Most Certainly Not

My New Favorite Way to Spend $10 @birchbox

Yesterday was my daughter's birthday. But, she wasn't the only one who received a present. Oh, no siree bob. Mom received a present too. A little present that comes in the mail once a month and make that day like Christmas!

I joined Birchbox a few months ago. For $10 a month, I receive a box of awesomeness in my mailbox. The box it comes in alone is worth a portion of that $10. I will be reusing and repurposing these for a long time to come!

This month, I was in awe when I opened the box. Not only did I see a full-sized liquid eyeliner, but also a set of earbuds. 

Plus a Larabar sample in a flavor I've never tasted.

The perfume sample from Harvey Prince smells absolutely divine. Very citrusy and clean--such a needed combo during the ridiculous summer heat.

Askin cream sample from boscia seems intriguing as it's described as something my skin could definitely use. That's what's extra cool about Birchbox--when you sign up, you put in information about yourself so that the products that come in your box are aimed at your skin, hair, etc. I like the idea of products targeted to me and my areas of concern. And, although I find some of the make-up colors, etc. for 20-year-olds interesting, I'm not 20 anymore and my job isn't really somewhere that neon green eyeshadow would be seen as a sign of mental stability and maturity.

I'm looking forward to the hair treatments, but may need to share at least one with M1--she's always looking for new things to experiment with when it comes to her hair. Hence, she's on the Birchbox wait list as we speak.

The Birchbox site keeps track of your boxes and the products inside which is super helpful because you can purchase any of the items via their site. You can refer to that handy list to remind yourself what exactly it is you love so much.

In June, there were several cute things that I loved. The timing for the box couldn't have been better. I was able to send M1 to New York with some handy nail polish remover packets. 

The plastic bag (mine was in orange & bright pink--love!) is perfectly sized for carry-on travel.

The full-sized lip tint accompanied with the lip stain made me very happy--I've never used a stain before and having a product for my lips and cheeks in one container is nice.

The tonic for my hair is something that smells delicious and does leave the shiny results it's supposed to--not sure it's something I'd purchase outright, but I have enjoyed using it since receiving it. Maybe once my color is freshened up, I'll try it again and see if its results are even more noticeable.

May was my first Birchbox shipment and in it, my very favorite product so far.

I love, love, love the Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer. Of course I do. It's $90 a jar.

Ha!

But, I've spent $40 on moisturizer that has broken out my skin and sat in my medicine chest until it went bad.

This sample of the moisturizer has lasted even until now because you have to use so little of it. 

Am I planning on spending $90 on face cream? Not anytime soon. However, all the stuff I use from now on will be measured agains this cream. The only one I've used that has even come close is from BeautiControl. And, that product is $52 for 28 grams/1 oz. The Algenist is 60 ml which converts to 2 ozs. Not that I'm trying to make it out to be a bargain, but just that you never know when you might find something new that works that seems expensive until you compare it to something you've already used & paid more for less. 

Birchbox has been a fun experience & I LOVE when it's Birchbox day!

It's June Again?

Things are growing & blooming around Ft. W.

I had an amazing before picture of this previously hideous spot near our front door. But, my phone only pretended to take it--when I went to retrieve and upload it (AFTER I'd repotted and arranged the plants, of course), the photo wasn't actually in my gallery.

I usually spend Mother's Day planting, but not so much this year. My first mother-in-law sent me a gigantic patio pot from her favorite local florist (who did my first rehearsal dinner & wedding) and it is gorgeous right now! Trailing, bright pink and purple petunias, etc. It made me want to do some other things around the front door.

In addition to these guys, I cleaned up an ivy plant (from a previous planter from my first mother-in-law...how much do I love her?!) and put in some coleus to create some visual variety with the green ivy leaves. We have mums planted all around the house that are FULL of blooms and are ready to burst open at any point. 

Plus, our raised bed full of volunteer mint and tomatoes continues to be wildly thriving. I'm stockin up on canning supplies so I can be ready this year and not let the tomatoes go to waste.

Just Call Me Becky Home-ecky

I've been called many things in my life, but never a Becky Home-ecky. However, one of my favorite students called me that today and I'm totally okay with it. It was my husband's drill weekend and the kids were visiting Grandma, so I spent my time trying out some homemade cleaning products that I found on Pinterest. I have been amazed and uber pleased with their performance!

I sort of wish I had taken before photos so I could truly demonstrate the efficacy of these products. However, now that I see the results, the 'before' was so shameful, I would not want a record of it! I know lots of military spouses who face the white gloves when they move, so having a way to eradicate the funk of family living in a short time without spending a ton of dough can be a lifesaver.

You need look no further than the inside of my washing machine to see just how awesome these recipes are!

This is a Kenmore Series 80 top-load washer that was purchased circa 1994-95. It has been through a couple of moves, upwards of three children and has been borrowed by good friends and inlaws for use when their machines were broken or when they lived in apartments with icky laundry rooms.

This thing was NASTY, especially the fabric softener dispenser that was gummed up with more residue than should be allowed on an appliance meant to clean things. I used the first half of the tutorial explained on Ask Anna's blog because I didn't need to proceed to the bleach step thanks to vinegar's miraculous properties. Vinegar + Hot water + time = the ability to wipe away years of laundry skank from your machine's innards. I also used baking soda in the fabric softener dispenser and let the vinegar I poured into it bubble the residue loose. An old toothbrush & some Q-tips and this thing was awesomely clean.

What else did I try? Have a look after the jump!

Whether You Like It Or Not

The theme for this month's NaBloPoMo daily challenge is WHETHER (or weather) and given that I went to DC without my Mac, I have already failed the daily challenge because I didn't even post from my phone.

I spent an entire weekend with some of the finest people I've ever met. We've been a pack for six years give or take and this weekend, whether we liked it or not, we had to admit that things will be changing. I, of course, have tons of photos that I plan to put into a retrospective post of my time with them--all the laughs, the tears and trips.

My ability to adapt and overcome is somewhat legendary--my appreciation for having to do so and my willingness to enjoy it as it's happening is pretty non-existent. 

The chemistry of this group cannot be recreated or imitated. It also can't be extinguished by time or miles.

Nope.

These types of relationships built upon trust, shared experiences, common interests, respect, mutual affection and the utmost loyalty are so rare. It continually amazes me that I not only found it more than once, but I found it within a group from day one to the present. 

These are the kinds of friends people look for no matter how young or old they are--when they see others with individuals like this in their lives, they pine for similar connections. I could be (and have been) distraught over the abrupt end to the status quo. But, more than anything, I'm thankful for what has been and what will continue to be. For those years we spent refining our relationships, digging deep and honestly learning to appreciate the individuals, their families and their histories.

This weekend, I realized that whether the thing that brought us together exists anymore is a non-issue. One of my very core philosophies is that you cannot deal with what you wish something were or what it used to be, you must deal with what is. Thank goodness "what is" remains so steadfast and wonderful. It was a breath of fresh air to take the leap of faith--to recognize that the comfortable and familiar no longer existed except within the people themselves. 

Whether we like it or not, situations change. The marvelous thing is that whether others like it or not, bonds like ours cannot be broken. Voices like ours will not be silenced. The good we have done and will continue to do will bless us and those we meet in the future.

The awesome thing is, we didn't fall apart--we jumped together for our own reasons, but with the same result. And, for once, I'm ecstatic about it! Because when I looked around, I realized we were still standing and laughing, eating great food, drinking marvelous wine, sharing memory making moments.

That's the beauty of things that happen, whether we like it or not.

It's All Relative, Right?

February's blogging theme for those committed to daily blogging is "Relative."

I've been having a taste of that this week. To other people looking in, I'm always "busy." Mostly, though, my usual overbooked, overwhelmed self is just my normal. The past week, though? This is busy even for me and it's a really wild ride.

My boss is one of the hardest working, tireless, hard charging women I know. And, people come to expect that kind of delivery from her. She's been overseas, though, and I've been filling in certain duties for her. She worked to line up some others to take some discrete tasks off my list and only a few of those things have actually come to fruition. This is one time I'd gladly delegate, but there is no one responding to the delegation assignments.

I will be so glad when she's back in the country on Wednesday night! And yet, I'm really glad she could go and that she trusts that the place will still be standing when she returns. I have enjoyed everything I've done in her absence, but many days the back-to-back classes, meetings, copying, organizing, planning, etc. is too much of a good thing. And next week, those we work with who are taking the February bar exam head off to do just that. It's a scary time for some very worn out people. I'm becoming quite adept at exuding positivity and calm even when I just want to crawl under the desk and hide.

There are several things waiting on my to-do list that aren't work related. Pretty much everything outside the office is waiting for my attention. It will be interesting to see what I do with all my "free" time once my boss returns.

40 and Feeling Fine

I have landed in a whole new decade. So far, so good. My birthday was quiet this year and so unlike last year. Thank God. We didn't have a chance to go anywhere to celebrate because my husband is working split shifts again, but it was still nice.

My husband purchased a lovely cake from my favorite bakery as well as a dozen red roses. He also gave me a lovely necklace that was just for fun. And, even though in some circles I now qualify as "old", he gave me a gift that pushed my current cool points up a little.

I'm a Good Dog Mom

I have adopted two dogs in my adult life. (Annie was purchased from dear friends and not a resuce pup). Oscar and Henry prove that adoption can work.

In the vein of trying new things, I decided to take yet something else from Pinterest. Tonight, I'm making them homemade peanut butter dog treats.

The girls happened to have little cookie cutters with some kind of kiddie cookbook they'd received at some point.

The dog cookies were a big hit and super easy to make.

And, because I already had every ingredient on hand, a heck of a lot cheaper than the dog biscuits I usually buy. Because we don't let them have a lot of treats and never table scraps (on purpose anyway), I try to buy treats that have ingredients I can pronounce because I don't want to screw up their digestion or make them fat.

These fit the bill and they were FREE to make. Yes!

I've also started my second book of 2012. Not sure what to think of it yet, but it's a classic and I'm trying to read more of those.

I've read collections of short stories before and have enjoyed that type of presentation, so I'm hopeful this will be one to add to the "enjoyed" list.

It's on my Kindle too, so I can tuck it in my purse pretty easily and try to plow thorugh it little by little as the days pass. I'm determined to read for pleasure as that is something I have only been able to do when I travel for SpouseBuzz Live events over the past two years.

I used to be a voracious reader. Then came law school. Then came a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder. I read of ton of casebooks and then read a ton of medical and psychological journals, books written by therapists and tons of web content to try and figure out how to parent my child.

It will be nice to just read to read for once.

Willing To Try New Things

Something about having a major risk taking endeavor go awry makes a usually risk averse person like yours truly recoil into total mundaneness. Mundane is okay, but you only go around once, right?

I decided maybe trying some new things isn't so bad.

Here are some of the things I've tried so far this year...and, yes, I mean in the last two days.

Turn the Page

Ever since I was a small child, there have been two things that excite me like no other--school supplies and a new year. I suppose those two things could look pretty unrelated, but when I consider the things about each that excite me, those two things together make perfect sense.

A Time to Blog

Oh, I'd been doing so well too! It isn't that things haven't been happening, however, I have found that by going to bed closer to 10 rather than 11, I am able to function more like a human and less like a zombie. I have been ticking off gratitude in my head, but I'm not sure that counts, so I cannot guarantee that my outlook on life will have changed completely by the 21st. Maybe by the end of the month?

Is everyone else maintaining the attitude of gratitude this month? It is kind of fun, after all.