Five on Friday: Oct 18 Edition

1-
I do some freelance work on the side. I used to write mainly skin care and beauty articles but lately I have been getting orders for the most random articles.

Right now I am writing an article about Area Rugs in Half Moon Bay CA. It is a strange combination of topics and took me a while  and some research on both to figure out which way to go with it. 

Other articles I have written this week include:

*How to hire a plumber.

*Why you should become a nurse.

*Elderly Care.

*How to find Staples coupons.

I am going to be a walking fountain of random knowledge.

2- I believe in the Law of Attraction.

I have attracted way too many specific things for it to be a coincidence. I haven't quite mastered the art of it yet but feel like I am starting too and that it is happening more and more as I take the time to love, nurture and take care of myself from the inside.

3- My {5 year old} baby lost his tooth.

...and I keep crying about it. 

I love that baby tooth and vividly remember when it popped up as his first little tooth. It was the most perfect and cutest tooth I had ever seen. I loved being a new mom and looking back, those days seem sparkly and magical. I miss my babies being babies and that tooth is a visual reminder of how everyday is one day further away from those little babies. 

And on a totally different side of the coin, I love my boys ages right now. I am happy to be past night feedings and diapers and on to the funniest little conversations I've ever had and trips to the library. 

Even though I'm not wishing for a time machine to take me back 5 years, it is still really really hard to let go and move forward. I am sure you momma's out there know exactly what I'm talking about; and those of you who aren't moms yet, mark my words, you will know.

4- I think my toe is broken. 

5- I am so excited for tomorrow. My BFF and I are sneaking away for some much needed girl time. We are doing a spa day which includes a message, pedicure, lunch/dinner (with dessert) and a little shopping. We have done this religiously for the past 5 years. I love it! A perfect way to reset and recharge.

Let's Talk Eyebrows

Here is a post I wrote for another blog a while ago. This is one of my favorite beauty tips and so I thought that I would share it over here too.

 

 

 

Even as a baby I had eyebrows

I was born with dark and bushy eye brows. I used to think it was a curse until I realized how to wax them and now I love them.

Well even after all these years of waxing, tweezing, and plucking I never really thought about coloring them in. They are so dark and thick that I just didn't see the point. Even after countless make-up classes suggesting that that everyone should color in their brows I still didn't think the rule applied to me.

Last summer when I was playing with my make up, I randomly decided to lightly color in my eyebrows. That night my husband came home from work and couldn't figure out what was different about me... but he liked it.



I wondered if it could have been the eye brows because it was the only thing I had done differently that day, so I did it again the next day and got the same "you look great" results. I still didn't tell him what I thought it might be that was making me look like a goddess in his eyes (wink) so the next day I didn't color them in and my husband didn't say a word. Okay. Well the 4th day into my little eyebrow experiment I colored my eye brows in again, waiting to see if just maybe he'd notice, he did.

I couldn't believe it! By the simple task of adding a little color into my already dark eyebrows I was able to "wow" my husband of (then) 8 years who had seen me with every hair color, make up style and other beauty technique out there. It took less then 5 seconds to add dimension to my face and frame my eyes in a way that would make them stand out. It is the best and easiest beauty tip I have found.

Here is why: Quite often peoples eyebrows are a dull and ashy version of their hair color. In my case my eyebrows were dark and thick enough to frame my eyes but the color was wrong. Another problem is that peoples eyebrows do not match. There is always one that is thinner, higher, lighter, better arched or uneven.

By lightly shading in your eyebrows with a color that matches your natural color you will brighten the eyes natural hue and help make the eyebrows appear to be more symmetrical and even.



Look at the difference in these 2 pictures of me





I prefer to use a powder that is similar to an eye shadow over the commonly used eyebrow pencil, I think it looks more natural and gives you more control over the shade.

 I use Anastasia's eyebrow kit.   This kit offers:

•  2 Brow Powders- having 2 colors makes it easy to blend and customize a shade that looks natural
•  Angled Brush- makes applying the color easy and even
• Cream Highlighter- to use under the eyebrow on the brow bone, this lifts and accentuate the eyes
• Wax Cream- this is like gel for your eyebrows, it holds your eyebrow in the perfect shape all day and gives it a nice finished look. 

If you have never tried coloring in your eyebrows, try it! It is easy and will give you instant results.

DISCLAIMER: Always start out light and you can add more if you need. Remember you want it too look natural so that people can tell that there is something different but can't exactly tell what it is. It is more about adding a little color to your brow then it is adding darkness to your brow. Look for a color that matches you eyebrows already so it just brightens and fills in. 

I would love to see before and after pics if you try this!!

Father's Day Fun

On Saturday while I was finishing up my Father's Day shopping for my sweetie and my pops.

I got this text from the Mr. 

Earlier that morning he had been telling me that he needed a new pair of Sanuk's (for those of you that don't know, Sanuks are possibly the best summer shoe ever for beach-bum-wannabes like my husband and boys).

So at first glance I thought he was showing me the rip in his shoe to prove to me that he really does need a new pair (& he does). But then I noticed that righty looked a little off and that his naturally thin ankle kinda looked like my ankle when I'm 7 months, okay more like 6 months ;), pregnant.

By the time he got home from work his ankle was even bigger and just looking at it made my stomach churn and I felt that familiar dizziness that encompasses me when I see any sort of bodily injury. (Honestly, the only time I truly struggle with being a mom is when one of my boys gets hurt and I'm the only one there to put them back together. I get sick, dizzy, and can't catch my breath...and that is just when they scratch their knee. It is going to be an interesting 18 years.)

So he puts it up, ices it and hopes that it will feel better. It doesn't. This is man who has no fear of pain and has spent his whole life happily sacrificing his body for the thrill and fun of life. He has broken countless bones, has twisted and torn everything that can possibly be twisted or torn, has more little random scars on his one hand then my {cautious} sibling and I have on our whole bodies combined. It is insane how the possibility of pain never stops him from doing something fun. When I was a kid I wouldn't even walk on the curb because I wouldn't want to chance falling those steep 3 inches to the cement below.  I tell you this to emphasize the point that this man knows pain, knows how his body reacts to different injuries and doesn't become over dramatic and babyish when he gets hurt.

As his ankle got worse and worse over the next few hours he knew it wasn't a typical ankle twist. And by the next morning it was turning black and was at least 4 times bigger (I'm dry heaving as I think about it). At this point he has no idea if it is broken or sprained but he does know that it hurts like hell and it is worse than he would like to admit.

After a fun (for us) and painful (for him) Father's Day, I talked him into going to the ER (I may have promised milkshakes afterwards). I couldn't imagine moving on with the week without knowing exactly what was going on and having a game plan to help him heal as quickly as possible.

After we got checked in to the hospital we had a bit of a wait until he was able to get in for X-rays. All the nurses and doctors there instantly fell in love with Mr. Swollen Ankle. People always do. He is naturally quite charming without even realizing it. So the whole time we had people in our little "room" made of sheets just kind of hanging out with us. They were serving me drinks as if I were out to eat and telling jokes like I was at a comedy club, on amateur night. Who knew the ER could be so much fun?

The final verdict. MAJOR and deep sprain. He has to wear a boot when he walks and keep it elevated as much as possible while "icing the hell" out of it. Doctors orders. He was given a note saying he cannot go to work or school, but how do you miss school during finals week? You don't. So he took the next few days off work and is taking it as easy as possible.

And I am *lucky enough* to get the job of driving Miss Daisy, I mean driving him around.

 

Here he is wearing his little boot this morning when I dropped him off at school. (& I use the word little very loosely).

If this was a video you would hear him say... "Meg, hurry this is embarrassing". 

Hopefully he feels better soon! He has a 100 mile charity bike ride planned next month, we have a fun swimming party we are supposed to go to this coming up weekend and we were hoping to go backpacking in a few weeks.

Story of my life.

Yesterday

"Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away

Now it looks as though they're here to stay

Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play

Now I need a place to hide away

Oh, I believe in yesterday"

Yesterday ROCKED my world!

My BFF picked me up around 1:39(ish) ;)

And we spent 3 hours at the spa. Massages and pedicures while sipping diet Coke (with a splash of root beer) and chit chatting about anything and everything.

Then we headed to Cheesecake Factory and Nordstrom to eat and shop a bit. And of course over my "The Incredible Grilled Eggplant Sandwich" (which is amazing btw) and while browsing clothes, jewelry and make up we chit chatted some more, laughed and maybe even cried a little. 

{Everyone needs a good girlfriend. They are like therapists but funner to hang out with and do a better job at helping you pick out the perfect polish color or deciding what iPhone case is the cutest.}

I came home to sleeping babies, a clean house and a husband who was whistling in the shower.

The Mr. and I spent the rest of the night enjoying each others company, put on our pjs, lit some candles and curled up on our bed to some mindless TV and ate the "thanks for being so fabulous" cheesecake I brought home for him.

Cheesecake anyone?

Five on Friday

1. This past week I hit the mark of 35lbs lost. :) 

I love the feeling of my clothes being loose instead of tight. 

Not the best after pic (no make up, early morning, before i washed the mirror) but you get the idea. I will update with a better one tonight or tomorrow when I have time  and someone to help me take a better one.

2. My watermelon plants are growing!

It is my first time growing watermelons. 

I planted them from seed indoors and then transplanted them outside to the garden. I hear watermelon is hard to grow, so I celebrate every little step and take pride that we (as in me and that cute little green plant) have made it this far.

3. I found a dress that my little sister left in the basement. I never wear dressed like this but I just had to try it on. 

I just love the contrast and the detail.

The front has a classic and more modest cut, with preppy pleats at the waist and then the back is open.

And the fabric of the dress is soft and feminine with a sheer overlay but than you have a leather waistband and back.

P.S. these pics were taken ridiculously early in the morning. Don't look too close at me or my bed head. 

Oh and meet Ben. This little guy is never more than 3 feet away from me and often shows up in the corners of my pictures. 

4. I may or may not have left some food out for my boys yesterday morning. 

I am sorry, but it is hard being bombarded at 5:30 am every morning by two hungry wild children. I figure if someone calls CPS on me at least there is some fruit on there to help me plead my case that I am a good mom and that I do love my kids. ;)

Oh and look at how I wrote their names on the paper towels. See, more loving details. 

Oh and it totally worked. They got up and played pirates while snacking on an apple and the graham crackers. And I was able to make them their real breakfast at a reasonable 7:00 am.

5. I love when restaurants make my regular diet coke feel fancy and special. 

Can I do a bonus #6 without getting booed or kicked out of the 5 on Friday Club?

6. I have some homemade and fun Fathers Day gifts in the works. I am crossing my fingers that they turn out. I'm actually really excited and will share them after they are done. :D

My Husband is Such A Nerd

Yesterday was "nerd day" at his job. So I threw this little outfit together for him and guess what...

He won BEST nerd costume and got himself a nice $10 gift card to the big Micky D's. 

Such a great award for such a great honor. 

P.S. I love this guy! He is on the top of my *favorite people* list. Usually he sits at the very top, but sometimes, especially  if he leaves his socks in the middle of the living room, I will bump him to 3rd for a few mins. #watchout #imruthless 

Happy Girls Shine Brighter

I believe this more than I believe that Robins eat worms, guys like to have sex and it is important to brush your teeth.

I saw the quote on my friends Instagram and it instantly rang true. I didn't like the layout of the one I saw, so I threw this little one together because I wanted to share it.

Okay let's do a little exercise here. Put on your thinking caps, pull out your paper and pencils, sit up to a desk, you may need a calculator and scratch paper and you are only allowed 1 page of notes. If I see any of you cheating, I will have to give you a zero. This test will be timed... Oh wait, it isn't anything like that. 

All you need is your memory and to know a few people. 

First I want you to think of someone that when you first met them your first thought was that they were either beautiful, extremely handsome or maybe someone who stood out to be extra cute. But as you got to know them you saw that they weren't very nice, they frown and scowl a lot and are really negative and always complaining.

Take a minute to think about how they look to you now. How they really look and how you feel when you are around them. Think of their eyes and their expressions. Think of the energy around them and how it affects you.

Next think of someone who when you met them they didn't stand out as any more than a plain Jane but who is happy, kind, positive, smiles and laughs a lot. 

Again, take a minute to think about how they look to you now. How they really look and how you feel when you are around them. Think of their eyes and their expressions. Think of the energy around them and how it affects you.

Isn't it insane how the initially pretty person doesn't seem so pretty? And how the not so pretty one just shines?

Since we don't know the same people and because I would never want to talk poorly about anyone on this blog, I decided that I would pick the next best thing to prove me point... REALITY TV!  

You can totally see this transformation on pretty much every single reality show. 

One example that sticks out to me was Tierra from the Bachelor last season. At first she seemed very pretty, Sean even gave her the first impression rose but as she complained, cried, bitched and moaned about things her beauty quickly diminished and soon I could no longer see her as I did before. She wasn't at all attractive to me, but actually the opposite. 

An example on the other aspect is the newest member of RHOC, Lydia. She didn't stand out to me as a classic beauty but as I have seen her be positive, kind and especially watching her spend time with her sons and husband, she has transformed into someone much prettier to me.

Another example (that I probably shouldn't share). There is a person in my husband life (no names) that was and is always crabby and always scowling. As time has moved forward this persons face has literally transformed from a pretty face to a harsh and not very pretty face. If you were to put a picture of this person next to a younger picture of this person, you would be shocked. I was. I can't help but wonder if this person would have transformed in the other direction had they chosen to smile more and enjoy life more.

The moral of this looooong post. 

Be Happy!  

Choose to be happy. 

Choose to shine. 

A Lazy Afternoon

My sweet and fabulous mom took my boys to a movie this afternoon.

This is how I spent my free afternoon. 

Surrounded by mountains and nose deep in a book. 

I should have done some laundry or scrubbed the bathroom down but I couldn't bring myself to stay inside on such a pretty day. 

And besides, I have pretty good idea that my mom wasn't dying to see The Croods today and that maybe, just maybe, it was a ploy to give me a break. I would hate to not fully enjoy her fabulous gift to me.  

You don't give someone a pair of shoes for them to put them in the closet.

And I'm sure that you don't give someone an afternoon off just to have them not enjoy it. Right?... 

(Can you tell that I am trying to justify not tackling my to do list.)

Note to Mom: I feel refreshed and happy. Mission complete. You aren't as sneaky as you think you are, but thanks for everything and feel free to be sneaky again... say about this same time next week? ;) 

Monday Randomness

Today is looking like a typical summer Monday. 

Lots of playing, reading, coloring, talking about all the amazing things that each specific transformer can do. 

Along with some...

Cleaning

Referee-ing

Meal making

More cleaning 

More referee-ing

& more meal making.

Repeat. Then repeat again. 

This morning we had SJ's summer tutoring. Poor kid isn't even in kindergarten yet and there is already so much pressure on him to be able to do a long and advanced checklist of things. 

I'm also thinking that since today is going to be sweltering hot. I think like high 90s. That we may have to break out the slip n slide and Popsicles. We would usually be headed to the pool on a day this hot but I like to be there right when it opens to get my spot by the kiddie pool. As you can imagine that area fills up fast. But with tutoring smack dab in the middle of the day we will probably have to skip the pool on Monday's.

Another exciting thing on my to do list is to go to the beauty supply store to buy some hair product that some of my stylist friends are raving about. I feel like a kid on Christmas! Nothing gets me more excited than trying new skin care, hair care, make up and other beauty products.  

Oh and I cant forget this exciting information. After a week and a half of the scale being at a complete standstill, it finally budged. And in the right direction! Yay. Insert ((Happy Dance)) here. That puts me down 34 lbs exactly.

Hmmmm. I don't think I have anything else to add. 

I was taking "before" pics of my hair and thought I'd share a pic of the shirt I'm wearing today. Cute right? 

"What can I do to minimize my pores?"

Let's talk product. As an Esthetician who works hands on with client's skin and as someone who wrote hundreds of reviews on skin care products, I get the same questions from people.

One of the most frequently asked questions, right up there next to "do you really do Brazilian Waxing on people?" is the looming question:

 

"What can I do to minimize my pores?" 

And honestly, there are a million zillion products promising to shrink them down, there are countless methods of washing styles and treatments that promise the cure and many other reports stating that pore size is hereditary and you just have to live with it.

I believe all 3 mentioned above to be true. 

▪There are some cleansers and products that are able to help with pore size. 

▪I've seen great results with clients who get regular microdermabrasion treatments and chemical peels, I have noticed that rinsing my face in freezing cold water shrinks my pores down in a snap.

▪Pore size is hereditary and there really isn't all that much you can do to magically change what Mother Nature gave you. If you have really large pores you might be able to get them down to a good medium sized pore for a period of time.

The #1 tip that I tell everyone first and foremost is that you need  to keep those pores squeaky clean! If dirt and debris get trapped in there it will cause the pores to be much more noticeable than they should be. And it can lead to blackheads and other blemishes.

And the second tip that is my end all tip for you when it comes to pores.. 

The POREfessional Pore Balm

Love this stuff. It doesn't change the pore size at all, it just changes the appearance of the pore size. 

This silky tinted cream smooth's over your pores effortlessly  like a little facial version of a tan spackle that painters use to smooth over walls. It leaves the skin so smooth and soft and really truly diminishes the visibility of those pesky craters, I mean pores, that you got from your great aunt Mildred. 

So there it is. It really truly helps the overall appearance of your complexion. Leaving you skin looking amazing, beautiful and bright. I love this stuff and don't think I will be switching back to my old primer anytime soon.

Hint: This stuff also works great to smooth over fine lines and acne scars. 

$30 at Sephora

🐘 Meg

Too Dang Good to Be This Darn Healthy.

This is one of my all time favorite meals. It tastes way too good to be healthy, but it is. It looks a little to fancy to be easy, but it is.

All you need for this meal is:

1. a spaghetti squash

2. shrimp

3. zucchini or summer squash (I usually do both because it looks pretty)

4. spaghetti or marinara sauce (sometimes I used diced tomatoes with a little Italian or garlic flavoring to keep the sugar down)

Prepare each item the way you like best. Bake, broil, grill, sauté, steam, microwave, whatever. Add whatever seasonings you like and are able to eat. I know some people don't do salt and others (like me) are allergic to some herbs (rosemary). You know what you like and what works for you.

Layer spaghetti squash, sauce, zucchini/summer squash and top with shrimp. 

Done.

(My husband, dad and boys add one more ingredient and layer to this dish by sprinkling some Parmesan Cheese over their serving. I am not a huge fan of the taste and so i prefer to leave the extra calories aside (not that there are a lot of calories in a small sprinkle) but if you are a fan or know that it will help your kiddos, husband, boyfriend, or who ever it may be that you are feeding eat this healthy dish than by all means add some Parmesan cheese.)

I know there are some people who want specific directions when cooking something for the first time so here is exactly how I do it. 

Spaghetti squash: I cut the spaghetti squash in half, put it cut side up in a baking dish. Throw it in the oven for  45-50 min at 375.  When it is done and cooled, scrape the insides out and put it in your serving dish. Throw skin away. (If you haven't made spaghetti squash before, google it and you'll get some great tutorials on different ways to cook and prepare it.)

Shrimp and veggies: I grill both. 

I put my shrimp on skewers and sprinkle them some basic seasoning salt. And i cut up my pretty yellow and green squashes into coin-like slices. 

Then I take a piece of foil (a big piece of foil) and lay it on the grill. And here is the most important step if you are doing this on the grill, spray the foil generously with nonstick cooking spray. I will actually spray the shrimp and veggies with the spray too. Before and once during.

Grill the shrimp skewers on the foil for about 3 min on each side.

Lay the squash coins flat on the foil and grill for about 2-3  min on each side or until cooked to your taste.

Sauce: heat in the microwave.

Layer as mentioned above and serve.

And just so you know this meal is equally good with grilled chicken instead of shrimp and steamed broccoli instead of the squash. I will make this in big batches and eat it over the next week. The spaghetti squash stores very well and tastes even better (imo) when reheated. It is a perfect meal to take with you to work or have in the fridge for a quick and easy meal that is healthy and satisfying.

Everyone who has tried this is amazed at just how good it really is. Even those who don't like veggies or are scared of the spaghetti squash part of it have been pleasantly surprised at how much they like it.

Give it a shot and let me know what you think. 

🐘 Meg

True

I couldn't agree more. 

My first 5 on Friday.

1. Hi! this is me and my blog is brand new.

 

 

My 5 yr old actually took this picture while I was watching TV and folding laundry. I kind of liked it.

2. I work at a fabulous Day Spa one night a week. 

I used to be full time there but these 2 little people came into my life and started calling me mom so I stepped back to stay home with them. 

I find working once a week and being around other women in such a fun, relaxing, chatty atmosphere is the perfect escape to keep me from losing myself in my 2 beautiful boys. 

It also helps me to stay current on all the newest beauty trends. 

 

3. I was bit by an ostrich when I was in High School. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt.

 

4. I love this quote and have it as one of my screen savers as a reminder as to just how important our thoughts really are. 

 

5. After realizing that I'm surrounded by boys, and that I will be for the rest of my life, I decided that I wanted to be sitting on the couch yelling and screaming with them instead of at them. So, I have taken up football (watching). 

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

 

Not to mention some of the gear is really cute. And it is really fun to shock guys at the car repair place (what is it called?) or wherever with your knowledge of how so-n-so blew last nights game with a bad pass. They look at you with a new set of respect and awe. It's fun. 

🐘Meg

 

 

 

 

 

Golf Widow's Club: current member

The hubs is going on a golf trip this weekend. 

So I got myself a babysitter and I'm going on a Golf Widow's Date with my BFF (pictured above), who's husband is also on the trip. We frequent the golf widows club together and have for years. After years of frustration and annoyance about those long 18 holes taking longer (much longer) than promised, we have finally cracked the golf widow's code. Now when he goes golfing I can honestly be happy for him and sincerely wish him well on his game... 

Are you ready for the secret (for those of you that don't already know it)? Newly married couples, listen carefully.

My final words to him as he happily bounded out door, with his cleaned and perfectly shined clubs slung over his shoulder, went something like this:

"Happy {early} Fathers Day Honey! I love you so much and want you to have the best time ever. You totally and completely deserve this.   ...Oh and just so you know, I already have a girl's spa day planned and booked for next Saturday. Bye."

Hey, this girl knows how to work it. 

If you happily and sincerely give to them and then take the initiative to treat yourself just as kindly, they will happily and sincerely give to you. Things don't always have to be even right then but in the long run it will even out. Just don't forget to stand up for yourself and to make things happen for you too. If you don't than you may end up always giving and not really getting. 

And to be quite honest I am so glad that my sweetie has hobbies and things that he is passionate about. And I'm so glad that he has friends to share his passion with. He supports me in my hobbies and I in his. Just a few weeks he ago he happily spent Mother's Day weekend with our busy beautiful boys while I was enjoying all that Las Vegas has to offer with 5 of my awesome girlfriends. He did not complain once and when I got home the house was spotless, the boys were happy and there were flowers and a card waiting for me.

So as I joke about being a golf widow this weekend, I really am so happy he is taking a much needed break and is going to spend some quality guy time doing some quality (and probably some not so quality) guy things. 

Oh and I really do have a spa day booked for next Saturday. We are getting   massages, pedicures, the works and then going to dinner. 

🐘 Meg

Endnote: The picture that starts this post was taken on Mother's Day while we were in Vegas and was captioned "Enjoying some Mother's Day golf. #ourhusbandswouldbeproud." Not that we were really watching but we still enjoyed telling the hubs that we were. ;)

Chocolate Diet Coke.

I just love my job. 

For so many reasons.

Tonight it's because I was able to get my eyelashes filled, my cute sister came in and brought me a chocolate diet coke from Sonic (have you had one before? If not, go right now and get one! They fulfill that sweet tooth-I want a milkshake-craving for less than 60 calories. Seriously, stop reading and go get one. Yum.) and I made a bride-to-be look and feel pretty for her big day.

Here is another pic of my lashes. Love them. (I will write a whole post about lash extensions sometime.) 

Welcome

Welcome to my very own personal Elephant Sanctuary.

A place where I can share my life experiences with anyone who may happen across this little tiny bit of the Internet. This is a place where I can pull back from my hectic life and be quite, be still. This is a place where I can tell my daily stories while growing and learning from them.

A sanctuary where I can continue on my path of self.


(I had written some heavier stuff here but decided that maybe I shouldn't scare you away just yet)


I still have much to learn.


And I am excited for the journey.

Oh and on a side note:

• I am loving wife to a man that I am obsessively in love with.

• I am a mommy to 2 insane, wild, sneaky,  messy, heinous, stinky, loud, funny, courageous, busy, sweet, smart, cute, loving and perfect little boys. They are my heart and soul.

• I am an esthetician who works part time at a fabulous day spa and loves everything beauty related. I will try anything and have tried lots of things in the beauty world. Some have given me amazing results (laser resurfacing) and others have made me look like Bert from Bert and Ernie (way over tinted eyebrows).

• I wrote skin care product reviews for over a year and know a little too much about the random ingredients listed on the back of your favorite face wash, eye cream and cleanser. I also had to write a few male enhancement product reviews... awkward.

• I am obsessed with make up.

• I adore jewelry.  

• I believe happiness is a choice.

• Since getting married I have moved 22 times (for my husbands job), lived in 15 cities, travelled to fabulous tropical destinations and even more fun destinations around the US and Canada. We would move for the spring/summer months (enjoying a new city or two), and then come home for the fall/winter. It was the perfect combination. Explore the country, live in fun cities like Brooklyn, Virginia Beach, Bay Area, but we always knew we were going "home" to our friends and family.

• I am girly and love girly and cute things, but am so glad I have boys to do all the "boy" activities with like camping, watching football and playing superheroes.  

• I enjoy going out with friends and love going on on girls trips.

• My favorite book is Gone With the Wind.

• I worked at Disney World when I was 19. I wore a space outfit and had the elite job of helping people get their condiments at Cosmic Rays in Spaceland.

• I meditate.

• I pray.

• I am a pretty good cook.

• My favorite food is: store bought cake with way too much white butter cream frosting.
• I love summer time.

• I'm constantly and consciously working to improve myself.

• If I could only shop at 3 stores for the rest of my life, those stores would be Anthropologie, Costco, Nordstrom.

• I'm more calm and reserved, my husband is the "life of the party" skydiving type. Yin and yang baby. 

• I'm curious by nature. Talking to me can be like a game of 20 questions, but I promise my questions are sincere and my listening is genuine. If it ever becomes too much just tell me to mind my own business.

• I have recently started gardening and am mildly obsessed. (if I could just get my damn watermelons to grow, I would be a happy lady).

• I have struggled with anxiety my whole life.

• Elephants are my favorite animal.

I will probably write more in depth on some of these topics, while also sharing some of my favorite salon secrets and beauty tips. I am sure I will write about being a mom, a wife and dog owner (oh yeah, did I mention I have a yorkie?).

Maybe I will share my favorite recipes, quotes, pictures and stories as they feel appropriate. Or maybe I will let you in on the secret that I believe our thoughts and feelings have a much bigger impact on us and our lives than we could ever imagine.

I am pretty sure I will talk about elephants and what they have meant to me throughout different phases of my life and how we could all learn a thing or two from these magnificent creatures. I also hope to help inspire people who are going through a hard time to find peace inside themselves and I hope to be inspired by everyone I meet along the way.

Some of my posts may be deep and extremely personal while other posts are going to be fun and lighthearted.

 

Love.

Meg