Gorgeous!

Isn't this the most amazing ring? I think it's gorgeous! From what I've read, it's the ring that Bachelor Brad gave to Miss Emily. And it's worth $90,000!!! Are you serious? Yes, I am!

I just think it's stunning. All those diamonds. I'd never feel comfortable wearing it. Heck, there are days when I really stress, wearing my rings. My engagement ring is just over a carat. And my my wedding band is a carat of small diamonds. I worry that I'm going to lose them. I'd probably have a heart attack if I had a ring like this.

It is beautiful. Stunning. I'm just not the type of woman, that could wear a ring like this. Maybe because I worry too much about money. But anyway that you spin it, it is stunning. Simply stunning.

One By One

So earlier this week, I went to Wal-Mart. And I was in search. Of what? I'm still not sure. But I came face to face with a display. Of Maybelline's new mascara. One by One. The tube was really calling my name. So I bought it.

I had no good reason to buy it. Other than, it looked interesting. So I bought it. It's only been a few days now, but I really do love this product. I have a feeling, I just found my new favorite mascara. You know, that "life changing" moment. Come on ladies, you have to know what I'm talking about.

This mascara both lengthens and thickens my lashes. It doesn't clump. Or smear. And I can use it on both my upper and lower lashes. It's perfection in a tube!

Miss Emily

Let me just start this off with, I NEVER watch the Bachelor. Ever! But a few weeks ago, I caught a Morning Talk Show. I don't remember which one. But they were talking about Emily Meynard from The Bachelor. And I just had to stop dead in my tracks. She is just perfect!



Seriously, how does one look like this? I'm not sure. But she is just stunning! And her teeth, they are just perfect. I don't know if those are her real teeth, or veneers. But they are perfect. My hubby told me that some of it is air brushing. But after watching a clip on YouTube, she is really a stunning woman.



So I just might have to watch an episode or 2. Because I really like her style. I know, these women are probably working with a stylist. But seriously, I want her wardrobe. Or at least pieces of it. And I want her beauty secrets. Because lately, I've been feeling really cruddy. Like I'm in a rut or something. I could use some help.

What do you think? Do you have any beauty or style secrets that you could share with me? I'd really like to know. Because I'm seriously feeling pretty down. Maybe it's just the weather...

I Won Something, I Bought Something

I recently won a $250 gift card from Dillard's. Our neighbors' kids were selling raffle tickets for their school. So my hubby and I bought $10 worth. You know, we like to contribute positively to our community. I honestly never thought we'd win a thing. But we wanted to help the kids. Well, we won! And we got our gift card 2 days ago.

After my classes today, I decided to stop at Dillard's on the way home. Very convenient that the mall is between our house and school. But I stopped. And I didn't expect to find anything really. Our mall is small. And the Dillard's doesn't have a wide selection. Especially in formal wear. But I found this beauty!



It's the Gianni Bini "Selene" dress. And they had 2 of them there. Only 2! I think you have to order them online. Because I didn't see anything else from this line in the store. And they were in my size! It was like the heavens opened up, and the angels were singing to me. :)

I was actually drawn to the aqua color more (it's called blue lagoon online). We're going to a formal wedding in June. And the theme is Cinderella. So I really thought the aqua would go well.

But when I was in the dressing room, I got to thinking. For $158, I'll probably get more use out of the black one. You can wear it to many more events. If it's a conservative event, like a funeral or business dinner, you can always add a jacket or cardigan on top. And for more fun and flirty events like weddings, or date nights you can wear it as is.

The general shape is a lot like this dress. But this black dress is made out of a polyester blend. But a more dressy type of material. The top has a sweetheart neckline, and is fitted. But there's no boning. You do get some thin spaghetti strap style straps that you can add or remove. The ruffles are a lot smaller on the skirt. And the skirt fits more like a pencil skirt.

I feel like this dress was a complete success! My hubby and I had talked about how we would spend the money last night. And he wanted me to spend it all on me. But I couldn't do it. Especially since I can wear this dress with these shoes. So after I paid for my dress, I headed across the mall. To the Men's Dillard's. And I picked up some shirts and ties for my hubby! I've got to worry about what he's going to wear too! :)

Feminine Dress

Do you remember these shoes? I think I found a dress to go with them. What do you think? I don't think the shoes compete with the dress, nor does the dress doesn't compete with the shoes.

It was a little tough. Everything in stores right now is extremely short. Or makes me look like I'm going to prom or something. But Lola was telling me about this dress that she bought for a show. I quickly begged for pictures. And I fell in love. Over to Arden B I went and bought it! It comes in light pink or jade. The jade looks more like a minty color. And I like it, but I don't think it would look good on me.

The dress is beautiful! It has a hidden back zipper, with a hook and eye. The top is a satin, polyester, spandex blend. It's ruched and even has boning. With a slight sweetheart neckline. The skirt is tiered chiffon. And I just love the way it moves! It's so feminine! The best part, it was $78, but I got it for $39. And just $5 shipping! Now I don't feel so bad. One complete outfit down, I don't know how many to go...

My Surprise in the Mail

I was talking to my mom the other day. We were talking about all these weddings. And I'm feeling a little stressed about all the dresses I need to buy. And I can't find anything age appropriate at the stores. Hello, what happened to the nice selection at Dillard's, Forever 21, and Macy's? Not to mention the cost of standing in a wedding. Hello!

I don't know, but I can't find anything affordable and still dressy enough for these formal weddings. I know, if it were only 2 weddings, it wouldn't be so bad. But honestly, from the end of May until September, we are going to weddings. Almost every other weekend!

Today, my hubby comes home with a package. I didn't know what it was. Because I haven't done any online shopping lately. I wasn't sure what it could be. Inside where these precious gems. My mom bought them for me! Thanks mom!



They're the Two Lips Tiki Beaded Metallic Sandal in Pewter. They're absolutely gorgeous! And so comfy! I think my mom paid about $70 for them. But these are a nice shoe because you can wear them with a variety of outfits, dressed up or down. A really good shoe! Now, I'm on a hunt for a dress to go with them. Heck, I might just wear them to dinner with some jeans and a nice top. You know, me and my hubby still go on date nights!

Ruffled Scarf Giveaway

Look at this gorgeous scarf. I seen it on YouTube for the first time. It was a while back. And I searched for it. But I never did find it in Charlotte Russe. And I was so disappointed. My hubby called up some friends that live in a bigger city. No luck! I kind of just felt like it wasn't meant to be. Until I was reading a friend's tweets. I noticed a giveaway for this scarf! The same scarf that I fell in love with when Trina showed us all, her scarf collection. If you would like the chance to win. Go to Trina's blog and enter the contest! Good luck!

Sky High Curves Mascara

I am a HUGE fan of the Dollar Tree! You just never know what you will find there. I don't have classes on Friday, but I had to go to school to make a tuition payment. While I was in town, I decided to head to Dollar Tree.

As I was daddling through the store, I stumbled on a GREAT find! One of my favorite mascaras, Maybelline's Sky High Curves. They had quite a few of them. But I only found one in very black. My favorite color to wear. I did buy it, and 5 brownish black. I figured I can use the brownish black for every day looks. Like for school. And save the black for when we go out.

I was very shocked to find mascara at the Dollar Tree. Especially one that is easily $8-10 at Target. I find lipsticks from time to time. But drugstore brand makeup goes pretty quickly at Dollar Tree. I just lucked out this time. You never know what you will find there. So go explore your local Dollar Tree. You just might surprise yourself with what you can find! :)

I'm in Love with Love

Today I went to do some grocery shopping. We were basically out of everything. That happens when you are traveling. Because I had to get some other things too, so I went to Wally World. Not my favorite place in the world. But hey, I promised myself a little treat while I was there.

I ended up in the beauty aisles pretty quickly. And I saw the Pure Ice nail polish. I had seen it at Lola's house. I know that she and Cams like it. So I thought, why not. A bottle is just under $2 for .5 fl oz. I bought Love #917. It is a medium-light pink color. With a little shimmer. Not glittery, but with shimmer.

The minute I got home and put everything away, I sat to paint my nails. After 2 coats and my regular clear nail polish, I have the prettiest pink nails. The nail polish itself is a smooth texture and very easy to apply. The square shape of the bottle also helps too. It is really easy to hold while applying the nail polish.

I am really glad that I got lost in that aisle! I will definitely be buying more colors for that price. Most drugstore brands are more expensive, and the polish isn't as good. Pure Ice also has a HUGE selection of colors to choose from. In case you are wondering, my treat was a new rose bush. :)

Stunning

I was "googling" veils for a friend. She's getting married next year. And looking for something a little less "traditional." I found this gorgeous piece! I like the "retro" feel of it. It doesn't feel so "let's play dress up," but more elegant. Do you know what I mean?

I think sometimes, the "retro inspired" pieces feel more "let's go dress up, and play like we were 5 years old." But this piece, so adorable! I really like the touch of feathers too!

Pure Elegance

I went to Sally's this morning. I went to buy a new brush. I don't know what happened to mine. And the comb situation is quickly growing old. But I got lost in the wall of nail polish. I think nail polish is quickly becoming a favorite productive of mine! I looked and looked. Finally deciding on a China Glaze nail polish. The color is Pure Elegance. It is a pretty pink color. With my Sally's card, it cost under $4 for the bottle. I can see me wearing this color every single day! It is just the perfect color. Barely there, and so lady like! :)

Sally Beauty Supply

After way too long, I finally decided to buy a Sally Beauty Supply Card. I shop there pretty often. I buy some hair products there that I can't find at Target. I am also a fan of the Sally Girl eyeshadows. And the China Glaze nail polish. But I have never purchase a card.

I don't know why. It is only $5. And at the bottom of your receipt, you get a $5 coupon to use on your next visit. Every time that you buy something at Sally's and use your card, you get a discount. You can see, this is a good deal. Especially when you consider that the card is essentially free when you use your $5 coupon. :)

Eyelash Curler

I'm pretty sure I hate my eyelash curler. Maybe I just don't use it the "right" way. I'm not sure. But it doesn't leave my eyelashes looking nice. It could be the eyelash curler itself. I should probably invest in a better one. Not the cheap-O one that I have.

But is there are "right" and "wrong" way to use an eyelash curler? I hear that you can slightly "warm" the eyelash curler with your blow dryer. It will help set the "curl." But if I'm not happy with the "curl" as is, then I should probably not do this.

Maybe I just need some help from an "expert." Because right now, I can only get my eyelashes to stand up straight. Not curl so beautifully...you know, like they do when you get your makeup done.

Wedding Flowers

A good friend of mine is planning her wedding. And we got to talking about flowers. Because they are so expensive! When my hubby and I got married, we spent a FORTUNE on flowers! And that's to say that we got them at "wholesale." Still really expensive.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably still spend the money. It was that important to me. But, I think I'd do certain things differently. Like have a simple bouquet like this one. Just beautiful flowers. All on their own. Being beautiful.

My friend, well she's still on the fence. Because money is tight. And there are so many other things to spend the money on. I understand. I told her to stick to one kind of flower. Maybe add some candles. But keep it simple. Because Mother Nature is pretty incredible. She got it right on the first try.

I LOVE Kandee!

Where has Kandee been my entire life? Honestly. Her videos are so good. And with someone like me, you know, the makeup challenged...these are perfect! Kandee is just the sweetest! And I have to admit it, I stayed up the other night, watching all of Kandee's videos. I've learned so much about makeup. A lot of people will tell me, about time! To them, I say, I never had a teacher like Kandee. :)

A Little Sassy

Ladies just LOOK at these!

I think I am in LOVE all over again!

I have just been cleaning up my mess from yesterday. Which is going rather well. And I decided to take a lunch break. After a turkey and avocado sandwich, I decided to take a looksy at Forever 21. And I found these gems. They are $28.80. Yup!!! They are definitely not something that I am usually drawn to. But they are sassy, and a little edgy. I might actually have to buy these. Who said we need throw pillows for the sofa? :)

I Stopped in My Tracks

When I Saw These Gems

Cam walked in wearing these gems last night. Apparently, she and Lola bought them a few weeks ago. Lola went clothes shopping for these gigs her and the band are doing right now. And she stumbled on these. They are winners. Cam fell in love, and they both left Bakers with a pair.

Are you SERIOUS??? I am in LOVE!!! They come in black and tan. But the tan pair are so much fun. They have all these fun summery colored beads. We don't have a Bakers here, so I checked out their website. Right now, they are on sale for $65. That is kind of pricey and I don't have a clothing budget for work like Lola. She is a performer, I am, well being a stay-at-home-wifey this summer. But a girl can dream, can't she?

Getting in Shape

I decided that it is time to get healthy. About a month ago, I was visiting Lola. She has the LARGEST COLLECTION of workout DVDs that I have ever seen! Ever!!! Along with just about every book about nutrition and diets. Before you go thinking she is crazy, or obssessed with dieting, she's not. She is a nutrition student. And she has to study all of these things.

I was telling her how I so BADLY want to get into shape. Not be pencil thin, just healthy. We talked for a LONG time. And she gave me all these tips and tricks to try. Nothing like what I did to fit into my wedding dress a few months ago. I was pretty much just starving myself. Not good at all. But Lola was patient and we talked. Then she told me that I could use any of the DVDs, books, or systems that she had. I thought for a long time, and picked up "Walk Away the Pounds." Turns out, it is one of Sam's favorites too!

To be honest, I was orginally wanting to get a gym membership, perhaps a trainer like Lola. But it is EXPENSIVE. And unlike her, it is not a requirement for my degree. I look healthy, but I really don't feel it. I want to get better stamina. My friends, they can go running for miles, heck, Sam and Lola go hiking all the time. Me, not so much. And those DVDs, they were still sitting on top of our bookshelf.

My hubby and I want to get more adventureous this summer. You know, going hiking, camping, and the such. He is in such good shape. But working out with him, did not sound very appealing. Something tells me, it would turn into him yelling at me to run faster, and me getting fustrated and just stopping in the middle of the road. He is a lot like Lola. They go run for miles and miles. And they go alone. I think it is therapeutic for them. So I didn't want to intrude on his "alone time."

Today, I FINALLY did my first workout with the DVDs. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! I am so excited to do this! I am thinking, I will do the DVDs 5 days a week. With Lola's tips, and some of her healthier recipes, I am on my way to being healthy! :)

Her Boyfriend

Tonight, it was a typical Tuesday night. One were my hubby and I go to mass, we go twice a week in the evenings, Tuesday and Thursday. We meet up with some friends and family. Afterward, we either go out to dinner together or meet at someone's house to cook. This night was no exception.

Little Marissa and I were sitting and talking. She is 3 and 1/2 years old. I was told that the 1/2 was very, VERY IMPORTANT. :) We sat and chatted for a long time. Because the guys told us gals, we had the night off. Yup, they cooked, we chatted. Marissa's mom was tending to Maribel and Naribel was talking with her Nino. That left me and Marissa to have some good, hard core, girl talk.

And what did Marissa and I talk about? Her boyfriend.....Dale Earnhardt Jr. Are you serious? Little Marissa is IN LOVE with a man that I guess is in his 30s? Yes she is. So much so, this little princess who has a Barbie collection that would make any little girl jealous, has a HUGE poster of him hanging over her bed. Yup, so when she lays down to sleep, she can look up at her "boyfriend."



This is a picture of him. I did a search on the internet when I got home. Because to be very honest, I had no clue who he was. Beyond the 3 hours of facts, stories, and such that I learned from Little Marissa, I have no clue who Dale Jr is. I am guessing, Dirty Mo Acres is his property.

Lola, where are you when I need to learn about NASCAR.....at work. Anyway, I don't know much about NASCAR. I know Lola likes to watch it, Little Marissa is in love with "Jr," and Sara cannot get enough since Lola made her watch a race a few years back. Sara's favorite driver is also Jr. I watched part of a race, once, and really can't remember much. I know more about Indy car racing, because a father-son duo is from my hometown. There is a large street named after them. That's it, I don't know anything else.



This right here, is JR Motorsports, a place that Jr owns. Go me, I found something out on my own. It looks like a cool place. It is the place that Little Marissa wants so badly to visit, she told her Dad that she would trade all of her dolls and 1 pair of her dancing shoes to get to go. And she is serious about her folklorico dancing.



She also was very excited when she talked about "Mr. H." I later learned, Mr. Rick Hendrick. Who is Dale Jr's boss. He owns Hendrick Motorsports, which is the top team in NASCAR. That's him on the right.

This is a picture of Dale Jr all dressed up. It is the one that Marissa made her Dad use as wallpaper on their family computer. Marissa will boot the computer just to look at her boyfriend. :) I will admit, he is an attractive man. In a picture that Marissa has, he has the most striking blue eyes. Yup, the kind that you can easily get lost in. But for a 3 year old to fall so completely in love with the man, I cannot believe it. She really is head over heels for him.

I had heard from Lola, Selena, and A that she saves up her TV time all week, to watch NASCAR practice, races, and whatever else she can find on TV. Isn't that cute? I just think it is sweet. Trade in Saturday morning cartoons for a little NASCAR racing.

Little Marissa convinced Lola to make her a dress out of National Guard 88 (the car he drives) fabric last year. She wore it literally until the fabric began to wear out. Now, she is on the hunt for some more fabric. Marissa also wears her little firesuit on race day. Chente (her dog) also wears his little shirt. And they sit in front of the TV on race day to watch their idol. Don't even think of talking to Marissa, she doesn't even take time to eat.

This just made me think, do all kids get role models like this? The kind that you really, deep down inside think the sun rises and sets on them? I think so. I looked up to Chente (aka Vicente Fernandez) when I was little. I would convince my parents into going to see him in concert. His tapes (yes I had lots of cassettes) and later his CDs were on the top of my wishlist. So I can understand.

Our girl talk was hilarious at best. But I loved the way that she was so excited about her idol. Little Marissa has this collection of 88 collectable cars in her room. Yup, sitting right next to her porcelain dolls. She has her little T-shirts and even a hat to wear. This is a little girl who makes her dad vote for him every single day. Because he is the "Most Popular Driver."

I have to say, my girl got me a little interested in NASCAR and Dale Jr. 3 hours of talking, will do that to you. When we got home tonight, I googled, flickr'ed, and eventually landed at his website. I have to say, he sounds like a "down to earth" kind of guy. Someone who you could share a burger and beer with. I can see why she likes him. I can see why Lola likes NASCAR too!

In the end, I am going to leave you with one more piece of "Eye Candy." And some thoughts. Only in America can an average guy turn into one of the most popular and most successful NASCAR drivers. Only in America, can a 3 year old little girl say her boyfriend is Dale Jr. And only in America can a 3 year old Marissa convince me to spend my Sunday Night watching a race that I really don't know anything about. I will be watching the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night.

Shopping Therapy

For a while now, I have been longing for a new bikini. And because of this issue with the post office and swaps.....I have just not been in the mood to do any shopping. Well, not for myself. But my hubby convinced me to go with him to Target with him this evening. I frequently search Target for fun buys. But I really don't go to the actually store very often.



I seen this bikini a while back, and it has been in the back of my mind for a while now. A long while. It has a ruffled top and is aqua...one of my favorite colors. But I just haven't bought it. My husband and I were looking around the store, buying our essentials for the week. And the opposite side of the store was just begging me to go and look. Low and behold, they had it in my size. Needless to say, I finally bought my bikini.....just in time for summer! :)