52 Things

Every year I prepare a list of 52 things I'd like to accomplish in my personal life within the next year; one thing for each week of the new year.  Since starting this, I have never once completed all 52 things, but I do believe I have accomplished more by having the list, than not.  Besides, it's a list!!  What could be more happy-making than writing a nice list?!?  There aren't many rules.  Each item has to be something I can easily accomplish in a week.  I don't have to do them in order and I always try to break each item down into workable units to get them done over the course of the week.  It's fun...really...I promise it is!!  Here's my official 2013 list!

1. Make up a new recipe and test it out on the family and then blog about it. Done.
2. Clean and organize the main bathroom linen closet. Done.
3. Read, Never Eat Anything Bigger Than Your Head & Other Drawings, by B. Kliban. Done.
4. Read, First Grave on the Right, by Darynda Jones.
5. Go through Son's clothes and remove all of the ones he has grown out of, which should be many! Done.
6. Get all of the ingredients and make a big batch of Stuffed Grape Leaves.
7. De-clutter 1/4 of the garage (1of 4).
8. De-clutter 1/4 of the garage (2 of 4).
9. De-clutter 1/4 of the garage (3 of 4).
10. De-clutter 1/4 of the garage (4 of 4).
11. Complete a business trip to New York. Done.
12. Take my first leisure trip to Hawaii with my sister! (Okay...this changed to Las Vegas...Done!)
13. Take down the Christmas Tree!  (I'll be doing this one first on January 1.) Done.
14. Put up the Christmas Tree!  (So, this happens the same time every year, the day after Thanksgiving.) Done.
15. Go through my clothes, shoes and bags and remove those things which are no longer useful. Done.
16. Rearrange the furniture in the living room. Done.
17. Purchase and hang window coverings for the dining room. Done.
18. Paint the master bathroom. Done.
19. Clean all the windows in the house. Done.
20. Freshen and redecorate the front porch. Done.
21. Come up with a new nail art design and blog about it. Done (so many times everyone is sick to death of it!!)
22. Drive a completely different way to work each day of a the 5 work days one week and blog about it.  (That's right!  You too can be totally bored to death by my nonsense, just by reading my blog!! You know, like now!! :)
1. The MoPac way. Done.
2. The IH35 way. Done.
3. The Double Sneaky Back way. Done.
4. The Lamar to Breaker to Dessau way. Done.
5. The Metric to Rundburg way. Done.
23. Plan and prepare a week of only Italian food meals for the family and then blog about it.
24. Clean and redecorate the back patio area.
25. Plan and prepare a picnic for the family at a nice location near home.  (Let's see if they go or if I'm alone in this one!) Done.
26. Plan and prepare a week of only vegetarian food meals for myself and then blog about it. (My boys will never want to do this one!)
27. Detail my car.  (I must do the work myself!) Done.
28. Clean and organize the master bathroom linen closet. Done.
29. Purchase and install a new light fixture for the dining room. Done.
30. Select, purchase and install new outdoor lighting for the front porch and back patio.
31. Complete the 2014 travel plans for me and my sister. (She's stuck with me!!) Done.
32. Take a favorite look out of a fashion magazine and then try to recreate the look for myself for less than $100. Done.
33. Take a 2 hour hike in a local natural area.
34. Take a walk each day on a different walking trail in the area.
35. Clean out the drawer of my bedside table.
36. Learn how to better organize my blog. Done.
37. Make a video for YouTube on something I feel strongly about. Done.
38. Get my CHL.
39. Plan and complete the reorganization of my vanity area. Done.
40. Go to a concert. Done.
41. Take a weekend trip to a resort within driving distance of my home.
42. Try a different 30 minute workout routine every day for a week. Done.
43. Select a cookbook and make dinners from that book every night for a week and then blog about it.
44. Wear nothing but black with one pop of a different color each day, for a week and blog about it.
45. Plan and prepare a dynamite Halloween costume! Done, but didn't get to wear it!
46. Complete a full Spring cleaning of my home. Done.
47. Complete a full Fall cleaning of my home. Done.
48. Plan and prepare a week of Cowboy food meals for the family and then blog about it.  (Yes, there is such a thing!)
49. Select a favorite Cowgirl look from a magazine and then try to recreate the look for myself for less than $250. (I'm investing in me this year! ;)
50. Go through and get rid of all the unnecessary magazines there are around this place! Done.
51. Plan and prepare a week of German food meals for the family and then blog about it.
52. Take a 3 hour hike in a local natural area.

Also, there is a list of 5 things that I want to do for 2013 in general, all the time and we'll just call these my resolutions.  Here they are:

1. Eat when I'm hungry; stop when I'm full.  You know, like normal people do. Not so done.
2. Exercise at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week. Close, but still not completely done.
3. Stop weighing!  The number on the scale is not even important to me, so why do I still look at it? Done!
4. Take my lunch to work from home as many days as possible.  (Need the extra $ to fund some of my 52 Things above!) Done!!
5. Listen.  What? I don't think this will ever be DONE!

I'll update this blog posting each week and mark out something that I've accomplished.  So, I guess my list making is coming to an end for today.  I've had fun writing the lists, I just hope you're still awake!  Thanks for dropping by and I'll see you soon, Sweeties!

Foundation Test: L'Oreal True Match Compact Foundation

I just can't leave well enough alone.  That's why I keep trying to make inexpensive foundation work for me.  Drug store makeup has always been a problem for me. I know this, but I want so badly to be able to find just one inexpensive foundation that I can use that won't make me look like a goof.  I did a YouTube video on the not-so-flattering Fit Me foundation by Maybelline.  The foundation only cost me $2.94 (thanks to a $3 coupon from my local HEB!  Love those coupons!!).  I've now tested that foundation with and without priming and with three different application methods:  Fingers, Sponge and Foundation Brush.  In the case of both of these inexpensive foundations, the brush worked best.

The L'Oreal True Match Compact Foundation is the subject of today's test.  I primed my face with Sephora's Luminous Primer and gave great attention to the smoothness and moisture level of my skin.  I wanted this foundation to have every opportunity to win in the end.  Here is what I looked like without any makeup, but completely prepped with Rosacia treatment, eye cream and moisturizer:

As you can see, I have my normal issues, baggy eyes, lots of broken capillaries, spots galore...the normal me.  Then I applied the L'Oreal True Match Compact Foundation!!  So, let me just say that the "True Match" part of the name is just ridiculous.  How are you supposed to really match this stuff to your skin if you can't test it in the store?  I did my best, but as you'll see my best wasn't good enough.  I have a very pronounced yellow undertone, so I went with the shade in the middle of the light range for warm or yellow toned skin.  The color is terrible!!  The reason I was particularly drawn to this foundation in the first place was because it is in a compact form.  This would have made it easy for me to carry for touch-ups.  With all the nose blowing I do for allergies, I need to be able to touch-up my foundation around my nose.  Here is but a few of the things I notice about this foundation:

1. The color is too difficult to match and indeed, I didn't do well at all.
2. The foundation settles directly into every pour on my face.  If you have big pours, get ready to be able to name every one of them, because they are going to staring at you when you look in the mirror after applying this foundation.
3. Coverage is full with little concealing required.
4. Finish is matte-ish.
5. Looks cakey or is that cakie?  Regardless of how you spell it, it's bad.
6. The makeup makes me look quite lifeless.  Not exactly the look I'm going for here.

Being the consummate optimist, I decided to press on and wear this foundation today (I'm doing laundry so who will see me except my artist husband and sweet son, who probably will save my feelings and say nothing...maybe).  Here is the finished look with eyes, cheeks and lips:

It's hard to see the nastyness that is this foundation, so here are some closeups of the product on my skin:

Look at the dots, which are my pours!  I see Fred, Ginger, Cary, Mabel, Cecil...I'm naming my pours since we are going to be SO close now!!

Yes, I'm a hot mess.  Look at that forehead!  You can see every bit of this foundation laying in the pours, lines and dry spots of my skin.  As my husband would say about any ugly thing, "Distance lends enchantment to the view." So, the farther away from me you are, the better I'll look!  Great!!!  So far, I have not reacted with a rash, but the day is young!  Again, I had a $3 off coupon from my HEB (LOVE HEB) for this foundation.  The final price:  $7.97! The cost of this one hurts, but I WILL NOT do it again.  That's it!  As my wonderful sister says, I'm worth expensive foundation that looks good.  Tomorrow I go back to work (been on a little holiday) so I'll be sure to wear the good stuff and do a blog showing the difference.  You'll be amazed!

Thanks for dropping by!  I hope this helps and that you too tread with care if you're thinking of making the investment in L'Oreal True Match Compact Foundation or indeed, in any drug store foundation.  See you later, Sweeties!

Givenchy Meets Big Girl

I've always considered myself a person with little to no taste in clothes.  Personally, I believe this is because, if you haven't already noticed, I'm something of a big girl and no one, but NO ONE was making stylish clothes for big girls...until now.  More and more I'm seeing things that are so beautiful in the stores for girls like me. Some of these things I've been seeing on my stylish little sister!  My biggest drawback has been that I really thought I couldn't wear these things as they were too young for me.  Well, I've changed my mind.  Here is what I've put together for an upcoming business trip to New York (forgive the photography as I was SO excited to be doing anything resembling styling, my shots are less than ideal).

Day 1

The meeting opens on a Monday evening with a cocktail party.  I want to look smart, but not too sparkly.  Here I've paired a bead embellished purple top with dark, wide-leg jeans.  I've added a kitten heel, sling-back shoe in black, black shawl and black clutch.  The wide-leg jeans create a clean line from my hip to the floor and the top has gathering in the right places to show off my ample curves...just a little!

Day 2

This is the first full day of meetings, so I want to be comfortable yet lighthearted.  Here I've paired dark-wash, straight leg jeans with a black top that has lace inset on the front and back bodice.  I've added a pair of comfortable Anne Klein zip flats and a black clutch.  A bright scarf in pink and white plaid gives a pop of cheerful color and some added warmth. (I also have a casual black jacket if I get too cold!)

Day 3

We're in the groove now and I'll need a little more excitement in my day.  Forgive the lousy photograph, but what I'm showing here is the dark-wash, straight leg jeans now with a colorful, pleated chiffon blouse over a black lace camisole.  My shoes are the same Anne Klein zip flats, and a black CC Skye clutch.

Day 4

This is my last day of meetings, but there is an award banquet in the evening and so I've worked out two looks for this day.  For day, I've brought out my black pants and topped it with an off-white turtle-necked shell and added a large scarf with dark green impressionist painting which fades from both ends to off-white in the middle, to cover my shoulders and arms.  I'll wear my black pumps and carry the CC Skye bag.

For the evening, I'll wear my new LBD!  It has lovely beaded styling in the bodice and cap sleeves.  I'll pair this with the black sling-back heels, black hose, evening bag and black shawl.  I'll add my sparkliest rhinestone jewelry to spike things up a bit and smoke up my eye makeup.

Following are the alternate looks which will travel with me, just in case I change my mind (likely to happen as I'm just that way!):

Lots of black and white! Obviously, the black sling-back heels are going to get a workout during this meeting, but they are really lovely and work equally well for business and evening.  They are black, diamond quilted suede, with a kitten heel.  The heel, toe and back strap are all patent leather.  The shoes are made by Vaneli and are the most comfortable dress shoes I've ever owned.

These extra outfits will give me something to change into should we have lots of activities after the meetings.  Also, the final outfit here is for the one evening we are likely to go "out" of the hotel of dinner.  This outfit is made up of black pants, topped with a red turtle-neck and covered with a black cowl-neck fringed poncho.  The red scarf has leopard print hearts and leopard print trim.  I added the black heels and CC Skye bag and it really looks lovely.  I hope it's cold enough for all these layers, because I'm going to look SMASHING in this outfit!!

The other comfortable shoes that will travel along with me are my new Fergalicious flats by Fergie.

Dark gray with chain detailing at the toes; they are really cute!  These will go perfectly with a dark gray handbag that is currently doing duty as my every-day bag.  Thank you, DSW!

I'm ready for my meeting and trip to New York! By the way, I think I'll call my style Givenchy meets Big Girl, hence the title.  I'm here; I'm BIG and I'm going to wear whatever I like, damn it!!!  Want to make something out of it??  (Hands on Hips!!)  Ta-ta for now, sweeties!!

Foundation: Makeup Forever HD

I'm testing foundations! Me being average, I mean really average, I want to show that real women can stop the madness that is crummy foundation and find happiness in a world of better products.

I have never been one who found it easy to use makeup. I have Rosacia and those who have this virus will never be rid of it. This is what I look like without makeup, but treated:

It can range from a little redness to out and out disfigured! I control mine with a topical medication and when I have major flare-ups, a low grade antibiotic will help me. Since I don't like pills, I use the topical most of the time. The other issues I have are lots of broken capillaries, very baggy eyes and hyper-pigmentation!  Drug store makeup, which is all I ever knew, since that is what my mother used, has never worked for me. It can make me react with even more redness and rash and so for more than 25 years, I just didn't wear any makeup.

Then one day about 2 years ago, I attended a funeral where in honor of the deceased, I put on makeup to look my best. At that funeral so many people said nice things about how I looked. The one comment/question that got me was, "Why don't we see you like this more often?" Well, why not indeed!! So here I am trying out foundations and practicing my technique!

Today, I used Makeup Forever HD foundation. This foundation changed my life! It is the first foundation that truly matched my skin tone, didn't cause any awful skin reactions and looks fairly natural. I apply this foundation with fingers. The base is smoothed on then I'm able to pat some on for more coverage where I am very red. I do not powder except where I conceal. Here is me with just foundation on (big difference!):

In the end, I think I'd call this my favorite everyday foundation. Cost wise, it's not cheap, but I think you get what you pay for. I paid $44 at Sephora for this foundation, but I also get VIB perks, so there is value for me there.

Here is what the finished look is like:

Okay, overlooking the crazy hair, garment strap slippage and silly bathroom background, I think it looks pretty good and feels very natural!

Thanks for dropping by.  More foundations and looks to come (oh, and other stuff because that's just how I roll)! See you soon, sweeties!

Merry Christmas!!

It is unfortunate that political correctness has no tolerance for individualism. I speak here of the apparent inappropriateness of the seasonal wish, "Merry Christmas" which many individuals, such as myself, desire offering to all those who engage us. I'm so sorry you don't like the phrase, but as a free living citizen of the greatest nation in the world (who doesn't think their nation is the greatest?), I will continue to exercise my right to say, "Merry Christmas" any time I like. In fact, I may say it all year long now just to make my point clearly understood. In my opinion it is politically incorrect to limit the words of ANY person. Say what you like, as it is you and only you who are responsible for those words.

I am a Christian who celebrates this holiday as I like. I don't ask you to join me, like it, Facebook it, Tweet it or approve it. In fact, you can do your thing, your way and I'll do my thing, my way. The idea that a good wish offered in good faith is somehow wrong, is just preposterous! The whole "Happy Holidays" thing is now fatiguing me!!!

My final words on this subject: Get over it!!! Now accept it or don't, I don't care. Nevertheless, Merry Christmas!