Cute Video - Girl Singing to Elvis

I Love My Job!

I love people.

I have a connection...an intuition....

I love when I matter...when my job makes a difference.

I've been this way since my first job....at the Corn Dog....yes....I wore those short shorts and strange hat..  Just not a lot of ways to perfect frying a corn dog.  lol  (I made darn good lemonade, though!)  And anyone remember Corn Cheese???  Fried cheddar cheese on a stick........oh my.

Closest picture I could find...I am talking early 1980's here....but cheese on a stick, dipped in batter and fried like a corn dog.......add mustard...YUM!
Image Credit

Whether frying food or working with folks making the biggest financial decision of their lives, I bring my best self...my best intention... I don't know how to do anything less... really wish more folks in sales had this attitude...maybe we'd have a better reputation, huh?

In real estate, I thrived.  Could work as hard as I wanted, set my own hours....and have missed most of it.   Especially working with families..  Never dreamed I'd be working exclusively for a builder.

When one of our lenders came to our sales meeting last week and knocked my socks off, I was energized for days.....so excited to be partnered with that level of excellence.  Andy just sat at lunch listening to my excited jabbering...lol.  He LOVES seeing this joy in me.  Some days, he just looks at me....lacking words....speechless that his wife went from "then" to now.  Who could have ever guessed?

When this job literally dropped out of the sky, I knew it was an answer to prayer and affirmations.

I had no idea HOW perfect it was going to be.

Everything I love....wrapped in to one job...

People

Excitement

Amazing product

Connections with others.

On days like this, I come home SO energized...It isn't about the homes or the money...it is about the people....

I would ask "How did I get this lucky?" but I know the answer.

Faith.

"I have a wonderful work in a wonderful way.

I give wonderful service for wonderful pay."

Say it.

Mean it.

Believe it.

Then Enjoy!

Joy is contagious.....


Do you love what you do?  Are you filled with joy?

Shades of Purple

My favorite color, hands down, is purple.  Eggplant, lavender, especially brown based purple....bring all purple to my party!  Being the only girl at my house doesn't allow for much purple to be here, but I did bring that color into my Christmas decor...yay!

Today at The Foundary, a free online boutique store with primarily household goods, had a sale called "Shades of Purple".

Here are 3 items they had:

OH MY!!!!!  Doesn't this look luscious?  Wonder if it feels as soft on your feet as it looks like it would?  For a mere $800 for a 5X8 or $1800 for 8X11 (COUGH COUGH)...regularly $3149... this could be yours!  Just dreaming over here....

Lavender anyone....

And then this eggplant headboard caught my eye:

$295 for a King size...thought that was quite reasonable, relatively speaking.....

Anyhoo...if you've never heard of "The Foundary" and would like to check it out, click HERE.  It is the usual email a day, showing what they are offering - delete if uninterested.  Joining is free and some great sales come around.  I've never purchased anything from this site, but love dreaming, getting ideas and planning decor at our new home (one of these days).

Today, they have faux fur blankets/items, canning tools, jewelry armoires, kids rugs, picture frames and more....

In other news, today was my first full day as a sales consultant.  After a very slow start, I was slammed with several couples in a short period time.  After gathering my thoughts and collecting all notes in one place, I realized - I LOVE helping people.  I truly truly do.  I wish you could have seen those eyes just light up when I was able to specifically help answer questions....our homes sell themselves.  All I have to do is be helpful....

I feel very blessed to have had this job drop in my lap.  Last night, I almost passed out...before 10pm, I told Andy I had to go to bed.  And in minutes, he said I looked frozen, out like a light.  I was TIRED! Even though my body is trying to decide what just happened to it, my heart and mind are very full....

Hope you had a great week/Saturday!

My Favorite Affirmations For Health

I strongly believe our thoughts influence our experiences.  And in fact, we all do this every day, just backwards.  We have negative self-talk going all the time.  And not only that, but it is common to give attention and energy to things going wrong in our lives, rather than believing those things/actions/occurrences can go back to the nothingness from which they came.  Learning to have positive self-talk, having faith...is what God calls us to do.

Here are my favorites this month:

I am nourished by the spirit within.

Every cell of my body is filled with light.

I give thanks for radiant health and endless happiness.

~~~

What God has done for others, He does for me and more.

I am claiming the first one over and over as I get ready to my final drop in medications in a few days...I am now down 90%....almost done!  How is it going?  Dropping in dose every 7 days gives me 3-4 great days......

Does stress in your life manifest physically?  Do you get headaches, pain, depression?   Or how about this - do you put that "Why, I'm FINE look on your face around everyone else and then fall apart in private? ...Hmmm.......Well, I DO!!  Is that a girl thing or just a Cheri thing?  :)

For 6 years, I thought of that saying that "God only gives you what you can handle" and I would scream, "I'm good....don't send anymore...thanks though!!" seemingly falling on deaf ears.

But guess what I realized?  I didn't BELIEVE it would resolve.  I didn't truly believe.  That was a tough chat with myself.  Some things just seem impossible, you know?  But truly is anything impossible with God?  NO!  So why don't we easily do what God calls us to do?  I love this verse:

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."  Matt 21:22
King James Bible

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."  Matt 21:22  New International Version 1984

But honestly,  if I believe even thinking about negative things gives them power, then what would writing them in a blog or forum do?  What would getting nearly 300 amazing blog friends in the world to THINK and GIVE ENERGY to the negative do to and for my family?   How can these things go back to the nothingness from which they came if I think about them all the time, talk about them all the time, and then write them down?  Writing them down becomes LAW!!  We MUST keep our minds focused positively.  This is something I work on every single day....just the other day, I wrote about a huge issue and now wish I had worded it differently.  One day at a time......

~~~

Let go and take your mental hands off.  Put it in God's hands and use this statement:  "I put this situation in the hands of Infinite Love and Wisdom."

~~~

How are you doing with positive self-talk?  What are YOUR favorite affirmations?

Would you be interested in an Affirmation and Praise Report blog hop, or do you already know of one?  Where we could all write a post on our blogs and share with the world?  How powerful would that be?    Let me know!

Have a blessed day!

Sam Edelman Katrice - Wanted

Long-time blog readers might remember these shoes I tried on last year, dreaming of the day I would be healed and able to wear "real" shoes again, let alone sexy shoes.  I almost bought these....and I swear I went back to that store 4 times and wore them around.....almost pulled the trigger.  Now I wish I had.

Sam Edelman "Katrice"  

Black and White Zebra, Size 8

I have never tried on wedges that were so perfect for my feet or as comfortable as those.  So I thought I'd give a shout out just to see if someone purchased these and never wore them or knows where a pair is....Size 8.

Here are my beloved photos:

I actually had a fellow shopper take this photo for me....Andy had a heart attack....it scared him to see me in such shoes with the state of my "numb" feet.....lol 

Anyone happen across my blog doing a search for these Sam Edelman Katrice shoes and have a size 8 to part with??  Please email me - link in the right side bar!!

I believe I will receive these shoes if they are for me to have or their equivalent!

Sneak Peek

Oh, I wish I could post this today but I must wait......for someone to get something in the mail......so until then, here is a sneak peek.....

OOOOhhhh, is that my Peony from last week......with a new jewel in the middle......and what's in the bottom right corner?

Hmmmm.......

I'm hoping the blog reveal can be on Monday, so check back!!  Go Post Office, Go!

Update on Stop the Presses! DIY Face Powder

This posted the other day and then Blogger went down and it disappeared.  I am posting it again in case it doesn't show back up.  If it does, enjoy it twice.  lol


Remember my STOP THE PRESSES! post on High Definition face powders?  Well, I have CONFIRMED that the ingredients in the much coveted Laura Mercier Universal Loose Setting Powder IS the same as what you can make yourself with the directions in my post above.  I looked for myself and the ingredients are:

Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica.

If you go to Coastal Scents.com and purchase the ingredients yourself (scroll down on the left to the "Makeup Ingredients: Fillers and Additives" and then "Packaging" for the sifting jars and mask), you can create this AMAZING setting powder for under $11 for over twice the amount.  Or you can pay Laura Mercier $34.  Your choice!

Now, why do makeup artists even use a setting powder?  Well, if you have never used one, let me tell you:  Regular powders can look "cakey" and set in fine lines and wrinkles, making them more prominent.  These setting powders with the silica spheres are just magical....your face will look smooth like a cover model and your lines and wrinkles....will....hey, what lines and wrinkles??

Here are photos are the sifting jars with my powders mixed together...I purchased the silica spheres and Magnesium Myristate (although they have others to choose from - the addition of something else with the silica spheres enhances adhesion to the face.  (Otherwise, the silica spheres tend to float...)

 

So, here is the breakdown:

1 oz Laura Mercier  Setting Powder Universal - $34
or

0.35 oz Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder
......$30  (1 oz would cost almost $90!!! versus under $11 for do it yourself?)

DIY Creation:

1 oz Silica Spheres                $4.75
1 oz Magnesium Myristate   $4.00
2 sifter jars (.85 ea)               $1.70
1 mask                                                                $  .49
_______________________________________________________
2 oz Total Product     =         $10.94

DOUBLE the product for less than a 1/3rd the price.

Definitely buy the mask - you do not want to inhale a bunch of this and while mixing, the silica spheres will float.

Can't beat that!

If you choose the Magnesium Stearate, it is even cheaper.  1 oz of that is $2.75.  I just picked one - no rhyme or reason.  These are the 4 they recommend on site to add to the silica spheres for adhesion:

• Boron Nitride 16 Microns - 1 oz, $7.95
• Boron Nitride 30 Microns 1 oz.  $7.00
• Magnesium Stearate  1 oz.  $2.75
• Magnesium Myristate  1 oz.   $4.00
• Sericite  1 oz $2.90

If you desire flawless skin but want to be frugal, try this.   I use a highlighter brush to lightly brush on over my makeup - I buy mine at Target but any duo fiber highlighting brush will do:

 Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush

You won't be sorry!

Coastal Scents Makeup Palletes

The other day, I had a $20 voucher to spend at BeautyChoice.com worth $40.  I immediately knew I wanted to try the Coastal Scents makeup palettes and here is what I chose:

I have to be honest with you - for these prices, I did not expect great quality, certainly not high pigmentation.

But I was W.R.O.N.G.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Holy Cow are these pigmented.  A very little goes a llllooonnnggg way!

This is the 26 Shadow/Blush Palette.  So beautiful!  $19.95

Can you believe the colors here?  Wow!!  This is the 88 Original Palette.  $18.95

And this is the Juicy Pink Lip Quad.  $6.95

If you don't have a voucher, I recommend you go directly to Coastal Scents, as their prices are cheaper.  But I am SO happy with what I purchased and in the future, should I need more items, I will definitely purchase from this company again.  I was in NO WAY compensated for this blog post. 

Antique Shopping Surprise

Both our boys were out of town, so we ran off for a little getaway to Nashville....and went junking in antique shops.  I was noticing all the ceramic dogs when I noticed one was MOVING.  Ha! 

THIS is the dog I meant to get before I ended up with a high shedding, high yapping, high opinion of herself Pekingese.  Japanese Chins are no-shed, no-yap, yumminess!

 

See the ceramic dog??

This little sweety is 3.2 lbs and full grown.  Ahhh..............

This "Sweety" was inappropriately named......

But she was.....er......cute?......when she was little.  Maybe a cute only a momma could love?  lol

 

Holt is so little!!!

Most Pekingese are not black with skunk white tails.......she's special!

Stop The Presses!

OK, y'all, anyone here have any fine lines and wrinkles that makeup/powder is setting in and aging you?  I DO!  I'm sure you know the rule:  If you put on a cream of any kind, you need to "set it" with a powder for staying power.  

I've tried  drug store brand regular powders, pressed and loose.  I've tried the rice powder highly touted - one from Palladio (available at Sally Beauty Supply and Ulta, among other places) is $4.00 and good quality.

BUT.  It still intensifies my lines.....my wrinkles.  I look OLDER, not younger and certainly not better.

Until NOW.

Until I read (through all my exhaustive Internet travels....benefits of chronic pain and a reclined limited lifestyle....plenty of T.I.M.E........)

Products that contain silica powder go on flawlessly and illuminate your skin - light reflective.  Coworkers and friends will stop and ask you what you have done differently.

Only problem, some of the best options cost upwards of $30 and more.  Examples:

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder - 1 oz.  $34


MUFE High Definition Setting Powder  .35 oz $30


Cover FX Powder        .43 oz  $32

Now comparing those amounts, Laura Mercier is definitely the better deal at one full ounce of product..

BUT, what if I showed you a product that is ONE FULL OUNCE for.....$4.75???

$4.75

Coastal Scents Silica Spheres

I'm sure you've seen all the rage....people creating their own mineral makeup?  Well, this is a product they use.  Reading further on the site, they recommend you combine this product with another, for an adhesive aspect - as the silica spheres are quite loose and "floaty".  I purchased Magnesium Myristate  ($4.00)along with the Silica Spheres:

Because these products are powdery and float easily, they recommend also purchasing a mask ( 49 cents each), which I did and is seen in the above photo.

Do you know how long this is going to last me???  I got this in the mail yesterday.  Somehow, I messed up the order and the sifter jars I also ordered (.85 each!) did not get included so I have ordered those now.  When they get here, I will put on the mask, mix the two products and have it in wonderful sifter jars.  

So a bit ago, when I put on my makeup, I carefully put a brush down into just the silica spheres and watched how interestingly the sphere's behaved - they bounce off each other.....and put it on my face.  OH MY GOODNESS!!!  I can't wait for my husband to see the difference!  So smooth, light just reflects off my face....nothing "settles" in anywhere.  Incredible.

So, it's up to you.  Purchase cheaper brands that exaggerate your wrinkles, spend WAY too much money on expensive products, or make your own for less than $10 total and will last an incredible amount of time?

If you are interested, they also offer an E-book on how to make mineral makeup.  I received a sample of the mineral eye shadow in my order, but forgot to try it today.   I have not been paid or compensated in any way for this post - just never knew what this company offered and had to share.

I have another post coming soon showing their makeup palettes!

(.

Revisiting the KollagenX Masks

A few weeks ago, I told you about some amazing masks called KollagenX Rejuvenating 24K Gold Mask that have been available at area TJ Maxx stores and I DID find one at a Marshall's recently.  Both the entire facial mask and the eye masks.  I had heard from a You Tube blogger that one of my favorite beauty gals at You Tube, Tammy at uppiesbeads59, spends upwards of $125-150!!!!!!!!! getting this mask at a professional salon facial.   For ONE!  These packages contain 3 facial masks and 4 eye masks (depending on which one you get).  Can you believe that?  So if Tammy buys one package at TJ Maxx, she saves $420.01 and that is only assuming ONE use, when we know you can get at least 2 uses per mask, giving 6 uses per $29.99??  Are ya following me here?????

Remember these lovely photos:

This product:

Reduces:  melanin production and helps maintain a fair skin complexion. 

Retains:  youthful looking skin by reducing free radical damage to the skin.

Stimulates:  blood circulation for increased nutrient delivery to the skin.

Replenishes:  collagen to keep our skin supple and radiant.


Nourishes:  the skin with natural moisturizing revitalizing nutrients.

Revitalizes:  the skin through cell regeneration.

Well, that was past tense now that she found THESE for $29.99 (facial mask - For 3!) and $14.99 (eye masks - For 4!).    Full price is unknown, as they are only available at select high end salons!  Also realized I can get multiple uses out of each mask if I seal it up tight and put it in the refrigerator.  Woo Hoo!!

These masks are amazingly hydrating....even had hubs try the eye masks one night.  Not his favorite activity, but hey, he was getting jealous of my soft, youthful appearance.  lol  Not sure if he'll be doing that again, but his eyes WERE softer and smoother after that!

OK, so this gal, Tammy, put up another video describing all kinds of masks that she uses......and she talks about the KollagenX near the end, I want to say it was around the 13:00 minute mark?  So hang in there, but you will learn SO much from this video.  And Tammy, well....she's a hoot.  One beautiful lady who wears her hair long like I do......I've learned a ton from her.  I think you will love her too - here is her mask video:

Go visit Miss Tammy and subscribe - as she says, it's an "Anti-ager"!

Gorgeous Hat with Large Flower

You guys.........I am in LOVE!!!!!!!!  Every chance I get, I walk through stores that sell yarn, picking every skein up trying to find the SOFTEST yarn out there.  (I have very distinct textural issues.....can't handle anything NOT soft......).    I ran across this yarn in Dallas at a Hobby Lobby (have to check mine here in TN to see if they also carry it) - Premier Yarns Serenity Chunky Weight in Parachute Purple and Rhododendron.  I had no idea what I was going to use it for, but I pictured them together.  

Look what I decided to make!!!!!!

Isn't this to die for??  I am just a purple fanatic......

OK, but here's the nitty.  You know my trials and tribulations with stitch gauge if you've been reading my crochet posts and this was no exception.   When I finished the hat, it was way too long.  I considered rolling the edge up to make a cuff and permanently tacking it down, like this:

But I just kept looking at it and I wondered......could I get my scissors out, snip the ends and pull out a few rows and do something different?  I went for it - I pulled out the last 2 rows of purple yarn and decided to do the pink on the very last stitch edge in single crochet.......and it worked!! 

I am SO happy I took the risk!!!  

This hat was intended to be a hat with a ribbon bow.........but instead of doing the only "triple crochet" row in the hat, I kept up with the double crochet and then added my own large bow.  

Hat with Bow Tutorial - Free Pattern

Pattern I used for the large flower:

Best Little Girl Cloche 

(flowers at bottom of pattern instructions)

Yes, this was supposed to be child-sized.  HA!  I wonder how small of a hook I will have to use to get MY stitching to end up child-sized???   But I LOVE LOVE LOVE this hat - it is SO soft.  I will definitely be wearing this with my beloved purple coat next winter......(and this cracks my family up because I am NEVER cold, but I will wear this like I am!)

Grey scarf not mine and of course, I will have to make myself a coordinating scarf!  
Purchased at Stein Mart....Peck & Peck Collection.

I may be linking to THESE parties.