Homecoming Happiness

This weekend was an exciting one as Vic had her Homecoming game, dance and celebrated her 17th Birthday! Victoria always enjoys when Homecoming rolls around because her school has spirit week and each day is filled with fun things to dress up as. This year she was actually more involved in spirit week and I was happy to see it; I think she dressed up all five days! I like when she is involved with school spirit activities because those are things she will look back on when she's my age and smile about. It's great memories that you hold on to for a lifetime.

Another lifetime memory she will carry with her is the annual Homecoming dance! She always enjoys this event (not so much the dance) because she's able to get dolled up in a semi-formal dress, have pictures taken and then eat out a nice restaurant with her date. I can also say that I enjoy this event because I get to help her with picking out the perfect dress, shoes and accessories for the dance! We always have a great time shopping together and unlike most Mom/Daughters we don't tend to argue about what she chooses. Usually I have been the one to find the dress that she actually chooses to wear! It's weird having a "semi-prom" Homecoming dance because when I was in school it was just your typical dance in the gym. Nothing fancy. It's crazy because here the guys go all out when asking the girls to the dance (almost like a wedding proposal); for instance Vic's date asked her with a box of cream filled donuts from Krispy Kreme and "homecoming?" was written on each donut. It was super cute. Of course Vic said yes and they actually decided to forgo the dance itself but still wanted to do pictures and a nice dinner with friends. Luckily, we had not shelled out a ton of money like in years past so it wasn't too bad but I did tell them that next time we need to make a decision before buying everything and ordering flowers because it still cost money that we didn't have to spend.

This brings me to her date, Robbie....I call him her boyfriend but whatever. I say they're dating because they spend almost every single day together. I guess the guy has to ask the girl now to make it "official" so I guess he hasn't "officially" asked her yet. Kids these days, crazy. I can actually say that she has found a great guy who treats her like a lady. He would do anything for her, respects her and is a perfect gentleman. I can't tell you how much of a welcome blessing this is because I have been on the end where I couldn't stand the boyfriend and I would actually pray that she would find a good one. I know that sounds insane but until you have been a Momma (or a Daddy) where you couldn't stand your child's love interest then you would understand. It's even more of a blessing when your child smiles and you see pure happiness and excitement. She is a better person around him, sweeter to her little brother and has been a joy to be around in general . She stays happy for the most part and enjoys being around us with him. I love the fact that she has him over and they just hang out watching movies....I am not naive either, I was a teenager once but I do trust the two of them. He comes from a good family and seems to have good morals so I think he's a keeper. It's also awesome that Mike is happy that she's happy and actually likes the boy. He has mentioned to me several times how much he likes Robbie and loves to see him treating Victoria like the princess she is. That is HUGE coming from this Marine Dad! Not everyone is perfect for his "little princess". I think he would like for Robbie to open up more around him but I told him he can be intimidating so he's probably just a little scared/uncomfortable. Mike is looking forward to attending some of Robbie's baseball games this year at LCHS so I am sure by then the two will be close.

Today was Vic's seventeenth birthday and I can't believe it! Time has flown by and long gone are the days of little girl parties! We didn't go all out for this birthday since it wasn't a milestone one like "Sweet 16"! We took her to a nice lunch and open presents afterwards. Robbie was taking her to a nice birthday dinner this evening. As usual, she got about everything she asked for on her birthday wish list! She always does well on her Birthday and Christmas as far as presents are concerned! Lucky girl.

So all in all, this has been a wonderful weekend spent with those that I love the most!

Tasty Tuesday Recipe: Vegtable Beef Soup (A day late!)

I completely forgot to do my "Tasty Tuesday" entry yesterday so I will do it today...better late than never, right?!? Today was the first "real" day that it felt like Fall (cool & crisp) and with Brody being under the weather I thought that a comfort food would be a great dish to make for tonight's dinner! I wanted something hearty, warm and easy so after looking in my pantry I saw that I had everything I needed for Vegetable Beef Soup. I had to visit my trusty Pinterest site to give myself a refresher course on the spices because I couldn't remember what else I put in mine other than the most obvious; ground beef, vegetables and beef broth! So here is the recipe that I used today! Now, I need to state that when it comes to spices I always try to add the correct amount listed below but I tend to add a little dash of this and that too :) So adjust it however you like but the gist of it is below!

Vegetable Beef Soup Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1/2 onion chopped

1 tablespoon flour

1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies

1 small can tomato sauce

1 can beef broth

2 cups of water

1 can whole new potatoes (drained and cut into bite size pieces)

1 large can of Veg-all

1 can of sliced carrots

1 - 5.5 ounce can of V-8 juice (I used Hot & Spicy)

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

 1 - 2 Bay Leaves

 1 Beef bullion cube

 A few Saffron pieces (This can be completely omitted but I wanted to try it)

1.  Brown ground beef and chopped onion, drain off grease.
2. Add flour and stir until incorporated.
3. Add all of the ingredients into a crock pot a cook 6-8 hours on Low or 4-6 on High

I would serve this with corn bread normally but for tonight saltines will have to do as I was out of cornmeal and I wasn't heading to the store with a sick child! This is so easy to make and something even your husband, boyfriend or teenager could follow if you were in a pinch for dinner! You don't even have to add all of the spices listed above so don't fret if you don't have them because it would be good with just good old fashioned salt and pepper! I hope that all of you are having a fabulous week! Until next Tuesday....Happy eating!!!

xoxo,
Jamie

Playing Catch-up plus New Adventures!

I've been meaning to post about our last minute trip to Destin, Florida two weekends ago! My parents came to visit and we decided since we weren't able to take Brody to the beach in June (he got sick and was hospitalized for a week) that we would make a quick trip down to Florida and take advantage of the nice weather and our friends condo that they so graciously let us use for the weekend! We didn't get into Santa Rosa beach until late Friday evening so that day was shot so we made the most of Saturday and Sunday! Saturday we woke up and ate our favorite breakfast place, The Donut Hole and then we hit the beach! It was so much fun watching Nannee and Brody play on the pretty snow white beaches and walk in the aqua blue waters that the gulf has to offer! My parents have not seen the gulf so they were amazed by it's beauty. It's so much nicer than the murky waters of Myrtle Beach!! After spending an hour at the beach we went for a late afternoon nap before dining at "The Backporch". If you are ever in Santa Rosa or Destin you need to try out this place because it's a great restaurant and it sits directly on the beach so you get a nice view while dining on the freshest seafood! Afterwards we headed to Brody's favorite place; the fun park! He loves riding the kiddie rides and he was able to race go-karts with Pappaw and Daddy so he was super excited! On Sunday we headed to Eglin Airforce Base because my Momma wanted to see where she was born. It was really important for her to see where my Papa and Granny once lived when she was born. That made her entire trip and I was glad we were able to do that for her because it meant so much to her.

While we were at Eglin AFB we went to the PX (a mini mall on base) and I found a killer deal on a Canon camera that records videos. I have been wanting to vlog for a while now on YouTube and Mike being such a supportive husband made that a reality by buying me the camera! He always pushes me to do things that show my creative side and so he's usually willing to do whatever when it comes to stuff like that. Vlogging is basically blogging but it's done in video format and I'm using YouTube for mine. I want to vlog about my life in general, beauty reviews, recipes, crafts and more! I am really excited about this new venture so please check out my new video and subscribe to my channel because it will be a hoot!! Watch the video by clicking here! I know that I have a ton to work on but I am learning as I go. It's going to be a fun process and I am "super excited" as Brody says!

Victoria has homecoming this week and their dance is on Saturday. She got the cutest dress for $20 and we were in/out of the store in a jiffy! We ordered her shoes online so it was a very stress free shopping event. Her date, Robbie, is precious and I call him her boyfriend but it's not "official" yet but I am sure it will be soon. They are really a cute couple and he brings out the best in her and she's so happy. That's all I can really ask for is a great guy who treats her right and who makes her smile from ear to ear! She also turns 17 this Sunday which is CRAZY! Time has flown by and it needs to slow down some!!!! I'm still trying to come to grips with the fact that she is a junior in high school.

Well, I should probably wind things down for the night! I am tired and I have an early morning tomorrow :) It's almost the end of the month so I will be doing a blog and vlog about my beauty hits & misses for October soon!! Stay tuned!

xoxo,
Jamie

Tasty Tuesday Recipe: Baked Teriyaki Chicken with Bok Choy

I am going to highlight a great dinner with an Asian flair that is easy and quick to make during the week! This is actually one of my daughters favorite meals and she requests it often. I hope you can find the time to fit it in your dinner rotation because it truly is a great meal!

Baked Teriyaki Chicken Ingredients

1 tbsp. Cornstarch
1 tbsp. Cold water
1/2 cup White Sugar
1/2 cup Soy Sauce
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 clove of Minced Garlic
1/2 tbsp. Ground Ginger
1/4 tsp. ground Black Pepper
12 skinless Chicken Thighs (I have used bone in and boneless)

Directions

1. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine all of the ingredients (minus the chicken). Let simmer, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and bubbles.

2. Preheat Oven to 425 degrees F.

3. Place chicken pieces in a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish. Brush both sides of chicken with sauce.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn pieces over, and bake another 30 minutes, until no longer pink and juices run clear. Brush chicken with sauce every 10 minutes or so during cooking.

Hint: I make double the sauce because my family loves to put it over the rice!


Sautéed Bok Choy Ingredients

1 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
2 cloves of Minced Garlic
1 - 1.5 lb. of Bok Choy, leaves and stalk cut into bite sized pieces
Soy Sauce and Salt to taste

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat, and cook the garlic until hot and fragrant (1-3 minutes). Mix in the Bok Choy pieces, cook and stir until the green leaves turn bright green and the stalks become slightly translucent (5-10 minutes). Stir in Soy Sauce and salt, season to your liking. * You can completely omit the Soy Sauce if you do not care for it *

I serve this meal with Jasmine rice but you could do any type of rice you prefer (white, brown, fried) and I top the rice and chicken with chopped green onions. This is a quick meal that is on the table in an hour and fairly inexpensive to make. Wal-Mart and most grocery stores now sell Bok Choy and if you like leafy greens you should definitely try cooking it because it's a nice change.

Rules for a worn out Momma ❤️

I did not write this lovely set of "rules" to follow but I felt they should be shared because it's pretty good advice! I wish I could give credit to the original source but after searching online it seems this has been shared by numerous people and the author has been lost in sharing!! I hope you enjoy these as much as I did and I'm going to try to follow a few of them!! 

1. Lower your standards for cleanliness and order.

2. Did that? Lower them even more.

3. Your house will never look like a magazine spread, period. Embrace that.

4. No matter how many baskets you buy to contain toys, they will always be visible. Embrace the Toys ‘R Us/ frat house-chic decor….

5. You can never have too many Popsicle in the freezer. How many bad moods have been fixed by a simple Popsicle?

6. If you can’t change them, change your perspective. For example I read recently – probably on Satan’s website Pinterest – that toothpaste is great for cleaning things like faucets. So now when I go into the bathroom every day and see toothpaste splatter all over the bathroom faucet I think about how my children have done half the chore of cleaning for me. How considerate of them! Then I wipe it off while cursing.

7. Those chores that no one ever wants to do. Decide if you would rather do it yourself, badger your child to it, or let it go. If you are confused about what to do, see Number 1 on this list.

8. No one cares what is stuffed under your child’s bed, why should you. Unless it is old food. In that case, you should get a dog.

9. If you have boys, your bathroom will always faintly stink like pee. Invest in some Febreeze and count down the days until they move out and you can go visit them and pee on their bathroom floor.

10. Don’t buy white furniture. Unless you enjoy screaming at your children every time they go near it.

11. However bad a situation might seem, one day it will be funny. I have a few for which I am eagerly awaiting for the funny to kick in. Any time now….

12. When your child is a young teen there will be nothing more embarrassing than your very existence. Use this to your advantage. Start planning early.

13. Do not paint any walls in your house with flat paint.

14. Be okay with letting your kids stumble sometimes. Whether that is turning in an assignment late because they didn’t do it or wearing an outfit so hideous you have trouble looking at them without laughing.

15. Noise cancelling headphones are great for blocking out whining, bickering and the endless episodes of Sponge Bob.

16. Socks do not have to match. Every day is Crazy Sock Day at my house, which is infinitely better than Crazy Mom Day.

17. The crayons will break and it is okay to throw them away rather then save them to make some sort of craft that involves the hair dryer. In fact, I give you permission to not feel guilty about all the crafts you know you will never do.

18. Your children will not die from eating the occasional hot dog or frozen pizza. And by occasional I mean more than you are really willing to admit.

19. If your children are driving you crazy arguing with each other, start an argument with them. Then your children will bond over their mutual hatred of you and be quiet.

20. Children do not appreciate top sheets or high thread counts. Buy neither.

21. Homework time is the worst time of the day. Help your kids and yourself by having a designated time and a quiet place to do homework. Preferably in a neighbor’s home.

22. Just say No to ironing.

23. Last, but not least, some chocolate and some really bad TV makes everything seem a little better.

Tasty Tuesday Recipe: Five Alarm Chili with Spicey Topping

I have decided that every Tuesday I am going to write a blog post about a favorite recipe our family enjoys.....hence "Tasty Tuesday Recipe"!  This should be fun and maybe it will inspire you to try some new dishes that you may have not otherwise known about. I have been trying REALLY hard to incorporate new recipes at dinner so I don't get bored with cooking! I believe that I got burned out with cooking dinners because I was just tired of making the same old crap all of the time. I can only imagine how my family felt eating the same stuff every week -- sadly, we had "make your own" dinners a lot because I was so sick of cooking! Needless to say, my family is really loving the fact that I got my cooking mojo back and we've been eating good for a month now! Hopefully this new trend will continue for a long time because it's been fun and fulfilling for our bellies! I wanted to share one of my all time favorite recipes for Fall/Winter! I find that chili is such a good comfort food and it always makes me happy! You can't go wrong when cheese is added to anything so the spicy topping for this dish is a nice treat. I hope that your family enjoys this recipe as much as mine does. I make this at least 2 or 3 times a month once Fall and Winter roll around because it's quick, easy and cheap to make! Enjoy! Ingredients 2 pounds ground beef round 1 large yellow onion -- chopped 2 cloves garlic -- minced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large red bell pepper -- coarsely chopped 2 jalapeño peppers -- minced 1/4 cup chili powder 2 teaspoons dried oregano -- crumbled 1 tablespoon ground cumin 3 cans {14.5 oz. each} diced tomatoes - un-drained 1 can  {10 oz. each} diced tomatoes and green chilies - un-drained 1/2 can of  beef broth 1 can {15 1/2 oz.} pinto beans -- rinsed and drained  1 can {15 1/2 oz.} dark red kidney beans -- rinsed and drained 1 can {15 1/2 oz.} light red kidney beans -- rinsed and drained    Spicy Topping1 cup sour cream 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1/2 tablespoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 3/4 cup shredded Colby cheese                               Directions for making Five Alarm Chili & Spicy Topping

Chili: In a large skillet, brown beef, onion, and garlic in oil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Drain off excess oil. Using a slotted spoon, transfer beef mixture to a slow cooker and combine with remaining ingredients except the Spicy Topping and cheese. Stir to mix well. Cover and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours or on High for 4 to 5 hours. Stir once during the last hour if cooking on High. Topping: In a small bowl, combine ingredients for topping. Stir well to blend evenly. Refrigerate until ready to use. Return to room temperature before spooning a dollop onto each serving of chili. Sprinkle with Colby cheese and serve.

 

Tears, Tantrums, Tummyaches.....and Staph.

In typical Beemer fashion there is never a dull moment at our house and this month is no different. I welcomed Fall and October with open arms because I feel so alive when this time of year rolls around. There is something about this season that makes me feel like I've been given a fresh start and who doesn't love that? I also feel more creative and inspired when it's Fall; hence all of my cooking and blog posts! It seems that everyone feels the same way because a lot of my friends have been cooking up a storm and crafting away too!

Brody has had a rough start to October as far as his health is concerned. He has been having stomach pains almost every single day and has been sick (vomiting) a few times, too. His energy level depletes so quickly when he is not on his pump and he runs into trouble when he is active during that time. He had a class field trip to Mark's Melon Patch on Thursday and he ran around like mad for 3.5 hours only to come home, crash on the couch and wound up getting violently sick late that night. It was pretty scary and for the first time I saw real concern on Mike's face. My husband is so good about not showing fear and worry around Brody or myself but when he does it's alarming to me. I am so thankful that we have an appointment with the Neurologist on Monday to discuss Mitochondrial Disease. We also have an appointment with his GI specialist on Monday so we will be able to discuss his stomach pain issues too. I am so ready to have a concrete, solid diagnosis. I am tired of "searching" for what it could be and worrying about the unknown. I feel like I will be more at peace with the whole situation once I know for sure what he has and how we are going to handle it. With Mitochondrial Disease there is no cure but at least we would know what was going on and come up with some plan of action. Right now we have so many unknown and "what if's" that is about to drive me insane. I am worried sick about it all and it's starting to take a toll on my health. I don't eat when I get stressed out so I have only been eating one meal a day and that is my dinner. As you can imagine this doesn't set well with my family & friends because they can see my already thin frame shrinking. I am back down to a frail 85 pounds and my wardrobe is starting to notice. My jeans are a little loose and my once snug shirts aren't so snug anymore. PSA: Momma, I know you are reading this and I know I need to eat and I am working on it, so please don't lecture me :)

Tears!! Oh, the tears we have had this month! Both Brody and I have been emotional basketcases lately. He has cried about every single day and for no apparent reason. I feel like my son is suffering from PMS! I guess he takes after his Momma because I am a very emotional person too. Lately everything has made me want to cry or I've actually produced tears. Maybe I was doomed from the start of this past week when I got news that one of the sweet little ladies at the Alzheimer's Center had passed away suddenly in her sleep over the weekend. Maybe that should have been a sign my week wasn't going to be rainbows and unicorns? I cried myself to sleep on Monday night thinking about her passing away and how I wasn't prepared for her sudden death. I knew going into volunteering at the center people would pass away and I have already dealt with it on several occasions so it's beyond me why I got so upset over the whole thing. I've cried out of frustration because Brody has been so stubborn lately and doesn't listen to a word I say. I have shed tears over the fact Brody is getting older and he has 2 loose teeth. Thinking about Brody never being able to participate in sports like normal little boys has sent me over the edge on several occasions. Victoria is turning 17 this month and I've cried a tear or two over that! It's freaking ridiculous. I am just going to stop talking about it because I annoy myself even thinking about it.

We have had some FULL BLOWN TEMPER TANTRUMS that have resulted in a few pops on the bottom lately. It's been so bad that I had to get my trusty old wooden spoon out for reinforcement. Brody is at the age that my hand no longer stings his bottom and he usually ends up laughing at me stating "that didn't hurt" (that enrages me)! His temper tantrums usually end up with him flailing around on the floor screaming his head off about something as petty as the wrong SpongeBob episode is on the television. I am not kidding. We've also had a lot of hand/spoon meets bottom over the meaning of "No" and "Stop". Sadly, he still hasn't grasped those two words yet so his feelings will continue to be hurt until he does.

Plain and simple; Staph is the devil. I do not know how or why I ended up with it for the SECOND time since August!!! I woke up midweek with my nose hurting something awful and it was hot to the touch. I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was going on because I hadn't injured it and as gross as it sounds there was nothing stuck in it (of course I looked; you would have too). I found myself googling my symptoms and all signs pointed to Staph. Really??? It seems that Staph is actually present in most peoples noses because it is a bacteria but for some reason my nose seemed like the perfect place for the nasty bug to set up house and wreck havoc. I knew by Thursday that I had to go to the Doctor because the only way to beat it was antibiotics. Three prescriptions later I am happy to say my nose is a normal size and no longer hurts like hell. The downside is that one of my antibiotics makes me sicker than a dog so I've spent the past 3 days puking at least once. No fun.

That about wraps up how my week was and as you can probably tell I am ready for it to be over and move on to next week! I am crossing my fingers that it goes a little more smoothly for all of us! Prayers are always appreciated and welcomed. I hope all of you have a wonderful week!

Fall Beauty Blog: September Favorites!

It's the end of September so I have been going through my monthly beauty purchases and picked out quiet a few items that I wanted to highlight! Usually I end up with some "misses" for the month but it seems that I don't have any for the month of September! I love it when that happens because it makes me feel good that I didn't waste a lot of money on crappy purchases. So, let's get started because I have a lot to share with you -- I have make-up, nail, body and hair care products to discuss! I will admit that it looks like I went on a freaking spending spree this month but some of this stuff is from months prior that I finally got around to using. I also picked up a lot of this while it was on BOGO sales at CVS! I did buy a few more items than I typically do in a month because I was getting my seasonal colors for this Fall and Winter.

** All prices are from Walmart unless I have mentioned another store**

I have been super impressed with all of the products from the Organix line so I wanted to try their body wash since I already use their shampoo and conditioner. The new trend that is going on in the beauty world is Moroccan Argon Oil because of it's healthy benefits for your hair and skin. I purchased the Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argon Oil body wash ($6.97) and I have been pleased with it. I love the scent and it lingers all day long without being overbearing. It's a very clean feminine smell that doesn't clash with my perfume like some body washes tend to do. This also doesn't leave your skin feeling like you have a layer of soap still on your body after you get out of the bath/shower. It leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized.  It's also Sulfate free which is great for those with sensitive skin. Also just a PSA about sulfates -- Sulfate Free shampoos and conditioners are best because they do not dry your hair out and leaves your hair less frizzy. It also leaves your hair healthier and shinier because it lacks the harsh chemicals that are in most shampoos. I believe that all of the Organix line is Sulfate free.

I am all about a can of Dry Shampoo because my hair is very dry so I can not wash it but every other day (sometimes every 2 days) unless I want some serious breakage going on. It's crazy because I do not color my hair so you would think it wouldn't be so dry but I do use a hairdryer and a set of hot rollers after washing my hair. I have always liked Suave's Dry Shampoo but I decided to try a new one after a YouTube guru raved about Dove Invigorating Dry Shampoo Refresh + Care ($3.94). Holy cow this stuff is wonderful! It doesn't leave a powdery residue like some dry shampoo's do and it seriously smells like you just washed your hair after you have sprayed it on. I am not knocking the Suave line but I have been pretty happy with Dove. It does help absorb oil between washes and it helps add volume to weighted down day old hair. This is also perfect for those of you who go to the gym and need to run errands afterwards without hitting the shower. Keep a can of this in your gym bag or car for those times when you need to go out in public afterwards but don't have the time to shower! It's definitely a great pick-me-up for your hair!

When I don't have time to hot roll my hair and I am sick of wearing it in a ponytail I am in love with the sock bun. However, I have not had much luck with finding the right sock to make the bun! I have searched Pinterest over and over looking for the perfect sock bun and I just end up with a big mess. It either comes apart or my sock shows through the bun so I finally decided to purchase the Conair Bun Maker ($3.49) and it's so worth the $4.00! I actually bought Vic the Conair version and I found the same exact ring made by Conair (minus the hairpins and elastic tie that comes with the boxed kit) at my local Dollar Tree! They both are from Conair and work the same. I love it!!! I purchased the dark brown color because I am a brunette but they do make them in blonde and black too. Once you make the bun you don't see the ring and you can secure it with bobby pins and it literally stays all day long until you take it out -- I don't even have to use hairspray. Vic uses hers for colorguard and they are running all over the place and she loves hers too. We both have pretty long hair so it's simple to use but I can't speak for shorter hair lengths. I don't like the super tight bun so I was a bit skeptical at first but I have learned how to make more of a loose, messy bun with this so I am happy with my purchase.

I admit that I am pretty cheap when it comes to certain products because I can not stand buying something expensive when I can get the same exact thing for less money but I have found that I can not skimp when it comes to my contact solution....I have tried and failed! I have bought the cheap Equate brand and even the Re-Nu and Multipurpose solution from Bausch + Lomb and both make me want to scratch my eyeballs out. I don't know if they don't clean my contacts well or if my eyes are just that sensitive but I have been forced to buy the expensive stuff and I am not happy about it but I can say it does make a world of difference! If you have contact woes like me you should try Bausch + Lomb BioTrue Multipurpose Solution ($10.99, 10 ounces) because it's seriously been my lifesaver lately. I take my contacts out every single night and let them soak in this solution and I rarely have problems these days. Before I switched to this solution I was having major issues with my contacts getting dirty or maybe they were never really cleaned from their nightly soaking in the cheaper stuff. Who knows....all I do know is that I can't be cheap when it comes to my eyes and even though it pains me to shell out $11 for contact solution it is a necessary evil. Blah.

As some of you know I got a nasty staph infection on my right pointer finger a while back from a hangnail. I ended up having a 3 day stay in the hospital and having my fingernail surgically removed all because I had a nail biting habit since birth. Well, that experience been a life changing one and I haven't put my nails in my mouth since so I have been exploring the world of nail care the past two months. Even though I don't have a pointer nail to paint on my right hand at the moment I have 9 perfectly pretty ones to paint now so I am enjoying it. First I had to get my nails in shape because they were, well, pretty damn ugly from me biting them. I decided to try the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails "Hard as Wraps with Acrylic Gel + Nylon" ($5.99) in the clear coat to help strengthen my nails as I let them grow out. I have been amazed at the difference this makes with my nails! You apply two coats as your main coat or top coat and in my opinion it definitely strengthens them. I have been using it now for about a month and I am halfway done with my bottle and I will repurchase this again when it's gone. I use this mainly as a top coat because I try to keep my nails painted; when I don't have polish on my nails I tend to pick at them more.

I have been in love with the nail polish "I'm Ba-roque" by Spoiled ($1.99) -- it's made by Wet n Wild but it has it's own display just in the nail polish section of your local drugstore/Walmart. I love this color because it's taupe but has a bit of a shimmer and I have found it goes with about anything I am wearing (yes, I like to match). It's a pretty color with just one coat or you can add a second for more intensity. As I mentioned in one of my other blog posts I have a couple of Essie products and I will NEVER pay $8 for a nail polish again (at least from the Essie line) because I think for their quality it's a rip-off. You are basically paying for the name and their colors; which I will admit they have some pretty cute colors but I can't stand spending that much on something that doesn't work as well as the $1.99 polish that I am happy with. I know some people think Wet n Wild is pretty cheap but they do have some great quality products that are hidden gems if you just try them. Their nail polish line is really good and worth trying. ** Disclaimer: These are not my nails **

I am a mascara junkie and I'm always on the prowl for a great mascara and I thought I had found the perfect one until recently. I was pretty happy with my Physician's Formula FakeOut mascara because the formula suited my sensitive eyes but it did not come in waterproof and that can be a problem in the Deep South! It's hot here and you do sweat and that leads to runny mascara raccoon eyes and I can't take it. I am a HUGE fan of Physicians Formula but this girl has to have some waterproof mascara and they don't have it in the formula I like. I decided to try L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes ($8.99) on a whim since I had CVS bucks to spare and at first I was on the fence about this mascara. I really liked it because it was waterproof and it didn't irritate my eyes but started to dislike it after a few days because it felt like it was clumping up on my lashes. I always remove my eye make-up with Almay's eye remover pads and follow up with my towelettes so I thought I was getting all the goop off my lashes -- well, I wasn't!! It hit me after about 4 days that my lashes were still covered in the mascara and my eye remover wasn't getting it off completely so it was just sticking to old mascara. After I figured all of this out and purchased a new eye remover I am IN LOVE with this mascara. It does make your lashes noticeably fuller and longer; giving a false lash effect but without looking fake. L'Oreal also makes a "Voluminous False Fiber Lashes" formula that is in the same type of packaging so be careful when you are picking it up at the store. I decided against the fiber mascara because I do have sensitive eyes and I figured that would be asking for trouble -- I don't need to risk any small fibers getting between my contact and eyeball. So, the BIGGEST thing with this product is making sure your lashes are completely clean before applying it or you will end up tossing it!

Of course I am now going to talk about my latest eye make-up remover purchase since I basically said you needed it for the L'Oreal mascara above. I went ahead and bought the L'Oreal Clean Artiste Waterproof and Long Wearing eye make-up remover ($5.99) since I was using their waterproof mascara. I must say that I was impressed with how well it took off my eye make-up including the waterproof mascara and waterproof eyeliner that I wear daily. You don't have to use a lot either; just a small amount on a cotton ball and your make-up comes right off without a bunch of tugging and rubbing. The formula is a tad on the oily side but it is for sensitive eyes and I made the mistake of getting it in my eye earlier today and it didn't burn or leave build up on my contact so that was a bonus. I have found that if I take my eye make-up off first using this product and follow up with my Equate towelettes it removes any oily residue that may be left behind from the eye remover. I can honestly say that this is one of the BEST removers I have ever used and sadly I will probably never use the Almay wipes again (I'll send them to you Mom).

Oh, Wet n Wild, you always come out with some of the best products for next to nothing! The next few items I am going to talk about are all from Wet n Wild and I use them on a daily basis. I don't understand why this brand doesn't get more recognition because they have quality products that are worth purchasing. For my pencil eyeliners I use the Physician's formula brand but I wanted to try WnW's H20 Proof Liquid Liner in Ultra Black ($3.99) after hearing several people rave about it on YouTube. Well, it's worth the praise because it is awesome and affordable. It stays on all day long without smudging or rubbing and doesn't irritate my eyes.I have even had a few crying spells while wearing this and it doesn't budge!! I like liquid eyeliners because I can get a very neat, thin and precise line unlike I do when using the pencil liners. With the type of brush/wand that comes with this eyeliner you can make a very fine line or lay it sideways for a thicker line. It dries pretty fast so you don't have to worry about blinking and getting that annoying transfer line that you do with some liquid liners. I will give you fair warning that this stuff is like taking a Sharpie marker to your eye and it WILL NOT COME OFF without a good remover -- water will not even get this stuff off. The L'Oreal remover does take it off but nothing else has so if you do purchase this liner make sure you have a great eye make-up remover to go with it.

I was so impressed with the liquid eyeliner from WnW that I decided to go back and pick up two newer shades that I saw at Walmart. These are not from the H20 line as that line only carries your basic shades of black and brown. I picked up two colorful liners from their Mega Liner line; Plum and Turquoise ($2.93 each) and I figured they would be fun to try this Fall. Plum is a great color for dark brown and hazel eyes so I was familiar with that shade but I was just taking a chance on the Turquoise. I have tried both shades and I love them! I used the fine point end of the brush and applied a very thin line above my lashes just to give a tiny pop of color and it looked great. They aren't waterproof but I didn't notice any smearing or smudging after I had worn it all day. It also dries quick so you don't have to worry about messing it up as soon as you apply it. They do carry this color in blue and a shimmery black that I may go back and get eventually. I think the shimmer black would be very pretty on but I am still on the fence with the blue!

I have been on the lookout for a good but affordable eyeshadow primer and I picked up a tube of "Take on the Day Eyeshadow Primer" by Fergie's WnW Center Stage Collection ($3.74). Our CVS had a BOGO on the entire Wet n Wild line so that is why I picked up so many products from their line this month. I had been using the primer from Elf and it just wasn't cutting it for me as I felt like all of my eyeshadow was gone by late afternoon. I could tell a huge difference in the formula when I opened the tube from Fergie's line. It was actually a little tacky unlike the primer from Elf so it made sense it should work better. A little dab on each eyelid is all you need and you should be set for the rest of the day! When I wasn't using a primer or when I was using the Elf primer I literally could use a makeup towelette and the only thing coming off from my eye area was mascara because all of my eyeshadow was pretty much gone -- not when using this primer; I actually see product on the cotton ball and towelette so it must be working. I have read and seen YouTube gurus compare this stuff to Urban Decays primer -- I have never used the UD primer but they swear it's a dupe! This is something that I will continue to repurchase because it works great and it's cheap!

I have been purchasing some new shades for Fall and I ran across a pretty trio from Wet n Wild; Silent Treatment ($2.97). I don't know if shades are considered "precious" but this shade is to me because it's so girly but classy. The trio has the eyelid, crease and brow color coordinated for you and they are shades that you could wear with about anything. The lid color is a mauve/taupe color, the crease is a dark shimmery bark color and the brow is a muted pastel pink. It's a gorgeous set and I have been using it a lot lately by itself and with another product I will discuss in a second. They say that these shades are dupes for: Eyelid is dupe for MAC's Shale, Crease is a dupe for Urban Decay's Darkhorse. These are pretty pigmented shades, they are smooth and blend well. This has also been discussed highly on YouTube as a product to watch out for and it is popular because I have noticed it sells out fairly quickly at the drugstores and our local Walmart was already out of it by this weekend and it was fully stocked earlier in the week!

While shopping for new eyeshadows I decided to pick up a few colors from Maybelline's Color Tattoo line by Eye Studio ($6.99 each) while they were on BOGO. I purchased Bad to the Bronze, Tough as Taupe and Pomegranate Punk in the 24 hour Cream Gel Shadow. They do make the Color Tattoo in 24 Hour Pure Pigments so double check before you purchase them. I did purchase a pure pigment but I have not used it yet so I can't give a review on it until next month! I went through a phase a couple of years ago where I only wore gel/cream shadows and I liked them but I felt like they creased and looked cakey by the end of the day. I guess they have improved their formula because these shades are highly pigmented and they last all day without creasing or caking up on your eyelid. They don't rub/smear off either which is unusual for these type of shadows. The only downfall about this product is the best way to apply it is with your fingertips. I tried the cheap old school applicators but in the end I just used my fingers because it went on better that way. You can also use these as a base coat and apply a powder shadow over it for a more intense look so it's very versatile. I like using the Tough of Taupe shade with the mauve lid shade from the WnW Silent Treatment trio together; they compliment each other well. I have read reviews that say these little pots dry out pretty quick but I have not ran across that yet but I figured I would warn you in case you run into it.

Milani stole my heart with their Luminoso blush shade so it was only natural I would go back to them when picking out a darker blush shade for Fall. I picked up Milani's Berry Amore Baked Powder Blush ($6.97) and as usual I am impressed with the quality of their products! It amazes me how highly pigmented their colors are and the overall quality of the Milani line is in general. It is one of the pricier drugstore items but totally worth it in my opinion. They have some of the most gorgeous colors to choose from and they are department store quality. You can't beat it for the money. This shade is muted berry shade with hints of gold shimmer. It is so pretty on and it blends well giving your cheeks just a nice warm rosey glow to them. Their blushes are highly pigmented so you don't need a lot on your brush or you will end up looking like a clown so be light with your hand when applying.

I have had a really hard time lately when it comes to foundations! I do not know if it's the time of year or if I am going through hormonal issues but I can't seem to find a foundation that suits me. I think I have found the *perfect* one and weeks later I end up disliking it. I have dry skin so I tend to like the "dewey" formulas that are lightweight and less drying. I have tried several and recently purchased a new one because my other two "favorites" make me look ashy and dried out by the end of the day. I have tried L'Oreal True Match Lumi which I really liked because it was a light weight formula but I felt like it made my pores look huge and then I was in love with the Revlon Colorstay Whipped because of the full coverage it gave but I felt like it was really cakey after a while. I still stand behind those two foundations because they are GREAT but just not for my crazy skin at the moment. I decided to go back to my trusty line and pick up Physician's Formula Youthful Wear Cosmeceutical Youth-Boosting Foundation + Brush in Fair ($14.95). This foundation claims to be 12 hour wear and has SPF 15 in it. It claims you will look "10 years younger instantly" .... I can't tell that but the lady they used as an example on the box sure does! Figuring out how to use this product best was a challenge for me because I couldn't figure out how to apply it first. I tried putting a small amount on the back of my hand and using the brush to apply it but I felt like I was wasting a lot of the product that way and not getting the coverage I wanted. I eventually just applied the foundation directly to my face from the tube and blended it out. Sidenote: Always read the instructions on the box and it will tell you how to apply it, lol -- it said to apply it directly to your face! I have been using this product for a week and so far so good. I like it, it blends well, covers well and lasts all day long without rubbing off. I feel like it gives me a more natural finish than most foundations I have tried so maybe I have finally found the right product for me.

Since I am aging and sadly I have larger pores and fine lines I try to mask those as best I can without the help of Botox (which I would do if I could afford it) so I have been using Elf's High Definition Powder ($6.00) to help set my foundation and concealer. It's a translucent white powder that is supposed to help mask fine lines for everyday wear or high-definition camera technology (you know, for all those selfies we take)! It does help set my concealer under my eyes without settling into my fine lines and it does seem to blur out my imperfections (wrinkles) on my forehead. I have read mixed reviews on this product and most say they have to reapply it several hours later but they also had oily skin; I have dry skin and have no issues. I will say that put a towel around your neck or do not put your shirt on before applying this because it does have fall out when applying it with your brush. It's white so it does show up on anything that's dark and you don't want to risk ruining that days outfit. It does come with a "poof" but I prefer to use my large complexion brush by Elf's studio line.

Most of my summer was spent indoors and not out by our pool so my face is a nice shade of pale! I am always weary of bronzers because you can end up looking like an Oompa Loompa if you're not careful. Bronzers actually terrify me because I never know what shade I need or what color is going to make me look muddy/dirty so I steer clear of them unless I am contouring but I am at a point where this face needs some color. I look so washed out and pale so I did some research online and read reviews of different drugstore bronzers and came to the conclusion that I would try Physician's Formula Glow-Boosting Sun Stones in Light to Medium ($12.97). This product says it has a "Mistake Proof Formula" and so far that has been true, It doesn't leave me orange and it doesn't streak. I use a large face brush and swirl it around the stones and tap off the excess before applying it around my face. It gives my face a nice glow without looking fake and you can use this for contouring too with just a heavier hand when applying to your cheekbones and temples. Some people complain that this is "too shimmery" but I honestly do not have a problem with it. I think my only complaint would be is the little sun stones are a pain because it's easy for them to come out of the packaging. You have to be very careful when swirling your brush over them or you will have them all over the place!

My last product is a new fragrance I am trying for Fall! I have been wearing "Juicy" by Juicy Couture for the past two years and I was ready to switch it up a bit when I was down to the last few pumps in my bottle. I honestly can't stand shopping for new fragrances because I end up getting overwhelmed, scents start mixing together and I walk away with a huge headache and smelling like a hooker. I also don't have enough space on my body to try them all out because we all know that just because it smells great in the bottle doesn't mean it's going to smell  that way on your body. Everyone has their own chemistry and all scents react differently once you put them on. I guess that is why I don't understand why people don't apply the perfume on their wrist or forearm before buying it because it totally takes on a different scent once it's applied to your body. Also, what smells good on your best friend may smell horrible on you so you have to test them out first. Anyway....sorry, I will get off my soapbox; that is coming from my days working in a cosmetic department. I decided I would try Michael Kors Parfum ($50.00, 1 ounce) this time around. I liked the scent because it has hints of tuberose, freesia, gardenia and white lily. I love all of those floral scents and it's light but still heavy enough to be a Fall/Winter scent. I have read that it has a musk undertone to it but I don't smell that and I typically steer clear of woodsy/musky scents. I do think it lasts all day and a little goes a very long way -- you can apply too much if you're not careful. It's a very classic scent in my opinion and can be worn day or evening. I don't know if I will ever love anything more than I do my Juicy but this is giving it a good run for it's money!

Well, there you have it! My monthly beauty blog! I hope this gives you some insight to some great products out there to try for Fall and Winter! Let me know if you have tried any of these and your reviews -- also, if you have any product suggestion or questions!

xoxo,
Jamie

What's Cooking?

 What's Cooking?!? I have a lot on the burner both literally and figuratively! As many of you have noticed I have been preparing new recipes like a crazy woman lately. I know half of you don't give a rats ass about what I feed my family but it gives me something GOOD to share with my friends and family instead of the typical "unhappy" news of what's going on with Brody's health. Recently I decided to share my foodie posts on my social media outlets because I want to discuss happy things and possibly inspire others to try new and creative choices for dinner. I mean, seriously, who doesn't love food?? And most importantly....great food makes people happy! I don't do it to "toot my own horn" or brag about my cooking abilities; I honestly have been so inspired by the recipes I've found on Pinterest and Allrecipes.com that I want to share them! Cooking for me is also very therapeutic. I can get into my kitchen and forget all of my worries and just throw myself into a recipe that I know my family will enjoy eating. It makes me happy to make something for them that they are going to love eating! With this new cooking kick I have been on we have had some pretty amazing meals the past 2 weeks and they have been relatively inexpensive! I have also learned a lot more about how important flavors are to certain dishes and what compliments my main/side dishes. It has been a really fun experience that has been highly beneficial to my family because they've had full bellies for a couple of weeks now. I must say that I haven't grown bored with the whole cooking thing so this may actually last  a while! I also need all the therapy I can get these days so why not spend it in my kitchen being production?!

As far as Brody and his health is concerned everything is the same. He has good days and bad days. It's become pretty clear that participating in recess at school really runs him down to a point that isn't healthy. On the days where we have allowed him to stay for recess he has came home and has literally crashed and burned for that evening. On those particular days he lays around on the couch and usually winds up getting sick. He doesn't tolerate the heat well at all and looks like he is seconds away from a heat stroke when he's done with recess. When he is home we have to keep him on his pump so he's pretty much confined to the living room so when he's allowed to play he's at mach speed. The other day he asked me if I was picking him up early from school (so he misses recess) and I had told him I was and then he uttered words that broke.my.heart ; "Mommy, why do I have to be different?". Oh my God how I wanted to stop the car and just hug him! Through this entire process I have never wanted him to feel "different" and for him to even say that broke me. How do I answer that? Once the weather cools off we will try letting him participate in recess again but until then he can either stay at school and participate in a music class with a younger class or I can pick him up. It's not the most ideal situation but it is what it is and we have to do what is best and the healthiest for him. We do have an appointment with the Neurologist in early October to discuss Mitochondrial Disease and what direction we will go in with that diagnosis. Until then we are just taking it one day at a time and trying to roll with the punches.

Victoria is busy as always with school and band; she has something to do every day of the school week except Wednesday (the Deep South shuts down on Wednesday evenings for Church). It's kind of weird that she is driving now but it does make things so much easier when it comes to practices after school and errands she needs to run. I must say it's also nice that she has her license and comes in handy when I need her to run to the store for me! Right now she is more than happy to go but I am sure the "newness" of that will quickly wear off but until it does I will take advantage of it. It's that time of year again for the Homecoming dance and as of right now she doesn't have a date but I am sure that will change! She has a dress already picked out so I am planning on ordering it this weekend. It's one of the cheapest dresses she has chosen so I can't complain! Vic has also been on a cupcake baking binge and it's paid off because one of her old classmates wants her to bake 50 cupcakes for her baby shower. Yes, I said a baby shower, don't ask. Anyhoo, it's extra money for Victoria and she gets to do something she enjoys so what more can you ask for. We have also talked to Vic about getting a part-time job so she can earn extra spending cash for those little things she wants here and there. She doesn't have a lot of time but she does have some hours she could put in on the weekends; especially with the holidays coming up she should be able to make some good money. I also think this will help with her communication skills and learning responsibility outside of her chores at home (which is just the dishwasher and cleaning up after dinner -- pretty easy if you ask me!). It's hard to believe she is in her Junior year of High School....where has time gone???

We have a new family member!! We adopted another Russian Blue from our local humane society. He's a 6 month old spit fire named "Church". We didn't name him but he has been called that for months so we decided to stick with it. He is such a sweet little guy who is full of energy! We decided to get another cat after our other Russian Blue, Caesar, acted like he wanted a playmate. We have a neighborhood cat that we feed on the front porch and whenever it would come up Caesar would go nuts. He would purr, chirp, roll over and basically beg for the other cat to pay attention to him. He does the same thing with our dogs -- he just wants a friend. Mike is totally not a cat person but he does love the Russian Blue breed so when I found one we could adopt he agreed. Of course I was happy because I would have a farm full of animals if I could so I wasted no time in getting down to the shelter to claim him! Caesar was a little standoffish at first but he's coming around. As much as he would hate for us to "think" he likes Church, he does. They play all the time and follow each other around the house. They sleep together and eat together; it's pretty cute to watch. I have nicknamed them Big Bit and Little Bit. The Russian Blue breed is such a joy because they are like little dogs. They love their owners and are always trying to please you. They are also very attentive to your emotions and react accordingly. If you are sad or need cheering up they are snuggled up beside of you and if you are joking around they are sure to be clowning around with you. I think I like this breed the best because they are a lot like dogs because unlike most cats, they "need" you and aren't as independent as most cats.  The craziest thing is that Mike hated cats when we first got together and now he baby talks them and they are constantly following him around the house and sleeping on his side of the bed!

As for me, I am just taking it day by day. I have a lot of people ask me "How are you doing?" and honestly I have good days and bad days. I can't really say that my depression or anxiety is any worse; it's just worry, frustration and exhaustion. Maybe that is part of depression and anxiety but I do worry a lot about Brody and that keeps me physically and mentally exhausted. I keep asking myself was there something I did that could have possibly triggered his illness. I worry that he will never get off his feeding pump and eat like a normal human being. I get angry that he can't eat without getting sick and it makes me furious he has limitations when it comes to normal things a 5 year old should be doing (like recess without issues) but it's all out of my hands. I have to learn to "let go and let God" but that is hard when you are a control freak! I am trying very hard to not let his illness dictate my life but when you go to sleep and wake up every morning to the sound of his feeding machine running it's a constant reminder that our life is anything but "normal". I have thrown myself back into volunteering with the Alzheimer's Outreach program while Brody is in school and that is truly a blessing. It gives me an outlet and allows me to do something fun and positive. Like I have already blogged, I have been back in the kitchen and that has been entirely too much fun! I look forward to prepping dinner because I get alone (for the most part) time while being able to be creative and productive. That's a win/win if you ask me! Mike and I still try to do a date night each week so that is always a welcome break but we still desperately need a vacation together sans the kids! I'm really trying to focus on the good things in my life because I do have a lot of blessings. And as much as I can't believe it; Brody's illness has been a blessing. It has taught me a lot about myself and has shown me how strong our family really is.

Well, I think I have yapped enough....it's time to start dinner :)