I never was good at keeping a journal. But, I never wanted to forget anything I have been through either. My sister has collected maybe 10 journals through the years, she has written in one after another . She used to write in them all the time. It would inspire me to write in my own journal, but I would never keep it up. Since technology allows us now to blog on the web, I have decided this is my way of keeping track of my life, and things I think about. I think it would be interesting to read back what I wrote, and what I was thinking at that time and age to reminisce. So maybe, you might see me posting blogs reminiscing of my trips to Europe with Sophie and Casey. Or maybe the memories I had of my dad and grandfather. Or even my high school times with my best friends, being a cheerleader, and being on the dance team. Also, meeting my good friends from College, and how I decided to do what I ended up doing. Those were too good of times to forget!
I think this is my time to try things I thought I would never like. Take reading for example! I was forced in High School to pick from a list of 5 books, and to choose 3 for my summer reading ever year. How would every single person in my class be interested in all 3 books they had to choose? The only one I remember liking was the book Hiroshima and maybe the Shakespeare novels. Other than that, I was not interested. I think I didn’t like being forced to do things, and so I learned to see it as a punishment rather than a hobby or favorite past time. Until…… Twilight came to Earth! My mom laughed over the phone when I told her what I had accomplished in reading the series. I read all four books in 6 weeks! For some people like my sister, that’s nothing. To me, that’s everything!! I read the 2nd book in three days. That is unheard of in my brain! I loved the story, and I wanted to read more and more! Ian didn’t like it so much when I came home from work and darted straight for my book, reading it until 11 or 12 at night; he sort of felt like the neglected child. Well, at least it passed quickly! Besides The Notebook, Twilight was the only other book I read before seeing the movie. THIS began my newfound love for reading. Granted, I have not picked up another book yet, but I plan to get to the bookstore soon or take a suggestion from my sister.
Blogging, reading, writing, getting glasses, I have become a nerd.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Valentine's Weekend 2009 in Bass Lake
Ian and I decided to take a trip to Bass Lake for Valentines weekend, by Yosemite National Park. It reminded me a lot of Lake Tahoe, my childhood vacation spot. Ian grew up taking trips to Bass Lake with his family. So he was familiar with the area, roads, and scenery. We decided to stay at the Pines Lodge, which was so fun and gorgeous! It was snowing pretty much all week before we went. On the drive there on Friday night the 13th, we definitely were hydroplaning all over the place from the icy roads! It snowed all day friday too, even when we arrived. Luckily, we had Ian's big truck with 4 wheel drive. It was scary though, but pretty!
We got in Friday night about 10:30 pm. We both were tired. Ian was tired from driving so tentatively for the few hours up the icy mountain, and I was tired from a long week of work. All we wanted to do was go to sleep! Ian had the 2 weeks prior off work, a standard mandatory vacation period given to officers every year. Paid and all!
Saturday we went out on the town, mostly exploring. We found this little restaurant/bar called the Buckhorn Saloon. It was Ian's heaven! They had really good food, and was decorated like something straight out of a small town in the south. They had shotgun shells as hanging lights, deer and boar heads on the walls, and a big bear with a t-shirt on in the corner. They had pool tables, funny white trash signs, country music playing, and it was full of locals. I felt a little city girl-ish with my Ugg boots and Chanel sunglasses. But it was fun!
Then we went shopping in town. We found a cute salt and pepper shaker set with John Wayne on the salt shaker, which is a mini coffee canister, and the pepper shaker is a mini coffee mug.
We love John Wayne in our house, he is the decor in some small places!
That night, we dressed up a bit, as much as we could for the maybe 30 degree weather, and went to the lodge restaurant for dinner. They had a fixed menu for Valentines day, $75.00 per person!! The front desk gave us a $50.00 coupon when we checked in, so that definitely helped! Otherwise, I am not sure if we would have gone. Thank the lord the food was amazing!! It could have been one of the best meals I have ever had. We both had Fillet Mignon, and Shrimp Scampi. And, they had a violinist playing the whole time. It was a 4 course meal: soup, salad, entree and desert. At the end, they gave me a pretty red flower with the check.
After that, we finished the night off at the bar, which was so much fun! They had a live band playing music my mom would have loved. Mustang Sally etc. They even played Nickleback, and Sublime! It was fun. I had a Vodka Tonics with extra lime, Ian had his usual Jack and Coke!
Here are some pictures of the Pines Lodge, and where we stayed and ate.
This is the front of the lodge in the snow. We even had more snow than this!! The lake is behind the building.
These are the Chalets we stayed in. Ours was up the street to the left. Our balcony was facing the forest, which was beautiful because it was full of snowy branches and sunlight.
This is the restaurant where we ate. Our table is actually about where the person stood to take this picture. The big windows look out to the lake. They had pink and purple balloons scattered around. It was so perfect and cozy!
We got in Friday night about 10:30 pm. We both were tired. Ian was tired from driving so tentatively for the few hours up the icy mountain, and I was tired from a long week of work. All we wanted to do was go to sleep! Ian had the 2 weeks prior off work, a standard mandatory vacation period given to officers every year. Paid and all!
Saturday we went out on the town, mostly exploring. We found this little restaurant/bar called the Buckhorn Saloon. It was Ian's heaven! They had really good food, and was decorated like something straight out of a small town in the south. They had shotgun shells as hanging lights, deer and boar heads on the walls, and a big bear with a t-shirt on in the corner. They had pool tables, funny white trash signs, country music playing, and it was full of locals. I felt a little city girl-ish with my Ugg boots and Chanel sunglasses. But it was fun!
Then we went shopping in town. We found a cute salt and pepper shaker set with John Wayne on the salt shaker, which is a mini coffee canister, and the pepper shaker is a mini coffee mug.
We love John Wayne in our house, he is the decor in some small places!
That night, we dressed up a bit, as much as we could for the maybe 30 degree weather, and went to the lodge restaurant for dinner. They had a fixed menu for Valentines day, $75.00 per person!! The front desk gave us a $50.00 coupon when we checked in, so that definitely helped! Otherwise, I am not sure if we would have gone. Thank the lord the food was amazing!! It could have been one of the best meals I have ever had. We both had Fillet Mignon, and Shrimp Scampi. And, they had a violinist playing the whole time. It was a 4 course meal: soup, salad, entree and desert. At the end, they gave me a pretty red flower with the check.
After that, we finished the night off at the bar, which was so much fun! They had a live band playing music my mom would have loved. Mustang Sally etc. They even played Nickleback, and Sublime! It was fun. I had a Vodka Tonics with extra lime, Ian had his usual Jack and Coke!
Here are some pictures of the Pines Lodge, and where we stayed and ate.
This is the front of the lodge in the snow. We even had more snow than this!! The lake is behind the building.
These are the Chalets we stayed in. Ours was up the street to the left. Our balcony was facing the forest, which was beautiful because it was full of snowy branches and sunlight.
This is the restaurant where we ate. Our table is actually about where the person stood to take this picture. The big windows look out to the lake. They had pink and purple balloons scattered around. It was so perfect and cozy!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Family Look -a- likes!!
Family member look-a-likes! More to come as I think of them....
Caity and Gwyneth Paltrow
Jenny and Jewel
Wendy and Carrie Underwood
Caitlin and Ashley Judd
Sophie and Audrey Hepburn
Wendy and Carrie Underwood
Caitlin and Ashley Judd
Sophie and Audrey Hepburn
Ian and Leaf Erickson
Me and Jessica Biel... just cause everyone tells me so!!
My first blog... call it crazy... but I have chosen to give beauty tips!!
I am one to go into a department or drug store and walk up and down the beauty isles for what it seems like hours. For anyone else who comes with me, it may seem like days! I love reading labels, instructions, or ingredients, and then take them home and try them out. I have always collected make-up and skin care products. I like to be the 'go to' girl for my friends and family. What made me think to start a blog was this topic. You may think thats crazy... but this is my blog and this is what interests me! Besides, I realized that there needs to be a purpose of collecting all this information, other than my own benefit.
So here are some tips I have discovered:
* The best eye concealer in the world:
When I worked for Clinique about 3-4 years ago, they came out with an all in one eye concealer called, "All About Eyes Concealer". It is an eye moisturizer, puffy eye reducer, and cover up all in one. Thier "All About Eyes" is this really awesome eye cream I use to use, until they came out with the concealer that had the cream in it. I thought that was the best idea! Save money using one product instead of 2! This sells for about $16.00.
Then when I became a poor college student, I discovered a drug store brand that does the same thing for less! Hence my wonderful discoveries I must share! I have used it since.
It is the "Neutrogena 3 in 1 Eye Concealer". But this eye concealer has a SPF 20 suncreen as well! It sells for about $9.79. But, it lasts for a long time and it doesn't loose its tenacity or fresh feeling. I also use it on the top of my lids because concealer can help your eye shadow or liner last longer. 100% recommended!
Quick Tip: I recommend using a different eye concealer and imperfection concealer. I use Revlon's ColorStay Blemish Concealer for my imperfections as it has 0.5% salicylic acid in it, and it won't make your problems worse. Anything with salicylic acid in it treats and helps reduce breakouts. But it can also be too harsh for the sensitive skin around your eyes. So stick to where they are meant to be used.
* Mineral vs Liquid foundation:
In my own experience with foundation, I have gone back and forth between liquid and mineral. I think there are different reasons why you would choose one or the other, and it is particular for each individual. I have found the Mineral foundation is the best to give medium to full coverage, and lasts longer over moisturizer and concealer. Liquid foundation is better for dry skin types. Also a tinted liquid moisturizer or liquid foundation with SPF 20 is the best for the beach, because you don't want to wear anything to heavy while your pores are larger due to heat and possibly sweating. And its instant SPF and coverage in one. I like the tinted SPF moisturizers with added shimmer or bronzer to accentuate the sunkissed look. And for the shinny areas like your T-zone... I use a little bit of loose powder. And there is my sun look!
My recommended Mineral foundation is either Bare Minerals (which goes for about $25) or the Physicians Formula Talc free Mineral Wear (which is about $11 at the drug store).
I have now been using the Physicians Formula for over a year, and it is the best I have found yet! It is great for extra sensitive and break-out prone skin, and it will give you all the coverage you need!
I'd say one lasts for about 3 months. And, The best brush to use for the mineral makeup is a Kabuki brush. This make-up comes with a mini one, but I always use the full size.
Quick Tip: The brush needs to be cleaned every month or so with light soap and water or you can buy a make-up brush cleaner. This is because bacteria can build up on it from the oils on your face and whatever else it touches. This can contribute to breakouts.
* Lipstick, Lip Gloss or Chapstick? :
I think, again, there is a place and time to choose to use all of these. Really, you should always have something on your lips. You can be lip product addicted like me!
For every day use, I always have chapstick. Any of the "Chapstick" brands are the best. I have tried others and I always go back to the basic. Buy the 3 pack, so you can have one in your purse, one on your desk at work, and one by your bed. (I actually do this, and I never get chapped lips!) The cherry one has a little bit of a tint, but my favorite is the medicated light blue Chapstick. It has a bit of menthol and it is refreshing.
Lip gloss is fun, because it can be the only thing you wear on your face, and it will brighten you up! I tend to stick to the pink-nude colors. Nude is trendy right now, but not the 70's gogo look, but the barely there with a little bit of shimmer and shine look. If you are more of a red girl than pink, the cherry red colors are fresh and youthful, because when you put it on, lip gloss will never be as sharp of a color as it is in the tube. It will look like you just ate some really juicy strawberries! Right now, I am into the Victoria's Secret Lip Gloss tubes. They can be a bit sticky... and this could be why you choose not to wear lip gloss. But, if you are about to take a picture, its the easiest and most effective additive to your face!
Quick Tip: Guys don't like getting lip gloss on them, like my boyfriend. So when in doubt... use tinted chapstick!
Lipstick is the most classic and stand out type of lip product. Red lips are back in, it never really leaves the trend cycle, but how you wear it with your eye make-up is what cycles out. No matter what, I say choose one or the other. More eye make-up, or darker lip color. Red lips with nude eyes and extra mascara is classic. Make sure your eyebrows are groomed and fill in where needed. I use Benefit Brow Zings, which includes a wax to shape, a powder to fill in your brow, a hard angle brush and even little tweezers. I think this product is the most natural looking way to enhance your eyebrows.
Quick Tip: You can change the whole look of your face if your eyebrows are groomed and plucked. You can go from looking drab to fab. Promise! Even if it is the only thing you do to your face, its necessary!
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