MAMA MIA

WENT TO OUR FAVORITE PIZZA JOINT AGAIN. ITS NICE GETTING TO KNOW THE STAFF AT A PLACE. THEY ARE ALL VERY SWEET AND THE FOOD WAS GREAT.

(KIDS LOOK MISERABLE IN PIC BUT I PROMISE YOU THEY LOVE GOING TO EAT AS MUCH AND CLIFF AND I DO.)

THEY EVEN GAVE US SOME CALAMARI FOR FREE :} :} :} .ANNA AND CLIFF DON'T EAT IT BUT BILL DOES AND SO DO I . WE WENT TO TOWN, LOL.

OH, CAN YOU SEE THE BUMPS ON MY FACE IN PIC????? VASELINE FOR MY FACE IS STILL A NO NO :{.

SO TRUE!!! 

AS ANNIE WOULD SAY...,"THE SUN WILL COME OUTTT TOMORROW!"

WELL.., MAYBE NOT TOMORROW, BUT POSSIBLY THE NEXT DAY, OR THE NEXT. IN OTHER WORDSSS, HANG IN THERE! GOOD STUFFS AROUND THE CORNER ;].

VASELINE FOR YOUR FACE

 SINCE I AM OLDER NOW AND MY SKIN DRYER, I DECIDED TO GIVE GRAM GREGORYS VASELINE ROUTINE ANOTHER GO. IT USED TO MAKE ME BREAK OUT. THIS TIME I DID SOME READING ON HOW OTHERS USE IT AND TRIED A NEW WAY. INSTEAD OF JUST SLATHERING IN ON MY FACE AND WIPING IT OFF WITH A DAMP CLOTHE, I TOOK A SHOWER (OR YOU COULD JUST WASH YOUR FACE) AND AS SOON AS I GOT OUT, WHILE STILL WET, I RUBBED A SMALL AMOUNT OF VASELINE IN ON MY FINGERS AND JUST PATTED IT ON MY WHOLE FACE. KIND OF LIKE MAKING A FINE LAYER OF IT ON MY SKIN, TO TRAP IN THE MOISTURE. I LET IT SIT ON MY FACE WHILE I BRUSHED MY TEETH AND THEN GENTLY WITH A VERY SOFT CLOTH WIPED OFF THE EXCESS VASELINE. 

SO WHAT HAPPENED???? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU ( :] ), IT MADE THE MAKE UP I HAVE BEEN USING FOR YEARS (LOREAL COMPACT)  LOOK WAYYYY SMOOTHER ON MY SKIN. I WAS READY TO TRY A LIQUID FOUNDATION (WHICH I HAVE ALWAYS HATED ), BUT NOW I DON'T NEED TO :}. HOPEFULLY THE BREAK OUTS DON'T START?????

I AM ALSO USING THE VASELINE ON MY NECK, CHEST, HANDS, THIGHS, KNEES AND FEET. I APPLY IT AFTER I SHOWER WHILE MY SKIN IS STILL WET SO I DON'T PULL MY SKIN WHILE RUBBING IT ON. THEN YOU GENTLY WIPE IT OFF. SO FAR I AM LOVING IT.

I DIDN'T GET THE ROC RETINOL YET  :{, BUT WHEN I DO I WILL ALTERNATE THE SAME AREAS A FEW DAYS A WEEK WITH THE VASELINE.

GIVE IT A GO AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK :}.

 HOW FUN AND SWEET IS THIS IDEA ABOVE . HOPEFULLY I'LL GET AROUND TO EGGING SOME PEEPS :}.

HAVE A GOOD ONE ALL ;]!

MASCARA- MAYBELLINE THE ROCKET

FINALLYYYYYYYYY, A MASCARA THAT LIVES UP TO ITS HYPE!

THIS IS THE FIRST MASCARA I EVER USED THAT I FELT LIKE I COULD LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH JUST IT ON MY EYES. WITHOUT EYELINER AND EYE SHADOW, AND STILLLL LOOK ALIVE. ITS REALLY KEEPS YOUR LASHES SEPARATED AND COATS THEM NICELY. NO CLUMPY BLOBS TO BATTLE APART! MY LASHES ARE A BIT FINNER AND THINNING NOW A DAYS BUT THIS STUFF REALLY MAKES THEM LOOK LIKE THEY DID BACK IN THE DAY, AND WITHOUT MESSING WITH IT FOR 5 MINUTES OR MORE. MY ONLY GRIPE IS MY LASHES CURL A LOT AT THE OUTER CORNERS AND THIS WAND MAKES IT A BIT TOUGH TO GRAB THE REALLY CURLY LASHES, I CAN DEAL WITH IT ;].

GIVE IT A TRY !

OHHH NO THE SOUP IS ALMOST GONE..

 

I SHALL FINISH EVERY LAST DROP OF THIS DELICIOUS POTATO,CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI SOUP.

I LOOK LIKE I'M BEING TORTURED, BUT I SWEAR I'M NOT. ITS JUST I'M SO SAD THE GOODNESS IS ALMOST GONE :{.

:}

BUT NO WORRIES BECAUSE FRED CHEERED ME UP AGAIN SOON AFTER WITH HIS FUZZY LOVE.

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GOOD ONE ;]

WOW

MY HUSBANDS WORK BLOWS MY MIND. THE MAN COMES HOME AND LAYS SHEETS OF PRINTS ON THE COFFEE TABLE AND STUDIES THEM. THEN THE NEXT DAY HE GOES AND BUILDS EXACTLY WHAT THOSE PRINTS TELL HIM TO AND HE DOES IT VERYYYYYY WELL I MIGHT ADD! MY BRAIN COULD NEVER EVER GRASP WHAT HE DOES. YOU GO BABY!!!

AMAZING FRAMING ! OH AND I LOVE THE PURPLE BOARDS THEY PUT UP NOW. PRETTY, LOL.

VALENTINES DAY WAS SWEET. MY NEIGHBOR TULA, WHO IS A DOLL, LEFT ME THESE GORGEOUS TULIPS AND SOME YUMMY COOKIES ON MY PORCH. THIS WOMAN MAKES MY DAY MANY TIMES A YEAR.

 AND CLIFF BROUGHT ME OUR SIGNATURE, GORGEOUS, YELLOW / ORANGE ROSES. I LOVVVVVVVE THEM!

ANNA AND I PLAYED CARDS AND SHE KICKED MY BUTT! (BILL HAD TO GO OUT)

OF COURSE WE ALL GOT THE USUAL CHOCOLATES AND SUCH AND I GOT THE KIDS SOME SWEETS AND A COUPLE OF PUZZLES. I MADE THEM SEE WHO COULD PUT THEIRS TOGETHER THE FASTEST. THE WINNER GOT A SCRATCHY. ANNA WON BOTH TIMES BUT SHE SHARED HER SCRATCHIES WITH BILL. THEY BOTH LOST..WAHHHH,LOL.

THE PUZZLES WERE 3D AND HARD TO DO. ESPECIALLY BILLYS, WHO'S PUZZLE ENDED UP BEING 24 MORE PIECES THEN ANNAS (OOPS,MAYBE THAT'S WHY ANNA KEPT WINNING,LOL. I DID GIVE BILL SOME EXTRA TIME THOUGH :} )

OKAY, MY CUZ TRIED THESE TWO EYE CREAMS. THE LEFT WAS EXPENSIVE AND THE RIGHT WAS AFFORDABLE. UNFORTUNATELY THEY BOTH SUCKED! THE CERAVE (I BELIEVE) SHE SAID IS A NICE MOISTURIZER BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT. SHE USED EACH FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. :{

ILL GET THE ROC SOON AND LET YAS KNOW. IF ANY OF YOU USE A EYE / WRINKLE CREAM THAT'S ACTUALLY WORKINGGGGG, PLEASE LET US KNOW. PRONTO,LOL!

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE. SWEET DREAMS!
(OR GOOD MORNING IF YOU MISSED THIS LAST NIGHT ;])

LOVE.....

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO MY BLOG PEEPS!!!!

HOPE ITS GREAT!!!

XOXOXOXOXOXO :}

VALENTINES DAY AND STUFF

THIS MORNING I GOT BUSY FILLING IN MY VALENTINES DAY CARDS AND WRAPPING THE FAMS SMALL LOVE GIFTS. THAT MADE ME SMILE :}.

THEN I DID SOME RESEARCH ON RETINOL VERSES RETIN A. THEY BOTH WILL IMPROVE WRINKLES AND SKIN ON A WHOLE. THE DIFFERENCE IS, RETINOL, WHICH IS OVER THE COUNTER, IS MILDER AND WILL TAKE LONGER FOR YOU TO SEE RESULTS. BEING MILDER IS A GOOD THING THOUGH BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY WONT BE BOTHERED WITH SKIN IRRITATION ISSUES WERE AS WITH THE RETIN A, WHICH IS BY SCRIPT ONLY, IT CAN TAKE A WHILE TO FIND THE RIGHT DOSE TO NOT IRRITATE YOUR SKIN. IT DOES WORK FASTER THOUGH WHICH IS TEMPTING. BUT FOR ME, I CANT AFFORD THE DERMATOLOGIST VISIT AND COST OF THE RETIN A SO I DID SOME READING AND FOUND THE BELOW IS THE BEST OVER THE COUNTER RETINOL.

I'LL BUY IT THIS WEEKEND AND LET YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES. IVE TRIED LOREAL BUT WASN'T THRILLED WITH THE RESULTS THE SECOND TIME AROUND. REMEMBER THOUGH THAT YOU MUST USE THE PRODUCT IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK SO NO SKIPPING A WEEK HERE AND THERE ;]. IT MAY TAKE MONTHS TO REALLYYYY SEE IMPROVEMENT BUT HEY, ANY IMPROVEMENT AT THIS POINT IS WORTH THE WAIT :}.

 I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED THE BEST COVER UPS FOR AGING SKIN AND CAME ACROSS THESE TWO DRUG STORE BRANDS THAT I WILL GIVE A GO. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THE ABOVE IS FOR SOMEONE WITH COMBO SKIN. SAY AN OILY T ZONE AND DRY EVERYWHERE ELSE.

THIS ONE ABOVE IS FOR MORE DRY SKIN (IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY :? }.

I FIND THAT THE MAKE UP I HAVE LOVEDDDDD FOR YEARS IS NOW MAKING MY SKIN LOOK OLDER :{ . IN FACT I NEED A WHOLE NEW MAKE UP ROUTINE NOW FOR MY EVER WORSENING HOODED EYES, ROSACEA AND EYEBALLS THAT ARE SINKING INTO MY HEAD.... :{ .

IM COOL WITH IT THOUGH BECAUSE THE PRODUCTS ABOVE ARE SAID TO NOT MAKE PORES AND WRINKLES LOOK WORSE AND THE RETINOL WILL HOPEFULLY PLUMP UP MY SAD SKIN????...

ON TO FUN STUFF! HOMEMADE SLIME :} :} :}!!!!

ANNA FOUND SOME TUTORIALS ON YOUTUBE AND ME, ANNA AND MARIA WENT TO TOWN.

WE USED LOTS OF WEIRD STUFF LIKE ELMER'S GLUE, STARCH, LOTION AND SHAVING CREAM. IF YOU CANT FIND ELMER'S GLUE ANY WHERE ITS BECAUSE OF A HOME MADE SLIME CRAZE GOING ON (SERIOUSLY!) WE HAD TO PURCHASE OURS ON AMAZON.

WE PLAYED WITH THE STUFF FOR OVER TWO HOURS AND ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. THE STUFF IS THERAPEUTIC SOME HOW???

(BY THE WAY, THIS PIC OF MARIA IS MY MOST FAVORITE EVERRR!!! IT SHOWS HER FUN, ADORABLE PERSONALITY AT ITS FINEST :})

LOOK I MADE A BUBBLE WITH MINE :}.

TACOOOO BELLLLLL...I LOVE YOUUUUU....BUT I NEED TO STOP THE MADNESS.(SORRY KIDS :{ ).

I'VE BEEN EATING STUFF LIKE THIS INSTEAD. NOT BAD REALLY. I DIP IT IN CHUNKY BLUE CHEESE DRESSING WHICH HAS ALMOST NO CARBS :}.

5 POUNDS DOWN SO FAR. SLOW AND STEADY :/ . BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS NOW I'D SAY. I'M GETTING MORE DISCIPLINED AS I GO.

I WISH THE COLOR CAME OUT BETTER IN THE PHOTO OF ANNA AND LEO. HER MAKE UP LOOKED AWESOME!!! SHE IS GETTING VERY GOOD AT DIFFERENT LOOKS NOW. HERE SHE TOOK AFTER ME WITH A CAT EYE ;].

SOOOOO, GUESS WHATS BEEN ON MY MIND?

A HINT FOR YOU BELOW..

PRETTY SOON PEEPS :}. 

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYONE!

GOOD STUFF

MY FRIEND ANNE GAVE ME THIS AWESOME BAR OF SOAP AND A NEW CHAP STICK TODAY. SHE MADE THEM BOTH :o. HOMEMADE IS JUST, "GOOD STUFF!".

THE SOAP IS SO PRETTY AND SMELLS GOOD AND THE CHAP STICK SMELLS LIKE BUTTER SCOTCH TO ME (WHICH I LOVE!).

THANKS ANNE! :}

I DID A WEE BIT OF VALENTINES DECORATING. ANNA COMPLAINED THAT I ONLY PUT UP TWO DECORATIONS. THIS ACTUALLY MADE ME HAPPY BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE NOTICED AND APPRECIATED THE OTHER YEARS WHEN I DECORATED A LOT MORE. :}

I WAS THRILLED TO SEE ANNA AND BILL BUST OUT THE OLD YU-GI-O (SPELLING?) CARDS LAST NIGHT. THEY PLAYED THE 'POKEMON LIKE' CARD GAME FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS.

I JUST SAT BACK ON THE LOVE SEAT, MOSTLY PRETENDING TO LOOK AT MY LAP TOP WHILE I LISTENED TO THEM LAUGH AND THROW A NICE FRIENDLY BANTER AROUND. IT FELT SOOO GOOD!!!

TODAY WAS ONE BUTE OF A DAY, WASN'T IT :}, BUT SCHOOL HAS ALREADY BEEN CLOSED FOR TOMORROW IN MY PARTS. PUT THE RAKE AWAY AND BUST YOUR SHOVELS BACK OUT EVERYONE. STAY WARM AND SAFE PLEASE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. ;]

CHANGE

I HAVE BEEN CLEANING THINGS OUT AROUND HERE LATELY AND CAME ACROSS A BATCH OF OLD LETTERS. THEY ARE ALL ADDRESSED TO MY GRANDMA GREGORY AND ARE WRITTEN BY MYSELF (MAINLY FROM WHEN I LIVED IN LAS VEGAS), MY BROTHER ANDY (FROM WHEN HE WAS IN THE MARINES) AND FROM MY DAD, GRANDMAS SON BILLY (WHEN HE WAS IN THE ARMY IN 1958). I REREAD ALL THE ONES MY DAD WROTE HIS MOM AND FAMILY WHILE HE WAS AWAY IN THE SERVICE. HE MISSED THEM ALL DEARLY. I CRIED A BIT AND LAUGHED A LOT. THEY ARE SO SWEET AND REAL. HE TALKS OF MISSING SKATING AND HUNTING IN THE WOODS AND DRIVING HIS CAR, WATCHING TV WITH HIS FAMILY AND JUST REALIZING HOW GREAT HIS LIFE WAS. IT WAS A SIMPLER TIME IN 1958 BUT YET STILL SO THE SAME. AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO NOT ALWAYS KNOWING WHAT YOU HAVE, UNTIL IT IS GONE. 

NOW WHEN ME AND MY DAD TALK ABOUT OUR PASTS, OUR CHILDHOODS,WE KNOW WHAT WE HAD AND ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR IT ALL!!!! I FEEL LIKE FROM BIRTH TILL 22-ISH WAS ONE WHOLE  ERA OF MY LIFE AND THEN 22-ISH TILL 40 WAS ANOTHER. FROM 40 TILL NOW(48) AND STILL COUNTING IT HAS BEEN SO DIFFERENT. SOOOO MUCH CHANGE! SO LITTLE PEACE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. IM NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICS HERE, BUT LIFE. I'M STRUGGLING A BIT TO FIND MY COMFORT ZONE THESE PAST YEARS. DON'T GET ME WRONG. I HAVE HAD MANY MANY MANY HAPPY MEMORIES BUT THESE YEARS JUST SEEM TO ALWAYS BE UNSETTLED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN??? I FEEL LIKE THE WORLD NEEDS TO STOP AGAIN FOR A BIT SO WE CAN ALL JUST HUNKER DOWN INTO A NEW ERA, INSTEAD OF JUST FLITTING ABOUT FROM ONE EMOTIONAL UPHEAVAL TO ANOTHER. I HAVE SAID THIS YEAR, 2017, HAS GIVEN ME THE FEELING OF CHANGE. BIG CHANGE! MAYBE AFTER SAID CHANGES WE WILL ALL FINALLY BE ABLE TO SETTLE INTO OUR NEW COMFORT ZONES FOR A BIT :}.

(THE PIC ABOVE IS OF MY DAD, BROTHER DAVE, MY MOM AND HER OLD FRIENDS SONJA AND RICKY IN THE 70"S. IT FILLS ME WITH MILLIONS OF PAST MEMORIES :}]

MY PAST WAS AMAZING, HARD, PAINFUL,WONDERFUL AND SO FULL OF LOVE. I LIVE THERE OFTEN BUT I AM TRYING TO SEE AHEAD NOW. TAKE MY LESSONS THAT I FEEL IVE LEARNED WELL (ALWAYS THE HARD WAY OF COURSE ;] }AND BEGIN TO EVOLVE. I WANT AND NEED TO EVOLVE INTO A NEW PEACEFUL ME AND A NEW ERA. I THINK THE LESSON THAT I AM CURRENTLY LEARNING TO ACCEPT IS THAT, WE CAN "NOT" CONTROL ALL THINGS. SMALL THINGS,YES, BUT THE BIG STUFF, NO!! WE CANT ALWAYS CONTROL WHAT PEOPLE DO OR FEEL AND WE CANT ALWAYS MAKE THINGS BETTER. ALL WE CAN DO, IS LET OUR LOVED ONES KNOW  WE LOVE THEM, SHOW THEM WE LOVE THEM WITH KIND WORDS AND GESTURES AND NOT LOSE OURSELVES IN THE PROCESS AND ALL THOSE THORNS IN OUR SIDES...STOP GIVING THEM CONTROL OVER EMOTIONS AND LIVES!!!!!!!

OKAY..., IM DONE NOW, LOL.

ON TO SOME SWEET SIMPLE THINGS :}

MY NEW FRIEND CHUBS THE WITCHY MOUSE ;].

THANKS FOR LISTENING! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!! I AM GOING TO GO DO SOME STRETCHES AND JUST BREATH :}. ITS PEACEFUL ;].

XOXOXOXOXO