Beyond The Pale...

I should start by saying that while I do enjoy Jim Gaffigan's stand-up Beyond The Pale, that's not what this is about. This is about skin, people. Take care of your skin!

I've always been very fair-skinned, and I sustained a few bad sunburns as a kid. I was probably 12 or 13 when my Nana took me to the Clinique counter for the first time, and bought me my first skincare products. Was I a little young for it? Maybe. But I'm so thankful that she did that! I'll never forget the crisp clean smell of the yellow Clinique bar soap, all nestled in its little green container. Or the sharp smell of the cleansers and toners in the tall sleek bottles. I remember the nice lady helping us at the Clinique counter telling me "you have such pretty pale skin, you have to take good care of it and make sure it's healthy".

I really took that to heart. I had seen people at the beach slathering oil all over their bronzed skin and just soaking up the rays, and I knew that wasn't for me. It didn't take me very long to realize that I just didn't have that kind of skin. I had the type of skin that you covered up, and applied generous amounts of gentle sunblock to. I'm an SPF 80 kind of girl. I started using Olay SPF 30 anti-aging cream when I was 15. I'm not messin' around here, folks.

So I thought I'd share a little about my skin care regimen, for those of you who are looking to give your skin a little TLC!

1. Cleanse! I can't say this enough. Leaving your makeup on when you go to bed isn't good. I'm not always a good follower of this rule, but it's important! Your skin needs to breathe while you rest. I'm a big fan of baby wipes to remove makeup (I buy the Target UP&UP brand, and they work great.) and the good ole fashioned yellow bar of Clinique soap.  
2. Oil can be good! I promise. If you have oily skin, it might be a little trickier to find the perfect balance, but it's a lifesaver for me! In the winter, the cranking furnace just makes me feel like a raisin. On days like that, I like to squeeze a little Jojoba Oil onto a cotton ball and just gently swipe it onto my dry areas before bed. I usually sleep with an old towel over my pillowcase so I don't get my pillow all oily. That's bad news.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Tea Tree Oil! I buy these amazing little Tea Tree Oil cleansing discs at Trader Joe's (I also get my Jojoba there). They're small, but packed with TTO, and they feel REALLY good when you use them as a follow up to your morning face wash. I feel like the texture of the discs really smooths out my skin, and handles any redness or splotchy areas.
   
   
   
   
   
4. SUNSCREEN. I use sunscreen EVERY day. I typically use a really great Neutrogena  SPF15 version for everyday, and I apply it to my face right before my makeup. I also use a generous amount on my neck, chest, and on the backs of my hands. Basically any area where you see an older woman get age spots. If I'm headed out somewhere in the summer where I know I'll be in the sun, I'll put on a good layer of  SPF 80, and bring the bottle with me for later applications. I'm way too fair to take any chances with sunburns that could mean skin cancer later.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Baking Soda? Yep! Baking soda! There's a big mason jar of it on my bathroom counter. It's super useful. If I'm feeling like I have rough patches on my skin, I just mix a paste of about 3 parts baking soda and 1 part warm water (just enough that you can use it like a scrub). Just be careful that you don't scrub TOO hard - you just need to rub it in gentle circles, and the baking soda will do the rest. I always feel like my skin GLOWS after I use it. You can also sprinkle some on top of the toothpaste on your toothbrush for a whitening boost while you brush, and use it as a gentle cleaner for the sink if it's looking a little gross. Very multi-purpose!
   
   
   
   
   
6. Sunglasses! They're not just to look cool. I'm always very conscious that going outside (even when it's not super sunny out) tends to make me squint a little from the brightness. I almost always have one or two pairs of sunglasses in my purse, just in case. No need to get those crinkly eye wrinkles before it's time. 
7. Humidifier! It's the middle of winter, it's cold and windy outside, and inside it's all dry and warm. Not ideal for your skin. We have a great humidifier that I keep on low most nights while we sleep. I feel like I get less problem areas when there's a good level of humidity in the house.

 Take care of your skin. Love it. Put nice things on it, and it will look good until you're old :)

All about my Dad

My dad's a pretty cool guy. If you've met him, then you already know.

My dad's actually a lot like me (or I'm a lot like him...he was here first).

Neither of us are super great at keeping secrets. Neither of us can keep a straight face when mischief is going on. If we're telling a joke that's REALLY funny, we will crack up right as we're getting ready to tell the punch line. This kind of ruins the joke sometimes. Both of us are aware of this. Still can't help ourselves.

What would my life have been like if he hadn't supported me when I floundered in my first year of college, and decided to drop out? Seriously. I was a mess for a while. No idea where I was going, or what I was going to do instead. That fun phase lasted until well after I moved to Atlanta.

What would have happened if he and my mom hadn't supported me when I decided to buy the house that Kevin and I now call "home"? I can't even imagine.

What would my life be like if his job hadn't moved us to Atlanta from Ontario? If I had stayed in school, maybe I wouldn't have moved when I did (if at all!). If I hadn't moved down to Atlanta with my family, would I have ended the relationship that I needed to end? .

I still remember the day that I decided it was time. I was sitting in the passenger seat of my dad's Mustang, we had the top down, and it was a gorgeous sunny day. We had "Thriller" playing. I don't know what it was, but in that moment, I just knew. We talked about everything for a bit, and then he astonished me with a question: "Well, what do YOU want?". I still remember being blown away. I hadn't thought about that in a long time. What did I want? Was it as easy as just saying it, then going after it? It didn't take long for me to realize that I wanted a full and happy life in Atlanta. I was ready to find the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with, and marry him. I was just ready, and I knew it. I'm thankful every day for that conversation with my dad in his Mustang, and I don't think I'll ever hear Thriller again without thinking of it.

I met Kevin a few months later in September, and by the following May, we were engaged.

Every day I'm thankful that my Heavenly Father sent me my Dad. Love you Dad!

Lovin' It!

It's Friday! Time for a few things I think are sweet!

• Love this dress from Modcloth - throw on some gold sandals and some bangles, and it would be the PERFECT outfit for date night on the Marietta Square. 
• Thanks to The Wedding Chicks for this sweet monogram!
• Personalized stationary is classic - I love this one from Minted. 
• I've been really into soup lately. It's just so cozy, and I love that you can throw a bunch of veggies in with some vegetable stock, crushed tomatoes, and it comes out tasting cozy! Love this post from Design Crush on soups. I especially can't wait to try the Brazilian Shrimp soup, but I know I'll also try the Cilantro White Bean, the Creamy Zucchini, and the Homemade Mushroom. Yum! Best thing about soup is that I always have the thick canning jars on hand, so I usually throw leftover soup in those, and we're set for lunches for the week. 
• Rotating Goal List? Love it!
• Thanks to Danielle at SometimesSweet for the link to "How To Grow Your Blog"

• I love this picture of Johnny Cash and June Carter. It reminds me of Kevin and I....
• That aqua chevron pattern in my mosaic is really pretty - used it as my blog background. Thanks to Pursuit of Felicity for that!
• Having friends over for dinner next weekend. Seriously considering serving the Brazilian Shrimp soup (even though I haven't attempted it yet, it sounds DELICIOUS) and finishing up with Chocolate Hazlenut Pudding from Joy the Baker

Aaah.....

I didn't realize until late this afternoon why I've been in such a grumpy rain-cloud-over-my-head-all-day mood. Seriously. I'm not usually like this. I'm usually pretty sunny and cheery.

So the reason for the mood?

EVERYBODY IS GONE. Out of our 12 staff members, 7 are at a conference for the rest of the week. Let's just say the environment around here on a normal day is humming with people coming in and out, stopping by my office to say hi, ask me a question, or write something funny/weird on my window with dry-erase markers. RA's coming in and singing loudly, the phone ringing off the hook.

It was just TOO QUIET. Way too quiet. It was almost deafening. I was actually glad when the student assistant at the front desk started playing a Pandora station on low. The silver lining is that I managed to get an absolutely massive amount of work completed today. Seriously. Bad news is that I get super anxious when I approach the end of my to-do list. What will I do next? This situation usually results in me completely re-arranging the already-pretty-organized supply closet, or trying to clean up the conference room. I'm pretty sure small elves come in the middle of the night and mess up the conference room just to irk me. Yeah. That happens.

I'm not sure whether it's a byproduct of my mood or not, but I was having serious carb cravings today. Like in the cartoons when someone is so hungry that everyone resembles a dancing turkey leg, except for me they're a giant dancing plate of spaghetti and meatballs, with a giant loaf of the most deliciously crusty Italian bread smothered with garlic butter.

The truth is, though, I've been having so much success with the low-carb eating. Don't get me wrong, I miss carbs SO much. I'm having daydreams about dancing pasta, for pity's sake! But I've lost 10 of the 30 pounds that I am trying to lose by April, so I'm trying to be good to myself and stay on the wagon. And I'm seeing results, which somehow is making me want to eat that pasta even MORE because I can ALMOST justify it to myself. Almost. The thought of going into the kitchen and making a small bowl of spaghetti with artichoke pesto and Parmesan cheese is overwhelming me.

Last night was a triumph of low-carb eating! Hooray! I had some special chipotle salsa I brought back from Canada, and I brushed some of it onto a nice piece of salmon that Kevin brought home. I wasn't feeling super ambitious, so we just ate it by itself with a couple tablespoons of guacamole that I had in the fridge. Perfection.

Gotta stay on the wagon....

Scary Scary Carbs!

A Day in Pictures.....

First thing in the morning - I'm almost always the first one out of bed, and Ruby stands impatiently next to me waiting for her turn to go to the bathroom. She's not subtle. If I take longer than a minute in there, she anxiously licks my hands until I relent. 

Next stop: the scale! On nice days, the number that pops up is lower than yesterday. Yesterday was a good day! (I was originally going to post a picture of my feet on the scale, but it was early, I was waking up, and I realized I don't really feel like announcing to the whole world how much I weigh.)

Time to get dressed and throw on a little makeup before heading out the door! I'm loving the Bare Minerals makeup - so light and clean looking! And of course my NARS blush - just the prettiest shade of coral pink! Usually by this time Kevin's in the shower, and I'm getting ready and listening to a podcast or some music. Ruby is almost ALWAYS laying on my feet while I am putting on makeup (I don't complain....she's so warm and cozy! Bonus when she just rests her head on my feet, and I get to feel her warm velvety ears)

Got to work to find a sweet Valentine waiting for me from my sweet coworker Stephanie. She's the only person I know who loves Valentine's Day even more than I do! My valentines were Lego Star Wars themed....

My desk at work - it's usually me vs. my inbox most days. On good days, I get down to one screen of emails, where there's no scrolling necessary. I love peeking down and seeing the wedding picture I have framed on my desk! Plus, one day while I was walking outside, I was thinking about my Papa (who has a thing for paperclips) and I happened upon a gold paperclip laying on the ground! I picked it up and I keep it on my picture frame to remind me of him (I should clarify that I attacked it with Lysol spray....who knows where it came from, or where it was before I picked it up?)

Lunch! Lucky me - I got to pick up lunch with Kevin (we had to drive to Marietta to pick up his car from the mechanic, so we were near a Chipotle, and I indulged in a delish burrito bowl with spicy steak, cilantro rice, and extra guac and sour cream). I never EVER get tired of burrito bowls....it's all the goodness of a burrito, minus the messyness. Plus I HATE when you eat a burrito, and get to the end and there's that gross knob of tortilla all wadded up. Ick. Burrito bowl solves the problem, PLUS there's less carbs. 

Quick afternoon lipstick touch-up...somehow the combination of applying a little pearly nude lipstick, plus a big cup of my new fave (ice cold water with cucumber slices and lemon slices) really helps me get past that mid-afternoon feeling....

Valentine's Day dinner! We had a couple of nice New York Strip steaks and a nice Merlot, and finished up with some blush champagne. Kicked back on the couch and watched one of the funniest episodes of SNL I've seen in a while. Loved the "2 Nick Cages" segment, and Weekend Update was really great. Plus I liked seeing Karmin as the musical guest - I used to follow their stuff on YouTube (KarminCovers) and thought they did a great performance of an original song!

Well that's it for me! Just a teeny glimpse into the day-to-day. Check back tomorrow for Random Thoughts Thursday!

Random Weekend Thoughts

1. How did Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan end up in so many movies together? Sleepless in Seattle. You've Got Mail. Did they just work together once and say "hey, I don't find you annoying. Let's just do all our movies together"?
2. Why is my dog a thousand times more likely to jump all over me with her pointy toenails on days when I am wearing tights? I need someone to make indestructible tights ASAP. And in cute patterns. 
3. I love cute clothes. That being said, there's always so many cute clothes out there. Can we all just pick our favorite little outfit to wear 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, just like they do in the cartoons?
4. Why is everything Zooey Deschanel does so adorable? I want to wear everything she wears.
   
   
   
   
5. I want to know what I'll look like once I meet my weight-loss challenge. That way I'll know if it's worth it. I know it's worth it for health reasons, but I just want to know if I'll look the way I'd like to. 
6. I might have been born in the wrong era. I wish crinolines and full skirts and gloves were an everyday thing. 
7. I think I need to make Ruby a huge wardrobe of kerchiefs to wear on her neck from the huge stacks of fabric I am currently not using for anything. I might have to do this today. OOOOOH or doggie Peter-Pan collars....with bows! 
8. I watched a lot of Gilmore Girls when I was sick last Monday. Until yesterday, I had gotten to the episode where Luke and Lorelai break up, and it had me in a funk. So I watched the episode where they get together, and felt way better.
   
   
   
   
   
9. I will never ever get tired of my sausage and lentil soup. It's just delicious. 
10. I think I need to find a way to display my mixed and mis-matched collection of tea cups and saucers. I do use them all the time, though, so it would need to be accessible...
11. I hate those socks that have the grippers on the bottom. I have a pair, but whenever I walk around i feel like I'm stepping on little rubber marbles or something. Not comfortable. 
12. My husband is the sweetest. Seriously. 
13. I need to stop browsing Pinterest. It's giving me too many ideas for projects that I will positively never get around to. 

Lovin' It!

Okay. For real. This week was insane. I was ready to relax today.

I was ready to wake up slow. Sit on the couch sipping Earl Gray tea with raw honey out of a fancy teacup. Slip on a comfy pair of black cropped leggings and my big oversized gray sweatshirt. Sip chocolate milk straight from the carton. Read my copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking like it's gripping non-fiction. Daydream about butter.

Because I love what Tracy and Danielle are doing, here's my own little list of things I'm loving right now - enjoy!

• This is super scary, but also VERY true. Carbs are BAD. I hope I don't sound like one of those crazy skinny blonde girls who squeal in horror at the thought of eating bread, but everything I've been reading lately (as well as the last month of eating differently) has convinced me that it's sooooo true. 
• Loving Danielle's blog over at SometimesSweet. 
• I think I'm in love with these cute little Valentines. Seriously. What's cuter than a macaron?
• This bag from Fossil is to die for. So pretty!
• I love this dress - so cute with sunny yellow flats. 
• I also love this dress, and this dress (reminds me of Valentine's Day!)
• In my imagination, I'm wearing this dress to my birthday party. The party in my imagination is at Marietta Diner. I have the paella for dinner, and a giant slice of coconut cake for dessert. Everyone has a spectacular time. Throw on some pink ballet flats, a couple layered strands of pearls. Dreamy. 
• Pearls - they're never not gorgeous. 
• Muppet typography. I think I need a poster of this for our future child's bedroom. 
• These bookshelves. Amazing.

Time to go make a nice batch of Sausage and Lentil soup, and call my Nana for a nice chat.