 3 bucks. If I were to compare it something, I would compare it to Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (which is $28 at Ulta). Very similar in texture and color. I use this bronzer every single day. It gives a healthy, warm color but is not muddy or dirty looking. It has no shimmer whatsoever and is very silky. Hands down, the winner for me!

Next, my second runners up are from Physician's Formula. I love everything about the PF company. They make some amazing bronzers and blushers!

First (top left) is the PF Shimmer Strip in Miami Strip. Not going to lie, I bought it for the name since Miami is one of my favorite places to visit. But, I use this as more of a cheek highlighter as it is very light and gives a pretty sheen. It does not have glitter in it, but does give a glowy sheen. I apply it on my cheekbones with a stippling (skunk) brush from ELF.

Next (top right) is the PF Cashmere Wear Ultra Smoothing Bronzer. I just got this today and when I tried it out....I love it! All of it is matte, except for the lightest strip and it has a little shimmer to it. Really, really pretty and does not make you look like a disco ball. (PF is 40% off at CVS this week and I had a $5 coupon, so I got this for about a dollar. A win win in my book).

And then (bottom left) I have the PF Bronze Booster Glow Boosting Sun Stones. I may have bought these strictly because of the container, but whatever. I have to be honest, these have a little too much glitter for me. If I apply it very, very lightly and only on my cheeks I like it. I would NOT apply this to my whole face, because seriously.....holy glitter!

Lastly (bottom right) is the PF Bronze Booster Glow Boosting Pressed Shimmer Powder. This is probably my number 2 most used bronzer. It has very little shimmer (in fact, I don't notice any shimmer when I use it, and would consider this a more matte bronzer). It imparts a very healthy glow.

Moving on the ELF, I have the Bronzer in Warm Tan (left) and the Contouring Blush and Bronzing Duo (right). I love the Blush/Bronzing Duo (it's a dupe for the NARS Laguna/Org*sm duo)! I wear it a lot. I use the bronzer to contour my cheek bones and my nose (I have a big nose. It needs contouring). The Warm Tan may have too much shimmer for most people's liking, but it will work great this summer to bronze my décolletage and shoulders when i wear a cute sundress!
Wet n Wild: This brand has really stepped up their game in the drugstore makeup market. I used to wear all their stuff in high school, but it is TOTALLY changed now. Their eye shadows are some of the BEST I've ever used and that includes high end. Anyway, we're talking about bronzers. The MegaGlo in Starlight Bronze (left) was formerly my "holy grail" of bronzers. I absolutely love it! So, so pretty with not too much shimmer. The Ultimate Minerals Bronzer (right) in Amber Glow is used a blush for me. It is said to be a dupe for the much sought after Stereo Rose blush by MAC (which is nearly impossible to get now, unless you want to pay with your kidney on E(vil)-Bay). It is simply beautiful! It is one of my favorite blushes now.
Next up? NARS! I love NARS so much! I have the Illuminator stick in South Beach (left) which gives a dewy glow to my cheeks. I like to use these in the summer, when a powder might not stay on as long in the heat. I also have the Org8sm Illuminator liquid (right). Nothing else to say but amazing. I think it's perfect in every way.
Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Dance is a shimmery bronzer that gives a pretty color. It does have shimmer in it, but it's not over the top. In fact, in doing this blog post, I've decided to use it tomorrow because I love it so.
And last, but not least Bonne Bell Blend 'n Glow. I know, Bonne Bell is kind of geared towards pre-teens and teens but (I mean who doesn't love a good ol Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers?!?)....this stuff is an amazing cheek highlighter. Not so much of a bronzer, but whatever. It does have some bronzing qualities, but works better as a highlighter over another bronzer.

I promise I don't walk around looking like George Hamilton, but I do love me a good bronze. I have very fair skin and REFUSE to tan my face at all. I wear SPF on my face everyday and when I'm out at the beach or pool, I wear the highest SPF available. I do not want wrinkles. So....my little arsenal of sunny brown goodness fixes that right up!
Hope you enjoyed this and if you have a bronzer that YOU can't live without, then tell me! I can assure you that I will most likely buy it immediately.

Have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo

The Fine Print: I was not sponsored or compensated by any of the brands featured in this blog post. All of these items were purchased with my own funds and all the opinions are mine. As with any product, your results may vary.

What's In My Makeup Bag?

2011-03-15T23:34:00.000-04:00

I carry a huge purse. I love big purses so much and don't even own a small purse, other than a few clutches for nights out. I work 12 hour shifts, so I carry a lot of essentials with me to work. I found an amazing makeup bag at GAP! It has 3 compartments and I love that I can separate my toothpaste, toothbrush and floss from the rest of my stuff. I also keep all of my hair things in one compartment as well.

So, here's what I carry in my makeup bag:

(L to R top to bottom):

Some oil blotting sheets (not sure where I got them from)
Chanel Glossimer in Star
MAC Cremesheen Glass in Partial to Pink (my sweet friend Tricia got it for me)
nail clippers
glass nail file
E.L.F. concealer and eye brightener duo
old school scrunchie (don't judge)
hair elastic
some sanitizing hand wipes in lemon and orange (from Birchbox)
travel toothbrush
Marvis toothpaste (Birchbox, again)
Crest dental floss
travel hair brush (I only use it for the mirror)
Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar body spray (I wear this scent everyday. I'm obsessed).
an old ratty hair pick, but I have curly hair so I use it to fluff up my curls.
E.L.F. Complexion Brush (one dolla)
Colgate Wisps! Love these (from Target)
ibuprofen
N.Y.C. Translucent face powder in case I get shiny
Clinique Fresh Bloom All-over face color in peony
EOS lip balm in sweet mint
E.L.F. candy shop lip gloss in cherry (it doubles as a cream blush in a pinch)

Here is a picture of the GAP bag. It's an eggplant color with magenta on the inside. It has leather pull tabs on the zippers. I love this bag!! I got it on sale after Christmas, but I think they still have them in other colors. It's a great bag, as it's easy to clean and stays looking nice.

Do you carry a makeup bag? What are your daily travel must-haves?

Have a beautiful week!
xoxo

All About Eyes, Lips and Face...

2011-03-13T18:54:00.001-04:00

or E.L.F (also known as: my online crack house).

I have a HUGE love affair with E.L.F. They are one of my favorite cosmetic companies to shop from, online. They also sell a limited amount of stock at Target, but my Target doesn't have much to choose from, so I stick to online shopping with them.

E.L.F. has the best coupon codes and I receive one in my email at least every other day. I haven't decided, yet, if this is good or bad. It's like dangling a carrot in front of a bunny. I just can't say no!

I have some staple items in my makeup arsenal that are exclusively E.L.F. and are items that I have repurchased many times over. I'll share some of those with you now, give you my review of those products and then show you my recent haul!

My most purchased item from E.L.F is the Mineral Face Primer ($6 for .49oz). This is, hands down, my favorite face primer. It does exactly what it says: creates a smooth, flawless canvas for foundation. It is a slippery, clear gel that diminishes pores and combats oil and dry flakes. I am currently on my 3rd bottle! I do have one issue with it, and that is the size. It appears that you are getting a lot more than you actually are. The primer is housed inside the white cylinder encased within the crystal looking bottle. I think that $6 for .49 ounces is not that great of a price, but I usually purchase when they have a 50% off coupon code, so it works out. Plus, this works amazingly, so I'll continue to purchase. I do hope that E.L.F. will repackage it soon though, because I would love to know how much I have left in the container (as it's not a clear container, I'm constantly obsessing about running out). I would say this is good for combination/dry/very dry skin. I'm not sure I would put this on oily skin, as it has an very slick texture. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

My second most purchased product is the Tinted Moisturizers! Holy crap, I love these! As in, I love them MORE than Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer (and LM is pretty awesome). I use two different E.L.F. tinted moisturizers. One is from the Studio Line ($3 for .88floz) and one from the Essentials Line ($1 for .42floz). Yep, that's right: ONE DOLLAR. Now, if you're like me...you're thinking: "umm...excuse me, it's a buck. How great can it be?" Well, it's pretty damn great, in my opinion. It gives very sheer coverage but coverage still, has an SPF of 15 and smells like oranges. I wear this when I go to the pool, gym, or just running errands. It is moisturizing, provides some color and doesn't break me out. Pretty great for a buck!

The Studio Line TM with SPF 20 is my most favorite! This one provides light/medium coverage and, for me, replaces my Laura Mercier TM (which, btw, is $40+). This one is very moisturizing, and gives great coverage. It is buildable and doesn't streak. I love love love it!! I am an NC20 in MAC and wear the color Nude in fall/winter and the color Beige in Spring/Summer. I would say this is suitable for all skin types. I do apply this over my daily moisturizer, but I have very dry skin.

My other favorite is their blushes! Both the Studio Line ($3) and the Essentials Line ($1). They are silky, smooth and have a great color payoff! I don't find them to be chalky or overly powdery and they have amazing staying power! My favorite colors are: Pink Passion, Fuchsia Fusion, Peachy Keen, Gotta Glow (spot on dupe for NARS Albatross, btw) and Glow. These little gems are like candy to me. I can't help myself! And, all the colors are so different that you *need* them all! :) I also purchased my first cream blush from them, but haven't tried it yet. I'll let you know how I like it.

And the ONE thing that you MUST try is the eyelash curler. One dollar. Amazing. I absolutely LOVE it. I do get these at Target.

So here is my recent haul! I love receiving my E.L.F. orders in the mail.
(from L to R): Mineral Primer, Tinted Moisturizer in Nude, Studio Blushes in Peachy Keen and Tickled Pink, Essential Blush in Shy and Flushed, Healthy Glow Bronzing Powders in Warm Tan and Luminance (these are amazing!!! So excited about them. And...$1), 2 in 1 conditioning lip gloss in Supermodel, and Cream Blush in Tease.

Would you like to know the grand total of all of this, including shipping? $21.49!

I will admit, I was very, very skeptical about E.L.F. when I first heard of it. I felt like it had to be crappy because it was so cheap. I was WRONG. Very, very wrong. Some of their stuff is meh, but that's true with every company. MOST of the things I've tried from them, I truly love.

Just so you know, I was not paid to say any of this by E.L.F. I am not sponsored by them or any company. I just like sharing that you CAN get quality for less money and without a fancy name brand (even though I love name brands for certain things). And, honestly, in this economy and with gas prices draining every one's wallet, what could be better??

Do you use E.L.F.? What are your favorites? Or, what don't you like about them? I'd love to hear from you!

Have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo

p.s. to get E.L.F.'s amazing coupon codes, just visit their website! They usually have the current one's listed on the homepage. If you can't find them, email me at thepinkowlblog@gmail.com and I will let you know what they are!

The Fine Print: I was not sponsored or compensated by any of the brands featured in this blog post. All of these items were purchased with my own funds and all the opinions are mine. As with any product, your results may vary.

Mascara: My search for perfection.

2011-03-10T21:42:00.012-05:00

I am a self-proclaimed Mascara Whore. There is no makeup item that I love more (however, concealer runs a very, very close 2nd). I am constantly on the search for the perfect inky goo that will give me volume, length and the perfect fan of beautiful, separated lashes (which, btw, I may have found!!!).

So, I'm going to review all of the mascaras that I currently own. I will also review a few that I've used in the past, but am currently out of. I have a mix of both "high-end" and drug store brands. I typically only use drugstore brands right now, but have a few higher end brands that I have used (and loved).

Here we gooooo!

L'Oreal Waterproof Voluminous Carbon Black :
I religiously used the original Voluminous when I was in college (because I'd read somewhere that Courtney Cox ordered it by the case. And, if she used it, then I should too). However, this is my opinion of the Carbon Black. I like it. I don't love it. I feel like it is too....wet. I've had my tube for about a month now, so it's had plenty of time to "dry out" a bit, but I still find it too liquid-y. I also get flakes if I wear it for more than a 4 hours. I will not be repurchasing this mascara, as I don't feel it gives me much volume.

Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express (waterproof):

I bought this after a flood of girls on Twitter went nuts for it (this is just another reason why I love Twitter). At first, I liked it. Then, I hated it. Now...I love it! I recently went back to it and wondered why I ever hated it. It is not my favorite mascara, but it is one that I reach for often. I don't get flakes with this, at all. I do find that I get more length instead of volume with this mascara.

Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express (waterproof):
Meh. It's ok. It does give really good length, but I don't like how my lashes clump together when I use it. It also flakes a little on me, so that's a definite no-go. I hate flaky mascara. A lot.

Benefit BADgal Lash:
This is a smaller tube that came in my Her Name Is Glow-la palette. I have used the full size tube before, as well. I really like this mascara. It gives massive volume! The only issue that I have with this one, is the size of the brush is SO big that I end up with tons of it on my eyelids. I'm always having to use a q-tip to get the excess off of my eyelids. But...it gives big, bold lashes!

Cover Girl Professional Mascara (waterproof):
OMG. I love this mascara! It's the cheapest one of all them, coming in at around $4. It gives amazing length. The color is dark and inky. It makes my lashes glossy. I use it on days when I want a more natural look, but I always use it on my bottom lashes. It *never* flakes and is easy to remove with makeup remover.

bareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara:
Hmmm....not sure. I like the way it looks on my lashes. But, I hate the way it smells. Honest to God, it smells like potting soil. Yep, DIRT. I don't know if my tube is bad or what. I got it in January's Birchbox (I'll do a post on this soon. Love love love). It gives good lashes, and I especially like it over the Bad Gal Lash.

Diorshow Blackout:
This used to be my Holy Grail. I love this mascara! It is beautiful. It does everything I wanted it to do. But...the price. I'm kind of over paying $25 bucks for a mascara. Especially when I've found a drugstore brand that I like just as much now (wait for it). I'm out of this mascara, hence the stock photo (via Google).

Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash (waterproof):
Another one of my favorites! But, for the price? Meh. The one thing about Smoky Lash is that it dries out fast. So, I was replacing it almost every month and a half. Nope. I'm out of this mascara, hence the stock photo (via Google).

And now....for my HOLY GRAIL (read: IWILLDIEIFTHEYEVERSTOPMAKINGTHISAMAZINGMASCARAOHMYGOD!)

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion Volume and Length:
This stuff is the shiz. It does EVERYthing my Diorshow and Smoky Lash did, but better. I'm serious. I get the best separation of my lashes with this mascara. It is not crunchy and my lashes feel like lashes! I get asked, almost every time I wear this, if I have fake lashes on! That is the key. If people think your lashes are fake (and they're not), then your mascara is doing something good (at least in my opinion. Because I want MY lashes to look fake. And if they don't, I will probably put fake ones on. Just sayin'). I can't say enough good things about this mascara! It is amazing and I don't see myself searching for new mascaras for a while.
(p.s. Rite-Aid has Cover Girl for 40% off this week, so if you wanna try this now might be a good time).

That concludes my rambly post about one of my true loves: mascara. What mascara do YOU love? I'd love to hear about them, because I probably can't be faithful to one mascara for too long, no matter how hard I try.

Have a beautiful week!
xoxo

The Fine Print: I was not sponsored or compensated by any of the brands featured in this blog post. All of these items were purchased with my own funds and all the opinions are mine. As with any product, your results may vary.

A Tour Of My Favorite Place To Play...

2011-03-06T00:15:00.000-05:00

My vanity. Or makeup desk. Or whatever you want to call it.

This desk was a gift to me (along with the rest of my bedroom suite) from my parent's when I turned 15. I'm about to be, ahem, 35 so is it an antique yet? :)

It used to be full of stationery items, cell phone accessories, and office type supplies. I never really used the desk, so I felt like it was wasted space. I decided recently to make this a more usable space and turn it into my vanity area. And...I LOVE it. It is my favorite place to play.

Here is the entire thing (please pardon the silk daisies, that has since been removed. I was just playing around with some decor. I didn't like them). On the Memory Board above my vanity, I have family pictures, hair flowers, and just random memorabilia. I change it up a lot. I also put makeup inspiration pictures of looks that I want to try to recreate on there.
Here are my face brushes, eye brushes, a container of my foundations/tinted moisturizers and tissues. I keep my brushes stuck in lentils. They work perfectly and are super cheap. The only drawback is they remind of those little things that used to get stuck to my socks when I was a child, after playing in a field. Remember those? Oh well, they work.
Most of my brushes are from the Studio Line at E.L.F. They are awesome! They are super soft, never shed and wash well. I also have my beloved Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki. It's a new staple. My eye brushes are a mixture of Estee Lauder, E.L.F., Sonia Kashuk (who has amazing brushes), and Ulta Professionals.

This is a small 3 drawer organizer (from Target) that I use to hold my mascaras, brow gels and blushes. The blush drawers are kind of empty since I split it all up into 2 drawers. I'm obsessed with blushes at the moment, so I'm sure it will fill up quickly. On the top, I keep my brush cleaner spray, for daily use, a bronzer that won't fit in the drawers, face primer and some Aquaphor for my lips or any dry patches on my face. I also use the little pink container to hold random lipliners and a hair clip for when I'm doing my makeup.

If you can't tell by the next picture, I love E.L.F. brushes! They are like crack to me. $3 a pop and they are beautiful! My favorite is Candid Coral and Pink Passion. They are comparable to NARS blushes. And, I like them so much that I gave a friend the 2 NARS blushes that I had. I know....what was I thinking? But, I don't miss them.
This is the top left drawer, where I keep all of my eyeshadow quads, trios and singles. I also have lipglosses, lipsticks and powders. I got the little containers at the Dollar Tree. They fit perfectly in my drawer.
The drawer below the one above hold all of my eyeshadow palettes, extra makeup brushes, Vaseline, q-tips (to fix mistakes) and all of my fake lashes and lash glue.I love wearing fake lashes!
The top drawer(pictured below)is my favorite! This drawer has (from top left to right/top to bottom):
Concealers
lipglosses (btw, Lorac lipglosses are great)
liquid eyeliner
eyeliner pencils
face highlighters
eyelid primers
eye/face shimmers
bronzers (I'm a bronzer junkie. I'm still on the search for the perfect one, so if you have a favorite, I'd love to hear about it)!
liquid face highlighters
setting powders
liquid/stick bronzers (NARS Org*sm and South Beach)
I hope you've enjoyed the tour of my favorite place! I guess because I have to wear a boyish uniform everyday, I like to make sure that my face and hair look very...girly. I like that I wear a uniform everyday, b/c it saves me thousands on clothes, but it has turned me into a bit of a makeup junkie. As you can probably tell by looking at my collection, I'm mostly a drugstore girl. A high end product has to really, really wow me in order for me to purchase it. The drugstore brands have really stepped up their game lately, so I feel like I can do a good job at finding a cheaper dupe for the $$ products at CVS or Walgreens. The exception to my "drugstore rule" is Chanel Glossimers and MAC Silver Dusk. Those are the shiz and I've not found a decent drug store replacement for them. Yet...

Have a beautiful week!
xoxo

My Top 10 (of the moment).....

2011-03-03T21:40:00.016-05:00

Here are my TOP TEN beauty products of the moment! Maybe you will like them too.

From last to first:

10. CVS eye makeup remover (oil-free): This is a must have in my beauty cabinet. I was using the Sonia Kashuk Remove, but CVS has really done a great job with this product. It is EXACTLY the same as SK, but about $6cheaper and much easier to find (Target is almost always sold out of the SK). Btw, if you haven't joined CVS's Beauty Club, you should! It's free to sign up.
9. Sigma F80 Flat top Kabuki brush. I *love* this brush! It blends my foundation so well. It gives a flawless finish that looks great. I didn't get the hype about this brush...until I got it. I don't know how I did my makeup without it. Not kidding.
8. ROC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream. Simply put: this works. Period. It has almost made my laugh lines disappear. And they were deep. I wish I'd taken before and after pictures of the results. My mom noticed the difference without me telling her that I'd been using a Retinol cream. I have been using this for over 3 months now. I noticed the changes after a few weeks.
7. Chanel Glossimer in Star. I love Chanel Glossimers! They are not sticky, gooey or packed full of chunky glitter. They wear well and make my lips feel amazing. I used to wear Black Tie and went through about 6 tubes of it before it was discontinued. This is almost as perfect as Black Tie. Almost. ;)
6. Hard Candy Undercover Agent Undereye brightener and concealer. This stuff is perfection. It is a large bead of concealer on the end that works like a stick concealer (which I normally hate). You basically draw this on, and the warmth of your face and ring finger melt this into your skin (pat don't rub). It gives a dewy finish which is what I want. I hate concealer that settles into fine lines or looks cakey! The brightener is a white gel(?) type cream that you put on after the concealer. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about the brightener, but the concealer is SO good that I don't really care. I will definitely repurchase this again.
5. MAC Silver Dusk: This is the most amazing highlighter ever! I use it almost every day and my other highlighters have been neglected. This is a sample jar that my sweet friend Tricia gave me. I love it so much that I've already purchased the full size, but haven't opened it until I use all of the sample up. It will last a long, long time! I place this on the tops of my cheek bones with an angled brush.
4. Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin: I have used this for about 5 years now, and I don't ever plan to change. It smells delicious, removes all of makeup, and doesn't dry out my skin. Perfect, if you ask me.
3. L'Oreal Everstrong Sulfate Free Deep Replenishing Mask: This is my 2nd tub of this and it works amazingly. My hair is soft and silky after using this and it doesn't weigh my hair down. I also love that it's sulfate free, so it doesn't mess with with my color. Oh, and it smells divine!
2. Clarisonic: This is the best gift I've ever received! It has completely changed my skin. Honestly, I don't know how or why, but it just works. It is expensive, but so worth the investment.
1. Cetaphil Cream: This is THE MOST AMAZING PRODUCT ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET. I don't plan to ever be without this cream. My skin used to be a dry, flaky mess but Cetaphil has changed my life. My skin will still freak out occasionally, but a face mask followed by Cetaphil and I'm good to go. I use this night and day.
What are YOU loving at the moment?? Hope you have a beautiful weekend!
xoxo

The Fine Print: I was not sponsored or compensated by any of the brands featured in this blog post. All of these items were purchased with own funds and all the opinions are mine. As with any product, your results may vary.

A few things....

2011-02-23T00:25:00.003-05:00

Ok....I know I said a while back that I was coming back.

I didn't.

But...I am.

I'm taking my blog off of private.

I thought about starting a new one altogether, but I don't want to change my blog name.

I didn't want to lose my previous posts.

I like seeing where I've been.

So....

do I still have any readers left??

I'm Baaaacccckkkk....

2010-11-13T22:38:00.006-05:00

Maybe.

So, I think I'm going to venture back into the blogging world, but in a new direction. Honestly, I live a boring life and there isn't much for me to blog about. Unfortunately, I can't blog about my job for legal/privacy reasons, so for all the bizzare, crazy stories I could tell...I can't. Sads.

But, I'm going to take this blog in the direction of beauty/make-up/hair product reviews. I know, I know....you're thinking another beauty blog. Whoop-dee-doo. But, I love reading beauty blogs and I love reviewing products! I am NOT a professional at all and am really just becoming a make-up junkie at the ripe, old age of 34! My dear, sweet friend Tricia is my make-up Guru and she helps me out so much. (She is a professional Make-up Artist and is always so helpful to answer my many, many questions). Love her!

So....without further hoopla, here are some reviews of products that are on my Love List right now!

#1: E.L.F. I love E.L.F. in general. I mean, really, their website is like a candy store filled with beautiful things for CHEAP. As in an eyeshadow quads for ONE DOLLA HOLLA! Surprisingly, they are very pigmented and last all day. I work 12 hour shifts so my makeup has to last and last and last. Can't be looking all janky whilst locking up the Bad Guys, right?

#2 E.L.F. Makeup Mist and Set: This is a facial mist that goes on after you complete your makeup. Just spray it on from about 12 inches away and it will give you a dewy, glowy finish and make your look last for a long time. I was skeptical at first. It's almost like hair spray for make-up! It isn't sticky and it really works. Best part? $3. You're welcome. :)

#3 RIMMEL London Natural Bronzer in Sun Dance. This is my favorite bronzer right now. I place it on the places where the sun would naturally hit my face and it imparts a nice, sunny glow. It does have a minimal amount of shimmer, so if you don't like shimmer, they have others that don't have it. I personally don't mind if my face looks like a disco ball, so I'll take the shimmer, please and thanks.

#4 MAC Blush in Her Blooming Cheek (from the Tartan Plaid Holiday Collection). My friend Tricia sent me this as a present in the mail (again, love her!!) and OMG, it is amazing!! VERY pigmented, so a little teeny tiny bitty bit (I'm not joking when I say just a little) is all you need to get that "in from the cold" flush on your cheeks. I use a large fluffy blush brush from E.L.F. (further review coming on their brushes in another post) and I love it! Truthfully, this will last me until I'm 103 because you only use so little to get a beautiful look.

#5 Milani 3D Glitzy Gloss Glamour in #39 I don't know what the official name for this color is because it is nowhere on the packaging. I adore this gloss! I get it at Walgreens and I think it's around $6. It smells great and gives a sheer pink gloss to your lips. It's not too sticky, but yet has staying power. Again, it does have subtle shimmer, so....

I have some reviews for Benefit, ELF Studio brushes, Mac and Rimmel foundations and some primers coming up soon! Hope you enjoyed my reviews and if there is something you'd like to see me review, just let me know and I'll try to do it. I will also have some things on my Nope List as well.

See ya soon!
~K

**I may take my blog un-private since I won't be posting much personal information. I'll let you know if I do. Thank you so much, to those of you who still read! xoxo

Rainbow Cupcakes!!

2010-04-27T01:10:00.005-04:00

I have been dying to make the old school classic: Rainbow Cupcakes! However, I was a little afraid to try them, as I'm not much of a baker. I triple love cooking and cook meals at least 4 times a week, but baking....notsomuch.

Anyway, last night, I got brave and decided to try it (if for nothing else but to quell my unending craving for Funfetti cupcakes). It is SO EASY and really FUN! I'll walk ya through it, here we go....

First, you need white cake mix, whatever brand you like. I used Duncan Hines. Prepare it according to the box directions. Once you have the batter mixed, separate it into however many bowls you'll need for the colors you choose. I used 5 colors, so 5 bowls.

You will also need food coloring. I used Betty Crocker Classic Colors (the gel kind) but they also make Neon if you want to try that.
**note: there will only be 4 colors in the food coloring box, but it gives you directions to make other colors on the back of the box.**

In your bowls of batter, add food coloring and stir. Add food coloring, in drops, until you get the color you want. Remember to use separate spoons for each bowl (I say this as I almost starting stirring orange with a spoon that had blue icing all over it).

Almost done! Now, line you muffin pan with paper liners. Next take spoonfuls of each color and drop into the liners. One color on top of the other. You can see how I didn't put even amounts of each color in the liners as I wanted a swirl effect.

Then bake! The box said to bake for 16-21 minutes, but I ended up baking for 26 minutes because I made my cupcakes a little too big :)

This is what they look like just out of the oven:

Here are the delicious little rainbows inside!!

Seriously, I was jumping up and down like a little kid at Christmas!

I frosted mine with cream cheese icing and added some sprinkles on top!

Don't be afraid to try these, they are really easy. I can't wait to make these for my nephews, I know they will LOVE them!

I may or may not have eaten 4 of them by the time I went to bed. I'll never tell!

Have a happy Tuesday!
K~

p.s. I used white paper liners and I'm glad I did! You will be able to see the rainbows through the paper and when you take the papers off of the cupcakes they are rainbow colored inside! Who knew?!?

Welcome Lovely Readers!!

2010-04-18T01:02:00.004-04:00

2010-02-25T16:12:00.001-05:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/thepinkowl

The Soundtrack In My Head....

2010-02-25T03:15:00.002-05:00

these days, it sounds like this:

'Butterfly' by CrazyTown (so trashy, but so good)

'Don't Follow' by Alice In Chains This has always been one of my favorite songs.

'Two Is Better Than One' by Boys Like Girls (ft. Taylor Swift) This is currently my FAVORITE SONG. Like ever. Constantly on repeat on my iPod.

'With or Without You' by U2 Again, one of my faves.

'Winter' Vivaldi/Four Seasons This was what I played in my first concert with a real Chamber Orchestra. If you didn't know, I am a classically trained violist/violinist. I have played for over 20 years. I'm not as good as I once was, but I still love it very much.

'My Sharona' by The Knack My life soundtrack pretty much echoes the soundtrack to "Reality Bites" the movie. Why? I have no clue, it just does.

'Don't Fear The Reaper' by Blue Oyster Cult This is morbid, but I love to listen to this song before work. Sick, right?

OK, that's enough for now. If you can't tell, I have a VERY eclectic taste in music. I don't discriminate, I love it ALL!

Rest Easy Long-liner....

2010-02-10T18:55:00.006-05:00

...in fair winds and calm seas.

I was in shock when I found out that Captain Phil Harris of Deadliest Catch had passed away at the young age of 53. I knew he had suffered a stroke, but just 4 days ago, he was said to be doing well. If you know me, you know that my absolute favorite TV show ever is Deadliest Catch. Captain Phil has always been my favorite Captain on the show and I will miss hearing his scruffy voice. My heart goes out to his sons and the rest of his family. He seemed like such a fun and loving guy.

Fisherman's Prayer

God grant that I may live to fish,
until my dying day,
And when it comes to my last cast,
I then most humbly pray,
When in the Lord's safe landing net,
I'm peacefully asleep,
That in his mercy I be judged,
As big enough to keep.

Author Unknown

RIP Captain Phil, you'll be sorely missed.

Crackberry....

2010-02-02T04:22:00.010-05:00

If you've read my blog for long, you know I'm hopelessly addicted to my Blackberry aka "Crackberry". I got my first Blackberry last February and I fell head over heels for that little pink square of technology! I've since upgraded to a Blackberry Tour and I love it even more. I don't think my Blackberry is ever out of my hands for more than 10-15 minutes when I'm awake ~~because I get the shakes~~ (and if I'm sleeping....it's under my pillow. Oh yeah, I sleep with it). I have tossed around the idea of switching to an iPhone and even considered the Droid for a brief second, but...I've decided to stick with Blackberry.

I have never had any trouble with mine (other than the typical little quirks that any modern technology has) and I couldn't be happier. I thought I'd share some of my must have apps for the Blackberry with you, in case you are a fellow Crackberry addict.

BerryWeather: This is hands down my favorite app! I am a weather fanatic. I love everything about weather; clouds, rain, moon and sun phases, etc. I like an app that shows me weather alerts and severe weather warnings as well. In my next life, I want to be a meteorologist! This app is not free and it's a little pricey at $9.95, but I find that is well worth the price. The live radar maps are my favorite!

Google Mobile App: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Google runs my life! I love G-mail, G-chat, Reader, Maps, news etc. My most used feature of this app is Google Sync. It lets me input appointments into my berry and they show up on my iGoogle page in the calendar and vice versa. It updates automatically or you can update it manually if you choose. This app is free and it is invaluable for me. Couldn't do without it.

Ubertwitter: As you know, I am as addicted to Twitter as I am my Blackberry and this app is the best I've found for Blackberry (and I've tried them ALL. Not kidding). This app is free as well or you can pay $4.95 to have the ads removed. I use the free version and never even notice the occasional add.

TwitVid: I upload a video of my adorable nephews from time to time on Twitter. Attempting to upload a video on Ubertwitter takes forEVA. With TwitVid it's pretty quick. This app is free as well!

G-Talk: another wonderful feature from Google. It is separate from the Google Mobile app. This is G-Chat for your phone. I use it to chat with Hot Police Boy (as he is currently cheating on Blackberry with the Droid) and my fellow blog friend Angry Julie! We often work nights together (on separate ends of the country) and we keep each other entertained or just do a lot of BS'ing about our jobs.

BerryBuzz: This app lets you customize the LED color for different types of messages. You can even create your own custom colors as your notifications. I bet you can't guess what color I created for mine?? This app is $5.95.

Fox News Mobile: I'm not a huge fan of Fox News or CNN but Fox has a better layout than CNN, in my opinion, so that's what I use. It's free.

And last, but not least, the MOST important app on my Blackberry is the Crackberry.com launcher. Crackberry is where I waste many hours of my time. You can get free ringtones, wallpapers, themes and find the answer to ANY technical question you might have!

And just for kicks, here's a picture my Blackberry screen right now:

So, there you go. Now you know how big of a nerd I really am!
xoxo,
TPO

disclaimer: I was NOT, in any way, compensated for endorsing any of these applications and their respective owners, whoever they may be. These are simply the apps that I use and love and I wanted to share them with you.

Learning....

2010-01-11T02:07:00.007-05:00

Ahh, the time right after Christmas. It's not my favorite, I'll be honest.

I get the "After-Christmas Blues".

It sucks.

I do get excited about new planners, a new year, a clean slate and pretty paper clips for said planner, but generally I just feel....

down.

Not depressed, just a little let down.

See, I love Christmas. So much! (Not more than Thanksgiving, but if you're me, they are one and the same).

I love the twinkling lights, the glittery decorations, the spangly tinsel and all of the magic that comes along with it.

And when all of the decorations are put away, it's sad. Things just look bare.

I love, more than anything, spending time with my family. My mommy, daddy, brother, sister in law, my precious grandma, Hot Police Boy and two most adorable loves of my life--my nephews.

The sun rises and sets in their sparkling eyes and I would go to the ends of the earth for both of them.

I feel like after Christmas it's a little...lonely.

This year, I've set some goals that I made mention to in a previous post and I intend to reach those goals, but....

I've been doing a lot of thinking.

A lot of thinking about who I am, what I want my life to be, and what kind of person I want to become.

My number goal, is to find ME. My real true self.

This is certainly a journey that will take a lifetime, but it's a journey I don't want to miss.

I'm learning to not be materialistic. In the end things don't really matter, do they? Will God really care who had the most pairs of fancy shoes or the most beautiful dresses? Will it really matter who had the latest "It Bag"?

I know, in my heart of hearts, that it won't. Those possessions will never bring true happiness.

I'm learning not to be competitive. I'm who God made me. There is no changing me.

I'm learning to embrace every wrinkle and laugh line, because some memory or smile put them there. On my face. And that's OK.

I'm not searching for the Fountain of Youth anymore. That is found in the age of my heart.

And I can tell you I feel like a 10 year old most days and I love that about myself. I hope I never, ever grow up, in that respect.

I could spend my days searching for the best cream, the best plastic surgeon or the new miracle drug that will make me look ten years younger, but at what cost?

The cost of my time? Time that I can never get back? Time that I could have been spending with my family and friends instead of trying to find something that really doesn't exist so that I can look like a non-authentic version of myself?

It's time to accept myself for who I am and stop being so critical.

I'm learning to be a better daughter. I am ridiculously attached to my mom and dad. They are my very best friends and I want to spend as much time with them as I can. Time with them is precious and I never want to regret not spending as much time with them as I could have.

Nothing makes me happier than my daily phone calls with each of my parents. And by daily, I mean 5 times a day. Each.

I'm learning to be creative!

I'm learning not to take things for granted.

I'm learning that I am so, so blessed!

And that I am loved. By so many.

And really....what more can you ask for?

So, instead of feeling down I'm making it my goal to find the joy in every day.

Each day that I get to wake up and breathe air, is a gift. I could spend it being sad and wishing for things that aren't or....

I could get out there and enjoy this beautiful life that I've been given and make the most of each day!

And, that, my sweet friends, is exactly what I'm planning to do!

An outfit for Sunday....

2010-01-07T01:43:00.000-05:00

I love wearing dresses! I so rarely get to wear them, that it always feels special when I do. Sunday was Hot Police Boy's birthday. He turned 29....and is struggling with the fact that he only has one year left in his 20's. Bless him. I keep trying to tell him that the 30's have been way better to me than my 20's were, but he's not buying it.

Yes, I am 5 years older than HPB. That's right, I still got it! Just kidding.

HPB and I went to Mass on Sunday morning and then to High Cotton for HPB's birthday brunch! It is an amazing restaurant and if you're ever in Greenville, SC (or Charleston) I highly recommend visiting!

So this is what happens when I go out and buy a brand new full length mirror:

Yeah, there is nothing quite as jarring as the sound of this crashing to the ground and glass breaking into a million and one pieces! I am still creeped out that it fell and broke. I'm not very superstitious but...still. So, I had to revert to the bathroom mirror...again. Notice the little kick up to show the shoes? Oh yeah, I'm resourceful like that. Here is a horrible picture of what I wore to Mass on Sunday:

Dress: Xhilaration from Target
Tights: Hue from Macy's
Heels: Jessica Simpson from TJ Maxx
Necklaces: Charlotte Russe and Forever 21
Flower Pin: Claire's

Sorry for the color of the pictures, but these were taken with my Blackberry. The dress if very purple, but doesn't quite show up that way in the picture.

~TPO

TwentyTen!

2010-01-02T05:15:00.006-05:00

This year.....

I'm excited!

No particular reason,

I just have a feeling it's going to be a great year!

I have some goals.

I don't make resolutions

because I suck at keeping them

and then I feel guilty.

And since I'm converting to

Catholicism.....

I figure I don't need any added guilt.

Just kidding.

But, Hot Police Boy, who is a "Cradle Catholic",

says guilt comes with being Catholic.

Whatev.

I'm so excited to be back in a Church and

meeting wonderful people.

This year, I am going to be a better blogger.

And......

I'm gonna start adding pictures!

Right?!?

Yep.

Not even kidding.

Don't you find blogs with pictures way more interesting?

I do.

So, without further ado....

This is me: The Pink Owl

It's nice to meet you!

And now you can put a face to a name.
(Which you have already done if you follow me on Twitter, but I digress).

No that is not my Corvette. It belongs to my cousin. He's a stud.

This year, I have vowed to save money.

Yep, I'm cutting out the frivolous spending.

It's time.

There is nothing that I need.

I have everything I could ever want and them some.

I have a closet full of clothes that still have tags on them (maybe because I wear a uniform that makes me look like a boy but that's ok, because I usually always have something to wear that I haven't worn already. Which is really cool. Of course, there are days when none of it looks good on me and I cave and go buy something new that I don't need, but that's what I'm trying to curb this year. We shall see.)

I also may invest in a full size mirror, so I can stop standing in a chair in my bathroom in order to take a picture of an outfit I'm wearing.

Annnddd.....I might just show you some of my outfits that I wear on my days off.

Trust me, they will not be fancy name brands or anything that probably cost over $100 because I just don't roll that way. So, if you're looking for the latest from Saks, Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdales, sorry to disappoint.

I'm more of a Macy's, Belk, Target, TJ Maxx, Wal-Mart kind of girl.

I spent $300 on pair of shoes a while back and I still haven't forgiven myself. Because I found an almost identical pair for $45. Yeah, I vowed then and there.....those days were over (with the exception of Uggs. I love them. I don't care if they make my legs look like bulldog legs. I totally get that a lot of people think look like shiz. I respect that. But, if I can wear a pair of boots that make me feel like I'm walking on a cloud, well....I'll take em, no matter what they look like).

Because normally, I'm wearing these delectable jewels of Police Couture:

Oh yes, people, do NOT hate. You know you want a pair of these hot little numbers. Perfect for dancing, your fave sequin dress and/or chasing cracked out meth heads through the woods or protecting one's ass whilst someone is trying to kick said ass. Oh, and that zipper? Tres chic and well...zippy. Versatility and multi-functionality: that's my motto! Kidding!

For me, I try to look cute whilst not breaking the proverbial bank.

However, if I look like a cheap skank, you can tell me. It won't hurt my feelings. Pinky swear.

As a said before, I'm in the process of converting to Catholicism (with the support of my very Baptist parents! Woot!). I'm taking RCIA classes, attending Mass and I love it! I have never felt this at home in a church before.

So, I may talk a little ~~a lot~~ about my journey to Holy Communion and Confirmation this year as well.

Anyway, I'm going to try to be more interesting this year and if you're reading my blog, please introduce yourself, tell me where you're from and what you're favorite wine is (because one of my other 2010 goals is to branch out from my old stand-by, Merlot).

Hope you are having an awesome start to YOUR year!

Cheers!

A Christmas Post....

2009-12-23T23:05:00.010-05:00

**my little Christmas Tree with my precious Nativity beneath**

Hi!

I'm just stopping by for a minute to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I don't think I've enjoyed the Christmas season this much in 5 years. It's so wonderful having my own, new apartment to decorate, spending time with my family and friends and remembering my true reason for Christmas.

**a little octopus ornament**

On Christmas Eve morning, we always go to my parent's home for breakfast and gifts. My mom makes breakfast casserole, cheese grits, bacon, biscuits, cinnamon twirls, cookies, chocolate chip pie....oh my hips are getting bigger just thinking about it!

**my Sweet Grass baskets...Christmas-ized**

I honestly don't care about presents anymore. I would be just fine if no one gave me a thing. For me, it's about spending time with my precious mommy and daddy, Hot Police Boy, my brother and sister in law and my AMAZING, sweet nephews. That is ALL I need.

**THE best smelling candle that Yankee sells**

My heart is so full this Christmas, that I keep finding myself overly emotional. The sappy commercials are turning me into a fountain every time one comes on (thank you Publix, Folgers and Hallmark).

**my Police Santa because, well....you know**

Tomorrow night, I will be attending Christmas Eve Mass and I am beyond excited. HPB and I attended Solemn Vespers on this past Sunday and it was just what I needed. I can't explain the peace I feel when I attend Mass.

**I made this when I was just a tiny owlet**

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Christmas filled with love and peace! I will be back in the new year, hopefully with lots of interesting things to blog about!

**my little beachy abode(even though I live 3 hours from the beach)** :)

I appreciate all of my readers and I'll see you next year!

XOXO,
TPO

Hi!

2009-12-11T06:59:00.004-05:00

Hi babies!

Just checking in to let you know

that I'm still alive.

Of course, if you follow me on

TWITTER....

then you already know this.

You also know that I am OBSESSED,

and I mean OBSESSED with my new toy....

the Keurig (Platinum Edition Model B70).

I'm serious kids,

if you don't have one....

GET ONE.

Or, you could always

ask Santa.

I know he would love to give you one.

The coffee is THE best I've EVER had.

I'm no kidding.

The hot tea?

Oh yeah, it's even better.

I can't say enough about it.

But, once again,

if you follow me on Twitter....

well, you know this already.

In fact, I've rambled on and on and on

about the Keurig so much,

that you may have UN-followed me on Twitter.

I'm so excited for Christmas,

but I'm starting to get a little anxious.

I don't want it to get here yet,

because I don't want it to be over!

I will miss Christmas music and my

Christmas Tree and seeing the magic

in my little nephews eyes whenever they

go looking for their Elf On The Shelf.

So cute!

I hope YOU are having a wonderful

Christmas season!

Love to you all!

22 pounds?!?

2009-11-23T01:18:00.006-05:00

**I've had to turn on comment moderation, b/c I keep getting comments in foreign languages??? Sorry.**

So apparently, I've taken up "once-a-week blogging".

I just am NOT feeling it.

I think I may just take the rest of the year off.

I love reading all of YOUR blogs.

But I just can't find MY blog mojo.

I have got a MASSIVE turkey to cook this year.

Tom weighs in at over 22 pounds.

I have cooked the Turkey for the past 7 years for my family Thanksgiving.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE prepping and roasting the turkey.

I make THE best turkey you will ever eat.

If I do say so myself.

However, I've never cooked a Turkey over 15 pounds.

This year we have more family coming.

And I always feel like we never have enough.

I pulled out all the stops this year, though.

Even though I've done this for 7 years....

I still get nervous.

It's a lot of pressure, ya know?

I mean, what if I burn it...

drop it (seriously folks, this thing is freaking heavy)...

or, God forbid, UNDERcook it???

Gross.

I'm hoping the dang bird thaws out in time.

Or it may just have to take a swim.

In my bathtub.

Don't worry, it's immaculate.

My bathtub, that is.

And the turkey would still be wrapped up.

Duh.

As you can see, I'm still blogging in incomplete sentences.

It's the way I think.

And....

the way I talk to myself.

I'm not kidding.

It's a problem.

I should probably stop doing it.

Especially at the mall.

I got some strange looks the other day.

Whatev.

I'll leave you with my current obsession.

Seriously, I could listen to this song over and over.

I say that about all of them that I post on here though.

Adele.

Voice of an ANGEL.

Love her.

And turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving loves!

Random, incomplete sentences.....

2009-11-15T03:52:00.003-05:00

I am a horrible blogger.

We had a great time in Florida.

Sadly, the baby dolphin passed away shortly after birth.

The dolphins we saw and interacted with were beyond amazing.

It was a wonderful weekend getaway.

I missed home, though.

I will always be a home-body.

I love to travel, but NOTHING beats coming HOME.

I am convinced that South Carolina is the greatest state.

But, Florida is a close second.

I am so ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I keep getting oddly timed cravings for turkey and dressing.

Cooking has become my therapy.

Imogen Heap's new album Ellipse is quite possibly the best album I've ever heard. Ever.

I found the perfect leggings (footless tights).

No more saggy knees.

Thanks, Ann Taylor Loft.

I'm paranoid that I'm going to get the H1N1 virus.

My boyfriend won Officer of The Year.

Again.

So proud.

I prefer to blog in incomplete sentences.

It's so much easier.

I am getting a new Blackberry because mine is jacked up.

My local Verizon store is a joke.

The tech took my phone from me for about 30 minutes.

Pretty sure I started to shake from withdrawals.

Just sayin'.

But, Cheryl, who I spoke with on the phone at VZW was awesome.

I'm putting up my Christmas tree this week.

I still need more ornaments though.

I only have to work tonight, Wed and Thurs then....

I'm off for over 2 weeks.

I think that rocks.

Peace out.

xoxo

TPO

P.S. Here's my favorite song from Imogen's new album, enjoy!

All My Bags Are Packed....

2009-11-05T22:31:00.006-05:00

...I'm ready to go! Hot Police Boy and I are going to St. Augustine, Florida today! We're leaving early so we can stop in Savannah, GA and eat lunch! Any recommendations for a good place to eat today?

We're just going for a little weekend getaway, to visit his brother and girlfriend. Also, HPB's mom is driving up from her home in Miami to visit with us too.

HPB's brother recently completed his Masters in Marine Biology and is now a dolphin and whale trainer in Florida. He is doing my dream job! So, on Sunday we get to go to the aquarium and have a private Dolphin Experience! I'm not really sure what all of that will entail, as the dolphin he trains is pregnant! That's right, she is due to give birth at any minute to a tiny (if you call 70 pounds tiny) little dolphin baby! I assume, how much we get to enteract will depend on how well the mom and baby are doing. Either way, I'm super excited and hope I get to see a baby dolphin!

I love Florida and have visited many time, but I've never been to St. Augustine. I've heard it's beautiful there. Of course, I'll be rocking some leggings whilst in the Sunshine State!

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend!

You can always find me on Twitter, and hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures there as well from our adventures!

TPO

A New Gal....

2009-11-03T00:37:00.003-05:00

The wonderful folks over at Design-her Gals allowed me to design a gal to post on my blog (on the right side). They were so quick to get everything back to me for use on my blog! They are extremely helpful and friendly over there. If you would like to design a gal to add to your site the instructions are on their web site (it's free). You can also purchase stationary items with your Gal on it! Super cute! I had one on here previously, but I've grown my hair out now, so it was time for a new one. Aside from letting me use my Gal, they are a great organization. Below is an excerpt from an email exchanged between Debbie Mills and myself:

"We've decided to continue the Gal to Gal Walk to raise funds and grant holiday wishes for women with stage IV breast cancer. We didn't get nearly enough donations to grant the wishes we had hoped so we're going to let it go a bit longer because we truly believe this is so important. We want to make the holidays special for these brave women fighting this horrible disease and hope to be able to grant 100 wishes this year. We would love it if you would join us in the walk and perhaps give us a great shout out for the virtual walk. It just takes $5 and 5 minutes to design your gal and donate - to truly make a huge difference! Here's the walk website: http://galtogalwalk.org/"

If you feel so led, please head on over to Design Her Gals and join in! It's a great cause and what better time to lend a hand than the Holidays?

I hope you all have a wonderful day! Tomorrow, I'll be back and blogging about one of my continued obsessions......LEGGINGS! I know, you can't wait right? :)

Hot Pants.....

2009-10-31T21:20:00.015-04:00

ETA: I have no idea why this post is showing up with the date of Oct. 31. I started it on that date, but finished and published the morning. I had no idea that it would post with the start date.

I am obsessed with leggings, and live in constant fear that may go "out" at some point. My grandma calls them "hot pants". Not sure why, but she does. I blogged about them last year and I'm still loving them! But, I don't love the saggy knees that sometimes come with them. I own several pair, and several different brands, but they all seem to get the saggy knees??

Old Navy had a great selection of leggings at one point last year, and I stocked up. However, they seem to get the saggiest knees of all!

Here are some pretty ~~cheap~~ sweaters that I think would great with leggings:

This sweater is from Wal-Mart. Only $15!

This sweater Car Coat is from Target.

This one would look great with a long sleeve tissue tee underneath! The orange would be perfect for a Clemson game. Not sure if I'd wear them with black though, as I might look like a Jack-O-Lantern! Target again.

I wear my leggings always with something covering my butt. Always. I have seen some people wearing them with short sweaters, tiny cardigans, etc. I don't have the backside of an 18 year old anymore, so that is a big no-go for me! I kind of want to try these by Spanx! I don't think I'd wear them under the heel, like in the picture, but I do like the look. However, these are convertible, so you can wear them at the ankle or as shown in the picture. Anyone tried these??

Spanx Tight-End Tights Convertible Leggings $28. A little steep for leggings, but if they didn't get saggy knees, they would be worth it!

I typically wear black leggings, but I have a gray pair as well, and I really like them.

My favorite flats to wear are these!
I have never, and I mean never, found a pair that I like better. These are butter soft and look great year after year. I have 3 pair of these in black (so far, I'm still on the first pair). They are amazingly comfortable and actually look identical to a more expensive pair by Jes$ica $impson. I have a pair of Tory Burch Revas but they just aren't as comfortable as my Target ones. It's all personal preference, though. Even though the Revas, to me, aren't that comfy, I wear them anyway because I love them!

Any suggestions for some Non-Saggy Knee leggings would be greatly appreciated!

Hope you have a great day (with no saggy knees if you're wearing leggings).
TPO

The Winds of Change....

2009-10-30T07:39:00.002-04:00

are blowing here at The Pink Owl. I have gone with a new layout, as I was beyond sick of the old one. Still not sure if this is the one I'm going to stick with, but we'll see. Hope you all are doing wonderful! I'll be back soon. I think......

Soundtrack in my head....

2009-10-22T04:51:00.003-04:00

As I'm on my blog break, these are the songs that I'm listening to. Enjoy!

Seriously, how LUCKY is the girl in this video?!? I would so love to lay on stage with Bono. For realz!

Amy Lee has one of the most beautiful voices ever. Love this song! It has special meaning to me.

This is just a great mantra for any day. "Tomorrow's another day, and I am not afraid, so bring on the rain..."

Oh how I LOVE Lisa Loeb (and I was a big fan of MTV's Beach House back in the day)! This song reminds of a trip with my best friend to the Hard Rock Cafe in Atlanta, and the movie Reality Bites (one of my FAVORITE movies of all time)!

Sting: Fields Of Gold. Beautiful!

A Blogging Break....

2009-10-19T03:44:00.006-04:00

That's what I'm taking.

Not long, maybe a week or two. Maybe more, maybe less.

Mainly, I'm just uninspired right now. My life is fairly boring (and I'm perfectly happy with that) and I just don't have much to blog about right now.

The blogging world gets a little overly dramatic at times and it seems a little heavy to me right now.

So....I'm taking a hiatus.

I'm ridiculously addicted to Twitter, so you can always find me there.

But, for now....The Pink Owl Blog is on vacay.

I'll miss you!

~TPO

More Soundtrack to My Life....

2009-10-14T04:13:00.003-04:00

This was, by far, my favorite song in high school (yes, I'm old). My best friend and I would play this on repeat for hours as we agonized over boys. We were so excited when we found out this was going to be performed on VMA's. I wanted to marry Slash?!? What? Still, even today, this is my FAVORITE performance EVER on the VMA's:

Oh, Axl, why did you have to screw everything up?

I love the Goo Goo Dolls! I know this song is about drug addiction, but I still love the song:

This was my anthem in college. I went to very conservative, Christian college and we weren't "allowed" to listen to this kind of music. But...me, being the rebel that I am, well....I sat in the student parking lot and listened to a lot of "forbidden" music while waiting for class to start. Alanis Morissette was one of my favorites.

This was from my, well...I was in high school. I was not, for the record, a grunge kid. Once a prep, always a prep. But, I have played the viola and violin for almost 20 years now and we did a classical version of this song in high school. Very awesome! Nirvana was fun to play on strings.

And, finally, the GREATEST. SONG. EVER. Journey, Don't Stop Believing. Need I say more?!?

Hope ya'll have a great Thursday!
~TPO

Joe

2009-10-08T23:37:00.010-04:00

I am a self proclaimed coffee fanatic. I love nothing more than a perfectly sweetened, and heavily creamed cup of Joe. DECAF ONLY, please!

I am a pretty loyal Dunkin Donuts coffee drinker. I always order a medium decaf, French Vanilla with extra cream and 2 Splendas. Always. With the exception of when they offer the Pumpkin coffee. It's delish.

But, I also love a decaf, soy, extra hot Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks! However, I don't like paying nearly $5 for my daily(sometimes twice daily-don't judge)habit. It annoys me. For hell's sake, it's just coffee, not liquid diamonds. For me, Dunkin is the more sensible choice, but I also prefer the taste of their coffee over Starbucks, PSL's aside.

**I do LOVE when Starbucks brings out the RED holiday cups, though! There is just something about Christmas shopping with one of those in my hand!**

Anyway, the dilemma I've been having is ordering my coffee, from either place, only to find out that it was NOT, in fact, DECAF like I ordered. How do I find this out? Well, I have MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse). It's nothing serious, but if I drink caffeinated coffee, I end up with crazy heart palpitations! Like I said, nothing serious, just enough to make me feel very shaky and anxious. So I steer clear of caffeine, pretty much always. And, I hate wondering IF my coffee is really decaf or not. Ugh.

So, lately I've been making my own coffee at home! I use Folgers Simply Smooth Decaf. It's wonderful! I absolutely love the taste of this coffee over any I have tried.

I am also a sucker for coffee creamers! Right now I'm using Coffee-Mate Belgian Chocolate Toffee. Let me tell you, pour this in your coffee and it tastes better than any coffee you can get at Starbucks or Dunkin (at least that's my opinion). :)

I find something very comforting about making my own coffee at home. I like that I can use my favorite ~~hideously ugly~~ travel mug (from the Crown Plaza in Myrtle Beach), and I KNOW it is decaf and that I won't get a freaky heart beat later on!

(my trusty travel mug. Why I don't use the beautiful, pink, monogrammed one in my cabinet, I'll never know?? )

I find it fascinating how personal coffee is for a lot of people! A bad cup of coffee can ruin some one's day! I'm pretty particular about mine as well.

So, what do you drink? How do you "take" your coffee? Any coffee/creamer suggestions? I'm always up for trying something new!

Have a great Friday!
~TPO

I live my life to a soundtrack in my head....

2009-10-05T03:44:00.003-04:00

I always have. Here is what my life sounds like right now:

You may not know this about my prim and proper self, but I'm an Ozzy fan. Always have been, always will be.

This song makes me cry. Every. Time. I think Kelly is beautiful and I'm pulling for her on Dancing With The Stars! She's had some rough times, so it's nice to see her happy on that show.

And you knew there would be a Tom Petty song in the mix, right?

One of my best friends got me hooked on Imogen Heap. She is amazing and delightfully strange at the same time. Her music is so calming! I love it (my boyfriend hates it).

Adele is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Her voice is amazing!

And last, but not least, Lady Gaga. She fascinates me and scares me. I can't figure out if she is genuine or just a big poser. Either way, I love this song!

Have a great Monday!
~TPO

Some days...

2009-09-25T00:50:00.005-04:00

Some days....
I just want to kick people in the teeth (and I realize this is neither lady-like nor classy of me).

Some days....
I wonder why the hell I left my cute little classroom of kindergartners singing the Weather Song and playing on the playground for a job where I have my life threatened, get cussed out every day, have to dress like a boy, and I'm pretty sure some people would love to kill me.

Some days....
I hate my hair, my smile, my thighs, my clothes, and my larger-than-it-should be nose.

Some days...
I just want everyone to leave me alone. Don't call. Don't text. Don't write. Don't send postcards.

Some days....
I want to not feel guilty that I hate talking on the phone, that I am horrible at returning emails, and that I suck at commenting on your blog posts.

Some days....
I wish I could banish all the mean people to Mean People Island and rain acid down on them from a prop plane and laugh while they melt into little puddles.

Some days....
I wish I had Jennifer Aniston's hair, could travel the world with no obligations, and spend my time partying with P-Diddy on one of his sweet ass yachts, off the coast of Wherever.

Some days....
I wish I didn't drop the F-bomb, get annoyed with a family member, or spend so much money at Starbucks.

Some days....
I wish I could cure cancer.

Some days...
I wish I could stop my nephews from growing up and my parents from growing old.

Some days....
I wish I could fix every one's problems and make everyone happy.

Some days....
I just want to stay in my pajama's, eat in my bed and watch trash TV for 18 hours straight.

Some days....
I wish I didn't give a shit what anyone thinks of me, was a better friend and listener.

But....not today.

Today...
I will not kick anyone. Anywhere.

Today...
I will like my hair, my smile, my thighs, and my larger-than-it-should be nose.

Today...
I will love my job.

Today...
I will not feel guilty for not texting, tweeting, commenting, calling or not answering a call.

Today...
I will enjoy the time I have with my parents and love my nephews even though they are growing up too fast.

Today...
I will ignore the Mean People.

Today...
I will pretend I have Jenn Aniston's hair. I will plan my trip around the world. And...I don't even like P-Diddy, Puff Daddy, Diddy or whoever the hell he calls himself nowadays.

Today....
I will pray for the people who are finding a cure for cancer.

Today...
I will smile at everyone I see and say hi.

Today...
I will probably still drop an F-bomb (or two), but I will not get annoyed with a family member and I will go to Starbucks. Maybe twice!

Today...
I will go outside, feel the sunshine and be thankful for my wonderful, blessed life.

Today...
I will be a better friend and listener.

Today...
I will just be me. I'll worry about my "some days" later.

Monday Ten!

2009-09-20T22:10:00.014-04:00

Happy Monday! It is a very happy Monday for me, because I'm off today and tomorrow. I had to work, while you were all out having fun this weekend. I promised that I'd share my 10 favorite things of the moment, so here they are (in no paticular order):

1. Original Chap-Stick! The one in the black tube. I can't get enough of the smell! My dad has always used this, but about 5 years ago he switched to Cherry flavor. Any time I smell the original or cherry, I can't help but think about my dad. I always have one of these little tubes in my pocket, purse, desk, car etc. I find them stashed all over my apartment too! I don't wear lipstick ever, but you will never find me without Chapstick on!
2. iGoogle. I absolutely love love love Google and everything about it. My life is on my iGoogle page, and I have the Google Sync application installed on my Blackberry. I don't think I could make it without the calendar function. Anything I add to my Calendar on iGoogle immediately shows up on my phone, or if I add an appointment to my phone, it immediately goes to my calender on my laptop! Couldn't be easier. However, I do find myself obsessing over what design to use on my page. Currently I'm using this one.

3. My Blackberry Tour. In a word: Amazing! I am a certified Blackberry Junkie. I love it, it's pretty much never not in my hand. Sadly, the Tour doens't come in pink, but I did put a pink case on it! What? You knew I would!
4. Yoplait Whips. I have to be honest, I hate these things, unless they are frozen. Not frozen, they seem slimy to me. However, if you freeze them, OMG they are delicious. I swear the Orange Creme tastes just like a Push-Up Pop. Chocolate and Key Lime are my other faves.
5. Snap-Capps. I drink can soft drinks too slow, they always go flat. These keep the fizz in and basically turn the can into a bottle! I have three of them, and use them everyday! You can get them at Bed Bath & Beyond as well.
6. Crackberry.com. I can't stay away from this page. Especially since I just got a new Blackberry, it's very helpful in answering technical questions. Plus, you can get free wallpapers, themes and ringtones.
7. Survivor Samoa! But, that Russell person....he is evil and I can not wait until they wise up and kick him out. I really can't stand mean people.
8. Scarves. I love wearing lightweight scarves in the fall. It can turn ordinary jeans and a white tee-shirt into a very pulled together look. I have way too many scarves, but I just bought two more. I'm stalking one of these Matta Dupatta scarves on Ebay. I love them, but they are sold out every time I try to get one.
9. Corey Smith. I went to his concert in Clemson on last Thursday and it was great! This is my favorite song that he sings. For some reason, it always makes me tear up.

10. Hoarders on A&E. Have you watched this show?!? It freaks me out and puts me into a hyper-cleaning mode. I feel bad for the people who have been overtaken by things. I do believe this is a true mental illness and I hope that all of the people on the show get the help they need.

Hope you all have a great week!

~TPO

p.s. spell check on Blogger will not work for me today. If there are misspellings, I'm sorry in advance. :)

Standing Firm.....

2009-09-18T21:31:00.003-04:00

First, let me say how much I appreciate all of the comments on my last post.

I am NOT going private.

I will not be forced to do something that I don't want to do.

The person who was following me on Twitter has been blocked.

They *are still reading this blog, and there isn't much I can do about that.

*IP addresses are little treasure troves of telling information.

I'm not going to go into more details here, but if you really want to know what happened, you can email me.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend!! I'll be back on Monday with my list of 10 things I'm loving right now (from food to fashion)!

You guys are the best and I appreciate that you read my blog and take the time to comment. It means a lot!

Kisses,
TPO

Going Private....Maybe?

2009-09-17T04:00:00.003-04:00

I don't want to.

I know I would lose readers.

Due to a rather startling discovery early this morning, I feel like I have no choice.

I know that having a blog kind of "puts me out there".

Due to my job, I try to be as anonymous as possible, which I why I don't put pictures of me on here (the one that was here, has been removed).

But, I do want to be able to share my thoughts with people who I consider friends now. Blogging is very therapeutic.

I do want to hear what YOU have to say about what I write.

But, I don't want people reading this blog, who are just doing so to gather information and relay it to certain people who are forever in my past.

I'm genuinely torn about what to do. I really want to go back and delete my blog posts, but I want to keep them. Is there a way to export it to somewhere for safe keeping?

Social media today is a double edged sword isn't it? It's hard to know exactly WHO is following you, reading what you write and it's impossible to know what they do with the information they get.

I used to think I was pretty damn good at being private and careful with what I put "out there", and who I allowed to see it, when I have control over it.

Apparently not.

Tidbits.....

2009-09-14T04:31:00.006-04:00

Taking a small blogging break. I'll be back to blogging later this week. Everything is just fine, just don't have much to write about right now.

I'm always on Twitter, so come visit me there! My tweets are protected, but I will approve you as long as you aren't advertising, ummm....adult type things. ;)

I did get a new Blackberry this week, the Tour. Ummm...it's AMAZING! I love it, love it, love it! I am a cell-phone junkie, so I decided to leave my pink Curve for something a little newer. My new BB and I are very happy together!

One last thing....Kanye West should have won the MTV Award for World's Biggest Asshole, with his little drunken stunt he pulled last night. Beyonce was very classy in allowing Taylor Swift to finish her acceptance speech. And can someone tell me what the hell is up with Lady Gaga?!? I mean her performance, the blood, that freaky red outfit she was wearing?!? While she fascinates me (and scares me at the same time), I think she's trying too hard.

What did you think about the MTV Awards? Discuss.

We could all use a little of this....

2009-09-02T04:04:00.003-04:00

I was thumbing through one of my mom's old cookbooks this morning and found the greatest recipe! It's an old cookbook compiled with recipes from members of a Mennonite church. In light of all the bad news, fires, deaths, and general rudeness of some people today, I think a lot of us could benefit from a healthy portion of this recipe. This made me smile, and I hope it does the same for you:

Recipe For Life:

MIX TOGETHER:
1 C. good thoughts
1 C. kind deeds
1 C. consideration
2 C. sacrifice for others
3 C. forgiveness
Then add 2 C. of well beaten faults

This is to be mixed thoroughly with tears of joy and sorrow, as well as plenty of sympathy. Flavor the mixture well with little gifts of love and kindness. Use 4 cups of prayer and faith to lighten the other ingredients and raise the texture to great heights in daily living. Bake well in the heat of human kindness and serve with a smile.

Hope you all have a great Wednesday!
~TPO

I love weekends....

2009-08-30T02:01:00.002-04:00

Well, every other weekend that is. I have to be Preppy Police Girl two weekends a months...those aren't always so fun. This weekend has been great! Friday, I spent most of the day in my PJ's (don't judge) and then decided on an impromptu trip to TJ Maxx and Target. I got the softest towels I've ever felt at TJ's for a mere $10 for 2 towels! Seriously they are the best towels I've ever felt!

Saturday night, Hot Police Boy and I had Scary Movie Night. I cooked breakfast casserole (which was delicious) and he bought lots of movie candy, popcorn, soft drinks and beer. We watched A Haunting In Connecticut. Ummm....well, we didn't finish it. Scared. The. Crap. Outta. Me. I had to turn the lights on and watch a Cosby Show marathon to get my mind off of that dreadful movie. It was too intense and based on a true story. I just couldn't do it. HPB made fun of me. Whatev.

Today, I'm cleaning the apartment and visiting my nephews. And that's it. Breakfast (and probably supper) will be leftover breakfast casserole. It's that good! Want the recipe? Sure you do!Breakfast Casserole

You need:
1 tube of refrigerated Crescent rolls
6 eggs
1/2 cup of cold milk
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp of pepper
8oz. of ham (I use the Carolina Pride sandwich ham)
1/2lb. of bacon, chopped and set aside
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 325. In a 13x9 inch pan spray lightly with cooking spray, unroll and press entire sheet of crescent rolls into the bottom of the pan, sealing the perforations (just pinch them together). Chop up the sandwich ham and sprinkle over the crescent rolls. In a large bowl, beat 6 eggs, milk and pepper together and pour over the ham and crescent rolls. Top with both kinds of cheese. Cook for 25-30 minutes until the eggs are set. While the casserole cooks, saute chopped bacon in a frying pan until crispy. Place on paper towels to soak up excess drippings from the bacon. Once the casserole is done, sprinkle the bacon on top.

Variations: use sausage or smoked sausage instead of ham, add onions, green peppers or jalepenos etc.

A cold, cooking and Happy Thanksgiving....

2009-08-25T00:53:00.002-04:00

Well, I have caught the dreaded "Summer Cold". I haven't had a cold in almost four years, so I really can't complain. However, there is nothing worse than being super congested in the hot, thick, South Carolina summer air. Gross. Each time I step outside, I feel like someone puts a plastic bag over my head and I'm suffocating. Nice. So...if this post is hard to understand, or laden with bad grammar and/or punctuation, I'm blaming it on the cold meds that are making me a little loopy. :)

Lately, I am OBSESSED with cooking. I mean seriously, I could just stay home all day, every day and cook and cook. I love it! I have planned out my menus for the next 4 weeks and I've made my grocery lists. The menus are posted on my fridge, and I look forward to making all new recipes. I am loving The Food Network magazine! It's amazing! Some of the recipes are a tad too time consuming and ridiculously over the top, but it's still a fun read for killing time, and getting ideas.

I also got the Taste of Home 5 Ingredient magazine. It's, by far, my new favorite. I'm pretty sure it's a special publication, but it is really great. I love simple but delicious meals and this one should provide just that. I'll let you know how the recipes go.

Also, over at Kraft Foods website they have a "One Bag, Five Dinners" section, complete with a printable shopping list and recipes for a weeks worth of meals! I plan to make several of these dishes as well, and I'll let you know how they taste. Obviously, since I'm just cooking for myself (and sometimes Hot Police Boy), I will modify the recipes accordingly and can probably get two days of meals out of one night's cooking. I'm fine with leftovers!

So, I'll leave you with one of my FAVORITE recipes for a sandwich that I eat all year. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I could eat Turkey every day of my life! This sandwich is my "Thanksgiving Feast" that I can have any time!

Thanksgiving Sandwich:

2 slices of whole wheat bread (I like the deli style bread, it's thicker and holds up well with travel)
As much sliced deli turkey as you prefer
2 slices of Baby Swiss cheese (I use Sargento)
1 leaf of lettuce (I use Romaine or Butter)
Mayo
salt and pepper
dried or fresh Thyme, Sage and Rosemary
Cranberry Sauce

I spread mayo on one slice of bread, layer turkey cheese and lettuce, sprinkle on S&P, dried thyme, sage and Rosemary to taste and spread cranberry sauce on the other slice of bread. Put it all together and you, too, can have a Thanksgiving Feast in the middle of August!

Random....

2009-08-20T21:40:00.008-04:00

I've been neglecting my blog and I apologize. Work has been beyond crazy and has consumed a lot of my time lately. I'm also working on all the paperwork needed so that I can begin volunteering at one of our major hospitals. I formerly volunteered at The Ronald McDonald House and I miss volunteering! A lot!

So, what have I been doing? Working and ORGANIZING my new apartment! I have been driving myself crazy with organization lately. I just can't seem to get things exactly like I want them. By things, I'm speaking of my storage room, spare closet and the area under my kitchen sink. I want them to be perfectly organized and for me to be utilizing the space I have to it's full potential.

Yesterday, HPB and I went to Old Time Pottery, Pottery Barn, Garden Ridge and Marshall's Home Goods to get more things for me to organize with. I found these great collapsible baskets for $3 at Garden Ridge.
I only bought 3 but, I wish I'd bought several more. I'm going to have to get some more....soon. They are great, and I've used them to organize my spare closet. Here is what my spare closet looked like before:
Here is after:
I'm still not completely satisfied with it. It just doesn't seem organized to me??? Anyway, I'm using the collapsible basket on the left to hold extra bathroom items like shower gels, hand soaps, toothbrushes etc. I like to keep things stocked up, so I just put the new ones in the basket so they are ready when I run out of the current things. The other basket holds all of my Velcro rollers (do people still use these?), my curling iron and extra hair items. The baskets will have labels after tomorrow. I took my label maker to work, so I have to bring it home.

Also, here is a picture of my "new" coffee table/TV stand.
My sweet mom painted it white for me. It's a table that is about 20+ years old. Very heavy and sturdy. The bad thing is, it was painted BLACK before. My mom did a great job and I love it! I was going to put some baskets underneath it, but I think I've changed my mind. For now, at least. And, yes, I'm still using the dinosaur TV until the flat screen comes in!

One more thing, at Kohl's I got this adorable fish candle holder!
It was originally $40 but I got it for $7. The candles were $1.30 each!!! I bought about 10 of them.

So....that's about all the random for now. As soon it stops being cloudy, I'll take some pictures of my bedroom and continue the home tour. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Kisses,
~TPO

Just around the corner...

2009-08-12T12:42:00.005-04:00

This morning, I woke up to dark clouds and a slow, weeping rain. It has been so long since it rained here (minus the occasional evening thunderstorm)! Though my hair will look like an electrocuted poodle today, I'm throwing it in ponytail for work tonight and enjoying this weather! Also, thanks to the steadily falling rain, the temperature is only 72!!! Ummm, yesterday my car thermometer read 101. Gross.

It feels like Autumn outside, which makes me crave the imminent return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. I know I can get one all year, but I refuse to drink them except in the Fall. Some things are sacred, and to me the Pumpkin Spice Latte is, well...a true sign of Fall.

**The Botanical Gardens in Clemson, SC. Less than 5 minutes from my house--can't wait to take walks there in the Fall (with a Pumpkin Spice Latte in my hand, no less)**

I love days at the end of summer when you can feel the air changing a bit, and it lets you know that Fall is just around the corner. I, for one, can't wait!

Welcome To My New Home (Part 2)...

2009-08-10T13:50:00.008-04:00

I have decided this may be a 4 part series. I know, you are just about to pee with excitment aren't you? ;) The reason for this is, I haven't taken pictures of my bedroom yet (even though it hasn't changed much from this), and I still need to find some pictures for my bathroom walls. But, today, I'm going to show you the kitchen! So, here we go!

Above is the kitchen view from my living room. This kitchen is a good bit smaller than the one in my previous apartment, but I love it so much more! It is laid out much better and I have lots of cabinet and counter space. I have really enjoyed cooking meals in here. It feels very cozy to me.

This is the view from over near the laundry room.

On top of my cabinets, I've put rope lighting along the tops. Someone twittered about this tip, so I tried it out and couldn't be happier! It give a beautiful glow at night, but it's not so bright that it's distracting at all. It's about $15 for 18 feet of rope lights. I had to drill a hole in the top of my cabinet where the overhead microwave is for the plug. It took all of about 10 minutes to finish this little project.

This sign was gift and I've hung it over my sink. I don't know why, but it makes me laugh.

Closeup of the place setting on the bar. These plates are a little campy, but they work for me.

My mom made this candle with some shells she found on the beach. Just heat up a spot on the candle to melt the wax a little and press in a shell. I'm currently working on making some more. Very, very easy!

Well, that's pretty much my little kitchen. I hope you enjoyed seeing it!

Have a great day!
K~

Welcome To My New Home (Part 1)...

2009-08-04T19:08:00.016-04:00

I promised you a "tour" of my new apartment, so here it is! I'm going to show you my balcony/porch and living room. I know you are on the edge of your seat :)

This is my balcony as I come up the steps. I love my front porch! It's very cozy and comfortable. I had dinner out there last night, and I enjoy just sitting outside reading a magazine with a glass of wine. I plan to do this a lot here. My mom gets all the credit for decorating out here. She planted the ivy, bought me the patio set and is currently making cushions for my chairs (out of sailboat sail material)!
My little patio table.

Ivy that my mom took cuttings of from her garden. The door to the right, if you can see it, is to my large storage room. I love having my storage right outside my door!

This is the view of my living room, just as I walk in the door. I prefer very clean, open and not a lot of clutter. If it looks a little bare, that's on purpose. "Things" just sitting around drive me insane. Obviously, my decor is nautical in nature. I realize that I don't live at the beach, but I have always loved coastal decorating.

Yes, my sofa is actually a futon. I know, I know. But...I live in a one bedroom apartment and I need a place for people to sleep when I have visitors. I couldn't find a sleeper sofa that I really liked, so I went with this. However, I think this is a pretty smart looking futon, if I do say so myself. The cushion is not your typical futon mattress. It's soooo comfortable and everyone who has sat on has said so. I think the bead board is perfect!

My end table is pretty basic, but I love the starfish lamp!

Another view:

My $7 pictures!!

This picture is my favorite! It had a $150+ price tag on it, but I got it at Marshall's Home Goods for $2O! It is very heavy and required some special hooks to hang it up.

My "coffee table" is a rope trunk that I got on sale at Target. I think it worked out perfectly and I've gotten several compliments on it.
I really hope I don't kill this plant! I do NOT have a green thumb.

And just for kicks....this is my lovely TV.
Have you ever seen such an ancient thing? The brand name is "Orion"?? I've had it forever! Believe it or not, it has a great picture, but man is it UGLY. I have ordered a white flat screen, but it's on back order. However, I really want a white one, so I've paid for it and it will be shipped in late August.

I was going to show you my kitchen as well in this post, but this got a little long. So, I'll show it to you later this week.

Anyway, hope you liked your little tour of my little home! There are still several finishing touches that it needs, but so far I'm loving it here!
Have a great night!
K~

Sneak Peek....

2009-08-03T00:15:00.005-04:00

Hi! I finally have cable and internet at my apartment now! Thank you so much to those of you who have followed my roommate drama and moving. Your encouraging comments have brightened my day on several occassions!

Here is a preview of my living room. It is unfinished in the picture as my pictures had not yet been hung up. Please, please excuse the ridiculous makeshift "TV stand". It's hideous, I know. I finally found a wonderful table for my TV, but it is being sanded an painted white by my sweet mommy. It should be finished in a day or two! And...I have a white flat screen TV that is on the way. That TV in the picture, I'm pretty sure, is older than me (however, it works like a charm) :) Anyway, I am completely settled in, organized and LOVING my new place! It is even better than I imagined and I enjoy spending time here, cooking and relaxing. It's also nice to have it ALL TO MYSELF!

I have to say this as well: My mom and daddy are the GREATEST parents in the Universe. They have tirelessly helped me move, organize, clean, hang pictures, order pizza and anything else that needed to be done! And, every time they show up at my apartment they come bearing gifts! I love them so much and I honestly don't know what I'd do without them. At 30 something, I am still very much a little girl in the presence of my parents. I love that!

Hope you have a great day, and I'll be back soon with a full picture tour, if you really want to see.

K~

p.s. that picture was taken with my Blackberry, so it's not the greatest.

One. More. Day.

2009-07-30T02:49:00.003-04:00

I move in just a little over 24 hours!! I am beside myself with excitement! I thought this day would never get here. I work one more night then, I'm off for NINE days to get all moved and settled into my new home! I pick up my keys on Friday morning at 10am.

Thanks to all of you who have listened to my Roommate Drama, I appreciate your support. Hopefully, after I move, I'll still have interesting things to blog about! :)

Anyway, I will not have internet access after tomorrow until sometime Monday. I'll be back then, hopefully with some pictures!

Of course, I'm always on Twitter! I'm addicted.

K~

**p.s. In case you didn't know, I changed my Twitter name to match the blog. I am no longer PinkKrissy, I am now The_Pink_Owl!

Almost time!

2009-07-24T20:32:00.010-04:00

Moving day is one week away and I could not be happier! In the past week, Evil Roommate has removed all of her things from the apartment and I've not seen hide nor hair of her! It has been glorious!

I am completely packed up and moving should be really easy. I'm just moving across the complex, so I have devised a plan. I am going to move one room at a time. As I move each room, I'm going to clean, organize and decorate so that it's completely done before I move on to the next room. I'm doing this rather than moving everything to the living room of the new apartment and having a big, disorganized mess. My apartment manager is so nice, and she has told me that I do not have to be in a hurry to move, as they do not have someone scheduled to move into my current apartment right now. I will have it all done by the end of the weekend though. I hope.

The colors I'm using in the new apartment are navy, white and khaki with a little red thrown in here and there. My theme, if you can call it that, is on the nautical side. I love living in South Carolina and I have always had a bit of a coastal touch to my decorating, I'm just incorporating it a LOT more in the new place. Some of the items will be things that were in the beach house my grandparent's owned on Edisto Island. I spent a lot of time there as a child and have very fond memories from The Bloody Mary!

I recently found some amazing pillows at Pottery Barn that I fell in love with; however, the insert was $15 and the cover was over $70. Here is the one from Pottery Barn:
At that price, no thanks. So, while shopping at Home Goods, I found these:
The grand total for BOTH pillows: $32. They have nice feather inserts and the covers are removable and washable! I find them slightly creepy and charming at the same time.

I am still on a desperate search for a coffee table. I want a white, bead board coffee table with a shelf on the bottom for baskets. I want to use this coffee table to hold my TV, not for an actual coffee table. I do not like entertainment centers at all. I have been scouring classifieds, furniture stores and the like in hopes of finding one I could possibly paint myself. This is similar to what I want, but can't seem to find, in white:

I still have several things I need to get, but I'm just taking my time and really enjoying the search for special things that I want to fill my home with. There is really nothing I enjoy more than going to a "white sale" or getting lost in the home department of Macy's, Belk, Sears, Dillard's, etc. I can spend hours in those sections! Target has had some wonderful items lately and I can't wait to show you what I will be using as my actual coffee table (which I got at Target)!

My mom and dad have been wonderful at surprising me with gifts for my new place lately! I think my parents are just as excited as I am about me moving!

Anyway, sorry for the long, rambling post I'm just overly excited right now! Can't wait to share some photos with you in the coming week!

Have a great weekend!
K~

Day brightener....

2009-07-24T19:14:00.002-04:00

This may just be the best wedding entrance....ever! Totally not my style, but I love it nonetheless. So so cute!

Happy Friday, people!
K~

p.s. I move in ONE WEEK from TODAY! Can I get an Amen?!?

13 Days!!!!!!

2009-07-15T03:05:00.006-04:00

OK, so I told you I had another Evil Roommate post coming, but first I'd like to say a little something about this situation.

I've gotten a lot of emails asking me why I'm still living with her, why don't I press charges, arrest her etc. I appreciate your questions and I'm going to answer them now.

Q: Why do you still live with her? Why did you live with her in the first place?

A: I still live with her because I'm contractually obligated to my lease until July 31st. There is really no getting out of that. She and I moved in together when she started college. I was freshly single and splitting bills with someone at the time made great financial sense. Also, when she moved in with me, she was a sweet, smart, hard-working honor roll student. The first 3 years we lived together were actually great. We would stay up late talking, ask each other's opinions on outfits etc. Then, she got involved with some questionable "friends" and she changed. Drastically and, seemingly, overnight. It was disturbing and uncomfortable to witness. Strange people began coming to our apartment, sleeping over in her room and other very random things. However, she still paid her bills and I'm not her mom so there wasn't much I could do. The past year she has begun stealing from me. Just random small things here and there (like a scrub brush used to clean my shower??? Random) and when I would question her about it she would lie and act clueless. There were times, I would find the random things in her room or elsewhere, which proved my speculations that she took them. I began having to lock my doors, take things with me, store things in my car and most recently had to get a post office box (that I'm having to pay for) because I found a lot of my personal mail in her room, opened. Again, she blatantly lies and denies knowing what I'm talking about, even when the evidence is staring her in the face. I am actually concerned about her psychological well-being, but at this point she's pissed me off so badly that I am washing my hands of her. I told her several months ago, that I would not be renewing my lease with her and that I was moving out. Things went from bad to worse as you can see by the posts on my blog.

Q: Why don't you press charges or arrest her since you are a police officer?

A: Well, because most of the things she has stolen, I haven't found, so I have no "proof" that she did it, even though I know 100% that she did. Also, whether I like her or not, she is my cousin. A couple of my mother's siblings are certifiably crazy. As in bat shit crazy. Psycho crazy. Evil Roommates mother is one of them. They have more drama than they can handle and I truly have no desire to engage in any activity that would require me to even talk to them. At this point, moving will solve this problem. Evil Roommate's apartment is one hour away from here. I will only have to see her at Christmas, should I decide to torture myself by visiting that get-together (and since I'd rather drive hot paperclips under my fingernails it's very unlikely).

So, there you have some of the back story on Evil Roommate. Now, I'll tell you the latest, and I know by now, you're either on the edge of your seat or you may be ready to drive hot paperclips under your fingernails because you're tired of my blogging about this. Either way, here we go:

OK, Evil Roommate has moved out. She is not living here or sleeping here. If you remember, the other night I was late for work, because I cleaned all of my stuff out of our storage room? Well, Monday night I started moving my things around and noticed that all of my Halloween and Christmas decorations were gone from my holiday box. Guess where I found it? In her packed boxes. Unfortunately, I've had to resort to checking what she packs, otherwise my stuff would just be slipping out the door.

Also, I started looking through my boxes and realized that they had been gone through and one of my antique lamps that I've had for years was unwrapped and broken. I cut my finger very badly when I touched it. It probably needed a stitch or two but, my mom, who is a nurse said I waited too long. It's steri-stipped and bandaged. I set the lamp on the counter today and when she came by to get some more of her things she saw it. She said "OMG, what happened to your lamp". I said "that's what I'd like to know, apparently someone went through my boxes and broke it." She looks away and says "really? That's crazy! Who would've don't that?". I give up. I mean there is no getting through to her.

So...I went and bought massive amounts of Duck tape and packing tape and taped my boxes so well, I don't even know if I'll be able to get back in them. The boxes are also marked, so I'll know if they have been tampered with. It's stupid that I have to resort to that, but I do. The bad thing is, she still hasn't moved all of her things out of here and I can't do anything about it. She is a legal tenant until July 31st. I just have to carefully moniter my things until then.

If you read this whole post, you are amazing! If you passed out from sheer boredom, I don't blame you. And...if you drove hot paperclips under your fingernails, well...I'm sorry. :)

Oh boy....

2009-07-14T06:34:00.004-04:00

Check out this awesome giveway on my blog friend, Shasta's blog! Go enter the giveaway and tell her I sent you! She has a fantastic blog!

I have a drama filled post coming. I think I may have spoken too soon about Evil Roommate....(she is not living here, but she's still got her greedy talon's in this place for sure).

Crap.

Well, well, well.....

2009-07-13T07:29:00.006-04:00

Today, I am beyond ecstatic! I returned to my apartment this morning after work to find the Evil Roommate has MOVED OUT!!! Not completely, but she's not sleeping here any longer.

I know ya'll are sick of hearing about my roommate drama, but it's all about to be over, so I'm blogging about it while it lasts. Bear with me, please. :)

So, let's backtrack. Originally she had told me she was going to move out on Thursday. That quickly changed to Friday and then....Monday. This was my weekend to work, so I was actually OK with her moving out on Monday, as I would be here to "oversee" my things and make sure the little clepto didn't leave with any "five finger discounts".

Well, yesterday, I slept during the day and when I woke up, Evil Roommate's dad and brother were here and they were loading up a truck and her car with her belongings. I wanted to jump up and down and do the happy dance, but I contained myself. I asked her if today would be her last day here and she said she wouldn't be able to finish packing today, but she would no longer be sleeping here.

Now, the dilemma was this. I had to get ready for work and I knew she would be cleaning out the storage room here. This made me nervous as I wouldn't be here to make sure my things didn't "walk away" like that pesky toaster of mine that apparently had a hot date (haha get it?) and has yet to return! So, I hurried to get ready and went out to the storage room and started cleaning my things out and putting them in my room at 5:25pm. I finished at 5:40!! I was just a tad late for work, but whatever.

Now, for the kicker. While I was working, I received a text message from Evil Roommate. Here is the text in it's entirety:

"Hey, did you take one of my tables. The round one. I had one in the storage room and it's not here any more. Did you take it?"

Ummm....crazythiefroommatesaywhat??? Here is my reply to her:

"Ummm...no, why would I take your table? It's probably with my toaster. If you find either of them, let me know."

I got nothing back. Silence. Crickets.

Well, well, well....guess that shut her up.

**For the record, I did not take her table. I don't even know what table she's talking about. While it would be sweet revenge, I just don't roll like that. I'm a firm believer in Karma, and me stealing from her would make me just as disgusting as she is. My momma taught me better than that.