Estree Lauder taste on a Covergirl Budget

This is nothing more than my thoughts written down “on paper”

Today as I was doing my make-up my mind began to wonder. As we get older, live through different struggles and times in our lives, we are shaped, molded and blessed, with each experience.

I am a snob. A make-up snob that is. I was introduced to make-up at about 13, and I was started off with “the good stuff” – Estee Lauder. I have never known another kind of blush, eye shadow and rarely use another mascara. I have my “signature” scent of Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise. My make-up habit has come from a long line of expensive make-up wearers, from my great-grandmother, my Mimi, my mother, sister, aunt and cousin.

But with two babies in childcare there comes a time to make economic decisions. Huggies or Luvs? Store-bought or homemade baby food? Eating out or eating in? Fast food or sack lunch? Starbucks or Keurig or Folgers? Estee Lauder or Covergirl?

These seem trivial, even as I write this post I think “is it really worth writing about?” But sacrifices come in all shapes and sizes. One of my most recent changes was my purchasing of make-up. I thought about it this morning as I opened my brand new daily moisturizing crème that my grandmother got me for Christmas. It felt so smooth compared to the “Clean & Clear” I had been using, so refreshing. I felt spoiled that I was able to use the expensive moisturizer, I reminded myself to use sparingly to make it last, “Once this is gone, It’s back to the lotion from your teenage years.”

This is not really about make-up though. It is about making cuts in every area. My family was money-conscious as I grew up. I never had the “cool” shoes, we wore Payless. Soda was a treat. My mom made her own bread, jelly, pickles, even yogurt at one time. She would even make “lunchables” for us kids and pack them in Tupperware. I was taught how to live tight. However, years of two incomes and no kids quickly makes you forget how one can live in such a way.

I am thankful for the opportunities Scott and I have for our family. We are blessed with a house for our family of four, a great day care, two good jobs and a little extra at the end of the month. We are happy and together, isn’t that what really matters? Making little sacrifices here and there are worth it in the end. While I will mourn the loss of my expensive habits, I will delight in the knowing that God is still providing for all our needs (and still a little extra!)

So I will enjoy my Estee Lauder crème while it lasts and remember that every cut made to our once “extravagant” lifestyle is all worth it for our two boys and our strong family.

Happy 2011!!

My husband mentioned to me last night that I needed to update my blog. I realized that if he noticed I hadn’t posted in almost 7 weeks, then it must be bad. I skipped the entire Christmas season. Don’t get me wrong, I am far from a scrooge, just go busy the past couple months and fell behind. I guess it is time to get back up to speed. Prepare for posts with pictures overload (since that’s what most of you skim my posts for anyway *cough*cough*Bekah*) . I am excited for 2011, as with most other Americans, it is a fresh start, although we begin the year holding onto the baggage from 2010, it is a time to say, I making things right, beginning again, a new hope.

Unless I have confided in you recently and regularly since December 3rd, most of you are probably feeling a little lost/confused. Either way, I have a slew of “Good Intentions” and “New Year Resolutions” 24 to be in fact. If I can accomplish, or at least start 2 a month, I will be on track. Hopefully the countdown will continue through December and I can actually finish a blog series that I began (a mournful look is glanced at the other unfinished post series, Friendship Friday, Featured Family Member, Month-by-month updates of baby’s growth…) but like a said, a fresh start with a new hope!

I want to thank you all for being loyal blog followers even when I have long absences or when I ramble on about things you don’t understand (and/or care about) or spill my guts with what I am thinking/feeling. I say that I write for myself, but I wouldn’t ever write if no one read it, so thanks to you I will continue on! Happy 2011 everyone!

Fitness Challenge

I have reached the point in my post-pardum cycle in which I have decided it is time to lose the baby fat. I am in full acknowledgment that it is not all due to the baby. Unfortunately, I have a sweet tooth. I almost always have candy in my desk drawer at work (in fact, as I type this I have a Hershey's bar staring at me, sending subliminal messages "EAT ME").

When Scott went back to work, he decided that he was going to get into a routine, eat healthier, and go to the gym before work. I began to feel slightly guilty for my bowl of ice cream sitting in front of me. but working out or going to the gym is difficult for a mother of two. With Brendan, I always used the excuse that I had no one to watch the baby while I went to the gym.

Along came the CBU Fitness Challenge. What it really provides is an opportunity for a Kinesiology student to gain internship credit by leading a fitness course to Staff on campus. However, it also provides an opportunity for staff to join a fitness course in their place of work and get back in shape. The class meets twice a week for 1 hour each day. At the end of the semester we will be tested to see how much we have improved.

I had no excuses for this one. My Childcare provider offered to watch the boys for the additional time with no extra charge while I do the class. Scott agreed to join me so I have some accountability and company. This is our second week of the course and already I feel sore. But I know that it is healthy for me. It is also a reminder to eat better. Of course I still eat my sweets, but I focus more on water instead of soda, I pack my lunch in the morning instead of buying fried food from the On Campus cafe, and I don't eat nearly as much dessert as before.

My goal: First, to gain my ab muscles back (which my husband does not believe me when I say I was unable to use my ab muscles while pregnant, he doesn't understand why I have no strength in my abs anymore and just says "wow you're really out of shape aren't you" Thanks hunny). Second, to lose 5-10 more pounds. And Third, to just feel better about myself.

We will see how I feel in December when the course is over!

Scrapbooking Weekend

A couple weekends ago, I had the opportunity to have some quality girl time. Some friends from work invited me to go away with them on a scrapbooking getaway. To be honest, I was a little afraid to go. I have not scrapbooked in almost a year; my excuse was that it was difficult to do so while Brendan was running all over. I also was a little afraid of branching out and going someone where overnight with a bunch of people I did not really know that well. However, since I had missed the one in November due to family issues, I had promised that I would go on the next one.

I decided not to go up on Friday night with everything that had been going on at home; I thought I would only leave Scott home alone for one night. Saturday morning Natalie picked me up, bright and early and we headed up the mountain to big bear.

The drive up was an adventure in itself! We made it about 1/3 the way up the mountain and were told that we could not go further without chains. Natalie and I turned to each other and realized we would have to turn around and get chains to get up the mountain. (Here is the part where my husband inserts “I asked you before you left the house if you had chains!”) We ask where the nearest place to buy chains were and are told to turn back and go to Wal-Mart or Chevron in Highland. Our first stop was Chevron since it was closest, $80 for chains, and we find out that it will cost us $40 to have them installed once we get up the mountain. We decide that $80 is too much and go to Wal-Mart. Of course, everyone driving up the mountain that weekend needed chains as well and they were out of the size we needed.

Our next choice was to either go back and wait in line at Chevron, or drive back to the Wal-Mart in Redlands for chains. The chains at Wal-Mart were only $35, much better than $80. Two hours after we left my house, we are less than 30 minutes away at Redlands, but on our way again! (Husband: “I told you so!” Yes dear, you were right). We did have to stop and pay the nice men in yellow install our chains. I told Natalie I had seen it done before and instructions were included but I was not about to stand out in the snow, pregnant, trying to put chains on the tires. We finally made it up to the cabin in the snow, but it was beautiful. The snow covered mountains, the white silent trees, all spoke of God’s Beauty to be admired and praised.

Although the drive was long, I was very thankful to have the time with Natalie just to talk. We talked about work, life, family, her newest Grandbaby that was due to arrive in just hours, all the usual topics. We were also able to talk about our walks, God’s beauty and I was able to share how God had been moving in me lately and get some feedback from someone who has been there before.

As far as the actual scrapbooking weekend went, I had so much fun. For not having scrapbooked in over a year, I had a lot of catching up to do. One of my goals for this year (Count this as another resolution) was to get caught up on Brendan’s Baby Book and Scrapbook before the next baby comes along. I was able to crank out 22 scrapbook pages for Brendan’s album. I was so excited. It really motivated me to get back into scrapbooking. I realized that it is one of my stress relievers. IT gives me the opportunity to just sit down, let my creative juices flow, and create something that came just from me to be admired for years. It documents my son’s life and is filled with the love of his mother. I hope to keep it up and continue to create pages for his scrapbook. Maybe not 22 in one weekend again, but if I did only one a week, I would get caught up.

On Sunday morning, we got up, had breakfast, and scrapbooked some more. We left the cabin about 1:00 in the afternoon. The snow had stopped so we did not need the chains on the tires anymore. I ensured Natalie that taking chains off was so much easier than putting them on. The man in yellow instructed us not to pay someone more than $10 to remove the chains. Instead, pregnant me got down on my hands and knees and removed the chains from the tires! (Sorry, no pictures to prove it). I did have some help from the other girls, and it really is not that difficult. The trip back down was much less eventful, but I was happy to be home to my boys.

The weekend really made me appreciate the opportunity to make new friends, and get together to share something we all have a passion for. Later this month one of the ladies already has a scheduled Saturday to come over and scrapbook at her house, I am excited!

2010 Resolution #2

Just a note: These resolutions are in no way in any type of order of importance, just what I felt like writing about.

Being a working mom with a husband that works, and is gone, 2 nights a week, it is difficult to find time for myself. With the second baby now on the way, I know it is going to be even more difficult to find "me" time. I feel as though I am rarely ever alone. Brendan tends to be with me at all times, and typically on weekends, we have "family time" in which the three of us try not to make plans that don't include each other. Of course there are exceptions like a planned girls weekend away and such, but typically it is family time.

That being said, I have decided that in 2010 I need to actually make an effort to find "Me" time. It may not be too long or complex. I doubt I will make it to an entire Saturday to myself with a massage and pedicure. But I need to find a couple hours a week at least where I just focus on me.

To some of you this may sound very selfish and self-centered. However, most of my time is spent caring for my toddler, who requires a lot of attention. And when he goes to bed, I try to catch up on laundry, dishes, and other much needed items around the house, as well as the occasion work brought home for the evening.

I am making it a goal to have some quality "me" time at least once a week, and my hour lunch break runs to target for toilet paper do not count.

So a couple weeks ago I made my first real effort to have "me" time. It wasn't really too big of a deal since it was only a couple hours, but it was time dedicated to ME. It was on an evening when Scott was working late, I had put Brendan to bed at 7:45 and realized I had no other plans...

So I decided to just relax for the rest of the evening and enjoy the time alone. I started with a cup of tea and thought I would read a magazine that I desperately needed to catch up on. Eventually I made the entire evening into a romantic bath all to myself. It was actually the perfect evening to myself. I had a nice hot bubble bath, surrounded with the relaxing scent of Night-Blooming Jasmine. The soft glow of tea-lights in the dark house provided just enough light for me to enjoy my cup of tea and Martha Stewart Living magazine.

I realized that I had not taken the time to myself for a bath since before Brendan was born. That defiantly needs to change! My husband laughed when he came home, saying I was romancing myself, but either way, I was relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed my evening "alone".

So my goal is to continue to take time to myself, at least once a week for "Me" time.

2010 Resolution #1

I'm not sure exactly when or how this happened. Maybe it started during my Maternity leave with Brendan, perhaps it has been slowly increasing since I got married. Anyway it happened, I have come to the conclusion that I have too many magazines!

I have been slowly accumulating magazine subscriptions, I guess from the time I got married and we got our own apartment. It began with Real Simple. I loved the magazine, which introduced me to Martha Stewart Living. Although her recipes and ideas are usually a little complex (or time consuming) for me, it did provide some great ideas and reading material. I also received a subscription to Better Homes and Garden for a two year subscription the kept getting renewed. One year, for my Mother-in-laws birthday, I got her a subscription to Everyday with Rachel Ray, and bought a year for myself as well. After I had Brendan, I was subscribed to Parents as well as Family Fun. Finally, one of my favorite magazines to receive is Kraft Foods.

While I love all of these magazines (with the exception of Parents which isn't really my favorite) it became overwhelming after a while. I never really thought about cancelling them because I would eventually read them. Some would automatically renew because they had my credit card number, others would send me notices and I would send them back renewal notices without realizing that I still had months left of my current subscription. Finally, my husband said ENOUGH!

I had stopped reading them, lack of time mostly. How often do I get a chance to sit down with a magazine and just read? Usually on a plane, which is almost impossible when flying with a child, or sitting poolside on vacation, and when was the last time that happened?

Currently, I have a stack of 32 magazines in my storage ottoman waiting to be read.

All these magazines are "new" and yet to be opened. Some still in the plastic wrap.

My Resolution for 2010:

Cut back on the junk mail (or mail in general)! This is mostly unneeded magazines. But also includes cancelling other junk mail that we get in our mailbox. Receiving bills electronically when possible. Cleaning out my e-mail box and unsubscribe to the hundreds of junk e-mails sent monthly.

Finally, part of my resolution is to cancel all magazine subscriptions. Read the magazines that I already have stacked up, and then if I desire, I can subscribe to one magazine a year. Except Kraft Foods, we are keeping that one!

So although it may not sound like a very exciting resolution like getting fit, losing weight, changing a major life habit of mine, it is enough to get me started.

Anyone have a need/use for a bunch of old magazines I can unload??