Bella Cene'

How to Look Expensive

2013-05-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading "How to Look Expensive" by Andrea Pomerantz. I'd been eyeing it for a while... with only the "sample" downloaded on my Kindle. Recently, I've heard more and more about the book so finally decided to pull the trigger and download the whole thing.

via

There are great tips in here about looking your best on a budget. You'll find advice on hair, makeup, skincare, hygiene, fashion and more!

From the website:

"Why is it that celebrities always look so enviably luxe? With their flawless highlights, luminous skin, and paparazzi-ready but understatedly chic makeup, they radiate glamour and polish. Their secret weapon? An arsenal of highly paid experts working their magic behind the scenes to make them look like a million bucks. In How to Look Expensive, veteran beauty editor Andrea Pomerantz Lustig calls on these experts and the intel she’s gained from more than twenty years in the industry to show you how to upgrade your look with tips, tricks, and techniques designed to bridge the gap between what you want to look like and what you can afford to look like. It’s packed with beauty advice that will make you not just look but feel like a million bucks."

www.howtolookexpensive.com

If you've been thinking about getting this book, I'd say just go ahead and do it! You won't regret it and I guarantee you'll learn something new!

I Mustache You a Question...

2013-05-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

Ok, so it's not really a "question". I just like saying that phrase. lol

Olay Smooth Finish - Facial Hair Removal Duo: A Review

It's come to that time. I'm 26, and it's time to start treatment for facial hair removal. I've fought it for a long time (mostly in denial, here recently) but I was tired of the shadow on my upper lip that I couldn't ignore. It's only blonde hair, or "peach fuzz", but nonetheless... it's casts a shadow.

I didn't want to shave for fear it would grow back thicker and darker. And waxing just seems way too painful plus I almost always end up with an allergic reaction when I wax my eyebrows. So after a little research, I decided to try Olay's hair removal system.

It's a "two part" (or "duo") system. The first part is a balm you thinly apply to protect your skin. The second is the actual hair removal cream.

one // I applied the balm first. You want to make sure it's thin so the hair removal cream can still bind to the hairs. It's pretty sticky actually... reminds me a lot of the lip balm that comes with Covergirl's Outlast Lipstick.

two // Then I thickly applied the cream. Let it sit for 6-8 minutes (no longer!). I waited only 6 for the first time just to make sure I didn't irritate my skin. After 6 minutes, I started to remove it with a cotton ball but found better luck with a rag.

The results:

I was pleasantly surprised to see the hair wipe right off! It didn't burn or irritate my skin at all. I was pretty impressed though by how much hair was actually removed. My husband even noticed!

And sadly... it wasn't as "blonde" or "peachy" as I originally thought. lol It had a grey color on the cotton ball. lol

My advice? If you don't have major hair on your upper lip, I say go for it! I mean, I don't know how well it'd work on a full blown stache. It was a little expensive ($23) but it is supposed to have 12 applications and the hair is supposed to stay away for 4 weeks. (That's just upper lip applications I'm sure) I watched YouTube videos of people doing the whole bottom half of their face. lol

If you have any questions, ask in the comments. And if you've tried it before, how'd it work for you??

Weekend Shopping Shenanigans

2013-04-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Well that went fast, huh?

My weekend consisted mostly of shopping thanks to a giveaway I won in March over at The Daily Tay. (I had a couple gift cards to use up!) So I hit up Target. Duh.

I bought the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer, Olay hair removal system, Burts Bee's Radiance Eye Cream, Burts Bee's tinted lip balm... and that's all I can remember. lol

one // Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer - haven't tried it yet but I have high hopes! It's amazing how you need a different concealer for every part of your face basically. lol This one is JUST for under your eyes to brighten the area (which I need when I wake up early!)

two // I had a come-to-Jesus meeting with myself this weekend. It's time to start removing facial hair. I have a very light peach fuzz on my upper lip but it casts a shadow in the right light/angle. I didn't want to shave and waxing just sounds terribly painful, so I went with Olay's hair removal system. I'll write a review this week :)

three // Did a little reminiscing about old times. :) I just love that picture from our wedding. We were so excited!

four // Bought some new work out clothes to push my motivation. Hey, if I have new, cute clothes maybe I'll wear them and workout? lol I did so good the other week but last week I didn't workout once! I've got to get back on track this week!

five // I found this simple explanation for the foods you should eat on Crossfit's website. (one of them at least) I love how simple it is - basically, "food" is perishable! If it has a long shelf life, you shouldn't eat it.

six // I finished "How to Look Expensive" this weekend. It's actually a really good book with great tips! I would recommend it to a friend.

Hope your weekend was great!

Oh! And I'm participating in my first giveaway! Head on over to For Lauren and Lauren to enter!

The not-so darling twenties.

2013-04-25T21:37:00.000-05:00

I thought about what I was going to post about earlier today. Recently, my face broke out real bad (crazy hormones) so I was going to share with you my tips for covering up without looking like a cake face. lol Well, my heart is being led in an entire different direction tonight.

I keep this pinned at my desk at work as a reminder.

I'm in my twenties and as ~~almost~~ all women in their twenties can attest, it's a pretty tough time. You are growing up, going through so many changes and your entire life is unsettled. You're just beginning in life, your career, love... Insecurity creeps up on you so easily!

I think Taylor Swift says it perfectly:

We're happy free confused and lonely at the same time
It's miserable and magical oh yeah

-22

You may hate where you are right now. I sure have and sometimes still do. I had a serious breakdown a few months ago and my husband finally enlightened me.

You are not here, in this exact moment, by accident.

Not married yet? He knows the person and time for you to cross paths.

Hate your job? You were brought there for a reason. He knows the exact time to open the door to something new!

No babies? He knows the perfect time when everything will fall right into place.

We all know that we're here for a purpose. Rather than worry about our grand purpose, focus on your daily purpose. You woke up for a reason! I believe that every day we have a purpose. We cross paths with so many people and you never know what's going on in the grand scheme of things. I've looked back at some times I was very depressed, and some things all make sense now. Positive situations I have now could not have occurred without the heartbreak that came before them.

³Trust in the Lord, and do good;

                              Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
                              And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

                                                                 Psalm 37:3-4 

I didn't mean to go all preachy tonight. lol This was just on my heart and I had to obey! If you are feeling lost, hopeless, and left-behind... remember, you are exactly where you are for a reason. God does nothing by accident!

HEY! Listen here, Jack! (What I'm Loving)

2013-04-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, I will admit... I've been living under a rock. I never "got" the Duck Dynasty phenomenon until I actually watched Duck Dynasty. It's at the top of the list this week of things I'm loving! I'm addicted! Perhaps I'm not alone... but Uncle Si is my absolute favorite. lol

(images via google)

On to the rest of what I'm loving...

CHIPOTLE

I begged and begged... and finally got my husband to take me to Chipotle!

BARE MINERALS MATTE FOUNDATION

Mineral foundation is so quick and convenient. I love it! But I'm allergic to bismuth oxychloride (which 99% of mineral foundation contains). This foundation doesn't have it!! And the coverage is good and easy to apply.

RUNKEEPER

I run 4 days in a row last week!! I'm super proud of myself. :) This app is great motivation for me because I can see it all add up. If you get the app, lets be friends!

I need more people to follow on Twitter - leave your twitter handle in the comments so I can look you up!!

Mine is @lindsaycene

I'm Bringing Sexy Back! Well, Mine Anyway.

2013-04-19T16:03:00.001-05:00

I think I've finally hit my breaking point. And I am so thankful for it!

I've never had an issue with weight until I landed my first "Big Girl Job". I'm naturally thin but so out of shape and unhealthy. It doesn't bother me so much that I've gained almost 30lbs in 3 years. What bothers me is the way I feel.

I'm tired all the time. Seriously, no matter how much sleep I get, I have no energy. I've become more reliant on energy drinks than I'd like to admit, but even then it seems to only help a little. I've finally come to the point where I'm tired of feeling like shit (excuse my French) and I'm realizing it's because I treat my body like shit!

I feed it crap, never exercise, and expect to be okay.

Well, I'M DONE.

This is the first time in a LONG time (years) that I've worked out for days IN A ROW. I am incredibly proud of myself! And it's an amazing feeling.

I've realized what works for me regarding motivation is just to do it. No excuses. Mindlessly, just put on your workout gear and kick ass. I'm off running before my brain can talk me out of it. Lol

Trust me, I don't FEEL like working out, but I do it anyway. I leave for work at 7am, work a 9 hour day, drive home for an hour, and when I get home... I just change into my workout clothes and go.

If you're the type that doesn't have the motivation, I suggest getting an app to track workouts. For me to see days in a row that I've worked out, it makes me not want to break my stride. You know what I mean?

Hopefully soon I can share with you what I find works for me with working out and eating right. :) I might even be brave enough to post a before and after! Lol

Off to Washington DC!

2013-03-21T18:53:00.001-05:00

I have been so busy all week and unable to post! I'm about to hop on a plane to Washington DC for the weekend :) I didn't really get to shop like I wanted to since I've been trying to nurse myself back to health... But I got a few cute tops from Walmart (believe it or not!) and awesome leopard flats from Target.

I won't be able to post until I get back but you can keep in touch on Instagram and Twitter! @lindsaycene for both

Have a good weekend!

My Weekend (Not-So) Shenanigans!

2013-03-18T19:26:00.000-05:00

My weekend was rather uneventful to say the least... but I've learned so much about poison ivy that I thought I'd share a few things with you should you ever find yourself in my situation. (I know this may seem like a boring post... but you might thank me one day! lol)

You see, what happened was...

Last Sunday, I went muddin' with my brothers out in the country. My brother blew a tire so I decided to walk to another truck to be carried home. Apparently, I walked through some poison ivy and evidently, I'm highly allergic/sensitive to it. I got it on my arm, neck, and around my eye. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE TO SAY THE LEAST.

If you ever get poison ivy (or oak), I highly suggest going straight to the doctor if you have insurance. I got a steroid shot and prescription which immediately shrunk the swelling and slowed the poison from spreading so rapidly. Still, I wasn't healing as quickly as I'd hoped so they upped my steroid dosage.

FYI - steroids make you a freaking monster. My husband went with me to the doctor the second time and was extremely relieved when the doctor said to him, "Now, if she's a bit grouchier than normal, it's not her. It's the steroids." His response?

"Oh THANK GOD!"

I had no idea! But apparently, they make you short tempered and extremely irritable. I just thought I was feeling that way because I got poison ivy but I was a bit relieved to be able to blame it on the pills. lol

Anyway, here are a few tips I received from the doctor (contrary to what you may read online):

1. DON'T take a bath or hot showers.

Hot water apparently opens the pores and makes the poison ivy spread. I read a lot online about "relieving" the itch using hot water (and it works) but the doctor said it does way more damage than helps.

2. Keep your metabolism low and stay cool.

i.e., don't exercise, don't go out in the sun... basically along the same lines of the no heat rule.

Heat + poison ivy = BAD.

3. DON'T scratch. (obviously)

You can spread the oils by scratching and worse, get infected. If the poison ivy oil seeps into your bloodstream - you're screwed. Well, that's drastic but it's very, very bad.

*I heard/read conflicting reports about if the rash is contagious and my advice is to just assume it is. I had a few instances where I accidentally touched a clean part of my body with the infected part, and BAM, a reaction developed almost over night. (hence - my eye and other parts of my face)

4. Take Benadryl (anti-histamine) like clock work. TRUST ME.

It keeps the itch at bay and if you aren't itching, then you're not scratching.

and last but not least...

5. BUY ZANFEL IMMEDIATELY!!

This little 1oz tube of miracle paste is worth every freaking dollar. Seriously, we spent $40 on ONE OUNCE. I was skeptical, but after dealing with this for a week... after a shot, all these steroids, the creams, the lotions, etc... I seemed to be getting nowhere. So my husband pulled the trigger and bought this. I am not exaggerating when I say that I saw 10x the improvement in less than 24 hours than I have ALL WEEK on all these meds! (There are before & after pictures online... they are accurate! It worked for me!)

I'd even dare to say to try Zanfel first and if you're not hopeful after 24 hours, then go to the doctor.

I'm leaving for vacation on Thursday and I've been so distraught about this breakout. I almost cried when I saw the improvement after using Zanfel! I'm confident I'll be almost 100% better by the time we leave for our vacation!

If you've ever had poison ivy, was it this much of a bitch to you too?

StickyGram - Magnets using Instagram photos!

2013-03-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Yay! I'm so excited because my new magnets came in. This website is pretty cool. You pick out 9 Instagram images and StickyGram will print them as magnets and send them to you! I've got a lot of metal at my desk at work so I play to use these in place of traditional photos. (They come apart too... mine are still together until I take them to work)

I am pleasantly surprised by the print quality too. I love them!

Price - $14.99 for sheet of 9 images and free shipping

(only $12.99 with coupon code below!)

Quality - awesome.

Shipping - took 8 days from the day I received the shipping confirmation.

Would I Reorder? - Heck yes! When I've got more cool photos to print!

*Use the code FRIENDK6KP and get $2 off your first order!*

www.stickygram.com

*I was not paid for this post. These are just awesome. That's all.

Makeup Must-Haves TO GO

2013-03-14T13:30:00.000-05:00

I found myself in a little situation the other day. You see, I don't carry make up in my purse. It's just too bulky and I don't want to keep going from my bathroom to the purse back to the bathroom. You follow? SOMETIMES, I'll have mascara in my purse but not usually.

Well, the other day I had a situation arise where I needed a "touch up" but I was out of luck as I had NOTHING of use in my purse. So I came home, and decided to gather makeup basic must-haves to save my ass the next time that happens.

(read below - this is not so much about the actual products featured)

one // EYELINER

Ok, this one is not necessarily a "must have" but it's small and if you have an extra, why not?

two // NEUTRAL EYESHADOW

Something neutral for your eyelids. It's natural looking and you can use the applicator or your finger.

three // CREAM BLUSH

Easy to blend without a brush! Plus, you can use it on your lips if you need to. Unless you're like me and already carry 10 lip glosses lol

four // MASCARA

I don't think I need to explain this. lol I mean, this is my minimum always.

five // POWDER

Sometimes you need something light to even out your skin tone and kill that shine beaming from your forehead.

*Extra tip: If you are desperate, a toilet seat liner (in public restroom) doubles as a oil blotting sheet. Yes, just like the ones you buy in those little pre-cut squares. I've tried it. It works.

Do you have any tips to add??

The Starfish Story: A Must Read

2013-03-13T19:30:00.000-05:00

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Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"

adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley

1907 - 1977

Curly Hair Routine, Habits, and Awesome Products

2013-03-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have naturally curly hair and I've literally tried every product out there! I finally found what works for me :)

First, here are a few "habits" I have regarding my curls:

- I only wash my hair about twice a week

(as in, literally wash with shampoo... I usually just condition if it's dry and tangled)

- I only brush it when it's wet

- I don't touch my hair too much before it's dry

- Less is more! Don't apply too much product or you end up with oily, crunchy hair.

My "Routine":

1. I brush my hair right out of the shower

2. I add mousse first, then hairspray

Tried n' true products:

1. White Rain Extra Hold Hairspray

2. Suave Captivating Curls

3. Garnier Fructis Anti-Frizz Serum

Suave Captivating Curls is the shizzzzzz. If you use it, you don't need serum. It has some sort of built in serum that balances perfectly with the mousse. I always top off with the White Rain Hairspray. It seems to work well with the mousse. I only use the anti-frizz serum by itself and topped off with a little hairspray.

Honestly, I think ~~all~~ a lot of serums are the same. Just make sure you don't use to much!

My "daily routine" is just the mousse and hairspray.

Comment if you have any questions! I'd be happy to answer :)

Disclaimer: I am aware that some of these things are not "technically" right or what's taught in cosmetology school. I'm just sharing what works for me!

So I seem to have an obsession...

2013-03-12T19:03:00.000-05:00

So I went back looking through my phone and I think I've discovered an obsession.

I love taking pictures of my dog when he's asleep.

I don't know, maybe it's just me but aren't your pets way cuter when they're cuddled up snoozin'??

Am I the only one?

Bachelor Theories

2013-03-06T21:03:00.001-06:00

My husband bailed on me Monday instead of watching The Bachelor: Women Tell All. I mean, can I blame him? It's okay though... I had this handsome stud to watch it with me.

Obviously, he was pretty interested in it.

Honestly, I was a bit bored with the episode on Monday. It lacked ~~sparkle~~ drama. My theory? I think something is up with Sean & Des. They both seemed way too giddy towards each other. And who do you think the letter is from? My theory - Sean's mom begging him not to propose to either girl. My mother-in-law thinks with from Des, or her brother. We shall see!

Sunday, I took engagement pictures for a close friend I used to work with. I'm just in love with this photograph. It's so romantic.

.....................................................

Back to The Bachelor -

If Des doesn't somehow end up with him in the end, I'm on Team Lindsay!

What do you think?

A Walmart Fashionista - Style on a Budget

2013-03-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

I don't consider myself a "fashionista" by any means... but sometimes a girl's gotta get dressed up. i.e., for a Christmas card photo shoot.

I don't like to spend a lot of money on clothing. I just can't see spending $30+ on a shirt when I know I find the same "look" for way less! So when it came time for a cute outfit to coordinate with my husband, I knew the look I had in mind and headed on over to the local Walmart. (You won't find me on People of Walmart!) lol I found all the pieces you see at Walmart except for the boots. I'll break it down for you:

Jeans // Walmart - $19

Ok, so these are Levi's "cheap" brand but they are so comfortable! I swear they feel like skinny pajama jeans, but don't have the look. lol

Denim Shirt // Walmart - $10

Scarf // Walmart - $5

Boots // Off Broadway Shoes (an outlet store) - $60

They are by Michael Shannon and they're real leather. I highly suggest visiting your nearest outlet mall when it comes to shoes!

I wanted to buy my boots at Walmart for like $40 (by L.E.I.) but my husband refused. He made me to get "decent" shoes so they'd last longer. I wasn't going to complain!

See the rest of our photos here.

The Day We Became Mr. & Mrs.

2013-03-05T06:20:00.000-06:00

Northeast Wedding Chapel - Hurst, TX

January 8, 2012

Our Story:

We're college sweethearts... met his freshman and my sophomore year. We lived in the same dorm and one day I happened to walk by his room when he decided to yell "Hey!" out of the blue. My immediate thought? "Freshmen." lol We started out as friends hanging out quite often until 2am just talking and getting to know each other. I actually turned him down 3 times before I finally said "yes" to a date!

A couple years later, we got engaged. He surprised me with our pup Dierks at the time by dressing him in a dog tux that read "Will you marry Dad?" It was perfect! The road got a bit rocky from there and we actually ended up breaking up (very shortly lol) twice. We did a lot of growing up and after a taste of what life was like apart, we knew we were meant to be together.

After 5 1/2 long years of dating, we finally tied the knot!

*See more of the "details" from the wedding here.
*The chapel even blogged about me here!

Weekend Shenanigans Link Up!

2013-03-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

It was a great, beautiful weekend here in Dallas! I definitely tried to take advantage of the sunshine :)

one // My good friend Jessica created this drawing for me! I LOVE it. Is she not amazing??

two // Saturday I took Bentley to the dog park. My dog is awesome. That is all.

three // Celebrated my little brother's 22nd birthday Saturday night. I absolutely love this photo and the joy on my baby brother's face (5 years old). (Maybe it's for the cake but I choose to believe it's for his love of his family) lol That was a wonderful night. I am truly blessed to have the family I have!

four // I took some engagement pictures at the botanical gardens in Grapevine, TX. It was my first time here and this place is gorgeous! (and free!)

five // "back of my camera" shot

six // My husband opted for a trip to Cabela's instead of hanging out with me Sunday. He posted this super-hot mullet on his Instagram. (I'm assuming he was pretending to take a picture of the turkey decoy? lol) Good one, babe. ;)

Post from Saturday: Everyone's Having Babies and I'm All Like "Where's the Wine??"

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@lindsaycene

Everyone's having babies and I'm all like "Where's the wine?"

2013-03-02T16:48:00.000-06:00

Is it just me, or is there something in the water?

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I can't even open my Facebook without being bombarded with sonograms, baby bumps, and adorable little bundles of joy... all the while I'm sitting here with a glass of wine like "Who's up for happy hour?" Now don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them but sometimes I feel like I'm falling behind in the game of life.

I will be 27 in October and I swear I deserve a trophy for not getting knocked up thus far. All of my friends are having a baby (or two). They all talk about symptoms, baby names, baby clothes, cribs, formula, and so on... and sometimes it just kind of feels like I don't really have much to contribute.

It's really easy to get caught up in all this but be careful... Don't miss out on your own life. I've recently found this to be true for myself. For so long, I felt like I was falling behind or missing out on something. I would look at other people and be jealous of their situation. My husband recently brought it to my attention that we've (especially me) been so consumed with the future, that we're totally missing out on the present. We're missing out on the enjoyment of having the freedom to come and go, we don't have the stress of another mouth to feed, we're getting enough sleep at night, we can afford to go to Mexico or Washington DC or a cruise whenever we please (sort of lol - no daycare means more money for vacations!)

via

Now, please don't get me wrong. I want a baby. I would even say that I have baby fever... but I'm going to be happy where I am right now. I'm going to enjoy this time. My time will come when it's my time. God's timing is perfect and I'm sure there's a reason it hasn't happened for us yet. No matter where you are, try not to compare your situation with another. I find this quote to be so true:

COMPARISON is the thief a joy.

via

You are awesome.

Now leave me a comment and be awesomer! ;)

5 Things I Learned from Jennifer Lawrence

2013-02-27T21:16:00.000-06:00

5 Things I Learned from Jennifer Lawrence

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I have always liked Jennifer Lawrence but after watching her in a couple interviews... I freaking love this girl. She's super down-to-earth, witty, and just plain awesome. Here are a few things I've learned from her:

1. Always be yourself - ALWAYS

People will love you for it. I'm sure she's under so much pressure to be the typical poised, Hollywood starlet but she doesn't let it get to her. I can imagine how she acts now is exactly how she'd be if she wasn't famous. She's so natural and... human. It's refreshing.

2. Laugh at yourself

Don't take yourself too seriously. A little humor goes a LONG way. I absolutely loved the way she handled her Oscar speech and follow up interview. Humor is the best way out of an awkward situation.

3. Healthy looks better than skinny

This girl is not afraid of a cheeseburger. She doesn't care that she doesn't fit the size 0 prototype for the typical young Hollywood. She rocks her curves and I (along with a million others) think she's stunning.

4. Be Real

This girl tells it like it is. You'd expect her to be a bit more formal but instead, she's candid and real. Why live life just trying to impress others?

5. Confidence is sexy

Don't worry about your size, weight, clothes, hair, makeup, etc... Seriously, confidence trumps all.

i.e., Jennifer Lawrence

Watch this video... How can you NOT love this girl??

What's your favorite thing about Jennifer Lawrence?

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How to Keep The Bedroom Romantic!

2013-02-25T21:15:00.000-06:00

I read something on Pinterest about tips for a more romantic bedroom and decided to do a little rearranging myself. I must say... it makes a difference!

How I've made our room more romantic:

- I always make the bed in the morning. The room just feels chaotic when it's unmade.

- I took all the "family" stuff out of the bedroom and only have pictures and memorabilia of "us". (Don't worry, I just moved the family pictures and such to the living room)

- I don't let clutter build up in our room anymore. (It stays in the kitchen lol)

- Speaking of clutter, I keep the room "picked up". How romantic is a mess?

- We use lamps in our room instead of the overhead fan light. (Mood lighting anyone?)

A rule we're working on... no cell phones in the bedroom.

(But that's hard when it's your alarm too)

Do you have any tips or suggestions to add to this list?

A Love Letter

2013-02-13T22:39:00.001-06:00

To my husband,

You don't know how wonderful you are. You don't know how talented you are. You don't know how thankful I am for you. You don't know how much I adore you. You don't know how much I respect you. You are an amazing man. I know I am guilty of not reminding you of this enough.

We've been through so much together. We've laughed, we've cried, we've ached, we've learned... you are my best friend. You know my faults, mistakes and deepest secrets, and you still love me anyway. I am beyond thankful to God that he chose you for me. You are not like any other man I know. I am truly a lucky girl, and I believe that with my whole heart.

This time last year, we were still coming off the craziness of our wedding. It was 5 1/2 long years to the aisle; every second worth it. You know how horrible my memory is, but I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. Thinking back on it, I see everything from that day in slow motion. I remember the way I felt. This amazing feeling of making such an important decision and having no doubts. You know how indecisive I am... and marrying you that day was the easiest decision I've ever made.

Here is my promise to you for the rest of our lives. I hope to be the best wife I can be for you. I will be there rejoicing with you in the good, and holding you up in the bad. I will be there eating Ramen noodles when money's tight, and I'll be always be your date to H3 Steakhouse when money's flowing. I'll cook you soup, make you drink lots of water, and make endless trips to the pharmacy when you are sick, and I'll be your partner in ~~crime~~ fun when you are well. When your world is turned upside down, I promise to always be the last one standing when the dust settles. I will always be your best friend, no matter who may come and go. I promise to never quit fighting for you... for us.

So this Valentine's Day, I just wanted to tell you how much I love you.

You mean more to me than you could ever know.

You'll always be my sweetheart, my "better" half, my husband, my best friend, and my coppertone.

I love you.

Dinosaur Valley & Fossil Rim in Glen Rose, TX

2013-02-13T06:45:00.000-06:00

We went to Glen Rose this summer to visit Dinosaur Valley and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Glen Rose is only about an hour and half from where we live so one Saturday we decided to just take a short, overnight trip. After we settled into the La Quinta, we headed on out to the park.

Dinosaur Valley is pretty neat. They've got the footprints roped off where you can find and see them in person! Unfortunately, our summers have been pretty brutal for the past few years so rain has been scarce. The water was pretty low and some of the areas were completely dried up. In my opinion, the park is a great place to hike or go chill with friends but it's not every "eventful". It was, however, a welcomed getaway from the city.

(Did you notice the chick about to bust her butt behind the hubby??) lol This picture always makes me crack up!

Afterwards, we went over to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. It's one of those places you drive through and the animals come up to your car. We bought the little food pellets from the main office and started on our way!

This should've been our Christmas card last year lol

Feeding the giraffes... If you had a sunroof, they'd just stick their head on inside! I saw them do it to multiple cars. They are certainly not shy!

As you can see in the lower, right-hand corner of this photo... I was not to fond of feeding most of the animals. They can get a bit aggressive. Not in a bad way, just enough to freak me out.

All in all, it was a great short getaway from the city last summer!

Parmesan Green Beans Recipe

2013-02-11T21:31:00.000-06:00

My father in law taught me how to make Parmesan Green Beans and they are so good!

one // Lightly coat your pan with olive oil. (Not too much!)

two // Once the olive oil is hot, start sprinkling parmesan cheese (from the bottle). Stir it as it turns golden brown and starts to look like "crumbles".

three // Add fresh green beans to the skillet

(amateur lesson learned: be sure to drain any water before adding green beans, unless you want to catch your kitchen on fire, give your husband a heart attack, or both.)

four // Add a little olive oil, more parmesan, and salt to taste

five // Put the heat on low, cover, and stir occasionally while you finish dinner

*I used the green beans you steam in the bag. They were perfect! It would probably be very good if you didn't cook them first too... either way should work fine!

Our first healthy meal of the week. My husband and I have decided to make a lifestyle change and start taking better care of ourselves. We made extra dinner tonight so we have enough for lunch the next few days.

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Weekend Update - Cleaning Bug, Perot Museum, New Makeup & a Birthday!

2013-02-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

Weekend Update

one // As soon as I got home Friday, I got a freaky urge to clean and organize our bathroom. I wrote about a few of my organization tips here.

two // On Saturday, we went to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

three // I finally picked up some new mascara. I consider myself a "mascara junkie" but I've been doing better. I legitimately needed some. I've never tried this kind but Maybelline is my go-to for mascara. I'll let you know how I like it! (Let me know if you've tried it and what you think!)

four // My sister's cute Disney princess birthday cake. (I totally claimed the Ariel ring)

five // We celebrated my sister Lilly's 9th birthday on Sunday. I can't believe she's already 9! Where did the time go??

six // I don't really drink Starbucks too much anymore but today I was craving something "fancy" lol Honestly, I still like McDonald's lattes way better.

Link up!

Organization Tips for the Bathroom

2013-02-09T20:20:00.003-06:00

Organization Tips for the Bathroom

- Know where to find your items

- Get ready faster in the morning

- Stress less with a clean & organized bathroom

I have to admit, I am guilty of letting our bathroom get out of hand. I like to keep my daily products within arm's reach. Well, this piles up when you start using something a little different every day. You start to end up with a bathroom that looks a bit like this:

It drives my husband crazy... Ok, and myself a bit too. I finally reach my breaking point and decided it was time to organize our chaos in the bathroom.

Voila!

Now where did all that junk go?

1. Perfume: I used to keep this out on the counter top but it just started to look like clutter. (Probably didn't help that it turned into a "catch all" for small products on the counter) I decided to keep it in the closet instead.

2. Misc & Makeup: I love these plastic storage drawers. Currently, the big one is for misc bathroom items (i.e., hair accessories, medicine, etc.). The smaller ones are FULL of makeup that needs to be sorted. I am terrible about throwing makeup away! When I try, I always seem to convince myself that I just might wear that lipgloss one day... the one I've had for 3 years and only touched once.

3. Towels & Rags: This section is set aside for towels and rags... well, except for the little makeup bag that ended up there. Oops! lol

4. Hair Tools & Products: The white basket holds flat irons, curling irons, my blow dryer, and the pieces that go with it. I put my hair products in the smaller black basket. I like to be able to see everything easily.

A couple tips...

- Baskets are your best friend! I love having everything sorted and knowing exactly where to find the things I need!

- Keep your daily products hidden, but readily available. There are 2 drawers in my counter. I keep frequently used items in the drawer for ease (i.e., deodorant, q-tips, etc.) as well as my "daily makeup" in a small makeup bag in the drawer. (Get ready faster in the morning!)

- JUST THROW IT AWAY ALREADY. I'm a self-confessed beauty hoarder. I can't seem to part with some of my products just in case one day I want to use them! (Who needs 10 different face creams?? Especially someone with sensitive skin!) Throw away all the junk and you'll see a huge difference! *I'm preaching to myself her to be 100% honest.

Now, this is no where near "Pinterest worthy" or anything but it's realistic. It's still 10x better than before! Let's just wait and see how long I can make it last! lol

Oh, and the last thing... I am just loving my new soap dispenser! My Memaw got it for me for Christmas... she knows I love Paris & the Eiffel Tower.