Archives for January 2010

le big winner of the proactiv anti aging products!!!

January 31, 2010

Yes, I realize I am an ENTIRE week past the date I said I was going to pick a winner for this giveaway…

but come on….

first there was the healing from the tattoo and then my daughter got the flu.

You’re lucky I’m even still here.
And still sane.
Ish.

Anyway, here is the big winner!!!

Via randomnumber.org,

Number 259!!!

Woah, that is crrrrazy, last entry wins the game!

Lauren from Salt says…come and claim your prize girl!!!

Don’t worry, non winners….I like to keep my peeps HOOKED up for putting up with me, so you’ll have your chance at more fab stuff soon!

Hope you guys are enjoying your weekend.

Chloe is STILL sick, but not in the cute snuggly way anymore, and she does not want anyone besides her mama, who still can’t calm the cries….so I enjoyed myself a big ol’ slice of chocolate cake from Vons.

And I’m currently enjoying the slight high I am feeling from eating sugar again.

An addict I am.

I know.

That’s why there’s Mondays though, to start over.

Right?

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fashion friday

January 29, 2010

In the words of my sweet Lula, Oh my stars.

This week has been fun, hasn’t it?

Between healing from tattoo’s and broken friendships, I certainly was a bundle of joy.

{Actually, surprisingly, I was. If I do say so myself.}

And then of all things, yesterday Chloe came down with the flu.

Her first official flu.

And all day my sweets didn’t want to leave my lap.

The little heater that she was, just stayed snuggled up to her mama all day long.

And there she dozed on and off throughout the day.

Sad as it was, it was also kinda sweet.

Now if I could just find a way for Taylor to get it next…

Just kidding.

{you moms know I’m not though, right? we’re on the same page, please tell me we’re on the same page…}

Anyway, after the week of loveliness, I of course, didn’t have a fashion post planned.

Luckily, one of my best friends came to spend the day with me, and she offered (or I ordered, not sure which) to snap a few shots while Chloe was resting.

So, I regretfully took off my sweats, and after 20 minutes of staring into my closet, this was the best I could come up with:

{blazer: french connection, thrifted ~ top: BCBG, thrifted ~ denim jeans: Roxy, TJ Maxx ~ boots: Charlotte Russe ~ necklace: Plato’s closet ~ ring: Charlotte Russe, sunnies: Dziner Eyes}

~~~~~~~

I know, not all that, huh?

But, people! It’s all about that shirt!

BCBG from Goodwill for $2!!!!

I could just die for that sleeve detail…the little ruffle type thing, funky funky.

So…speaking of shopping and fashion:

I was thinking.

I have a ton of clothes that I was going to be listing on ebay….

{like last weeks mark dress that is still available, going once, going twice….}

but,

what if I knocked down the price and did a lil shoppe on le blog for you guys instead?

I dunno, what do you guys think?

Any interest?

No?

Okay, or, I could just list them on ebay.

I’ll make a decision soon.

P.S. Can I just say that I have THE best readers here on le blog?

Honestly, between the support towards my tattoo to the heart baring comments about letting go….I was literally in tears several times this week.

You guys never cease to amaze me….and I am honored that you come back and share with me every day.

Dang it, here I go tearing up again….

Know you’re loved.

Mwa.

Oh! I’m guest posting on Jen’s blog, Buried with Children.

If you need unsolicited parenting advice, check it out!

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it’s time to say goodbye

January 28, 2010

I have a hard time letting go of people…

friends especially.

I just feel that once I’ve loved and shared my heart,

it must always stay that way.

No matter what.

I especially seem to cling to those that have a history in my story.

Those who have gone through something (or many somethings) with me.

Even if, looking back, most of it wasn’t all that healthy to begin with.

And even if they fall away from me in life for a time,

I still somehow, love.

And maybe even, I still somehow,

hope.

I used to think it was good.

It was the way of being a true friend.

It was the only way to love.

I was what’s her name on the Titanic…gasping….

“I’ll never….let….go…..”

{laugh through the pain}

Over time, I’m finding that this kind of “hoarding” if you will,

may not be so healthy after all.

Because sometimes there are people that just need to be “let go.”

Just recently, when I finally allowed this truth to penetrate my heart,

I immediately felt burning tears slide down my cheeks.

My heart ached.

On the other hand,

holding on to these people

seemed to be hurting me even more.

My heart ached in a whole different way.

I know this will be a process for me.

It’s never been easy for me to walk away.

But then again, I am not who I used to be.

I have more self confidence.

I believe in myself.

Moving here was one of the best things I could have ever done.

Getting right with God,

choosing better friends,

marrying Jimmy….

having all these incredible people in my life was all I needed to see.

That I deserved more.

That I was WORTHY of more.

I can’t allow myself to be held to the past.

To be a part of something that doesn’t make me feel good when I walk away.

And so I know it’s right to say goodbye.

I’ll work through this hurt.

I’ll hold no hard feelings.

There will be no anger.

I will not allow any bitterness to creep in.

It’s just that, it’s time.

It’s time to fall forward.

Towards the people who help to make me a better person.

“I took a deep breath.

And let it go.”

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i am not a girl to be messed with

January 27, 2010

So, the story behind this picture….

A few weeks ago, a girl was attacked while running the trails behind our complex.

The guy was a smart one looking for drug money, and who better to mug than a girl running?

Luckily she had mad skills and she busted him in the nose and he ran away like a little baby.

I bet she had a killer back tattoo.

Anyway, the next weekend when I got up to run, Jimmy was all gung ho about making me wear and flash his tactical knife to every person I ran across.

I then made this face and held up my, ahem, “guns”….and was all like,

“Um, are you seeing this?

I mean, seriously, do you see what I see?

I am NOT a girl to be messed with.”

And then he saw the error of his ways and allowed me to run without the knife.

Happy Wordful Wednesday!

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lets talk about health baby

January 26, 2010

I should preface this by saying, I am NOT a health expert.

In any way, shape or form.

In fact, I have been known to sort of rebel against “healthy” at times,

especially in the way of eating.

I’m the, all in moderation, kind of girl.

Which really means I’m a, I’ll eat all this junk food until it’s gone so that I don’t keep eating it all week, kind of girl.

But, on the other hand…I’m always willing to try new things.

I love switching things up, doing this or that, and just you know, waiting to see what happens.

It’s just that I always drew a line at certain things.

Such as….

I would NEVER give up bread (gluten), sugar, or my beloved Diet Soda.

Ever.

Wellllll, guess what?

I just went two weeks without all three of those things.

And guess what?

I lived.

And guess what else?

I, um, kinda liked it….

I know, I know!

Where the heck is OLD Summer????

I don’t know you guys, but there is this whole world out there that is bright and shiny and happy, and I am sorta enjoying being a part of it.

{shiny happy people laughing….}

Le benefits of the fast?

Energy.

{after the first few days…}

A flatter (not flat though, mind you) tummy.

Self Confidence.

Happy, happy, joy, joy.

And I thought happiness only came through Diet Soda, sugar and bread….

so you can imagine my shock.

Anyway, I took a break this weekend from the whole health kick so that I could keep my existence in life.

You know, not wanting to pass out and all.

And here’s what is weird.

One Snickers Bar and Cherry Pepsi later, and I was a FIEND.

I mean, call me Edward needing Bellas blood (yes, I caved and watched the dang movie)….

I was a girl on a mission.

I needed more!!!

Sandwiches, chocolate, ice cream, OH MY….I was in taste bud heaven.

What happened next?

Bliss?

Nasomuch.

More like a crash from EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER land.

I needed a nooner. {Nap, I mean.}

I needed to mope.

I needed to cry.

I needed more sugar, bread, and soda.

I don’t know what to make of all this…except that I’m thinking I may like the healthier me.

Jimmy’s on board now with the no sugar thing, because he is trying to make weight for his upcoming Jiu Jitsu tournament, so we’ve made the commitment to stay on track at least until Valentines Day…

And then who knows.

I’m not sure I’m willing to give up the goods for life, but for a season, definitely.

So, if any of you have any AH-Mazing gluten free/sugar free recipes, pass em along. Seriously. Now!

Sorry, that’s just the sugar withdrawals talking….

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the world premiere: my tattoo revealed

January 25, 2010

OH. EM. GEE!!!

You guys, I have a tattoo.

A very large, but amazingly beautiful tattoo.

I vlogged my experience, in case you really really wanted to be a part of it.

I know how some of you desperately wanted to be there with me holding my hand, and believe me, I bet Jimmy wishes you could have taken his place.

Because he may need a few weeks before his fingers reform their shape.

The Tattoo Diaries:

And le pictures….

Immediately After:

tree of life, flowers for the kids, birds for my grandparents & dad....words for my soul.

{praising Jesus it’s done!}

{raw, baby, raw}

the next day….

{heading to church}

{le tree of life, birds for my grandparents & my dad who passed, flowers for my babies, and words for my soul}

{love the symbolism of the balance of life and death}

~~~~~~~

Okay, I know some of you guys can’t watch videos

(um, like you sweet Stephanie of mine),

so here’s the rundown.

It hurt.

Oh yes it did, and I’m not EVEN gonna pretend like it didn’t.

I keep it real here, not trying to pretend to be something I’m not.

And while, yes, I am a tough chick….

Apparently sometimes it takes a good 20 minutes before my body catches on….

As was the case with this tattoo.

So, about 10 minutes in as I was sitting up feeling what felt as though I was being SLICED open with a razor blade,

I felt my body begin to get all hot and my eyesight suddenly fade to dark…

and much like the experience in losing my boo….

I knew what was about to happen.

I quickly slumped forward, placing my head between my legs (doing my best to still look cute while doing it)

and simply focused on regaining my eyesight….er…and composure.

Annnnnd, what little bit of dignity I had left.

A couple of long deep slow breaths, a few shots of water, and an extra large bite of Snickers, and I was back in business.

At least for the next five more minutes, when suddenly my body decided it needed yet another freaking break.

And I was like, WHAT THE???

Back between my knees I went, this time not caring the slightest about being cute and focused only on doing my best not to pass gas as my body was seeming to want to

SHUT IT ALL DOWN…

and not in the good Rachel Zoe way.

{I’ll never be the play it cool kind of girl, dang it.}

More long deep breaths, more water, and a few more bites of the beloved Snickers….

along with a good dose of kicking myself in the mental A*@….

and I was good to go.

2 hours later (he, praise Jesus, worked FAST!),

I walked out the door a new woman.

I mean, I was no longer just a woman,

I was, like, a WOAHman.

You know wudimasayin?

Ya, so I was all fine and dandy until I got home and began to realize it’s permanence.

And so I texted back and forth with a few wise friends, and decided it was all normal and okay to feel wishy washy….and that I needed to just CHILLAX

(i.e. eat more chocolate)

and just give it time.

And then came THE SHOWER.

Dear God, the shower.

It was like getting under water with THE worst sunburn of your life.

And then when Jimmy put the soap on, I swear he replaced the soap with salt and was having a GRAND ol time rubbing it all deep within my fleshly OPEN WOUNDS.

THE AGONY.

Once the episode was over and all was washed clean, I dropped to the floor of the shower with as much dramatic expression as I could muster and tried to recover what eyesight I may have had left.

Jimmy must have been so proud of me while I lay rocking back and forth naked in the fetal position with a hard core tat on my back.

{beauty from pain, beauty from pain…}

I’m hot stuff, I tell you.

Hard to the freakin’ core.

Anyway, at least it’s all well and good now.

It’s feeling MUCH better today, still like a sunburn or a bad bruise, but nothing like yesterday.

And as each day passes, I love it more and more…..

because now,

this is yet another part of me.

Another “limb” to my story.

Plus, you don’t even know how amazing it was to have been able to share it all with you guys!

And now….I’m already planning out what to do next….so stay tuned!!!

***all work done by South Bay Mike at Fine Iron Tattoos***

~~~~~~~

{With all the excitement, I didn’t have a chance to pick a winner yet for the skin care giveaway, in case you want to enter still! I’ll draw a name tomorrow and reveal the winner on Wednesday’s post.}

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join give clean water & convoy for hope to help haiti

January 24, 2010

I know I haven’t mentioned it around here, the whole Haiti disaster, but that’s mostly because it’s taken me this long to wrap my mind around it.

It literally breaks my heart to see the devastation over there….

I know there are a TON of ways at the moment to give a little, but I believe there just can’t be enough help in a time like this.

My church has an organization called Give Clean Water….

I thought I would share a little about them, so you would know of yet another way we can do our part.

~~~~~~~

Give Clean Water

What if you could change the world? Could it begin with the Gift of Clean Water?

According to the World Health Organization, 1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases. Globally it is the leading cause of illness and death. 88% of diarrhoeal diseases are attributed to unsafe drinking water along with inadequate sanitation and hygiene.

Give Clean Water, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides and installs clean water filters in people’s homes so no matter what type of water they have access to, these families will always have clean water to drink.

We need your help. Partner with us, whether you’re an individual, non-profit, or corporation, by providing financial support or joining us on a trip to install clean water filters in people’s homes. Join us on a journey to change the world, one family, one filter at a time.

~~~~~~~

Did you know that over 55% of deaths in Haiti are often due to unclean water?

Join Give Clean Water’s efforts to send 1,000 clean water filters to Haiti to assist in the recovery efforts. We will be working in conjunction with Convoy for Hope to install the filters in Haiti. For every $25 donation, Give Clean Water will provide a clean drinking water filter to the Haiti relief effort.

{I have extended the skin care contest by a few more days. I will announce the winners on Tuesday.}

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jesus is alive and he heals phones

January 23, 2010

It’s true.

My beloved iphone has been restored because Jesus breathed new life in it.

Or it just up and started working again.

But it seems more grande if you go with the first reason.

Plus, I prayed my little behind off.

And I had faith.

And I even had Taylor pray, because sometimes He listens to the little children of the world.

And whaddaknow???

Healed. Le phone is healed.

I believe! I believe!

Roll your eyes if you must….but I have my baby back (baby back, baby back),

so nothing can get me down.

Anyway, as you are reading this….I’m having a needle stuck into my back a million times over….

TATTOO DAY!

So get back to praying, will ya?

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fashion friday

January 22, 2010

I wish I could record a snippet of what I’m listening to at the moment….

howling wind, pounding rain, and a crackling fire….

{and Jimmy talking to me while I tune him out as I type away, the usual}

Ahhhhh, so cozy and relaxing.

Nothing gets me more excited than a storm that lasts all week long.

You guys, it is CRAY-ZEE round these parts of SoCal, and I’m not even kidding.

Now I kinda get what ya’ll ’round the states mean when you talk about weather.

I get it, I get it!!!!

Ya, well, you can take it back on Saturday….cause seriously….if I don’t see the sun soon…

someone might get hurt around here.

And I’m not naming names either.

{jimmy}

So, as you can imagine, a Southern California girl can only be in the rain a matter of minutes before she LITERALLY begins to melt.

It’s awful, seriously, you don’t want to witness it.

And luckily, the fates (or God) agreed with me because my work event was cancelled for the night and I got to stay home cuddled up in my jammies.

Not so lucky for you, because there was no way I was ’bouts to put on something cute and gallop outside for a photo sesh.

Nuh uh, not even for you.

Buuuuuuuut, because I believe fashion shouldn’t suffer, even in the rain….

I will present you with what I would have DIED to wear had my event gone forward as planned.

Be inspired:

dancingintherain by lemusingsofmoi featuring Chooka boots

~~~~~~

Let’s be clear.

I don’t own a single item on this fab collage, but I so would in an instant should Jimmy ever desire to grow a money tree one day.

Okay, let’s talk items, shall we?

Lotsa chains are a staple and a must, no matter what.

Love. Need. Always must have.

That bracelet, OMG.

Snakes are so hot right now. I’m all about it. Makes me feel fierce.

Not that I’m not already.

Rawr.

And those rain boots are GENIUS.

Only when Jimmy saw me googling them, he firmly told me that I did NOT need to buy rain boots that expensive for a weeks worth of rain.

Sweet Jimmy….how naive he can be sometimes.

I thought the dress was cute to soften up the hard core look of the boots, and of course I needed that hooded leather jacket to tie it all together.

Last but not least….the umbrella (ella ella, eh).

Um, A.Dorable, right?

It may not go, but who cares!!!

When you have something this cute to use, sometimes matching goes right out the window.

So you see?

Just because it’s raining and stormy and cold,

doesn’t mean you can’t still look amazing.

That is if you live anywhere other than California.

Because we don’t go out in the rain.

~~~~~~~

Enjoy your weekend guys!

My tattoo is this Saturday, so you better believe there will be pictures and a vlog documenting the whole thing.

Yipppppeeee.

Stay tuned.

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my iphone fell in the toilet or another way god allows me to be tested

January 21, 2010

{kinda what I wanted to do today}

Remember how I said all you gotta do to be tested in life is set some goals for yourself?

Ya, um….I’m thinking you might want to rethink the whole goal setting thing.

Kinda overrated if ya ask me.

Unless you want to drop your beloved iPhone in the toilet and still try to maintain patience and staying in the moment and um…what else, oh ya…finding the positive.

It’s just a phone, right?

No, nasomuch!!!!

It’s my lifeline. My baby cakes. My BFF. My my my my….sharona.

All day today I was lost….lost, lost, lost, lost, lost.

{where am I, who am I, are we really who we say we are???}

I needed to cook risotto and the directions told me to saute.

What the heck is saute?

I went to call Jimmy.

no phone.

So, I schlep to my computer, freaking type out an email and WAIT for his response….

“put oil in and just let it get slightly brown.”

So, I go to put oil in, and realize I measured it wrong.

{It’s easy to mistake a tsp for tsbp.}

And of course, I don’t want to screw up my meal so I go to call Jimmy to see how many more 1/2 teaspoons I need to make 1/2 tbsp.

{I’m no genius guys, never claimed to be one.}

no phone.

Another freaking email….another long awaited response.

The risotto took 45 minutes to make because I didn’t have a phone.

Ahem.

{I blame the phone.}

I wanted to text a picture to make a friend smile.

no phone.

Wanted to text my “wish you were my other mom” to see if she was feeling better.

no phone.

Wanted to check my email and facebook while at my hair appointment to see if anybody cared that my phone was dead.

no phone.

You get the picture right?

So, here I sit, staring longingly into a tub of rice in which my phone now resides….

praying a simple prayer that maybe, just maybe, God cares about phones too.

I’ll keep you updated.

In other news….

My tattoo date may be moving up to THIS Saturday!!!

Only, I just heard a word that it’s not such a great idea to take a vicodin before going.

What’s THAT about?

I mean, even in childbirth, I got SOMETHING to take the edge off…..

Annnnnd, for those of you who are seeing something funky or having to scroll with this new blog look, take heart….things are going to be fixed.

I promise….

And once I get all just right, no more changes for a LONG while.

This has been way too exhausting for my taste.

Speaking of exhausting…I need to go have another word with God about my phone.

I’m pretty sure He’s not tired of hearing about it yet.

~BTW, my skin care giveaway ends on Sat. It’s worth alotta money…go enter.~

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