So I went to a party....

I don't get out like I used to but...I do every here and there! Pics from my last night out....

Getting it Together: Skincare

The other day, I realized that I no longer pamper myself the way I used to. A few years ago, I kept my nails, feet and hair fresh. Lately, with school, my FI and son, my job and just life, it is so easy to put those simple tasks on the back burner. So I have decided to pamper ME. If I do not take out time to make sure I am ok...how can I take care of my family!

Well, this brings me to my next point. I get tired of coming to work everyday looking "regular". There was a time I always felt on top of my game. However, I am also not one of those women that can get up and apply make up daily. I also do not like when I get make up on clothing, papers or anything else. So...what's the solution? Clear, blemish free skin. Now this seems impossible for someone like me. Why? I have had acne for as long as I have been able to spell it! There have been two times that I've cleared my skin with the help of medication (Accutane)...but I refuse to take that route again.

What am I going to do about it?
As of late, I have been using Clean and Clear Oil Free cleanser, the toner(occasionally) and either Vitamin E or BoiOil twice a day. I also exfoliate once or twice a week. I have increased my water intake and tried to limit my soda/chocolate intake.

Today I was reading a beauty message board and came across MopTopMaven's Blog with awesome skin care tips. I am considering trying one of the many sugar scrubs she mentions to prepare my skin for summer. I wonder if I will be consistent long enough to achieve results. You have to view this lady's blog...her skin is amazing! Here is what she has to say about her personal skin care regimen:

I received a lot of questions about my skin, so I wanted to list my skin care regimen. - I have VERY acne prone skin that can flare up out of nowhere, so I have to first start off by consuming at least 2 bottles of water a day. If I start slacking on my water intake..."Houston, We Have a Problem"- Also, if I use a hair product that contains insane amounts of Shea Butter, I have to change my pillowcase every few days.

Next; Dermalogica products are really the only products that have consistently given me results. I use their line exclusively, and I haven't tried a Dermalogica product I didn't like. I honestly don't know many lines I can say that about.

As you can see, I have two regimens. I alternate between the two daily; I like to switch between the Dermal Clay Cleanser [this is a heavy duty deep cleanser], and the Clearing Skin Wash [this is a great basic skin cleanser]. So for example, I may use Regimen 1 on Sunday, and Regimen 2 on Monday.

You may also notice that I use the oil cleansing method at night; this is because using Dermalogica night AND day has a tendency to make my face somewhat dry and tight. To eliminate that; I oil cleanse at night, and moisturize my face w/Grapeseed Oil [a wonderful light oil for people who have oil, acne prone skin; this oil acts as a natural astringent].

While her skin is amazing, I am in no rush to run out and by this entire line. I do know that everything does not work for everyone... I will however, try her method with my current product line. If I do not see results soon, perhaps a change will occur!

Welp...let me go grab my first glass of water and get this day started. :-)

Flower Girl Dresses

I finally decided on flower girl dresses for my wedding! How cute are they! I am still working on the "rest of their look" :-)

Random Hair thoughts

OK...so I have ADHD...self diagnosed. But check it out. So, I relaxed and cut my hair October 31 2010 after losing thickness to a medication my physician prescribed. I have been rocking and loving my short cut....but....

There is a void. :-) I am a natural girl at heart! SO.... I am trying to decide WHEN I am going to transition back to natural hair. Here are my choices:

1. After my wedding in October
2. NOW
3. As soon as my back is a little bit longer to withstand a ponytail

I have NO idea how my hair will be for my wedding day... All I DO know is, I can not WAIT to be natural again. With hair as short as mine, the transition should not be very long at ALL. When it's cut, my hair grows very fast. Sad part is, my FI loves my hair cut. Maybe I will rock the cut until I say I do to look special for him on that day....then after the honeymoon....it's all natural baby!

What to do...what to do?!?

Bally's + Burger King = ME!

Growing up, I was teased for being terribly skinny. I was underdeveloped and my peers reminded me anytime an opportunity presented itself. Never in a million years did I expect to struggle with weight. NEVER! Actually, I used to DREAM of bigger hips, calves and all that jazz. While some girls were working to lose weight, I was looking for ways to GAIN.




(Before Burger King took over my body....)
(Before Chik Fil A joined him....Burger King that is...)
Well... becareful what you wish for. God heard my prayers and he opened the gates and they have not closed yet! LOL Up until the birth of my son, I never struggled with anything weight related. I ate whatever I wanted when I wanted...and exercised when I felt like it for fun. I remember working out hard in Bally's and stopping to grab a whopper as I left the gym. Who does that?! I could eat burgers, fries, cakes...whatever I wanted and my abs remained in tact.

Well....something happened when I gave birth. Along with a baby, I welcomed a life of dieting and watching what I eat. Unfortunately, as of late, I have zero self control...so watching what I eat is literally watching myself eat all this wonderful food and then watching myself look horrible in my clothing. LOL

Well with a wedding approaching and a tropical honeymoon immedicately following...this can be no more. I am NO stranger to working out and weight training so it's time to jump back into it...this time minus the Whopper! :-)

Today marks the beginning of my modified life style. I suppose I should blog about it for accountability eh?

DIY Save the Date Cards

Being that I have champagne taste and beer money, a lot of our wedding will be DIY. I have completed my first DIY project, my save the date cards and magnets. I am somewhat proud of them.

I hope the other projects flow as smooth as these babies did in the end.

Update: Wedding planning...new job...and a phat @$$

I have been doing a horrible job of updating my blog. I have been SO busy...but I could better. I am planning to start planning each hour of my day. Atleast for the next 6 months...it should make ALL of these flow a little better.

Wedding planning:
The wedding is still in Memphis. :-) Throughout this entire process, so much has changed. At one point I wanted to write MYSELF a prescription for Prozac. I mean, I always knew that a wedding was a big deal but my GOSH. Who knew it was so complicated! :-)
At any rate, to date, I have completed the following for th wedding:
Confirmed my venue (A Golfcourse...oh lala :-))
Booked the honeymoon and started payments
Created a Wedding Website (bare bones)
Created a Honeymoon Registry
Submitted my application for my passport
Selected and began payment on my gown
Designed, created and mailed 50 of my 90 Save the Date Cards and Magnets
Ordered Tissues for my tears of joy packets
Loved on my FI :-)
Selected my cake
Booked my photographer

Whew! At times, I get a little overwhelmed. I feel SO batty like I am driving ALL of my friends insane. BUT, I must say, I am seeing progress! :-)

School
I have 5 classes and I will COMPLETE my bachelors degree. WHOO HOOO! Now, why I selected a wedding date 2 days after my last final, errr huuhhh.... not sure. :-) I WAS inducted into ASL last week (National Honor Society). I am very proud. My FI, son, mother and future mother in law came out to show some support. It was a very happy night. My little family and I celebrated by having dinner at Houston's immediately after.

Hair
OK, so my hair is in this short pixish cut. It is growing pretty fast but not fast enough. My sweetie loves this cut and I must admit I feel pretty fly. However, after the wedding, my transition back to natural hair will begin.

Weight:
Ok, so I lost about 25 pounds a little bit ago. For the most part, I have kept it off but I am still too.darn.big! With a wedding dressed ordered for my special day, I am determined to get down to a size 6! Esp with baby plans in the very near furute. I can NOT walk aroud looking like the koolaid man. Not.a .good.look! I am going to start working out next week (I hope) and continue with my portion control. Hopefully the two of these are enough and I will not have to disturb my daily wine escapades...T loves the wine. LOL!

Starting weight: 169...
Oh what a fatty! Seriously. My butt is HUGE! I remember about 5 or 6 years ago I actually WANTED more weight in the hip/butt area. My gosh...be careful what you wish for! LOL

Ok...I must go. My two guys and I have been in the streets all day...and this Cabernet is talking to me. :-) I promise to do a better job journaling these next 6-12 months. I am very curious to see how much my little world changes.

TTYL