Wednesday, December 30, 2015

{ Wednesday Words of Wisdom }


A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset.
When you wake up, take a second to think about what a privilege 
it is to be alive & healthy.
The moment we start acting like life is a blessing
I assure you it will start to feel like one.
Time spent appreciating is time worth living. 
- unknown

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

{Tuesday Tidbits} Another Year Gone....


* It's hard to believe that another year is drawing to a close.
* Which means I will be one year from seeing Lil Diva graduate high school?!?  Is that even possible?
* The weather here in the northeast has been insane.  Christmas Day was 70 degrees.  We went to dinner and our traditional Christmas Eve events without even a sweater.  Hence, it didn't even feel like Christmas.
* Santa brought me a new laptop. Which makes me really excited, I can get back into my writing now that I have the time for it.   
* I am working on my list of New Years Resolutions.  What are some of yours?

Saturday, December 5, 2015

{Loving} Kat Von D Everlasting Lipstick

There is only one word to describe this lipstick..... AMAZING!

It took me a while to purchase Kat Von D's Everlasting lipstick.  Why?  The price.  You would think, spending $20 for a lip color shouldn't hold me back.  After all, I buy MAC lipsticks at $17.  This one is only a few dollars more right?  But here is my reason.  It's a liquid lipstick.  A MAC lipstick will last me quite a while, a liquid lipstick, will likely be gone in half the time.  Another reason, what if I didn't like the consistency?  What if it was dry? What about longevity?  But Lolita was just calling my name.  Finally, I just took the plunge.

My review:  The color goes on creamy.  Unlike many matte liquid lippies that give you little time to apply, this lippie takes a couple of minutes to dry to matte.  Which is great because with many other liquid matte lipsticks, it is very obvious the areas you've made corrections or filled in.  As far as wear, I literally only touch up once throughout the day.  I am able to drink coffee and eat and not have to worry that my lipstick is gone.  And the color is amazing.  Black Friday I purchased "Truth or Dare".  But there is a reason why "Lolita" does not stay on the shelves for long.  The color is simply amazing.



Wednesday, December 2, 2015

{ Wednesday Words of Wisdom }

People who shine from within don't need a spotlight.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

{Tuesday Tidbits} Post Black Friday Thoughts


Black Friday seems to get earlier and earlier with each passing year!  This year was no exception. Most of the stores were open by 5pm on Thanksgiving Day.  It has to stink if you work retail and you are one of the unfortunate ones that is required  to work.  It seems that businesses are itching to get the Holiday season under way.

Lil Diva and I made plans to go out to the local shops after relaxing a bit from our food coma.  We headed out to Target, Kohls, and Old Navy.  We didn't need to be there when the doors open since we weren't in need of any of the doorbusters.  She was mostly shopping for herself.  I had saved some cash I received for my birthday and figured I would add things to my winter wardrobe.  I found the above two sweaters at an amazing price.  Both stores I purchased them from were having 40% off everything. We thought it was going to be outrageously crowded and were surprised to see how manageable the crowds were.  We went to all three stores and were back home before 9pm.  We went to bed and headed out to the mall at 5am. I picked up some LUSH products (not on sale) and some make up items at Sephora.  Again, the mall was so quiet.  

Since Lil Diva had to work, we didn't stay out long.  We went for breakfast at this new bagel shop that specializes in fancy bagels (think fruity pebbles,oreo and captain crunch bagels) and then stopped to get some last minute decorative items for the Christmas tree.  

Great part about Black Friday was I did manage to finish the majority of my Christmas shopping.  Just a few more names on my list to go!

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Weekend Highlights : {The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...again!}



*  Thanksgiving has come and gone.  We spent it quietly at home, the four of us plus Grandpa A.
*  Made a delicious pumpkin cheesecake for the first time.  Thankful for Pinterest!
* Can't believe that now I have my daughter as my Black Friday shopping partner.  Where did the time go?!
* Decided to change up the color scheme on the tree this year.... red, white and silver it is.
* I am 75% done with my Christmas shopping.
* Even though it was an emotional week, I am thankful for the series of events. Through reflection I realized when you are in constant contact with someone who sees the world negatively, you can't help but to slowly start doubting in the world and in part in those around you, even yourself.  Being a positive person, this was slowly draining me.  Everything happens for a reason. By Thursday, I started to see the bright cheery person in me who has been slowly disappearing without me noticing.  So thankful I was pulled away from a toxic environment.
* Looking forward to truly enjoying the holiday season!
  

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

{ Wednesday Words of Wisdom}

Sometimes we believe something is a great opportunity for us.... when we don't get it, we wonder what could we have done better in order to get it.  But, sometimes has nothing to do with how well we did it.  We probably did an amazing job.  It could be that we are meant to do something else and being tied into that particular opportunity could prevent us from gaining the better one. 

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Sometimes Change is Necessary....

 It was a long time coming.....

Before Hubby and I got married, we discussed the future.  We knew for certain we would become parents.  Planners that we are, we talked about what our hopes and dreams as parents would be.  Both of us grew up in a home with two full time working parents.  But both of us had very different situations.

For me, I remember having to take on big responsibilites very early on.  I specifically remember having to wake up every morning and not only get myself ready for school, but be certain that my siblings were up, fed, dressed, and groomed.  I then had to be certain my brother was off  to school and I would then drop off my sister at her elementary school.  Seems like an easy task?  I wish I could say it was.  Most mornings consisted of me having to douse my brother with water to get him out of bed and hearing my sister yell at me  "You are not my mother!"as I did her hair.  No, I definitely am not.  But I had to do what my mom asked of me since she had an hour commute to work before 6am every morning.  Things got easier senior year.  I literally asked the secretary at my school if she had a position for my mom.  I truly believe she saw the look of desperation on my face and decided to take pity on me.  She asked for my mom's resume, called her in, sent  her to get fingerprinted and by October of my senior year my mom was working at my high school.  This meant she was around to get my siblings ready for school and I was able to be a regular teenager.   

Even though Michael's parents both worked full time, his story played out differently.  He was an only child for one.  And his parents decided they would work different shifts (Mom worked days, Dad worked nights) in order to insure that he always had a parent home for him.

So when we discussed parenthood, my biggest desire was having the opportunity to be home for our children.  Since we had one of very good friends and my mother in law to watch Lil Diva. I continued working till she was two in order to help save a larger down payment for our first home. Before she turned three years old, we were moved in to our home and I was a full time mom.  We would make the commitment, even though sometimes financially difficult, that I would be home for her and Lil Man until they are out of school.  

Once the kids were in school full days, I decided I wanted to find a part time job.  I was home all day, and aside the hours that I volunteered I thought I could make a little extra money while they were at school.  My only problem was I needed something very flexible due to the kids unpredictable auditioning schedule.  I could be called at a moments notice to take them into the city for an audition.  Enter my friend M.  Her husband was having a hard time with his current staff and was looking for some help during their busy season.  She told him about me and how I required flexiability and he said I'd like to try her out.  It turned out being a perfect fit.  I worked three days a week, part time, and was home in time to get the kids off the school bus.  He was happy, the advisors were happy, and my family was happy, I was happy.  However, there was one person who wasn't.

The manager never truly liked the idea that I was there part time.  Ever meet those people who do not have a poker face no matter how bad they tried?  Well, yes that was the case here.  Throughout the almost three years I worked for the manager I would always get comments like "well, my kids can get themselves off and on the bus." or "If they need to get somewhere and I am not home they need to find a ride there themselves".  Or a big one "well, my kids are learning to fend for themselves and becoming independent".  All of us have different ideas of parenting.  No one is the correct one.  We each make the choices we need for our own particular situation.  Mine was right for my family but it may not be right for another.  I was always repectful and never answered back to the manager about this.  To each its own.  

As time went by, the comments ensued.  I'd let it roll off my back. After all, my job was to get my tasks done and get back home to my family.  But the work enviornment became increasingly difficult.  Not only for me, but for the rest of the staff.  Some people are excellent workers, but aren't really cut out to be management in my opinion.  It takes a special kind of person with excellent work ethics. I started seeing I was coming home stressed over the things she would say, or the unorganized nature in which she ran the office.  If something went wrong, she would lash out at the staff.  I noticed I was no longer happy to go to work.  Who can  blame me, when you had no clue each morning what you would be going into?

After a very stressful week, I decided to take the weekend to evaluate the situation.  After talking to Hubby, I decided I would resign from the position.  It's sad to say but I know that the manager was secretly happy I did. I was emotional saying goodbye to the owner, my friend's husband.  and to my coworkers.  I loved what I did and I enjoyed working with my coworkers.  But in the end you can't live happily with stress.  

Change is good in the pursuit of Happiness.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Wednesday Words of Wisdom


Be nice to everyone,
Always smile and
Appreciate things because it
Could all be gone tomorrow.
- Ed Sheeran