Hair Product Review

If there is one thing that I don't mind spending money on, its my hair. Simply because I am the type of person if I don't have make up on (which is a high chance I don't) and my hair is in good shape then I look good enough to leave the house! Being that I have curly hair drug store products don't cut it, either they strip my hair out of all the oils I need to keep my curl under control or they dont get the daily grim out and my hair just turns way nasty. 

I thought it would be a good idea to share my hair products with you guys in case your in the market for a change :)

One of my tricks to keeping my hair in good shape is to do a leave in conditioner over night about once every six months depending on if I have damaged it more that usual due to high lights. I have used this leave in conditioner all my life, my mom used to put it on me when I was little. It can be hard to find but I am pretty sure I found it at Ulta last time and when I do find it I buy like 2 or 3 there only $4.99 and worth every penny.

When you get the conditioner you have to mix the two together in a bowl, it foams up and smells super good, clean like nice fresh shampoo only its not shampoo. I always just get in the shower wash my hair, lightly apply my normal conditioner-rinse and then towel dry my hair. Pick it out and apply this conditioner. 

Once I have it all worked into my hair I braid it and leave it over night. The package says only to leave it in for 3 to 5 minutes but I leave mine in longer. Sometimes I do what it says and sometimes I go over night. The results aren't effected by how long you leave it in. I just like the extra insurance that its getting in there and repairing the damage :).

I promise if I braid my hair and go out it doesn't look like this..

The other products I use on my hair daily are not cheap so if your looking for a good not so expensive hair product line you might want to skip the rest!! I have been using Purology products for about two years now and I wish I would've started sooner. Purology is a 100% vegan hair product line that can be chosen for what you need it to do. For example there is a hydrate system, super smooth system and many more. I use the Antifade complex for shampoo and conditioner I buy 1 liter bottles I try to buy them when I am home because there about $40 cheaper. But at Ulta I know they cost about $60 a piece (I know my own pocket just cringed) but it only requires a quarter size drop in your palm to get the job done. I only have to get them about once every 4 to 6 months usually 6 months so that about $10 a month in that product which isn't to terribly bad. This shampoo really helps keep my hight lights in good condition as well as keeping them bright blonde and not faded nasty. 

(Like my shower eh?)

For styling product it really varies I try to always put in a leave in conditioner especially if my hair is getting crazy and since its getting longer and I haven't had my hair this long for three years I feel like its all over the place. But I really like Purology's Antifade complex styling line. All their styling products are worth what they cost and last me a LONG time as well. 

 I use their leave in conditioner Essential repair, when my hair gets dry it gets really ratty and its hard for me to keep the knots out so every couple of days I put some of this in my hair just one pump does the job, about a quarter size amount. It just gives me that added moisture that I need. This at Ulta costs between $20-30 if I remember right it can last me almost an entire year. In the two years that I have been using it, I have only bought two containers of it.

Their gel called PowerDressing which is amazing I HATE curly hair thats all crinkly and stiff I like my curls to be soft not hard and crunchy.. YUCK! This product does an amazing job at getting my curls just right and controlling the frizz. I use a penny amount, it as little flecks of glitter in it so it makes you feel extra luscious! When I straighten my hair it works great to it would be awesome for any hair type. This gel at Ulta is $20 even. 

I also LOVE their hairspray this stuff is amazing like all the other products. I kind of panic when my can gets a little low because it adds that little extra control to do the job. I am low right now and every time I go to use it I am whispering "you can do it friend!!" in hopes that it wont run out that time I am using it. This hair spray at Ulta is about $20 as well. 

I think it shows how long these products last when I cant even remember how much they cost because I don't have to go buy them that often. The only product I tend to buy more frequently than all of them is the hair spray but that is the same with any product regardless of the brand. 

Long review...

Thanks for visiting my blog <3

Is There Really a Forever?

This probably isn't going to be one of those happy posts so if you don't want to read a little negativity then just skip right over this post.. But this as been a constant question in the back of my head lately, Is there really a forever? 

No one can guarantee us anything in life thats why we have to be go getters and get what we want.. Achieve our dreams.

How long we have here is also not promised, thats why people say make the most of the time you have here. Because if we don't make it a priority to do the things we want before we know it our time will be over.  

All of these things have answers above, they all start with no and follow up with a but an exception of how we can make the most out of something or make it last or get what we want.

This is the one that is really puzzling me is there really a forever in a relationship??

I feel I should add here that this has NOTHING to do with my own personal relationship but its something I would be questioning regardless who I was with. I feel like the answer here is no (I am a tad pessimistic) but theres that part of me that wants to say yes it is possible if both people want it if you are both working equally and putting in the same amount of time and effort. I'm petrified to get married, but its the one thing I want more than anything right now. I want to take that next step with tony, although he's not exactly ready yet and is a little washy on the subject (kind of contributes to me thinking there's not a forever) Although I still believe we will have that day eventually. 

I think all of these forever questions that I feel are pretty easily answerable (<- I am pretty sure this is not a word).. I have lost people REALLY close to me to cancer so to me there isn't a forever theres just the time we are given here on this planet to make the most out of it. I have friends that are going through a battle right now with cancer and another one that has a tumor. It wakes you up even your not the one that has the illness, makes you realize how special life is how much it needs to be cherished.

Then there's the answer to if there is a forever to the relationships.. Well being the bi product of a divorce I find it really hard to say yes there is forever. I think its the same thing here.. The answer being no because nothing is a guarantee and in a relationship your only responsible for your own feelings not the other persons. Same with actions you can only be held accountable for your own actions. I am so afraid that I have spent the last 6 years 3 months and 19 days (I had to calculate this I didn't know this off the top of my head) with someone that I cant have a guarantee with. Granted living together is completely different then being married. I honestly think I would have less of these feelings if I felt more stable in my own relationship (I hate admitting that).. Theres so many factors in a relationship, so many things that makes Tony and I unique not the norm.. But I guess that is what makes us us.. We've got through some pretty tough times and came out on top every single time. We were long distance for the first 5 years of dating, broke up once not our choice and found our way back to each other. We've each made mistakes but been able to forgive the other because of the amount of love we share.. 

And yet I still question this.. 

Sometimes I think I need an actual hobby because all this thinking sometimes drives me up a freaking wall.. 

Its funny how young you can look only three years ago.. 

HaPpY EaStEr

A little late I know..

Tony and I didn't do anything special we decided on staying home. We went on a 7 mile bike ride in the morning, cleaned and made a big dinner as well as relaxed. But yesterday we where talking about the easter bunny and when we found out he wasn't real.. Sorry to those of you who still thought he was real still.

Tony cant remember how he found out he wasn't real but didn't make that discovery till he was in 8th or 9th grade!! Crazy to me because by that time I had known for awhile.

Mine is actually a slightly funny story, one would think that with two older brothers they where the ones who told me but it wasn't it was a self discovery.. We always go to church on Easter Sundays and this one Sunday I was between the age of 7 to 9.. Well my mom woke me up to go get ready for church and I walked into her room, happened to glance in the open closet (way to go mom :) and saw all our Easter gifts. I remember a slight sinking feeling like what is this doing here?? But continued on to take my shower, after church we came back and all our gifts where on the table this entire time I knew something was going on.. I think I was in a bad mood or something because I remember my mom asking what was wrong and I told her what I saw.. She tried the whole "well the Easter bunny has lots of little kids to visit so he dropped yours off early for me to give to you" thing.. Didn't really work to well because at that moment I knew the bunny was my mommy.. I also felt it was safe to assume Santa wasn't real either.. I'd like to add a little side note here I wasn't upset I didn't throw myself on the ground and cry my eyes out it was more like "oh thats interesting" and I moved on.. 

Oddly the best easter I have had is kind of a funny one which I am totally doing this for my kids once they are know the truth about the Easter bunny. When I was about 16 or 17 my mom and step dad hid Easter eggs but these weren't your average candy filled eggs.. They had money!! not a whole bunch either.. There was some with candy one with a 20 dollar bill, one with a 10 and one with a 5 and then lots of change.. Also I got a coffee card for a local coffee shop and an I owe you for a shopping trip.. It was a nice Easter. I still personally find it fun to search for easter eggs. 

I hope everyone had a good Easter yesterday and ate lots of yummy food!!

Late Night thoughts..

I guess it depends on where you are and what time it is there to consider this late...

I have 4 days left at the university and 6 days left at the community college.. Three weeks off than five weeks of summer school. I really hope I can make it through these next months till July 8th because I really need to stay on track with my class schedule. I am so pissed I am not graduating this May like I would be if I had stayed with nursing or respiratory care. I probably would have ended up hating it in the long run though. So on one hand I am happy I moved on and made these changes but on another hand I am not happy about it at all. When I was a senior I had this perfect idea that at the age of 20 I would be done with school, have a bachelors and be working supporting myself. 

But I'm not doing any of that right now, still trucking along this horribly long road of higher education.. 

The worse part about being in school for so long is that the annoying people have became so much more annoying and you have no tolerance for anything. I think I am extra irritated because I wasn't terribly challenged academically this semester which has resulted in me being completely bored by Friday because I already have all my homework done and studied for the next text coming up so much I cant stand to touch note cards. 

The one class I thought I would end up hating this semester has actually became one of my favorites, I really like my American History class and I hate dislike history. But what I have came to find out is that I like the stuff about America everything outside of that I really don't want to learn about.. This would probably be the time to mention one of my summer classes is ancient history.. I know those of you on my Facebook will be subjected to me complaining about that class for five weeks and all I have to say about that is if I can deal with it you can to. After all you people don't have to study you just have to use your eyeballs to read my opinion on it. 

I hope that one day I will look back at these last four years and not want to kick myself anymore for every change I made, its not that I regret my changes on paths in life its just that I wish I could have came to this point sooner. I don't like being dependent on anyone and its really starting to take a toll on me when I have to ask other people for things I need. Not that anyone expects me to justify what I am asking for it just gets a little annoying after awhile. 

I have learned quiet a lot about myself in these short four years, I have changed for the better but I have made some mistakes that I would go back and change. Those are more personal than academic. Thats the purpose of life though right? 

To go through it and learn, make mistakes and hopefully turn out for the better...

Stuffed Jalapeños

I guess all I have to share with you guys is food? But if someone shared this recipe with me I'd hug them because they are so good!! Not the best thing for you but very delicious and super easy to make!!

I've been trying a lot of new recipes if you guys hadn't noticed considering I'm subjecting all of you (because theres so many!!) to my recipes :) <-- theres some sarcasm over there..

So Get about 5 to 10 jalapeños and a brick of cream cheese.

Cut the tops off and cut the jalapeños in half and clean all the insides out wash them out too. 

Scoop cream cheese into the center of the pepper and then wrap with your choice of bacon.

I've had these with plan not cured bacon and it was bland, so I suggest you get peppered bacon. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. 

The longer you bake the less heat the pepper will have I am not a huge fan of major spice..

ENJOY!!!

These would be great for Super bowl or Easter!! Or just because :)

Mushroom Spaghetti

I hate feeling like I constantly make the same thing..

So I was watching the food network Friday specifically Rachel Ray and wanted to try to make one of her dishes called Mushroom Spaghetti. Its super easy, easier than I thought it would be..

Recipe:

2 packages of mushrooms (Whatever type you like best)

2 bundles of green onions

4 garlic cloves

Olive oil to coat the pan

With the above ingredients your going to want to sweat them in a pan, use enough oil oil to coat so they can cook properly.

1 can of chicken broth

1 pint of heavy whipping cream

1 box of your choice of pasta (I used whole wheat pasta)

Pepper and salt to taste as well as basil or whatever other spice you think would taste best

With the ingredients above you are going to want to add the chicken broth once the mushrooms have cooked down the onions and garlic are translucent, than simmer all of this till its reduced. Once you have noticed that the broth has cooked down then add half of the pint of cream and let it simmer till the sauce has reduced and thicken. This isn't the thickest sauce ever I am thinking if you want a thicker sauce you are going to need to make a roux(melted butter with flour added till it becomes thick like past add to liquid to thicken) to add to the chicken broth mushroom mixture. Cook your pasta however you like it and then add to the sauce and toss, I let mine cook a while longer with the pasta in it to help it thicken more with the starches from the pasta. 

If you want to look at the original recipe because I deviated a little here is the link

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/creamy-mushroom-spaghetti-recipe/index.html

LayniebugDesigns Melissa Blair Review

Thanks to Fabulous Sam Schuerman I have a boarder line addiction to hair flowers now =D 

It truly isn't an issue ;)..

So I love finding new ladies to order flowers from and I found a NEW one to ordered from through a vlog that Sam posted.

 Melissa Blair  off of Facebook (Look her up as LayniebugDesigns Melissa Blair) message her once you find her and she can place an order for you that way, then bill you through PayPal makes it easy.. Her service is amazingly quick, quick to reply to messages and quick to send your flowers. I am pretty sure she had to make mine before she shipped it and I got my package two days before I was supposed to!! All her flowers come with the choice of being on a clip, headband or pin. I like the versatility that she has with her product its nice to be able to select something and not have it HAVE to come a specific way. 

I ordered a pink organza flower that is 4 and a half inches across and has really pretty beads in the center which I think is my favorite part. Having curly hair I am scared to put certain flowers in my hair at first I was scared to even go down this road of flowers because well lets face it I have a crap ton of volume in my hair. I am so happy I took a leap of faith and started buying flowers. With Melissa's flower it doesn't make my hair look crazier than it already does, trust me there are flowers out there that make my hair look huge.. There perfect for any girl who wants to add that extra something to their hair. 

So here are some photos the flower will be perfect for summer I cant wait to wear it more.

 I love that she added a little hello kitty sticker and I am not even a big hello kitty fan :) I am definitely looking forward to doing more business with this company!!

The packaging is the image below, I like the simplicity of it. 

I hope if you guys are in the market for some flowers you will go check her Facebook out. Melissa does something amazing that other companies don't, she donates 10% of her proceeds to a organization that changes each month.  This month was Susan G Komen, she is donating 20% this month. Which I love giving my money to this organization because a friend of mine has gone through this battle and she has won!!

Avoidance..

I am half way or a little less through a four page paper, I've avoided writing this my best today so my last task of avoiding is posting on my blog :).. 

Ways I have avoided my paper..

Looked up recipes for stuffed jalapeños..

Set a goal to hike up a mountain by the end of the summer i.e looked up more hiking trails in the area..

Spent a LOT of time on Facebook..

And now blogging..

And now that I am blogging I am drawing a complete blank..

So I am sure some of you guys read "hiking up a mountain" and called my crazy in your head.. I know I am a little crazy but I think its a good goal to have for the summer, it'll help keep me focused on getting back in shape and if I do hike up this mountain I'll definitely be in shape to do the Susan G Komen Walk for a Cure in October that takes place where I live. That event definitely holds an important place in my heart. The only issue I'll have hiking is that I wont go alone in the wilderness to hike by myself and Tony "hates" walking which I don't understand you have to walk to go to the bathroom, does that mean you hate getting yourself to the toilet?? I'm asking him this tomorrow when he tries to protest against me.. 

So I have three weeks left till my finals at my University and than another month till I take my finals at the Community college.. If I had a time machine I'd fast forward to taking my finals because I am SO over this semester.. 16 weeks is a long time to be in one class, especially if you hate your classes!! 

Thinking about posting recipes, good fashion things I come up with and some product reviews but we will see what I come up with along my little blogging journey.. I'll also keep you guys posted on my whole hiking goal for the summer :)

Fruit Dip Recipe

Tony calls this Fluff, so its what I have started to call it as well. 

Its SUPER easy to make and although its probably not the best thing to accompany fruit it sure tastes good!!

We usually eat it with strawberries but I know my mom eats it on other fruits.

What you need:

1 room temp Philadelphia Cream Cheese brick

1 container of marshmallow whip

Powdered sugar to taste (I eye ball this)

All you do is combine these two in a bowl and bam you have FLUFF!!

I recommend using a hand mixer to do this because the marshmallows are really difficult to incorporate into the cream cheese. If you want it to taste more like cream cheese just use less of the marshmallow whip.

I had intentions of taking photos of this but we ate it to quickly before I could snap a photo :) 

Quotes..

I am not a big quote person, you know those people that can quote verses off the top of their head or they quote what some old famous person that has already died said.. Yeah they tend to annoy me.. 
I had a writing assignment my sophomore year and it had something to do with quotes either that or I was seriously just bored. But I ran into one that really spoke to me in the context of that current situation I was in. I roomed with my best friend from high school, I already had Tony i.e the boyfriend so I didn't need to go out and party or find someone. She on the other hand led a sheltered life all through high school to keep up her good girl image intentionally..So she went and partied while I refused.. Needless to say we went our separate paths but it didn't go down peacefully.. just super ugly. Essentially I walked into our room one day to see her moving, I don't know what I said because at that point we weren't even talking. From my stand point she wasn't a friend anymore because she would make plans with me and then totally blow me off at the last second. Saying she needed to go hang out with so and so. A best friend doesn't do that.. So I got tired of it and stopped being there for her.

I don't tolerate being walked on..

So the quote that applied to that context I think came from Martin Luther King Jr. I also happened to write it down in BIG letters and post on my half of the room.. Could have been why she moved out too.. But I looked at this quote every day and it brought calm over me essentially I didn't feel like punching her in the face anymore.. 

"the problem with hatred is half the people you hate don't know and the other half don't care. the only person truly consumed with hatred is you." 

After this happened with her I have started to see the importance of having few friends that you can trust, I am so tired of making a friend just to find out they are selfish and shallow people. I have enough insecurities myself and I don't want to listen to others because I don't push mine on anyone but me. I've attempted at making friends here but it just back fires in my face. It definitely makes me appreciate tony more because he is my 

best friend.

So my last blog.. I am actually kind of sad about it.. Anyone have any suggestions on what else I should blog about? I might keep going on the same theme I do get little weird ideas in my head I could rant about. I've thought about doing outfits for when I go out shopping or something but I don't know I don't think I dress that cute haha :) 

Day 1. What do you find most challenging in your life right now?

Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. A photo that makes you happy
Day 4. Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.
Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.
Day 6. Your most embarrassing moment
Day 7. Whats your most prized materialistic possession?
Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself? 
Day 10. What are some of your favorite make up products? 
Day 11. Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. A Good Self Tanner..
Day 14. What do you wish for?
Day 15. Write about your dogs :)
Day 16. If you could, what would you tell yourself before you graduated high school?
Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. Post and outfit pic..
Day 19. Write about your significant other
Day 20. Write about school and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write about your most vivid childhood memory. Post a picture of you taken over ten years ago.
Day 22. What did you do today?
Day 23. Who's your celebrity look alike?
Day 24. What is God teaching you presently?
Day 25. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Who are your favorite bloggers?
Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Your day, in great detail
Day 30. What do you think is going to happen to you after you die?
Day 31. Your favorite quote 

Where we end up..

This is a REALLY common question..

Where do we go once we die??

I wish I knew because I am not going to lie I am terrified of dying but mainly because there is so much I want to do in my life that I have yet to accomplish. I am pretty sure this is why about every ten years we think as a society that the world is going to end which if a 20 year old is telling you its not going to happen chances are people it wont. Remember Y2K yeah, I was ten.. that shit didn't happen :).

Anyways theres two answers to this question one I like to believe in and the other I catch the pessimistic me thinking.. 

FIRST ANSWER..

We go in a box, get cremated or where ever our body ends up once this happens thats it.. theres nothing more.. (I know morbid sorry!!) This is the one pessimistic me thinks of occasionally, the only reason why is because I have taken WAY to many science classes so I know the decaying process of the body all to well. I haven't had the spiritual part of dying hammered into my head like I have the scientific one. 

SECOND ANSWER..

The one I believe

We go some place else whether thats heaven or some other secular world that we are not aware of on Earth. We end up there, we watch over the loved ones we have left here on the planet and reunite with those that we have already lost.

 I was raised Lutheran so I do believe in God, I don't write my blog though to push ideas or beliefs onto those who choose to read. But I will say this, believing in something whether its God or something/one else. It gives you someone to lean on, someone to talk to when things are bad. You can pull strength from that source and power through whatever struggle you have encountered. 

So that is what I believe in.. 

Only one more day of my challenge :( I am really starting to try and brain storm what I'll be blogging about.. Hopefully I don't bore anyone to death!! :)

Day 1. What do you find most challenging in your life right now?

Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. A photo that makes you happy
Day 4. Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.
Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.
Day 6. Your most embarrassing moment
Day 7. Whats your most prized materialistic possession?
Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself? 
Day 10. What are some of your favorite make up products? 
Day 11. Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. A Good Self Tanner..
Day 14. What do you wish for?
Day 15. Write about your dogs :)
Day 16. If you could, what would you tell yourself before you graduated high school?
Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. Post and outfit pic..
Day 19. Write about your significant other
Day 20. Write about school and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write about your most vivid childhood memory. Post a picture of you taken over ten years ago.
Day 22. What did you do today?
Day 23. Who's your celebrity look alike?
Day 24. What is God teaching you presently?
Day 25. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Who are your favorite bloggers?
Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Your day, in great detail
Day 30. What do you think is going to happen to you after you die?
Day 31. Your favorite quote