The Purple Swirl Felt Danskos are here!

On Christmas morning, I opened the correct box but the wrong shoes were inside - a bright pink felt swirl. While gorgeous, I just don't have enough pink clothing to justify keeping the $90 shoes (on sale).    The company was very sorry and overnighted me the correct shoes and they got here today.  I cannot tell you in words how much I love them.  I fear they will not leave my feet!! 

 Before you think I'm crazy, it is just that I am forced now to wear "safe" shoes and that doesn't always equal "cute" and forget "sexy".  Forget wearing shoes that elongate my legs.....  sigh.......I don't think I've ever mentioned on here that I was working at a high quality shoe store when hubs met me?  In fact, I flat out told him that if he had a problem with his wife buying quality shoes, then I wasn't his girl.  (My feet are very narrow and just don't fit most regular shoes, so no discount stores for me.)  He sheepishly admitted that back then, in 1986, he was spending $200+ bucks per pair of shoe for himself, so my $50 paled in comparison.  lol  

It isn't often that Dansko comes out with a shoe that I just love, rather than just being utilitarian.  If you have never tried Dansko, you must.  Work on your feet all day?  Check out the nurses shoes the next time you go the doc or hospital - most wear Danskos.

 When I wear them, I don't fall down.  And that's the goal, with my mostly numb feet.  I feel a huge sense of peace come over me when I have them on.   I consider these a must have for anyone suffering nerve damage - I'm so glad a health professional recommended I try these when my nerve damage first surfaced.  Otherwise, I would never have tried them.  So check them out:

These look blue but they are really black with purple swirl felt.

And guess what else?  In the first box came a free pair of Dansko socks.  I had never seen such a thing but put them aside.  A little while later, hubs came over and said, "Honey, let's try these on".  I had NO plans to do so, as messing with my feet is never fun.  What sensation they do have is exaggerated and painful.  However, he was super tender and careful and lo and behold......those socks were amazing!  I felt massaging on my feet!  

In the negotiations for the correct pair, the company through is yet a NEW pair of socks.  These run from $9.99 to $14.99 to higher.  Sorry, I just don't pay that for socks.  But ladies......these socks are simply something else.  I cannot explain it.  Here is the pair they sent me today:

Made out of Merino Wool, they are super soft and have support bands all around the arch and padding on the bottom of the sock.  The other pair are navy with red Dansko clogs all over it.  I won't be wearing these for fashion but for the comfort.  Now I'll be looking for Dansko socks on clearance.  Apparently, the sock line just came out in May, 2010.  

I am one happy Dansko customer.  Some day, I hope to get the purple patent clogs as well.  Apparently, my sister got my mom those - I can't wait to see them.  We don't wear the same size, so she doesn't have to worry about them disappearing.  lol    I'm still wearing my first black pair from 2005.  They last forever!

Anyone have an almost unhealthy affinity for all things purple?  lol

Santa Visited!

It's so nice when you have older children.....no early mornings!  Around noon, we WOKE the boys up and got to opening presents.  lol  Here are some photos:

That is not a skunk in the photo - just our skunk-colored Pekingese.  lol

Andy ordered Black shoes with purple swirl and we got the right box, but these pink shoes were in the box instead.  Love them, but not practical.   I have a slight affinity for all things purple.  lol   Will return and exchange for these:

 This banner can be sent back when the Sooners win more National Championships and the dates will be embroidered on.  When the banner is full (from all the National Championship wins in the future (LOL), the company will redo the banner entirely!)

 Moved all the dog beds into the dining room and stacked them.  Sweety thought - COOL!  I'll be the princess and the pea!

 Sage had to interrupt the show to see just what was going on - give her approval!

We tried to get more photos of Holt but he wasn't cooperative.  Imagine that.  lol

Merry Christmas everyone!  We sure missed being with family this year. 

I've Been Featured!

Thanks to Dana at  Saturday Mornings - I've been featured with my Creamy Cheeseburger Soup!

If you haven't tried this, you must - it is a family favorite.

Be sure to visit Dana's site to see many other ideas!

Hair Routine

It's about time for another "How do I get my hair to grow like that" post after several emails.  Yes, I am 44 and I realize that some people have opinions on "appropriate" lengths for such an age.  I'm going with the age I feel inside!  Oh, now that we have that out of the way........:)

I haven't always had long hair.  For years, I kept it just above my shoulders.   Guess who loves long hair, however?  And blond long hair?  Why, that would be my sweet hubby.  The guy who brushes my hair, runs his fingers through it......that guy.  So why not light up his face on a daily basis?   In fact, he took this picture after I hunted him down just after my appointment to show him my hair before it "fell".  He loves it THAT much.  lol  (My hair never fell, btw, and looked like this the next day after sleeping on it - crazy!)  And honestly, it has been easier to maintain this length than the shorter length, which totally surprised me. 

12 months apart

Stylist called this "Taylor Swift hair".  lol

Hard to get the color right on this photo with how dark it was in the room.

And here was a photo the last time I had my hair done:

Stylist called this "Barbie Hair".  lol

First, I want to reiterate how important I think it is to avoid all SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulfates and SLES - Sodium Laureth Sulfates.    Here is one site explaining the issues - there are many.  Good luck avoiding them because they are everywhere.  But, they are so so so bad for our hair.  I bit the bullet and decided I was done putting harmful chemicals on my body and any chance I had, I have gone to healthier options.  Same with my hair.

I do get my hair professional color treated , and my stylist recommended a fantastic product (with a price I had to adjust to, honestly - around $40 I think?  But it lasts for about 3-4 months using it every other day.)  Is it worth it?  Look at my hair!

Moroccanoil Oil Treatment

Gals, you put this on your hair once you've gotten out of the shower and towel dried it.  Don't put it on wringing wet hair.  But let me tell you - first, the smell is heavenly.  Just use about a quarter sized amount (for my length and thickness of hair) - a little goes a long way.  Put it on the ends, not the scalp.  And then sit back and take in the effects.  You will be surprised at how quickly your hair dries.  It is almost magic.  

And then I'm done.  Seriously.  I don't use any other product most days.  I just curl or flat iron and then use hairspray.  But this product adds just enough "oomph" that I don't need anything else.  How great is that?

Now, in backwards order, my favorite shampoo and conditioner surprises most people.  First, I believe it is intended for black hair.  Here is my thinking - if a product can condition and heal problem black hair, then what could it do to my hair?  I think the pictures show the rewards!  This shampoo and conditioner is so awesome, I feel like I'm having a spa treatment in the shower every day I wash my hair (usually every other day).   I think these are $12 each at Whole Foods.  Every now and then I go back to my Loreal EverPure SLS-Free shampoo, but my hair just doesn't look as great as when I use these products daily.

Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo

Has Mandarin Oil Extract and Sea Kelp - Yeah baby!

Kinky Curly Knot Today

The smell of this product makes me smile just thinking about it.  Cherry maybe?  Light and amazing.

If you do have curly hair, the Curling Custard is apparently to die for.  I have it, but haven't successfully used it, not having gone curly enough yet.  

I wash my hair with the Come Clean shampoo.  I then put the Knot Today generously over the ends of my hair.  I have a wide tooth comb I keep in the shower, and I comb it through my hair to distribute the product.  I then go about shaving my legs, washing myself, singing songs.......and then I rinse.  If I AM going curly that day, I leave some product in my hair, not rinsing fully.  Fully kinky curly girls usually do well to leave the product mostly IN their hair instead of rinsing.  

You can purchase these products online, but the shipping is $5 a bottle!  Yikes!  I get mine at Whole Foods, but watch out - you won't find it with all the other shampoo.  Go over to the makeup section and there is a glass shelving unit below - this is where you will find the Kinky Curly products.  And you won't be sorry.  No sirree!!

See happy hubby? 

What do you use for your healthy hair?  Any others who are loving longer hair in their 40's? 

First time with False Eyelashes

I have never tried false eyelashes mostly because I thought they'd drive me crazy.  And look fake.  But since my signature "long lashes" are mostly gone, I've wondered....should I try it?  Then I saw a blog post about these Ardell 301 lashes, half lashes sort of, and I just had to try.  Had a coupon, for less than $3 - why not?  

Here is my fabulous (not) photo I was able to take. lol

They look amazing in person - this fuzzy photo is no representation.  lol  Here is the product:

Here is a photo of us out tonight - we went to a Christmas program at church and then for a snack at Outback Steakhouse.  If you don't get steak, it's affordable.  lol

Unfortunately, you cannot see the lashes.  That's how natural.  lol

They were super easy to put on, looked SO natural.....hubs, who has honestly asked me to never try false lashes came home from errands to exhibit quite a pleased look - said they look really nice, really natural.  Ha!  I don't know what he thought I'd try?  Something like these?

I ought to try these one day, just to see what he does.  LOL 

I used the Duo glue in clear (is white to begin with, but dries clear).  Put on my black eyeliner first, then mascara on my natural lashes, then attached the Ardell 301's.  So easy!  I still have them on, as a matter of fact (at almost 10pm).  If taken care of, these can last 4-5 uses.

Have you tried or do you wear false lashes regularly? 

The Joy of Smooth Teeth

I remember that day - do you?  I was supposed to get my braces off months earlier, and each time I'd show back up to school with my braces ON, my boyfriend would groan.....he wanted to kiss me without them on my teeth.  lol  Finally.....they came off and I spent days just running my tongue over my smooth teeth -just loved it.

In the last 6 weeks, both guys (hubs and now Holt) have gotten their braces off - Holt today!  He let me grab a quick picture - notice the angle.  He's tall!  lol 

The 

He sure didn't inherit the "rabbit teeth" from my side of the family!

Have a glorious day!

Ryan School Update

Grades are in!

• A = Geography
• A = Statistics  
• A = General Physics
• B = Lab
• B = Organic Chemistry
• B = Lab
• C = Music Appreciation  (Wouldn't this be the easiest course?  lol)
• 
  
• Overall GPA:  3.64

WTG  Ryan!!

Hair Day

Just had my hair appointment and she asked if I wanted flat ironed or curly.  I was in the mood for curly.  She worked and worked, we chatted, meanwhile I was facing away from the mirror.  She turns me around and my eyes got huge - I have Taylor Swift hair!  Very cool - hubs was in town for an appointment of his own so I sent him a text asking if he wanted to see my "do" before it fell.  Well, sure enough he did (having a fascination with my hair and all.....)

 

I met up with him in the parking lot of his doctor's office and needless to say, he DID love it.  He took these photos so I could remember how to do it myself.  lol   Last month, I came home with "Barbie" hair.  So fun!! 

Do you have a creative stylist or do you get the same ol' same ol' every time?  I love being surprised. I love having long enough hair that many different things can be done with it.

You know how quite a few blogs have "Outfit of the day", or Style of the Day"?  I wear the same thing over and over, being home all the time.  But I could do "Hairdo of the Day" of "Makeup of the Day".  lol  Seriously, I have a major makeup obsession and go through eye makeup remover like we have 5 girls in this house (just me, sorry......).  Always playing, trying new things.  And hubs?  Well, he loves that too.  As he says, never knows who he's coming home to every night.  Plain, simple?  Cat eye sexy?  Smokey eye, red lips?  I buy those kits for a steal with all kinds of color (the decent ones from Sephora or Ulta, not from the corner drug store, lol).  Like this one:

That is 98 eye shadows, 70 lip glosses, 6 cream eye liners, 2 lip pencils, 3 eye liners, mascara, 4 applicators

This is still available from Sephora for $48.  Click HERE.  I use almost every color you see here.  I have a fan brush that I sweep over all 3 of those blushes in the middle for a beautiful light blush color on the cheese.   The only "oops" I had was when I took that reddish pencil there to the left in the middle?  And lined my eyes with it.  Ha!  Seriously, don't know where my brain was.  But I had quite the look - bright red lined eyes....just take a moment and imagine that......and then I looked at the pencil and it  said..........LIP pencil.  HA HA HA HA  So then,.....more eye makeup remover.  lol  Do you see the purple pencil just above it?  Gorgeous to rim the eyes!!!  And those lip glosses - some are VERY pigmented and a little goes a looonnnngggg way.  My favorite is to take a medium dark pinkish color and then use that top left gold color on the right hand lip gloss area to cover - gives a gorgeous gold glow with speckles over the pink base color.

OOops, looks like that set is sold out due to high demand.  I also have this one - HERE.

What I love about this set is you can take the "color set" you are using for the day and take it with you in the travel case (to the left in the above photo).  Very cool!


Seriously, you'd think I was 14.   lol  And if you think I'm not kidding, have you seen my "Makeup Organization Station"?  Enjoy -  Cheri's Makeup Organization Setup

When people ask me how I handle my daily nerve pain?  This is one way!!

Have a glorious day!

Creamy Cheeseburger Soup

Ok, y'all - THIS will be your new soup of the year.  Your family will bow down and thank you profusely for fixing this.  And it is so easy!  Here is what you need:

• 1 package ground beef
• Onions, garlic, seasonings, bell peppers, optional
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 cups diced potatoes
• 4 tsp. butter, melted
• 4 tsp. flour or 2 tsp. corn starch
• 2 cups light cream 
• 8 oz. Velveeta cheese

I forgot to take the photos the entire process, so here you go:

• In a soup pot, brown the ground beef. 
• 
  
• Once browned, add the beef broth and onions/other seasonings to your taste (I add only beef broth).
• 
  
• Bring to a boil.
•  
• Add diced potatoes (and bell peppers if you choose).

• Cover and simmer 12 minutes.
•  
• Bring back to a boil.
• 
  
• Get a saucepan and melt the butter.  
• 
  
• Stir in the flour or cornstarch. I use cornstarch (use half the flour requirement).

 

• Cook butter and flour/cornstarch for 2 minutes.
• Add to soup, stirring.
• 
  
• Reduce heat and add cream, cheese and pepper if you desire.

I messed up and added the cream to the butter/flour mixture instead of soup.

• Stir until cheese melts.
• 
  
• Serve.

I doubled the recipe but used half the cheese and it is STILL creamy.  I also messed up and used full whipping cream instead of light cream, so we have quite the rich, creamy soup!

And did I take a photo when it was done?  NO!!!!!  GRRR.    So here is a photo of it today after being in the refrigerator.  See how creamy it is (with half the cheese!)

If you have teenagers in the house, I recommend you double this on the first go round.  It is THAT good!!

I will be linking to THESE parties!

Enjoy!