One of my all time favorite Sex and the City episodes is where Carrie and Berger fight over if fashionable women actually wear scrunchies. Carrie (of course) states that no woman wears one outside the presence of a sink where she is washing her face.  Berger then finds a woman at a restaurant sporting a red scrunchy and Carrie's responds … she's not from New York … Berger taps her on the shoulder and the woman has a southern accent and states she's from Atlanta. 

So … why are we now discussing this? Well, scrunchies used to be all the rage in the 80s and early 90s - so what happened? I started pondering this the other night when I wanted to lay in bed with a loose top knot. A hair tie was too tight and bobby pins kept falling out and I thought … wouldn't it be great if I had a big soft scrunchy to put my hair up. Then at my next trip to the Dollar Tree I bought three on the smaller side for $1. I love them. I'm fessing up, I wore the gray one Monday and the blue one Tuesday and skipped using one today. I think it's actually better for my hair as well. My hairdresser is always fussing at me for using hair ties - could a scrunchy is less stress and yet does the job just as well. So why not use a scrunchy?

 



Oh right because scrunchy today is a gateway scrunchy to this look. Velveteen scruchies are never good … nope never … ah ah AH NEVER. Okay so if you keep it within reasonable size and color (normal color range does not include sunflowers or any other pattern that your grandma would use to make an apron) I see no reason to wear a scrunchy in a top knot.

Proof! Here is a model rocking a scrunchy on the runway. Okay you know how runways are … less is more for actual humans. So see … a small scrunchy can be justified for a top knot! YAY! 

 

So what do you think … to scrunchy … do or don't?

Face Wipe Face Off

I realize that I have tried a lot of face wipes this past year so I thought I would give you a list of my absolute favorites along with two that completely missed the mark.

 

In the cleansing category, I just love these Yes To Blueberry wipes and the Pond's Original wipes.  The Yes To wipes smell amazing and both leave my skin clean and fresh.  These Pond's wipes really have no scent but they work extermely well.  Both work well on removing dirt and oil and makeup.  I've even used them on my eyes without any burning or irritation.

 

In the soothing category, I love Yes To Cucumber wipes and Pond's Evening Soothe.  They both leave my skin clean and fresh - oh and soothed.  I love the scent of the Pond's wipes and the Yes To Cucumbers have a mild cucumber scent.  I have used these to remove makeup but I would probably save these for an after the shower or in the morning before putting makeup on since there not really classified for "cleansing".  I have used these on my eyes and did not have any burning or irritation.

 

In the exfoliating category, I have used Simple Exfoliating and Yes to Grapefruit.  I love both of these but use them for different things.  The Simple Exfoliating wipes are a bit on the dry and rough side.  I like to use these on dry skin patches I get around this time of the year.  It removes them without leaving behind any sign of dryness.  I use them in the morning before putting on my makeup primer so my face is super smooth.  The Yes to Grapefruit are a tiny bit wetter and a tiny bit less rough.  However, the grapefruit definetly works its magic on your skin.  These I would use before bed because my face does get a bit pink after using them - so much so that my husband has noticed.  Neither are too rough but the Yes To might be a little overpowering to someone with sensitive skin.  The Simple exfoliating have no scent and the Yes To Grapefruit have that great fresh citrus smell yet it doesn't linger for long.

 

Onto the FAILS - First, Almay makeup wipes, these are EVIL!  They burn and burn the heck out of your eyes.  They are extremely wet wipes so I have been soaking the product up with a Qtip and using that for touch ups but I definitely PASS on the wipes but perhaps purchase their liquid makeup remover.  Second, the Simple cleansing, there is just nothing to love.  The wipes are borderline dry yet soft so there's really nothing going on when you wipe them on your face.  They leave behind too much dirt and oil and makeup.  I think the dryness works well in the Simple exfoliating wipe but the cleansing ones definetly need a bit more moisture to get the job done.

 

If you want to purchase one out of each category I would recommend the following set up:

 

Pond's Original for cleaning, Pond's Evening Soothe for soothing and Simple Exfoliating for exfoliating.  All of these you can usually find on sale at Target.  I've gotten a lot of them for under a $1 a pack.  {Leave a comment if you want to know how to save $$}  The Yes To brand is a more natural product so I definitely would recommend those as well - I've also gotten each pack on a pretty good sale - I think under $2 a pack {again leave a comment if you want to know how to save $$}.

 

Since I've only tried three brands - let me know your favorite face wipes!

 

Last week of the year so I better ...

1) get all my 2014 new year resolutions done ... there is STILL TIME!  Oh wait I didn't make any for 2014 ... whew all good.

 

2) start reminiscing about 2014 ... it was a great year because ... you know blah blah blah.

 

3) start beating myself up about everything wrong with me and vow to fix it in 2015.  Wait what ... I'm perfect ... thank you self esteem!  (Reminder:  please show up when I am plucking white hairs out of my head ... thanks love you!)

 

4) buy a calendar, planner, weekly calendar, daily calendar, etc. (Seriously, I am a sucker for planners.  I buy them/make them/NEVER USE THEM.  It's a yearly cycle that I want to break - yes they are pretty - no you don't need it!)

 

5) put everything off until the last week of 2015.  Okay so this last one was just to be funny - but seriously what do I NEED to get done by 11:59 p.m. December 31, 2015?  Can't think of anything ... #firstworldproblems

 

As I say every year at this time - let's not try to beat ourselves up.  Goals are great and accomplishing them makes them even better, but stressing because that 2015 ball is inevitably falling in a few days has no realistic demand on your life.  Unless, the Mayians were wrong and they meant 2015 dun dun DUNNNNNNN.  #youknowpeepsbecrazy

 

So if I HAD to come up with something that I want for 2015 I would say ... be grateful for some of the great friendships I have in my life and stop giving so much time and energy to the friendships that aren't so great.

 

VOTE!!!!

I know I don’t post much anymore and no one will probably even read this, but I’m gonna say this anyways. 

VOTE! Midterm elections and state and local elections are just as important as voting for the President. There is such a small percentage of people that actually vote. We should all be voting. There really is no excuse, the options are endless, mail, early voting and 7 am to 7 pm hours on election day. I voted on Saturday and my local voting spot had a place where you could check how long the wait time would be. Mine stated less than 15 mins and when I got there I went right in to vote. I was in and out under 15 mins. 

As for voting, no matter whom you are voting for, it is important for your vote to count. There are so many things in the world now that need to change and need to advance. If we, the people, vote more … it shows that we care more. The generation gaps are getting pretty big. Baby boomers are in their prime years for voting and seem pretty stuck in the mud by today’s standard, yet our younger generation is the one fueling the technology age and becoming more accepting of certain age old stigmas. This gap is what causes the younger generations to not vote. Everyone’s tired of hearing the same old rhetoric being shoved on us with the 24 hour news cycle and this can cause complacency. Giving up because of the thoughts that nothing will change, is precisely what is wrong with voting in America. 

Lastly, take pride in the fact that you can vote. Sure we live in a “free country” and we all have the right to vote, but it wasn’t always that way. Women were given the right to vote in 1919, so it hasn’t even been 100 years yet. So make your great grandmother proud and VOTE!

I lost my street cred and I'm ready for Pumpkin Spice!

So I guess my Gold status has been revoked from Starbucks.  Does that mean if I try to use my Gold card they will cut it up like a maxed out credit card?!?   Wouldn't that be funny ... um sorry but we HAVE to do this ... 

So ... obviously this doesn't come to be as a shock but I am now wondering if I won't get my birthday reward?  Yeah I think the last time I was at Starbucks there were hearts on the cups ... LOL.  I've actually considered deleting the Starbucks app but sometimes I get cool apps for free so yeah ... whatya gonna do?

Has pumpkin spice started yet?  It's so hard to tell when we are supposed to get excited about our non-existent fall weather.  It's kinda hard to think about a pumpkin spice latte when you are sweating to death walking to your car.  But regardless, I am totally ready to try this receipe I saw in a magazine about making my own pumpkin spice latte at home.  (Oh btw Sbux ... I'll be using Seattle's Best Coffee ... yep that's how it is now ... hurts a little huh?)

Okay so in my October issue of Good Housekeeping (don't judge it was a free subscription!), there is a recipe to make an at home version.  I haven't tried it yet but I'm totally going to when the grocery store starts shoving pumpkin at you like buy ... buy .... BUY!

So since I haven't made it yet ... I have no photo yet to share so how about a someecard instead?

So here is the recipe...

COPYCAT PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE 

MAKES: 4 cups syrup (32 to 64 lattes)

INGREDIENTS FOR THE SYRUP

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin

INGREDIENTS FOR THE LATTE

8 ounces whole milk
4 ounces strong brewed coffee or espresso
Whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Prepare the syrup: Bring the sugar and 2 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking, until the sugar dissolves. Add the cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin. Simmer, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Set aside 5 minutes, then strain twice through a fine-mesh strainer into an airtight container. Refrigerate until cool. Store in the refrigerator for about 1 month. You'll end up with about 4 cups total. 

STEP 2

For each latte: Microwave the milk on High about 1 minute or until very hot. (Transfer to a blender and blend 20 seconds for extra frothy milk, if desired.) Put 1 to 2 tablespoons pumpkin spice syrup in the bottom of a mug. Top with the coffee and warm milk. Garnish with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, if desired.

Also, I've got a way you can make some delicious pumpkin bread.  I HAVE made this one ... but I don't think I have any pics ... let me check ... nope no pics ... but TRUST ME this is amazing.  Basically, I found this recipe years ago when I was constantly buying pumpkin bread at Sbux and thought ... if I am gonna eat a loaf a week ... I might as well make it.  So I used my trusty friend google and found a great recipe from Martha Stewart.  Here's the recipe ...

Ginger Pumpkin Bread

PREP: 20 MINS
TOTAL TIME: 2 HOURS 40 MINS
SERVINGS:12

INGREDIENTS
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, plus room-temperature butter for pan
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (1 3/4 cups)Let · 3 large eggs
Sugar Glaze, (optional)

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch (6-cup) loaf pans (When the pan is well buttered and floured, the loaf is easy to release and has neat sides. Using a pastry brush, spread room-temperature butter on the inside of the pan, including corners. Dust the pan with flour to coat butter completely. To get rid of excess flour, invert pan and tap over sink.); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugars, pumpkin, melted butter, and eggs; add flour mixture, and stir until just combined.

STEP 2

Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of loaves comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; invert pans and transfer loaves to a wire rack to cool completely. Glaze, if desired.

 

The ginger makes this pumpkin loaf so amazing. I added a bit more ginger than stated because I just love the flavor. I also added ginger to my pumpkin pies that I took over to my family holiday ginger and everyone raved how much they loved my pie.

I'll post photos when I make my pumpkin spice latte and my pumpkin bread.

Let me know if you try any of these!

Am I the only one?

Any time I see this and hear the static when watching a HBO show ... I then immediately hear (in my head) the Sex and the City theme song ... maybe it just proves that I watched each episode too many times!

Am I the only one?

It's Okay...

to blow up your husband's cell phone when he doesn't answer - can't be a crazy stalker chick when you're married :) plus my life would be 100 times easier if he would just use TEXT MESSAGING!!!  His cell phone ... think Jitterbug!

to give a stranger a Bath & Body Works coupon regardless of how much she looks at you like a crazy person..  Yes ... we were in Bath & Body Works and I was just trying to be nice.  She acted as if we were in the Hunger Games and I gave her all my weapons ... okay maybe a bad analogy.

to not have my taxes done ... at least I'm getting a refund ... maybe I hope to log back on to HR Block and somehow it magically doubled since the last time I was in there.

to want to take a nap at 6 pm.

to hate nail polish!  Seriously ... why do I even try?

To give screaming kids in the store dirty looks (not infants ... you know ones that should know better) ... hey at least I don't say ... tell mommy to get off the phone and tell you to shut the heck up!!!

to do your makeup while sitting on the toilet ... if it wasn't part of the design plan of my master bathroom it wouldn't be conveniently laid out that way.....right?

to spend 15 minutes cyber stalking an old friend.  Yes I limit my cyber stalking to 15 minute intervals.

to watch youtube like tv ... you know on this night this youtuber updates.  Are you on youtube let me know I will watch all of your videos,  I'm like 10 years late on the whole youtube craze but better late than never.

I hope you all are having or had a fabulous weekend!

What's okay with you today?

New Products I'm Trying - Will they work?

Here are a few new products I am using that I thought I would share with you guys.  So far I am really loving the detangling brush which I saw a review on YouTube and had to try.  Even though I am sure that the blue brush for thick/curly hair probably would have worked a tad better I have no complaints on the brush.  My hair is so long right now that it is constantly getting tangled and I was having such a hard time brushing it.  My arm would be tired from pulling and tons of breakage.  This brush there is little to no hair in the bristles when I am done and since it detangles with ease my arm doesn't feel like it is going to fall off.  The John Frieda hair straightener is a complete surprise too.  I figured I would end up taking it back because it wouldn't heat up hot enough or heck even work well.  It heats up to 455 and is adjustable which my Chi was not.  So far loving it.  The vitamins are a little too soon to tell.  I do feel like my nails are a bit thicker and right now pretty long.  So I will see how long it takes them to chip or break.  Maybe there will be a difference.  I'll keep you posted.  As for the B-12, it does increase energy (without jitters) and boost my mood.  As for my grays, fingers crossed I do not get any more anytime soon.  The five strands I have found have been scary enough.  Also, they aren't gray it is straight up WHITE!  The BB cream is so far kinda like .... ehhhh.  I mean it is not horrible but it's not my favorite thing in the world.  It's better than smearing liquid foundation across your face because it goes on much lighter also does not get cakey.  Also, I say liquid moisturizer because it feels more like lotion when it goes on.  However, my face has been a little more on the dry side lately so ... maybe saying "moisturizer" is wrong.  Again, I'll keep you posted.  However, I would definitely recommend for poolside or beach wear.  The toothpaste seems to work.  I've only had this since Wednesday of this week and I already see a noticeable difference in the whiteness of my teeth.

So why the (*) in the descriptions - I actually didn't pay anything for these products.  I got them for free at CVS with a combination of coupons, CVS coupons, and CVS Bucks.  I plan on doing more of these posts for any new products I find cheap/free.  Let me know if you want to hear how and I will include that next time.

Hope you are all having a fab weekend!

J'Adore: Best Dressed

I know this is old news but I just had to point out my Oscar best dressed (even though I never watch the Oscars and get ticked off when my shows are on repeat because of them).

Kate Blanchett

I just love her ... she's always so beautiful at the award shows.
I love her pale milky skin.  My sister Nicole is blessed with this skin.

Matthew McConnaughey

I am not usually one to have a Hollywood crush.
However, right now I am just loving McConnaughey in True Detective!
Also, props to him for boucing back ... he's been overly skinny and kinda trashy looking for awhile.

Who's look did you love?

Things currently whirling around in my head ...

1) Procrastination - I totally have a long Physics assignment to do yet I have no energy to do it ... 

2) How the heck is Downton Abbey already over??!!??

3) I am sitting here trying to gain the strength to at least do something useful and straighten my hair.

4) I blame my lack of caring and eagerness to get anything done on PMS. 

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my return to the blog world.

Let me [Re]Introduce Myself

I feel  I know I haven't blogged in a LONG time.  

Remember me?

I'm that girl who started blogging here as Shia - for some crazy reason.

I started this blog in 2009.  2009?!? So much has changed since then!

When I started here ... I started to write about things I thought about ... liked ... wondered ... you get the point.  So it was essentially the world according to me.  I loved my blog and even though I had under 10 followers, I didn't care.  I wrote practically everyday and things got better and better and then one day, I had 50 followers - including people I had never met ... then 75 then I was cheer-zing to 100!  It just got better and better.  Sure as my blog grew ... I progressed and things I blogged about changed.

I feel like my blog became a little too superficial.  I feel like it became all about clothes and buying stuff.  Perhaps for a moment, I changed too, I only cared about clothes and buying MORE clothes and having cuter and cuter outfits.  Then things changed again.  Real life changes.  Scary ones that will ultimately be the best changes of my life.  First off, I got married something I never thought I would ever do.  I just always felt as if I was too independent of a person to ever get married but even before that happened.  I decided a major thing in my life.  I didn't want to be an attorney.  I know that sounds like so what no biggie.  Um yeah totally a biggie when my whole academic life since like middle school was pointed in the direction of being an attorney.  No turning back ... I already missed that fork in the road and it was no longer in the rear view mirror.  So I was in limbo ... working in the legal world and constantly being reminded that I didn't want to be there.  So I just pushed it down and pushed it down to where my life didn't ALWAYS feel consumed by my miserable dead end.  So I started blogging.  Because there was this glimmer of maybe I could be a writer ... a dream of writing for a magazine.  I thought ... I can write the same types of stuff ... heck that is what my blog is all about ... random things I constantly have whirling around in my mind.  So my blog was a fun outlet that I could talk about and heck even work on at that miserable dead end.  So fast forward back to getting married.  I really never thought I would find someone like Paul.  I know that is like the most clique thing to say but it is the truth.  He is my best friend.  I love him more than I have ever loved anyone in my life.  So when a minor work change occurred he was SUPER supportive.  The risk didn't pay off and for a split second I thought about turning back to that dead end.  Then the greatest thing happened ... Paul was actually my voice of reason.  Instead of having to make decisions on my own and fighting my way through all the difficult decisions ... he was there for me.  Long story short ... I am in my second semester of fulfilling pre-reqs for some healthcare programs I am going to apply to and I no longer feel as if my whole academic life was a waste.  It makes my current GPA ... KICK ASS!  So there's the best silver lining.  Soon I will be doing something (depending on what program accepts me) that I never even considered doing and I couldn't be happier.  So why all the crickets here?  Well ... I just felt like my blog went down a path of no return.  I felt like there was nothing to blog about anymore.  I don't care about the same things.  That superficial stuff just doesn't even remotely excite me anymore and I thought it wasn't fair to just change my blog.  I mean that's why you followed me ... right?  Well I hope you are yelling at your computer screen ... WRONG!  I just got in that blog slump where I've been MIA for so long ... how do you get your groove back?  I mean please I've got tons of attention grabbing greatness that I can throw up here but a cute outfit is the least of my worries.  So after all that I've just rambled ... I am here to tell you.  That (1) I am back.  FOR REALS! and (2) things will be a tad different ... well not different but more like the way it used to be.  I wrote for me and for you not just what I thought you wanted.  Does that make sense?  

Lastly, I just want to say that I've missed my blog and I've missed all of you.

So thanks for sticking with me ... I hope all will be back to normal ASAP!